Owner Training
New owner training teams enter in either Prospect Pre-K or S.D. Ready depending on the dog's age. Once you pass our Readiness Test, you will proceed to formal Service Dog Training. In-person skills lessons are held at our facility in DeForest, WI. Socialization outings for puppies take place in a variety of spaces in the Madison, WI area. We offer virtual sessions for those out of the area. In addition, members of our owner training academy receive access to our online community, where they can post videos and questions for support between lessons.
Owner training may be a good fit for you if:
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You are a highly motivated, organized individual who can commit to daily training
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Your schedule can accommodate 1-2 weekly lessons for the duration of your dog's training
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You enjoy working with dogs and are eager to learn more about training
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You are looking for a more affordable option than Board & Train or purchasing a started dog
Whether your goal is a dog who has public access or a dog whose tasks are at-home only, our Owner Training Program may be a great fit for your team.
Please read through the program details below and review our Frequently Asked Questions. We look forward to supporting you on your service dog training journey!
Owner train your dog through our coaching program!
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Prospect Pre-K Program
Prospect Pre-K is the best way to set your puppy up for success as a service dog. This program starts at the time your puppy comes home. There is no guarantee that all puppies will be a good fit as a service dog, but this program will prepare them as much as possible to reduce the risk of a service dog prospect washing out. It will also help manage puppy behavior and basic behavioral skills.
Frequency:
Two sessions per week. 1 Socialization Outing with Nikki, 1 Foundation Skills session with Jessie.
Duration:
4-8 months long, on average
Includes:
Training with Jessie
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Foundations = marker cues, mat training, body handling, potty cue on any surface
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Focus & Self-Control = attention/focus around distractions, greeting skills, leave it, wait and recall training
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Positions = sit, down, stand
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Navigation = basic loose-leash walking, find heel, let's go and back up
Training with Nikki
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Socialization = exploring new spaces, meeting people, interactions with other dogs, novel objects and noises
Graduation: Readiness Test
To graduate from this program, your dog must pass the Readiness Test to officially start Service Dog Training.
S. D. Ready
Program
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S.D. Ready is a program to prepare your service dog prospect with the basic behavioral skills they will need prior to higher level skilled work. This class is a great way to identify any problem areas and or if your prospect will not be a good fit for service work.
Frequency:
One Foundations Skills lesson per week. One remedial Socialization Session per week if needed.
Age:
Adult dogs only, puppies should be in our Prospect Pre-K Program
Dog Trainer:
Jessie (Foundation Skills) & Nikki (Socialization)
Includes:
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Foundations = marker cues, mat training, body handling, potty cue on any surface
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Focus & Self-Control = attention/focus around distractions, greeting skills, leave it, wait and recall training
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Positions = sit, down, stand
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Navigation = basic loose-leash walking, find heel, let's go and back up
Graduation: Readiness Test
To graduate from this program, your dog must pass the Readiness Test to officially start Service Dog Training.
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Service Dog Training
We know how difficult it is to raise and train a service dog, and that is exactly why we are committed to helping Owner Trainers succeed!
Frequency:
Two 30-minute sessions per week, focusing on public access or task training
Age:
Dogs must have passed the Readiness Test to begin this stage of training. Most dogs enter around 9-12 months of age.
Includes:
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Task training tailored to your needs
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Public Access Training Support
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Access to a private Facebook group to connect with others, join the service dog community, share progress and receive more frequent feedback and support.
Tasks:
At Medi-Dogs we only use humane, reward-based training methods to achieve your training goals. These methods result in dogs that love to work!
Do you have a medical condition that impacts your daily life? A medical alert service dog could alert you to an episode long before your medical devices can. Dogs can be trained to alert to blood sugar lows and highs, POTS, MCAS, seizures and more.
Graduation: Public Access Test and proficiency in tasks
To graduate from this program, your dog must pass the Public Access Test and have proficiency in tasks to officially become Medi-dogs Fully Trained Service Dog.
Pricing
Owner Training Membership
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Membership cost: $100/month
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In-person lesson cost: $50/lesson
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Virtual lesson cost: $43.50/lesson for virtual
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Membership includes
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Access to private online community and training group
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Support from Medi-Dogs Trainers between sessions, including support for access issues
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Consistent time slots for weekly 30-minute sessions
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Lessons Only
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In-person lesson cost: $62.50/lesson
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Virtual lesson cost: $55/lesson
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Includes:
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No access to private online community and training group
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Support for access issues on a case-by-case basis depending on the frequency of appointments
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Sessions scheduled around members' lessons
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Alumni Membership
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Membership cost: $50/month
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Includes all membership benefits
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Includes ten 30-minute sessions per year to maintain your training