Service Dog Training

Puppy Training...

The success of New Life Assistance Dogs begins with the training in a volunteer puppy home. Puppy homes dedicate eighteen months of their time and love to giving the puppy a secure beginning. At the end of puppy home training, each dog will know approximately 50 commands and will be able to handle himself confidently in public.

New Life Assistance Dogs Provide:

•  A cuddly puppy
• Training equipment
• Veterinary care
• Educational training classes
• Fun group outings
• The rewarding experience of presenting your dog to a New Life Partner

Puppy Homes Provide:

• Serious commitment to training and care of a puppy
• About 18 months of patience, time and love
• Food for the puppy
• Monthly puppy home reports

Secondary Training...

At approximately 18 months the dog enters into secondary training where he or she begins the specialized work of becoming a service dog. The dog is placed with secondary trainers where he or she will stay until training is completed. When this training is completed, the dog's command schedule includes over 80 commands.

Placement...

The matching process begins and the recipient and dog now begin a rigorous training program together called team training. NLAD staff work from a two hour radius of Lancaster when placing dogs. Upon completion of team training, we honor the working team with a graduation ceremony. NLAD requests that the puppy home trainers complete their commitment to their puppy by presenting the newly graduated dog to its life partner.

Service Dog Teams...

Only exceptional dogs are able to advance through the rigorous training required to succeed in the New Life Assistance Dogs program. These dogs will remain with their partner until retirement. New Life Assistance Dogs recertifies service teams annually to insure that all teams are working at their maximum ability.

For more information about New Life Assistance Dogs contact Jill Harris, Training Specialist, at (717) 358-1259.