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Teamwork: Service Dogs Online |  |
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Welcome to Teamwork: Service Dogs Online
If you simply want help in training your dog in basic obedience, this is the place for you. TOP DOG has been around for over 20 years, helping people with disabilities train their dogs. If you make the commitment and have the desire and follow our program, you will end up with a better behaved, happier dog, and you and your dog will become a TEAM. To start first purchase Session I of the course from our online store. After purchasing return to this page and log in to begin! For more information keep reading... Existing Users - Log inYour Email address and password are the same as you used for the online store. To change your password, please log in to the online store. The CourseThe course is divided into two sessions, each lasting from three to six months. You must begin with the basic obedience session, even if your dog already has some training. We want to be sure you have a thorough understanding of your dog and a solid foundation of learning in order to achieve the complicated service exercises in session II. If your dog is, in fact, well trained, you will breeze through session I, but you may find that he doesn’t know the basics as well as you thought, and review is always valuable. Your insight into his behavior and personality will increase, which will help you form a good working team. Session I - Basic Obedience
You will begin section 1 of the course right away, familiarizing yourself with TOP DOG’s training philosophy and techniques, and learning helpful information on canine behavior. As you master each section, you will complete a questionnaire so we can assess your level of understanding of dog training and behavior. Then you will move onto the next section. We ask that you work each section thoroughly before attempting to move on. You are building a foundation to last a lifetime. While each section may be mastered in one to two weeks, some people and dogs will need more time. Take into consideration the age, breed and temperament of your individual dog, and understand that some exercises may be harder for him to achieve than others. Also your level of disability and experience will effect the process. Always err on the side of more practice rather than less. Remember in dog training, slow is fast. Once this entire session is completed, you and your dog should be well on your way to being a happy team, able to work together with mutual respect and understanding. You will receive a graduation certificate, showing that you have accomplished something significant by teaching your dog basic obedience. If this is what you wanted, then you can stop the course right there. Keep practicing and working with your dog so he doesn’t forget his training, and find fun ways to teach him new things, like tricks, so you both stay fresh and interested. Session II - Advanced Training
However, if you’d like to continue your dog’s training and teach him to assist you in your everyday life, then you can enroll in session II of the course. You will be charged another $100, and will need to purchase TEAMWORK II, both book and video. Then you will begin the advanced level of training toward making your dog a service dog. The course will include helpful articles and continuing access to the TOP DOG training staff. Service exercises can be very complex and very individual. We can help you decide what exercises you might want to teach, devise methods for teaching that exercise and help you over the rough spots in training. CertificationIf you would like to eventually certify your dog as a TOP DOG, you must be willing to take our certification test. This means that you will need to come to Tucson. Just taking both courses will not result automatically in a certified service dog. As you progress through session II, our staff will work with you to prepare you for this test. There is no guarantee of passing, of course, but long before you take it, you and your dog will both be ready for the test and totally capable of passing it to become a TOP DOG team. (Please note that TOP DOG will not certify a dog that has not been spayed or neutered. We make NO exceptions!) SummaryWhether you’re taking the course to make your dog a better companion at home or want a certified service dog, TOP DOG can help you achieve your goal. It’s exciting, rewarding and fun to train your own dog, to see his skill level rise and your understanding increase, and finally to be a team, living and working together with harmony and respect. Welcome to Teamwork: Service Dogs on Line. |
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