Ahead of The Game Dog Training

08/10/2024

Great show on Netflix 🐾🐾

Embark on a delightful journey into the world of dogs in this documentary that reveals scientific and emotional insights about our lovable BFFs.Rob Lowe unco...

08/08/2024

Do YOU know the difference???

As a service dog trainer and AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator I find myself frequently (almost daily) educating people on the important differences between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals. So I decided to provide a summary of each. (I am USA based, so these may be slightly different if you live outside of the US):

🐕‍🦺 SERVICE DOGS:

🔹Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Service Dogs are specially trained to do work or perform specific tasks directly related to a person’s disability. Common Tasks include (but aren’t limited to):
🔹🔹Medical Alert (seizure, blood pressure, glucose, etc),
🔹🔹Mobility (walking support, article retrieval, balance, etc)
🔹🔹Guide (for visually impaired)
🔹🔹Psychiatric (deep pressure therapy, grounding, orbiting, etc)
🔹🔹Dogs do NOT qualify as service animals under ADA if their sole purpose is to provide comfort or emotional support.
🔹🔹The definition under the ADA (link below) pertains to access to government and commercial public spaces that ordinarily would not allow animals. It doesn’t limit more broad definition of “assistance animals” found in the Fair Housing Act (link below).

🔹Service Dogs are trained to meet public access standards. The ADA specifies service dogs must be:
🔹🔹House trained
🔹🔹Under the handler’s control by way of leash, harness, or other tether- unless the leash, harness, or tether prevents dog from completing its task. In this case the dog must be under control of voice or other means.
*Although not required by the ADA, there are several public access tests available to ensure service dogs meet the standards required in public spaces.

🔹Service Dogs can’t be asked to leave the premises unless:
🔹🔹The dog is out of control and the handler doesn’t take effective action to control it
🔹🔹The dog is not house trained

🔹Service Dogs are NOT required to be registered or certified through any organization. While many certifying organizations offer this service, there is no requirement to use such services and there is no national service dog registry or certifying body

🔹Service Dogs are NOT required to be professionally trained. While many professional trainers (like Ahead of The Game) and various organizations offer this service, service dogs can be 100% owner/handler trained.

🔹Service Dogs are NOT required to wear a vest or any apparatus/Identification indicating they are a service dog.

🔹Service Dogs can be any size and breed/ mix of breeds

🔹Businesses/establishments can only ask two questions when determining if a dog is a service dog:
🔹🔹Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
🔹🔹What work/task is the dog trained to perform?

🔹Businesses can NOT:
🔹🔹Ask for paperwork/ID/Registration to prove the dog is a service dog
🔹🔹Require the dog to demonstrate the task it is trained to perform
🔹🔹Inquire about the nature of the owner’s disability

For more information on Service Dogs and the ADA:

https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/

🦮 THERAPY DOGS:

🔸Therapy Dogs work with their owner/handler as a team in therapeutic settings. They often visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other venues to bring joy and comfort to others.

🔸Therapy Dogs are not protected under the ADA and therefore don’t have the full puplic access rights afforded to service dogs.

🔸Therapy Dogs are granted access to public places through invitation at the discretion of the host establishment

🔸Establishments that welcome therapy dogs usually partner with therapy dog organizations (there are many throughout the US).

🔸Therapy Dog Organizations help train, test, and certify therapy dog teams so they can visit partner facilities.

🔸Certification usually includes some form of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test with added emphasis on calm behavior around medical equipment.

For more information about Therapy Dogs and a list of certifying organizations:

https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/

🐶 EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

♦️Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are pets that provide individuals with comfort and emotional support to help the individual cope with everyday situations and challenges. They can ease anxiety, depression, and certain phobias.

♦️ESAs are prescribed by licensed mental health professionals that determine the presence of the animal is essential for the mental well being of the individual.

♦️ESAs are NOT trained to carry out a task to aid with a certain disability.

♦️ESAs are not considered service dogs under the ADA and therefore are not afforded the same public access rights as service dogs

♦️ESAs are afforeded rights under the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act includes ESAs in its definition of “assistance animals”.
♦️♦️Rules such as pet bans or restrictions are waived for people who have a prescription for an ESA
♦️♦️They cannot be charged a pet deposit for having their ESA live with them.

♦️ESAs are NOT allowed to travel on flights except as in line with the airline’s pet policy. Prior to 2021, ESAs were classified as service animals in the Air Carriers Access Act, but the revised 2019 definition aligns with the ADAs definition of service animals.

For more information on housing rights with a service dog or ESA:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/assistance_animals

I’ll wrap up with this, if you’ve made it this far 🤣
While there are many wonderful service dog organizations out there, you can find just as many scammers. I’ve seen way too many “service dog” organizations, providers, and trainers take huge sums of money from unsuspecting victims that just want a reliable, tasked trained service dog- and have ended up with losing all their money and either not getting a dog or getting an untrained, unreliable one. Please do your due diligence if you are in a situationto require a service dog. And reach out- I can definitely put you on the right track!

On the flip side, there are everyday individuals with no disability, that just pop a “service dog” vest on their pet just to take their dog to public places. Please, please don’t do this. It does a disservice to those that actually have put in the time and effort to train their service dog.

Both situations are equally infuriating.

🩷When it comes to service dog training my passion and purpose is to provide AFFORDABLE task and public access training to any valid service dog team who needs it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. I can even help with service dog selections and temperament testing. 🩷

07/24/2024

Great blog! Contrary to popular opinion, your dog is not vying to be in charge!!

And it’s 💯% OK if you choose to let them on your furniture, sleep in your bed, eat before you, proceed you through the door and, gasp!, even walk ahead of you.
🥰🐾🐾🥰

https://www.goodguardianship.com/post/why-your-dog-is-not-trying-to-dominate-you?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3rTxioU2UqhiiOkEMRM9M30Lav-mxCVjV7DqRZaYSBmKK2FdN7AzkvpXs_aem_kUinaAotOMfw1kgNzgyfOg

Dominance: the position of having power and influence over others.It would be incorrect to say that dominance does not exist in dogs. It does, although it is a very fluid concept and usually involves dog to dog communication around possession of a resource – the one possessing the resource is the ...

07/18/2024

One of the first pieces of advice I give my clients is “Trust the Process”. Followed quickly by “look for progress not perfection”. 🥰🐾🐾🥰

07/04/2024

Happy Independence Day USA!!
🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

06/30/2024

🇺🇸🇺🇸 Independence Day is almost here! Start preparing now! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

06/16/2024

Rethink Puppy Socialization!!

05/13/2024

Yes…we can even train this! 🤣😂🐾

05/11/2024

To ALL the dog mom’s out there! 🐾🐾

04/27/2024

THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT DOG TRAINERS:
Did you know “professional” dog trainers are not regulated in the US (and most countries for that matter)? Literally anyone can call themselves a dog trainer. No training, certification, or experience required!! 😳

When looking for a trainer, do your research and find a CERTIFIED TRAINER! The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) is the leading independent certifying organization for the dog training profession.

A Certified Professional Dog Trainer- Knowledge Assessed (CPDT -KA) designation through the CCPDT recognizes the knowledge and experience of the trainer. Certificants must provide references that attest to their work, have logged over 300 hrs of direct, hands on dog training experience, and pass a rigorous 3 hour written exam that focuses on the science of dog behavior and the application of training techniques.

CPDT-KA certification provides an independent scientifically valid measure of a trainer’s understanding of all aspects of dog training to include learning theory, ethology, instructional skills, equipment, and husbandry. Additionally, certificants must adhere to a professional code of ethics and standards of practice. To ensure CPDT-KA certificants apply the most current science based techniques, they are required to engage in ongoing continuing education and professional development.

You can find CCPDT certified trainers in their trainer directory:

https://www.ccpdt.org/dog-owners/certified-dog-trainer-directory/

03/31/2024

Happy Easter from Anchor and ATG!
🐇🐣✝️

03/24/2024

🤣🐾😆🐾

03/14/2024

Apparently its “pie” day. Not sure what that means- but it sounds wonderful!
Love,
Anchor ⚓️

02/24/2024

Congrats to Amanda & Libby as well as Abbie & Chip! They passed their AKC Canine Good Citizen Test today! 🙌🏻🎊🐾🎉🐾

02/18/2024

Powerful words from the BEST Dogs.
Reach out if you have a dog that over-reacts in certain situations. I CAN HELP!!

🐶 A LETTER FROM A REACTIVE DOG 🐶

I’m confused. When I’m with my owners, and we’re alone, the world melts away. It’s just us. They tell me, while framing my face in their hands and stroking my ears, that I am “the best dog.” 🌈

I believe them. My tail wags furiously, and I smile up at them. 😊

I AM the best dog. 🏆

But sometimes, I am not, and I scare them or frustrate them because I am scared, frustrated, anxious, and uncertain. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with fear or excitement. They are upset when I bark, growl, lunge, and sometimes snap. They are frustrated when I am anxious and sensitive to any sound or movement in the world around me. 😥

I hear people, with their labels, tell them I am “reactive,” and they should do something about it, that I am ruling their home and their lives. Am I doing that? I’m just scared. I’m just not sure what to do. I just want to feel safe. 🏡

When I was younger, we went everywhere together, my owners and I. The world felt big and looming, invasive and frightening. People would pet me, other dogs would rush up to me with their owners frantically yelling, “He’s friendly!!!”. At first, I was calm and quiet… but then I had to speak up! I had to tell the world to stop invading my space. Please, please leave me alone! 🚫

I want to experience the world. I want to taste all the things that my owners tell me I should “LEAVE IT”. I want to smell all the things, all the wonderful, amazing, and unique smells of grass, trees, and fox poo! I can’t help that; instead, I am hypervigilant, scanning the environment for the lurking people or dogs or other scary things that seem to constantly throw themselves at me. 👃

I would give anything in the world to be THE BEST DOG all the time. 🌍

I don’t understand why, when I tell my owners that I don’t feel safe, they don’t understand. Sometimes, they comfort me. Sometimes, they get upset. 😢

They’ve tried everything, so many training approaches, it makes my mind whirl. They toss my favourite treats and shove them in my face. I can’t eat right now, I’m surviving! The prickly collar that I couldn’t escape from… The clinking chain collar that made it hard to breathe sometimes… The stinging spray that made it difficult to smell, that would linger in my nose, after I would bark, “I need space! I am scared!” 🐕💔

I know they love me with everything in them, and they are trying so, so hard. I want to do this for them, I want to be the dog they want me to be. I want to will away the fear and the anxiety, the overwhelm, and I want to be perfect. I try so hard, just like them. 🌟

If you see a dog like me, can you give us space? Can you give us time? Can you give us compassion? Please don’t let your dog run up to me. Please don’t try to pet me. I am trying my hardest, I promise. I really, really want to be THE BEST DOG. 🙏🐶

Is your BEST dog struggling?

Help them be the best dog they deserve to be through the power of games-based training - training that not only has helped thousands of students overcome so many training obstacles and challenges with their dogs, but can help you too. That’s our mission here at Absolute Dogs.

Join us next week for a free LIVE event focused on recall - the games will host your dog’s recall and will layer a solid foundation for any progress toward behaviour transformation.

https://absolutedogs.me/levelupmyrecall

02/14/2024

I’m BEGGING you to be my Valentine ❣️
Love, Anchor ⚓️🐾🐾

02/10/2024

Are you ready for some football 🏈?
And hopefully some great commercials too!
But this will always be my FAVORITE! 🐾🐾

Budweiser's Super Bowl XLVIII commercial following the special friendship between the horse and a puppy.

02/03/2024

Happy 4th Birthday to Anchor-pup ⚓️
How can this be?
🥳⭐️⚓️🐾🎊🥳

01/30/2024

Great live right now on dog reactivity in Help My Dog! Come join me!

01/21/2024

01/15/2024

Games based training for the Win!
Life’s a Game—Play it!!

01/13/2024

Do you put compassion over ambition? Great podcast from Susan Garrett's DogsThat emphasizing the importance of your training plan and setting up the environment to achieve errorless learning.

Non-Reward Markers have long been used in dog training, but are they really necessary? And what drives our choice to use an NRM? A NRM, sometimes called a No...

01/13/2024

Looking for that one of a kind custom dog cookie? You need to check out my friend Melissa Bryant at Mountain Dog Cookie Company!