Comet Assistance Dog Training
Questions about Our Assistance Dog Training Program
What is your training philosophy?
We believe in training dogs using modern and scientific training techniques. The hard science of Psychology and Operant and Classical Conditioning lies behind all training techniques. Psychology encompasses not just the dog's drives and natural behavior, but also the interaction between the dog and its trainer or handler, learning theory, and the emotional, cognitive, and historical components that drive behavior.
A dog that is trained using these modern methods is a joy to handle. We pride ourselves in conducting training that is as scientific, systematic, consistent, and as humane as possible. We believe our training program is the most effective in the industry. Consistency, and having a system to ensure consistency, allows us to train dogs very effectively. Only our trainers handle our dogs. The dogs are worked daily following sound scientific psychological principles.
What training methods do you use?
Our training program is based on contemporary concepts in the scientific field of Behavioral Psychology. Our methods are based on the principles of Operant and Classical Conditioning and Associative and Instrumental Learning.
Our training methods apply Behavior Shaping, Varying Schedules of Reinforcement, Bridging, and Component Chaining. We shape behaviors using mostly Positive Reinforcement.
What is your training experience?
All of our trainers are experienced dog handlers. Our experience comes from many areas of canine training and handling including: pet dog training, Assistance Dog training, obedience competition, Schutzhund competition, bomb detection, tracking, and significant continuing education.
In addition, several of our trainers have directed training programs for other Assistance Dog training organizations. We have come together to share our experience with the vision of creating an exceptional and unique Assistance Dog program.
Just as important as our canine training experience is our business background. We have extensive experience in the healthcare industry, business administration, customer service, and quality management. Much of our experience has centered on working with physically challenged individuals in a university clinical care and research setting.
How long does it take you to train an Assistance Dog?
Our focus on scientific training techniques enables customized, efficient, individualized training and allows us to fully train a dog in as little as 12 weeks. Comet begins with pre-screened, highly qualified dogs between the ages of 1 and 3 years old that begin training immediately. Another important component to this strategy is that each trainer is dedicated to only one dog per training cycle. These combined elements assure we will place 100% of our dogs.
Where are the dogs housed during training?
The dogs live with their trainers during their 'off-duty' hours. This is similar to the way a police dog goes home with its handler after work every day. Each day the trainers and dogs meet for work, and each evening the dogs go home with their trainer to undergo the valuable informal training that can only occur in the living environment.
Isn't it hard to give up the dogs once the training is finished?
This is a commonly asked question. Our trainers care deeply for the dogs we train, and we value the bonding that results from training with them. However, we recognize that the skills we teach our dogs are crucially important to our clients. Seeing our clients with their new dogs is more rewarding than keeping the dogs ourselves. We gain tremendous personal satisfaction knowing the dogs we place will be very happy working on a day-to-day basis with their new partner.
I'm having problems with a dog from another provider. Can you help?
If you are having a significant problem with your Assistance Dog, we recommend that you contact your provider. If the problem cannot be resolved that way we are happy to custom-design a training program that will meet your needs.
Can you train my pet dog?
We offer all levels of custom private training services for the general public ranging from basic training to advanced obedience and behavior modification.
Will you train my current dog to be an Assistance Dog?
We evaluate each potential client's existing dog based on the same high criteria to which we hold dogs that we sell. If we believe that your dog can reach the standard, we are happy to custom-design a training program that will meet your needs.
I want to be an Assistance Dog trainer. Will you teach me?
We plan to institute a training program for those who wish to learn the art and science of Assistance Dog training. Please contact us for more information. We currently accept apprentice or assistant applications.
Did you know that you should try not to repeat commands? Learn from Comet Canine's dog training tips and advice in our online dog training articles.
