Self Trained Service Dog
Barking Bubz Service Dog Training Barking Bubz trainers will come to your home or area to help you train your current family dog or a new puppy/dog to become a service animal. We follow the IAADP training standards, using positive relationship based training methods. Throughout this program, our specialized trainer will take you through the ins and outs of socialization and exposure, obedience, help prepare and test you and the dog for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, AKC Community Canine, AKC Urban CGC, and the Public Access test, task training, and help through any behavioral issues.​​
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In this program, you are the primary handler and will keep the dog in your home throughout the training and beyond. This will help the dog bond with you faster, making the training more efficient and effective. The training is personalized to the handler. Throughout your training you are encouraged to tell the trainer what would help you. Our trainers will come up with the appropriate task for the dog to fulfill your need.
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Any age handler can participate in the training. It is recommended that the primary handler be 12 years or older. The primary handler will be the person who controls the dog but may send the dog to perform tasks on a younger individual.
Cost of Training: $3,600 - $22,000 (other companies charge $20,000 - $50,000)
Time frame of Training: 6 months - 2 years (training twice a week with trainer)
Service Dog
Pre-K
Introducing the Barking Bubz and N-L-U Pet Sitting Service Dog Raising Program! We know that training a service dog is a significant commitment, and we're here to simplify that journey for you. Our program offers your new puppy a nurturing environment in our pet sitter's home, where they'll receive essential training in boundaries, kennel training, potty training, obedience, and service dog level socialization. While also avoiding and immediately managing any problem behaviors.
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In this program, the puppy will receive multiple months of one-on-one focus with our pet sitter, setting basic manners in the home (around cats, other dogs, multiple people). Meanwhile, our professional dog trainer will take your puppy on outings to facilitate controlled socialization and establish the foundational skills for service dogs. Throughout the program, we want you, the new service dog handler, to participate in weekly sessions. This will help immediately bond you to your new dog, get them used to their new home environment, and keep you from the annoying naughty puppy behaviors like keep away, counter surfing, and burnout.
This program generally runs until the puppy reaches 8 months of age so that the puppy has well established manners. Then the puppy will go home with its forever family to begin its task training (medical alert training will start prior) and continue any further training the puppy will need to become a well developed service dog. Note, most service dogs take about two years to train to completion and even then, service dog training never stops, continuous work on tasking and any behaviors that pop up. You would still be responsible for veterinary fees, feeding, toys, and any additional supplies.
Perks of our program:
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You are the trainer which creates an immediate bond
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You pick the tasks that you need
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Your puppy is raised in a home setting, as well as, training in your home setting
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You are a consistent participant in the raising of your puppy
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Less chance of burnout for you and the dog
We recommend having our trainer help pick the right puppy through rigorous testing. We love working with rescues (up to 6 months of age for this program) and are happy to help you find a well bred puppy with early neurological stimulation and proper socialization for its age.
Cost breakdown: $2,500 pet sitting
$1,000 training
Total: $3,500/month
Medical & Disability Task Options
Barking Bubz Service Dog Programs Train:
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Psychiatric Service Dogs (anxiety, PTSD, compulsive disorders, etc.)
These dogs provide tactile stimulation and deep pressure therapy to relieve an episode. They also are trained to circle or position themselves in front or behind the handler to provide a barrier when space is needed.​
Mobility Assistance Service Dogs
These dogs are trained to retrieve objects, open doors, press automatic door buttons, and turn on lights. Brace work training is possible on a case-by-case basis.
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Autism/Neurodiverse Service Dogs
These dogs are trained to keep individuals with autism from running away and can also track them if they do run off. They can also interrupt harmful behavior or alert the parents of a child with autism to a potentially dangerous situation. They may also provide deep pressure therapy or tactile stimulation to help ground the individual.
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Diabetic Alert Service Dogs
These dogs are trained to detect and alert to dangerous-deadly high and low blood sugar levels. They may also be trained to retrieve medication or glucose based products to help resolve the incident. Additionally, they may be trained to call 911 for a non-responsive handler.
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Allergy Detection Service Dogs
These dogs are trained to detect and alert to any allergen, such as peanuts, onions, gluten, eggs, etc. ​
Hearing Service Dogs
These dogs are trained to alert the handler to important sounds, such as alarm clocks, fire alarms, door bell/knocking, phone ringing, and the handler's name being called. Our handler Vanessa is happy to communicate via ASL if necessary.
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Seizure Alert Service Dogs
These dogs alert to seizure activity. They do not alert before a seizure. (Some dogs are able to pick up on small imperceptible movements prior to a seizure and may alert to the oncoming seizure.) The dog will help the individual through the seizure by licking or providing deep pressure therapy. They will alert others to the seizure or keep the individual from banging their head. Additionally, they may help move the person if they fall in an unsafe location. Finally, they may call 911.​
Ideal
Service Dog Temperament
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Demeanor
Required Temperaments:
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Motivated (treat, praise, and toy)
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Desire to please
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Desire to work
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Calm demeanor
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Friendly disposition
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Loving disposition
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Intelligent
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Generally confident in new situations
​Excludable Temperaments (immediately unsafe for public access training):
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Any form of aggression towards people or dogs
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Growling​
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Barking
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Lunging
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Nipping
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Biting
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Resource Guarding
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Unmanageable prey drive, especially if the primary handler is a child​
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Anxiety
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Unmanageable Hyperactivity
We are happy to help you pick the right dog for your training!
Financing
Our goal is to be affordable. We know that training a service dog takes time and unfortunately money. That's why we have our payments broken into monthly fees at a reduced rate. You may also consider paying per session and making sure to practice between sessions. We do not accept Medicaid or Medicare, but we strongly recommend looking into grants if the training is not affordable. We do not have 5+ years of wait-lists like non-profit organizations. If we could offer our quality of training for free we would! Support us becoming a non-profit by spreading the word.