Dogs can make all the difference

  • Service Dogs

    We can help you train a service dog specific tasks to help mitigate your disability. Tasks can include: retrieving dropped items or items from a distance, pushing doors and buttons, deep pressure, sound alerts, anxiety alerts and more. We do not provide or breed service dogs but can help in selecting a puppy from a reputable breeder or temperament testing your existing pet dog to see if they are a good candidate for service work. Service dogs are often taught public access skills but can also be trained to help solely at home.

    Service dog training is highly customized to the needs of the team, please contact us for a quote and to discuss your training needs. Puppy raising specifically for service work is also available on a limited basis.

    Trailhead Dog Training strictly adheres to the ADA, those without a disability are not eligible for public access with a service dog. We actively advocate against service dog fraud and for access rights for all people with disabilities.

  • Therapy Dogs

    Therapy dogs are pet dogs that work with their handler at specific locations to bring comfort and joy to others. Some examples of therapy work include reading to children at libraries, visiting hospitals, and visiting senior centers. We can help you prepare your dog for therapy work and certifications. This includes working in pet-friendly public locations, long duration down-stays with distractions, working around assistive equipment, and desensitization to unusual sights and sounds. It is crucial that your therapy dog not only tolerate all these things, but truly enjoy them.

    Therapy dog training is highly customized to the needs of the team, please contact us for a quote and to discuss your training needs.

FAQs

 

What is the definition of a service dog?

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.

Is my therapy dog allowed to go everywhere with me?

Nope. Therapy dogs are only allowed to accompany their owner to specific settings for the purpose of therapy work.

I don’t have a disability but I really want to take my dog to the store with me, can you help?

No. Trailhead Dog Training strictly adheres to the ADA, those without a disability are not eligible for public access with a service dog. We actively advocate against service dog fraud and for access rights for all people with disabilities.

I saw a small dog in the store with a vest on, they had to be fake, right?

This is a common misconception. Legitimate service dogs can be any size or breed and can be wearing any type of harness, vest, or no identifying equipment at all. The true test is in their behavior. Service dogs must always be under the handlers control, non-aggressive, house-broken, and not disruptive.

Is my pet dog a good candidate to become my service animal?

Maybe. It takes a high caliber of dog to handle the stressors and rigor of being a service dog, but some exceptional pet dogs do have what it takes. We can help with an initial temperament assessment to help determine, but it may take many months for the ultimate decision to be made.

If I raise a puppy from 8 weeks old to be my service dog are they guaranteed to be successful?

Sourcing a dog that is genetically suited to service work gives you a leg up and a better chance of success, but ultimately it is still no guarantee they will be suitable as a working dog. Trailhead Dog Training believes firmly that service dogs need to not only be appropriate but also enjoy their work, which is a tall order. We can help ensure you employ the best possible puppy raising practices to give the best chances at success.

Do you conduct CGC or therapy testing?

Not currently, but we can give you all the skills you need to be successful.