Owner Assisted Service Dog Training Program

What is Owner-Assisted Training

In our Owner Assisted Service Dog Training program in Wilmington, North Carolina, qualified clients will be able to train their own dog as a service dog under the direction of Four Paws NC staff and experienced volunteer trainers.

Requirements

Individuals must have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disability Act.
The disability must be documented by a medical doctor or psychiatrist.
Dogs starting training must be at least 6-9 months of age and be potty trained with some basic obedience.
Individuals must be willing and able to commit to attending 60-minute classes 1 day a week for 10 to 12 months depending on the skills needed and the dedication of the individual.
Must continue training for at least 20 minutes a day when not in class.
Must be willing to participate in scheduled outings in the community.

Owner Assisted Training (OAT) is a service offered to assist people who have their own dogs to train the dogs as their service dog.
The owner of the dog does the training under the guidance and direction of Four Paws NC staff and volunteers following a curriculum of training.
No training experience is needed.
This service is fee-based.

Training Philosphy

Four Paws NC uses reward based training methodology. Head-halter collars, similar to a horse brindle, are used for training and control. Alternatively a cloth martingale collar may be used. Commands and skills are taught through repetitive action training. All service dogs in training are given down-time to rest and play.

Provider Trained

Demand for trained service dogs high; inventory low
Limited to what dogs are trained for
The provider does all the training of the dog
Training time is 12 months or greater per dog
Replacement dogs for prior clients take priority
Waitlists greater than 5 years
No cost to the client
The provider selects the dog the individual receives
The provider may own the dog for 3 years

Owner Assisted Trained

Individual uses their own dog
Dog must be at least 6 months old and owner must have had the dog for at least 6 months
The individual does the training under our direction
Individual and dog have an established bond
Individual is engaged in the process
Skills essential for the individual are taught
Training is accomplished within 10 to 12 months depending on the skills needed
Standards are maintained for a quality trained dog

How Does it Work?

OAT is a fee-based training curriculum that considers the needs of the person and their disability, the dog they have, and the skills that are needed.
The individual submits an application to enroll in the OAT program.
Our team reviews the application and conducts a consultation with the person.
Following the consultation, a time is arranged for our team to assess the persons' dog in the public location.
After the assessment of the dog, our team will determine if the dog is suitable to begin service dog work, customize a training plan, and set a date to begin training classes.
Classes are in a small group format or individual.
Our full training package includes a minimum of 40 hours of guided training, detailed training plans, accompanied public outings, and coaching.
After a final assessment, you will receive a letter attesting to the training achieved, a service dog identification card, and a vest for the service dog.

Why Train with Us?

We have over 30 years’ experience training service dogs

What makes our classes different than a regular obedience class?

Training a service dog is very different from training a pet dog.
Most dog trainers do not have the experience and understanding of this type of training, as there are many small but important differences when training a service dog.
Each level builds upon the previous one, the commands are taught in specific ways to start off with a solid foundation, and most trainers do not understand the needs of a person living with a disability.
We consider the person and the dog throughout the training and adjust the plan as needed without relaxing standards.
Our training includes real-life practice out in the community where the dog will be used when it completes training.

Four Paws NC Owner Assisted Training

Owner Assisted Training

Four Paws NC
Canine Services