How to Start a Service Dog Organization is designed for people who wish to start a program similar to TOP DOG.
If you ever thought about starting your own service dog program, this is the manual for you. It contains the complete training program including week by week class outlines; instructions and forms needed to recruit and train volunteers, how to select clients, doctor forms, evaluation forms, certification test and more. There are sample forms, lesson plans and articles that help illustrate each concept.
At TOP DOG, we believe people with disabilities can do nearly 100% of the dog training themselves, but for someone to learn how to train their dog they must first develop a basic understanding of canine behavior. The goal is to create an owner-dog-team who work together and understand one another.
Most people have no concept of how a dog thinks or feels, what their needs are, or what it actually takes to live and work together. By listening to our video lecture series and studying articles on various topics, students develop a greater understanding of their dog. They learn to recognize and solve problems, anticipate and overcome obstacles, and how to train in a gentle manner using positive reinforcement.
- Will this manual teach me how to train a service dog?
- Will this manual help me start a non-profit organization?
- What’s included in the manual?
- Training Materials
- Start-Up Materials
You can learn how to train your own service dog through TOP DOG’s TEAMWORK books & videos.
You should consult with a qualified accountant or legal professional to start any enterprise. They can help you prepare and file the appropriate documents necessary to start your company.
TOP DOG’s Training Manual includes a complete program overview and all of the training materials needed to start a service dog program in your community. Our manual includes lesson plans for each class, teaching articles, and handouts. It will show you how to evaluate students and what to look for in a service dog. Each individual class in the training process has a particular theme, lecture, articles to read, and various exercises that are taught in a specific order.
- Introduction
- Pack Relationships
- Positive vs. Negative Training
- In Praise of Praise
- Commands
- Attention Please
- Hitting The Jackpot
- Problems At Home
- Breed Characteristics
- Canine Behavior Profile
- It’s Okay
- Building Blocks
- Body Language
- Responsibility
- Starting a Business
- Sample Forms
- Finding Students
- Volunteer Training
- Lesson Plan
- Certification
