PHASE 01.
PUPPY SELECTION
When selecting our future service dogs in training, Fortitude aims to collaborate with responsible and ethical breeders who conduct appropriate health checks on their breeding pairs. Our breeders put health, temperament, and trainability at the top of their priority list. They hold the highest of standards for the care of their dogs and puppies; and spend a great deal of time ensuring their puppies are properly socialized. We strive to choose puppies who have naturally calm, confident, resilient, sensitive, and curious temperaments with a desire to be near people.
SHELTER DOGS + OWNER SURRENDERS
At Fortitude, we actively seek out prospective service dogs within shelters and rescues to join our training program. Finding the right candidate without compromising our health and behavior standards can be challenging, but not impossible! Rescue dogs are placed into the appropriate phase of training relative to their age and skill level.
PHASE 02.
FOUNDATION TRAINING
During the first year and a half of our puppy’s life, he will be softly and consistently exposed to the world based on his comfort and development level. This involves discovering new sights, sounds, and smells. With the loving and secure support of his handler, he learns how to be indifferent to distractions and confident around objects and noises that are out of the ordinary from his life at home.
The handler for this stage of our puppy’s life has a special name. We call them “Puppy Raisers!” A puppy raiser is a volunteer who opens their schedule, home, and heart to foster one of our bundles of fur, and promises to carry out the necessary training and socialization in order to set our puppy up for success. This training includes reinforcing calm behavior and proximity, as well as basic obedience with a strong focus on loose-leash walking and recall.
A NOTE FROM ASHLEY, THE FOUNDER (AND FORMER PUPPY-RAISER)
“Being a puppy raiser is an emotional journey. One that starts with adoration, commitment, and melts slowly into deep affection and love. And then, as the cliché goes, we set the thing that we love free to fulfill his or her purpose. It can be heart-wrenching; but witnessing the dogs we love bringing light, joy, friendship, and freedom to another person in need of support provides a kind of fulfillment that cannot be described. I have the utmost respect and compassion for our puppy raisers as they are one of the foundational pillars of everything we do at Fortitude.
PHASE 03.
OBEDIENCE SOLIDIFICATION + SPECIALTY TRAINING
During this phase, our puppy’s chapter with her puppy raiser has closed and she moves into the home of her trainer. During her stay, all of her obedience is finely-tuned and she learns specialty tasks based upon the line of work she likely will be doing in the future. These tasks may include clothing removal, pressure therapy, or retrieving specific items such as a prosthetic limb or cane. We also begin looking for the right candidate to pair her with as she demonstrates her strengths, weaknesses, energy level, and personality.
PHASE 04.
MATCHING
The matching process for our Fortitude Teams is a delicate process! One that requires a sharp eye, good sense, and strong observation. We look distinctly for a natural connection between dog and human. For us, it is important that the pairing not be forced; and that the tasks needed for the dog to perform be appropriate for his size, abilities, and willingness. Sometimes, finding this connection can take several meet-and-greets!
PHASE 05.
TEAM TRAINING
Once the matching is set in stone, our client and dog begin slowly developing a relationship and learning about one another through carefully constructed training sessions. Our dog learns to carry out tasks specific to his new partner’s condition, and his partner learns how to be a fair, empathetic, and loving handler to his new helper. This involves training sessions involving canine psychology, body language, medical care, nutrition, and grooming. We do not set a time-limit for this phase, as we try to arrange the team-training schedule around the availability of our client. This phase will likely last several months, and ends with training in the home of our client. During the entire phase, the trainer slowly withdraws, allowing more independence for the new team.
PHASE 06.
LIFELONG AFTERCARE
Dog training is a life-long task, as dogs are forever absorbing and learning from the people, dogs, and environments around them. Our trainers remain on stand-by for our teams as needed for refresher training or for assistance with new tasks. For some clients with degenerative illnesses, this might mean teaching the dog new tasks as our client’s condition progresses. Our teams will always have the support of our trainers on hand. “Once a Fortitude Dog, always a Fortitude Dog!”
CONTACT US
info@fortitudeservicedogs.org
218-380-7388
Saginaw, MN 55779
