Dog Training

At RI our staff of trainers begin socializing and training our puppies at 3 ½ weeks of age. Socialization is the major concentration at this point, but beginning the basic training helps to develop the brain for their advanced learning.

By the age of 16 weeks each puppy has learned as many as 30 commands and has gone through extensive temperament testing and health checks. We are then able to determine which puppies have the best chance of completing the program. This allows us to place puppies with release homes that do not fit our criteria.

In their first year with us our puppies are trained daily in obedience and advance as quickly as they are able in service dog commands. Each week they go on two outings. They go home periodically on weekends with volunteers and spend a lot of their day, when not training with staff.

At a year they are matched with a client. We ask our clients to come to our facility to meet our dogs; it is at this time that we determine matches by personality and mutual attraction.

Once a match has been made, the dog begins specialized skill training. Because each person has a unique disability they will have very different needs, and we want our dogs to be prepared to meet those needs. Depending on maturity and development, it can be 3 to 6 months before the dog will be ready to be placed with its new partner.

In cases of seizure disorders and children with certain types of autism, a puppy may be placed with a recipient as early as 6 months. These recipients would have to be able to travel to our facility to continue training with the dog. This early placement is to help develop the bond. The dog is not allowed in public until the dog and recipient can be certified for public access and the dog is fully trained to assist the client. This includes the Assistance Dog International Public Access Test which is administered to all our dogs before graduating from our program.

Team Training

Each dog we train will have the skills needed to assist the person with whom they are partnered.

During Team Training:

clients learn to manage the assistance dog's behavior
clients learn to direct the dog to respond to commands it already knows
clients assume responsibility for maintaining the health and well-being of the dog.

The client needs to demonstrate proficiency in all these areas before we can consider the match a success.

We have two different ways to conduct Team Training.

If a client will benefit from in home team training, we will send a qualified person to the home to train. This will take one week of intense training and a follow up visits to ensure that the team is working well together.
We also have a Team Training Camp at our facility, teaching up to 3 clients at time. This camp lasts for two weeks. There is some individual instruction during the course; however, the majority of the teaching is done with lectures and group practice sessions.

All lectures, individual instruction, and written class materials for Team Training, either in the home or at our facility, are given in English.

All expenses for either method of Team Training are the responsibility of the client.

Maintaining a Strong Working Partnership

RI is committed to helping each partnership remain strong. After a successful placement, we check back with each client three months after placement and after a year.

After the first year is concluded and the partnership is strong, RI relinquishes ownership of the dogs to the client.

If any problems develop we are available by phone to help. If follow up team training of either the client or the dog is required there will a minimal cost plus expenses to the client for retraining, either in the home or at our facility.

The information we gather in following the progress of our partnerships is invaluable in our breeding, training and placement process so we can continue to learn and better service our clients.

Partnering

What Partnering with a Service Dog can mean to your life.

The Bond is the most important aspect in your working relationship with a Service Dog. To facilitate the bond we carefully match the personalities of both partners. Experience has shown like personalities blend best in this type of close relationship.

This bond creates an inter-dependent relationship which is built on trust. Through this inter-dependency comes independence. You will discover a unique relationship built on love and respect that not only enhances independence but also nourishes the soul.

The Process

Applying for a Service Dog

The first step is to fill out a preliminary application. Within two weeks of receiving your application we will call you to discuss it. We will address your questions and concerns about what a dog can do for your life and if a dog is appropriate for your needs.
If it is agreed that a dog is right for you, we will send you a complete application including a medical history form to be filled out by your doctor.
The application must then be returned to us by mail as you will need to enclose a recent photo and a $25.00 non-refundable application fee.
The minimum charge for a dog is $2,500, but since the costs involved in training and placing a dog reaches $16,000 we do ask your help in raising the additional funds, if possible. We seek out corporate sponsors to cover the additional costs when a client is not able to raise all the funds.
After reviewing your application we will contact you to schedule an interview at our facility or if this is not possible, by video.
During this interview, you will meet and experience a service dog in action. You must demonstrate your ability to interact positively with a dog and display the cognitive, emotional and physical ability to work with a dog. You will need to explain how a dog can assist you in gaining independence and demonstrate your ability to care for a dog.
After the application process is completed you will be contacted with 2 weeks. If you are accepted into our program you will need to have 5 personality profiles completed by friends’, co-workers and family to help us to match a dog closely to your personality.
You will then be placed on our waiting list.

Getting Your Dog

When you become our client we immediately begin working on your behalf starting the process of determining which of our dogs is able to best meet your needs and match your personality.

We will notify you 4 to 6 weeks prior to the date you will be receiving your dog. At that time we will supply you with an information packet to help prepare you for our two week training camp. (Need to have link to training camp page.)

The Team Training Camp will take place at our facility in Linden, Tennessee. We hold sessions twice annually. One in the spring and one in the fall. You will be required to provide transportation to our facility and provide for over night accommodation.

Our Follow Up

After returning home with your dog we will conduct telephone follow up interviews on a monthly basis for the first 6 months to check on your progress. If you are experiencing problems that we are not able to resolve over the phone we will send a trainer to your home to work to resolve these issues.

After a year of working together successfully Retrieving Independence will turn over ownership of the dog to you. We will available to assist you as needed through out the duration of the Partnership.

We look forward to you becoming part of our family at Retrieving Independence and hope you will join us in our quest to provide Service Dogs to as many recipients as possible.

All RI graduates are welcome and encouraged to return to the training center at any time for a visit when they are in the area. Your help through our follow-up program helps us gain information that may help improve our breeding, training and placement programs for future graduate teams.

Click here to get a preliminary application for a Service Dog.

pdf Application for Service Dog

Team Training Camp

Preparing for Team Training

Team Training classes are two weeks in length and are conducted at our facility in Linden, Tennessee. All materials used in the class will be supplied in advance and we ask that it is review prior to starting the class.

Dogs in the class are fully trained and we make every effort to match dogs to students in advance. Therefore, the purpose of the class is to teach students the skills necessary to work with and take care of their assistance dog. There is some individual instruction during the course; however, the majority of teaching is done with lectures and group practice sessions. All lectures, individual instruction, and written class materials for Team Training are given in English.

During Team Training

During Team Training, students learn effective way to work with their assistance dog's by learning to understand how the dogs thinks and what it needs to continue to respond to commands it has learned and work effectively in the partnership. Also, they learn how to maintain the health and well-being of the dog. Students need to demonstrate proficiency in all these areas in order to go home with an assistance dog.

Attendance is required in entirety in order to be complete placement. Students need to be prepared to handle the travel and expense (lodging and meals) of attending a placement class, as well as transportation during the class. Students also need to demonstrate the ability to safely and effectively handle and care for the dog by the completion of the course.

Graduation

At the conclusion of the Team Training session, a graduation ceremony is held. It is at this time that the dog is handed over to the recipient. We welcome family and friend, as well all those that have been involved with the process to attend this great beginning. It is an event full of joy and emotion.

A graduate is personally and financially responsible for their assistance dog's care and maintenance including food and veterinary services.