Benevolent Sun Dogs, LLC

Consistency is Key! I’m a huge fan of short and sweet “formal”training sessions: 5-10 minutes, at least once daily, working on basic obedience cues including Touch, Sit, Wait, Down, Place, Leave it, Stay, Drop it, and Loose Leash Walking/Heel. Not only do these sessions boost your pup’s confidence, they solidify your bond as a team and make your dog much more likely to follow your instructions throughout the day.

I’m also an AKC Canine Good Citizen certified instructor/evaluator, and can help you train and certify your pup in this internationally recognized program, that indicates a higher level of obedience in ten areas, and is the first step for Therapy and Service Dogs in Training. My role is to be your team’s coach. After all, it’s great if your dog is obedient for me, but who cares? You need the skills and techniques to have your dog listen to YOU!

Let me start by saying there are a lot of misconceptions about the differences between emotional support (ESA), Therapy, and Service Dogs. Service Dogs are task-trained to assist their handlers with a medically confirmed psychological or physical condition, and are considered necessary for the navigation of their handler’s daily activities, much like a piece of medical equipment. They are allowed to accompany their handlers anywhere the public is allowed (PA=Public Access), including schools, grocery stores, restaurants, airports/airplanes, hotels, shopping centers, et al. As such, they require extensive time, training, and commitment by their handlers.

No, I will not “certify” Fluffy for airline travel next week or next month because she comforts you and helps you sleep better. I require a psychiatrist’s or a MD’s confirmation that you have a debilitating condition that a Service Dog can assist with. Then your dog must pass the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test. Then you must log 60 hours of PA experience (Public Access) independent of our training sessions, while we work together on task training. Examples of tasks I have helped SD’s learn are: alerting to low blood sugar (diabetes); mobility issues (hoisting the handler up from a stationary position); alerting to noises for hearing-impaired handlers; interrupting PTSD episodes; retrieving dropped items; alerting to the approach of a stranger; performing deep pressure therapy (DPT) for both physical and psychological relief, “blocking” in public for space with claustrophobia; and alerting parents/teachers to episodes with children on the spectrum.

Please be aware that Service Dog training takes a minimum of six months and twenty sessions with me before I will risk my business, certifications, licensing, and reputation by “signing off” a SD for the TSA, individual airline, HOA, insurance company, or others. Lately I have been inundated with people who want their dogs to travel for summer vacation or the upcoming holidays, and their dog is “really the best-behaved” and it will only take a session or 2 for me to see that….(?!) Uh— no. Hard no. If you are not willing to put the work, time, effort, and expense into training your dog to the level defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Assistance Dogs International, then I cannot help you. That being said, you can (and should) do most of the training yourself, with me coaching your team. I offer discounts for SD teams, and we advance at your pace. Contact me for more details.

Socialization and confidence building do not mean exposing your pup to as many unfamiliar people and situations in as brief a period of time as possible (that is called “flooding”— with good reason)! You want your dog to have a choice in his interactions with the outside world and all the stimuli in it, and I will show you how to ensure that these are positive, confidence-increasing experiences. I love field trips to dog-friendly places, and I have 5 dogs of my own who love to help me “normalize” new situations for client dogs (one at a time, of course). Short daily basic obedience training also is a great help in increasing confidence. Think about it: those things you have worked hard for in your life have way more intrinsic value than the things that were just given to you, and working for them has increased your confidence substantially. Dogs love to work for their reinforcers, whether it’s treats, playtime, physical affection, or verbal praise— they crave our attention! I would rather have a confident, fearless dog with selective hearing and minimal obedience than an extremely obedient automaton of a dog with no personality or choice, afraid to show some individuality. All of dog training is a work in progress, and I encourage my clients to be easy on themselves and their dogs when the inevitable poop hits the just-cleaned floor (or whatever). Look at it as a learning experience and a chance to see where your dog’s brain is at.

The fun stuff! I like to at least touch on these concepts with dogs in other primary programs, but concentrating in these areas takes a true, bonafide dog lover who sees the value in strengthening the canine-human bond. I believe that a well-rounded dog has all of her needs met: physical, mental, and emotional. There are countless opportunities for you and your dog to explore in order to achieve this! Let’s lay the foundations for a lifetime of Agility, Nose Work, Rally Obedience, or Retrieval. Let’s challenge your dog with some tricks training-there are some really creative tricks that will challenge your dog and impress your friends! Your dog can try out my canine enrichment puzzles and see which ones your pup prefers and is motivated by. Wanna go dock diving at the lake or interact with other friendly dogs at the beach? How about a field trip to dog friendly places— you would be surprised by the number of businesses who permit well-behaved dogs on leash. Home Depot, Lowe’s, Macy’s, Nieman Marcus, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Starbucks, Offerdahl’s and many other restaurants with patio seating not only allow friendly dogs, but welcome them. There’s even a fantastic place in West Boca called The Dirty Dog who features a dog specific menu. Just watch out or your dog will wind up with more friends than you!

Sometimes traditional “training” misses the mark, and a client needs to seek a veterinarian’s assistance to add prescription medication and/or a more serious behavioral modification plan to address the underlying cause of an unwanted behavior or anxiety. My experience in assessing the need for canine behavioral modification, plus my excellence in writing clear, detailed reports for all members of the treatment team, is a hallmark of my professional career. I am working/have worked with several shelter/rescue groups, including Broward County Animal Care, Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, DD’s Senior Sanctuary, and The Nuggetville Brigade, as well as several local veterinarians, on the “more challenging cases.” Please know that these dogs are not lost causes, and there are many new and promising treatment options, both medicinal and behavioral, as we are just beginning to understand how the canine’s brain functions. Contact me for more information, please.

I’m the only trainer in the area certified by the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers + the AKC who offers Positive Reinforcement ONLY programs in my home. We’ll focus on basic obedience skills and socialization with other dogs, people, and environments. The goal is to improve your dog’s confidence while encouraging them to love training! I only accept four dogs at a time, and not every dog is a candidate. Full assessment session required prior to reserving for the B+T program.