Service Dog Training

By improving candidate selection and providing superlative training CPT produces unmatched outcomes that greatly improve quality of life for our clients.

CPT Physical Assistance Dogs open and close doors, open and close refrigerators, turn on and off lights, retrieve items from the floor, answer telephones, carry objects, assist in pulling wheelchairs up inclines or rough terrain, assist in transfers, assist in balance and walking, provide a distress signal, and seek human caretakers during emergencies.

CPT Hearing Assistance Dogs identify the sound of an alarm clock, doorbell, door knock, fire alarm, telephone, baby crying, or other sounds important to the specific client, then alert the client and respond accordingly.

CPT Autism Assistance Dogs prevent a child from bolting via usage of a dual-tethering system here and can aid in locating an escaped child should the child become separated from the dog or escape while accompanied by the dog. Autism assistance dogs also facilitate social contact with third parties and may reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of recipient stereotypical behavior, asocial behavior, and/or tantrums.

CPT Psychiatric Service Dogs reduce the frequency and severity of depressive episodes, perform behaviors automatically and/or on command that reduce the frequency, severity, and/or duration of panic attacks, provide a buffer from crowds, facilitate social interaction, and bolster general relaxation and confidence. When, requested, they can also perform other specialized behaviors, such as room searches and turning on lights.

CPT Seizure Response Dogs perform a bracing behavior that prevents injury from falls and communicate an emergency situation to passers by.  CPT Seizure Dogs may also alert to a seizure pre-ictally, so that the recipient has ample time to assume a safe position.

• CPT Physical, Hearing, Autism, Psychiatric, and Seizure Assistance Dogs play a valuable role in facilitating social interaction, expanding confidence, reducing anxiety, and minimizing the physical and psychological effects and limitations otherwise posed by a disability.
• CPT trains assistance dogs to remain calm in indoor and outdoor social settings, including restaurants, malls, business offices, other commercial and professional settings, and public transportation, and teaches dogs to ignore distractions while remaining on task.
• CPT assists with documentation and identification that facilitate public access.
• Dependent upon client specifications and preferences, CPT can either train a client’s existing pet or locate, evaluate, and select a puppy or adult dog that is ideal for participation in a client’s customized CPT service dog program.
• Unlike most service dog companies or non-profits, CPT tailors each program to the CPT client’s unique specifications and preferences.
• After training the dog, usually in a board training program, performed in a real-life environment at the home of a CPT trainer, CPT provides client/recipient training, which can occur at the CPT Training Center and/or at the home of the client.
• If a client is physically and emotionally capable, via our Hands-On Program, CPT can at times offer lower cost training options that integrate private and group instruction with or without an intermittent board training program. The Hands-On Program, that emphasizes group class, private lessons, in-home private lessons, and remote private lessons, is substantially less expensive than the typical service dog training program that requires a continuous board train of between 4 to 6 months.
• Most non-profit service dog organizations have long waiting periods due to excessive demand. In contrast to non-profits, CPT does not rely on donor money. Our clients pay directly for their dog and/or the training. Thus, clients with financial resources will find working with CPT advantageous, as they can receive a trained, ready-to-work animal in a matter of months, instead of years.
• Moreover, we will train the animal in accordance with customized program specifications unique to the needs of the specific recipient, rather than generic specifications most convenient to the organization.

Since each client program is custom designed, please contact the CPT office by e-mail or phone (404 282-6012) to receive a preliminary program design and/or cost estimate.