Dog Training Students at Quarterdeck Bar and Grill

This is an outing that I took some of my students on, to Quarterdeck Bar and Grill, for some "REAL LIFE TRAINING" .

Bella, a Catahoula, 6 months of age

Millie, a 6 month old English Mastiff;  Largo, the greatest Rottweiler in the world, and Oliver, a 6 yr old Labrador Retriever

Oliver and Ariana, a 6 month old German Shepherd, who is in training for her disabled master.

This is a great crew of dogs, doing some awesome obedience and skills work, at such a distracting place!

Group Classes Now Forming!

We have Group Classes Now Forming.

Nuts and Bolts:
When:  Thursday Evenings, 6:30 Pm Until 7: 30 PM(thereabouts)
Date of Start:  July 26th, 2012
Class Size:  No Less than 5 no more than 15
Where:  Coral Springs, Corporate Park area
Cost:  $150.00
Length of Class:   6 weeks

Here is what we will cover in the class:
Loose Leash Walking

Heel
Sit/Stay(with normal, real life distractions, and even a few distractions that the dogs will likely never encounter)
Down/Stay(See sit/stay for a basic description)
Recall....AKA Come When You Are Called
Leave it(IE< no burping, farting, licking, scratching, or sniffing in public---and, no I can't teach your husbands not to do all those things, ladies.)
Cover basic behavioral Problems

Now, here some basic "rules".   No alcohol on the premises.  Don't smoke while you are training.  No sunglasses while working your dog.  Dogs are ON LEASH unless I give you permission otherwise.  YOU must have your hands on the leash, unless I tell you otherwise.  Dogs must have basic, core vaccines to participate and if old enough, must be current on Rabies or have a current titer test.

What to bring:  Chair(something to park your body in, while I am "lecturing".  Something for you and your dog to drink(No alcohol) A note pad and pen.  And lots of puppy treats(something soft....not hard). 

Cost of a Service Dog

Lately, I have had people approach me asking what it takes to train a service dog....When I start outlining the costs of DOING IT RIGHT....they are astounded...

So, here is what it takes, in my humble opinion, to DO IT RIGHT:

1)  Purchase a dog.  Statistics show that shelter dogs have  less then 25% chance of passing a service dog program....so why waste time?  Why not go to a good breeder and get an acceptable candidate?  Many people what to do the whole "feel good" thing, but....are you prepared, financially when the dog can't pass the mustard?  So, the cost of well bred lab, from a reputable field/show breeder(I want their rejects).  $500.00.

2)  Health Certifications.  It is, in my opinion, unethical to place a dog who is not soooo  healthy it's scary.  Why?  Because they can't always tell you when they are in pain or sick...so, why put that on them?  Here is the run down of what should be done, medically, prior to accepting a dog into training:
   Heartworm Test(if they are positive, or have been treated in the past for heartworms, turn them down.  There is a strong possibliity that they will have a damaged heart because of it, thus, potentially affecting their ability to work.
   Thyroid Test.  Thyroid isn't hard to treat, but the average person on disability can't really afford extra money out of their pocket for the yearly testing and meds.  Further, bad thyroids can cause aggression issues, lethargy, obesity, skin problems, etc....A dog who is bald in places and stinks has no business working in public.
   Cardiac Test.  Let's face it, a heart problem, even minor can cause exhaustion, and potentially kill a dog.  Do you really want to put a year of training on a dog, to have it drop over dead because of a heart attack?
   Hip/Elbow Exrays.  Hip dysplasia can't be seen by the naked eye.  Any organization who doesn't check for hip issues, is unethical.  Any private owner doing owner training who doesn't do hip exrays is cruel and abusive.  If the dog has hip/elbow issues, even if you are not using it for brace work, etc...is just not right.  They hurt.  It causes pain.  And, as a trainer/handler/owner, are abusive if you force the dog to work when they are in pain.

Now, all this testing, alone will run around $500.00.

3)  More Medical. 
Spay/neuter:  400.00
Vaccines:  120.00 Per year
Heartworm/flea prevention:  100.00 per year

4)  Feeding a dog for 6 months to a year, while in training:  600.00
5)  Misc toys, treats, bedding, grooming, etc:  500.00
6)  Harnesses/Leashes/Collars:  250.00 to 1000.00
7)  Taking the dog into real-life situations(IE, Movies, Restaurants, Etc...)1500.00 for the duration of training.
8)  In my case, I hire private trainers who are not affiliated with me to administer the final public access test prior to placement and during placement classes:  $300.00


So, right here, I have, out of my own pocket around $5000.00 on a dog.  Do people really think that I have a money tree somewhere?  If I did, I wouldn't be living in a warehouse(well, actually I probably would, it would just be bigger), driving a beat up 2002 Honda Odessy(ok, I would, sometimes, but it would get a paint job and new tires)....I would have a 3000 sqft warehouse, I would have my Jeep or Toyota Tundra, I would have some new pistols(yep, I like guns)....But, I would be having a whole lot more than I do.....And, I wouldn't care to give dogs away...

Now, I as a trainer, put between 500 and 1000 hours into training a dog.Actual training time of the dog.  This doesn't include grooming, bathing, cleaning up after, feeding, etc. Over 250 of those hours are public access(IE, movies, out to eat, walmart, etc...)  So....If I charge someone 10000.00 for a service dog, that takes me 6 to 12 months to train, and I put 500 hours(minimum) into the dog, then I have made less than 10.00 per hour.  Why less that 10.00 per hour you say?  Because I also have to feed the dog, bath the dog, walk the dog, clean up after the dog, etc....

And, heaven forbid, that during the time the dog is with me, I want to take a few days off to go to Indiana to see my mother....I have to either cart the dogs with me, or hire a dog sitter, or board the dogs....Sigh...so that is money out of my pocket.....

So, you see, properly done, training a service dog costs a whole lot more than one would think.  You think 10,000.00 is alot of money, when I have spent my last 6-12 months with the dog?  You think that 10,000.00 is alot of money, when you consider the money I have invested in my dog training education?  Really? 

So, those with disabilities:  Go earn the money to pay for your dogs.  Even "non-profits" are going to expect you to fund-raise...and since when does being disabled mean that everything is handed to us on a silver platter?  Really?  We don't have to work for anything just because we are disabled....Hey, I want a new I-Pad!  Think WalMart will give me one, because I am disabled and I ask?  No.....So, please do not expect your dog trainer to give you a dog because you are disabled.  Work for it!

Is There Such A Thing As A Good Doggie Daycare?

So, when I got back from Italy, I decided that I no longer wanted to as many board/trains in my home and that it might be nice to work out of a facility....So, I went to Barker's Pet Resort in Ft. Lauderdale. 
On the surface, it seemed a nice enough facility...but....looking deeper there were inherent problems...

1)  Cleanliness.  Now, I have dogs.  In the past I have had alot of dogs.  At one point in time, when I was in Deerfield, I had over 20 dogs in my 2/2 townhouse(fenced yard).  NEVER ONCE WOULD YOU HAVE SMELLED A DOG THERE.  The yard was spotlessly maintained, facility was bleached daily(Yep, I am one of those people who tries to commit suicide by bleach).  But, never, could you ever say that the place stunk like dog urine/feces.  This place reeks of urine.  Constantly.  Do you really want to take your dog somewhere that is like that?

2)  Staff training.  When in a doggie day care setting, dogs act like dogs.  Humans tend to act like humans.  The problem becomes, that when humans can't understand doggie language, it is often a recipe for disaster.  None of the staff, altho well-meaning kind people, have had any training or have any clue about breaking up dog fights, or better yet, preventing them from happening in the first place.

3)  Owners who spout "I hate the United States".  You know, if you really hate it here, then go back to Israel.  Otherwise, stop with the bitching.

4)  Owners, who have never successfully trained a dog in their life, thinking that they are qualified to teach dog training classes.  Wow....that just boggles my mind.

5)  Owners who do not pay their debts.  They owe one sub-contractor(me) well,alot of money, for teaching dog training classes......

6)  Owners who scream at clients, and employees in front of clients and employees....

7)  Owners who allow staff members to steal from other staff members.

8)  Staff members who file false reviews on Google/Yelp/Etc....guess they were paid?

All of this goes to ethics.  Not paying your subcontractors.  Not taking dogs who are sick/injured to the vet immediately(one dog attacked by another, because of no temperament testing of dogs, and lack of staff training, then left in kennel for three days before finally taking it to the vet....)

But, if they aren't ethical, do I really want to leave my dog there?