Service Dog Training
We are proud to collaborate with Atlas Assistance Dogs. Clickstart co-owner Liv Healy is both an Atlas Certified Trainer and a Team Facilitator! Our goal at Clickstart is to help prepare eligible service dogs in training to apply for the Atlas Client Certification Program. For more detailed information on the Atlas program, please visit their website.
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A service dog (per the Americans with Disabilities Act) is a dog who has been specifically trained to perform a task that directly mitigates their handler’s disability. Emotional support animals provide comfort to a single person, but have not been specifically task trained and do not have public access rights. Therapy dogs have been trained to provide comfort to many people in a variety of settings like hospitals or schools, and only have access rights when invited to visit. To learn more about the differences, check out this article!
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Service dog training is an intensive process that typically takes two or more years to complete. Owner-training is not the right path for every team. We would recommend starting by taking a look at Atlas' Temperament and Obedience Checklist before you get started.
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Our trainer Liv specializes in psychiatric, medical alert, and autism task training. Private coaching and group classes are available for teams preparing to apply for the Atlas Client Certification program. Liv is only able to proctor Public Access Tests for teams enrolled in the Atlas Client Certification Program.
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No! The legal definition of a service dog is that they are "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities." There is no required registration, certification or any specific gear for service dogs in the US. Some organizations like Atlas will have internal certification programs to ensure high quality and consistent training standards.
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From the Atlas website:
1. Already have a dog
- Who is at least 14 months old
- Who has no temperament issues and can pass Atlas’ obedience assessment
- Has no unresolved behavioral issues
- Has passed their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test
- Is ready to begin working in public2. Have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act
3. Commit to using positive, non-aversive training methods4. Live in a location we serve or is willing to travel to a location we serve at least once a month (check the map here)
Service Dog Consult
Our Atlas Certified Service Dog Trainer and Team Facilitator Liv can help you address your owner-training questions whether or not you already have a candidate dog. After the session, you will receive a detailed wrap up email of everything reviewed as well as personalized recommendations for the right service package to accomplish your goals.
$85 for 1 hour on zoom
PhD Class (coming soon!)
Work with other service dog in training teams in a group setting! Our PhD class covers advanced skills geared towards preparing you and your dog for challenging public access skills. Clickstart’s Masters class or equivalent training is the required prerequisite.
To ensure you schedule the correct service for your needs, please fill out the form at the link below.