PHASE 3 – Advanced Service Task Training
This phase marks the transition from foundational and intermediate training into advanced service work. The Advanced Service Task Training Program is customized to meet the unique needs of each handler and focuses on teaching, reinforcing, and generalizing disability-specific tasks. As the team nears readiness for public access, training sessions begin to incorporate task performance in novel environments to build confidence, consistency, and reliability.
Key Focus Areas:
- Introduction and refinement of customized service tasks
- Generalization of task performance in varied and increasingly complex environments
- Continued public access preparation in pet-friendly, real-world settings
- Strengthening focus, neutrality, and reliability under distraction
- Building handler confidence in guiding and managing their service dog during outings
This phase is fully customized to reflect the specific tasks required by the handler’s disability and ensures the dog can perform those skills reliably at home and in public access settings. By the end of Phase Three, teams will have a solid foundation in task work, the ability to apply these skills in real life situations, and the confidence to begin navigating public access environments in a controlled, appropriate way. This phase ensures that task performance is reliable, ethical, and supportive of the handler’s real-life needs.
Program Breakdown:
Week 6:
A final 1-hour in-home session used to assess task reliability, troubleshoot any remaining issues, and ensure both dog and handler are ready to progress into the final stage of training and public access readiness.
Week 1:
One 1-hour private in-home session to introduce or refine disability-specific service tasks in a familiar environment, ensuring the dog understands the cue and context.
Week 2:
Another 1-hour in-home session focused on building consistency and beginning to introduce mild distractions to reinforce task reliability.
Week 3:
A 1-hour virtual coaching session provides support, troubleshooting, and personalized guidance on how to continue reinforcing tasks at home between sessions.
Week 4:
A third 1-hour in-home session, often used to begin integrating tasks into novel settings (such as pet-friendly public places), and to work on handler-dog communication in real-time.
Week 5:
One 1-hour virtual session for continued coaching and progress evaluation, with emphasis on generalization and increasing the complexity of tasks as appropriate.
Kindness Condoned!
Canine Foundations’ Consultants firmly adhere to the principals of LIMA, implementing Least Intrusive, Minimally Adverse techniques to achieve a training and behaviour objectives with minimal risk of producing adverse side effects.