Service Dog Phase 3

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Continue your service dog training by building on previous cues and skills learned in prerequisite classes, introduce new behaviors and progress to more task-oriented work. You'll begin training your dog to task skills according to your specific needs. For non-service dogs, you can choose to train any tasks you'd like - think of it as an owner's choice or tricks class!

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Phase 3 includes:

• Continuing the behaviors learned in previous classes

• Introducing task training specific to handler’s needs

• Increasingly challenging Polite Greetings, including ignoring offered treats

• Incorporating Sit and Down during walks in Side position

• How to properly fade the use of treats

• Increasing duration and distractions during Under

• Go to Place next steps, including increased duration, distance, and distractions 

• Sharpening training skills through “blind” and distance cues

• How to effectively use praise to reinforce behavior

 

Graduation requirements to enroll in Phase 4:

• Attend at least five out of six classes

• Leave It with various objects, food, merchandise, and people

• Sit and focus on handler when approached, ignore petting and offered treats

• Side combined with Sit and Down

• Under for three minutes

• Distance Sit with handler five feet away

• Down-Stay with handler out of sight for 30 seconds

• Go to Place on verbal cue and remain there for two minutes

• Additional requirements may be included according to handler-specific task training 

 

Service Dog 3 class meets for 60 minutes on Wednesday evenings each week at Peaceable Paws in Fairplay, MD. Enrollment is limited to 6 dogs per class. Prerequisite: Graduation from Service Dog Phase 2 class. 

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