Service Dog Training

Overview

The MD K9 Training Academy LLC. uses a variety of training methods to offer quality guidance to handlers, service and medical alert dogs. Each customer participates in synchronous and asynchronous sessions that enhance and fortify skills. All customers have access to a broad array of webinars, and tutorials that re-enforced training and technique development. Effective training is a continuous process; it takes between 120 to 180 hours (6-8 months) to train a service dog. It is also advised that the handler and dog participate in refreshers on an on-going basis.

Private Sessions and group sessions will be offered according to the agreed upon contract with each client/customer. Customers will participate in hands-on training drills and review recorded tutorials to embed the presented knowledge in their daily behavior and the dogs daily behavior. At the completion of each course the dog and handler will be given a task specific exit ticket and will be graded on their execution of the ticket. All customers will be given a comprehensive skill review at the beginning of the training program and at the end. The trainer will review the plan with the customer and offer steps for improvement and growth.

Upon completion of one phase of the training program, the customer will be given the opportunity to sign-up for other more advance training courses. All customers will receive an evaluation of handler and dog strengths at the onset of any training. Completion of the beginner, intermediate and advance training models of any program will yield a certificate of mastery. Customers receive a certificate of completion for completion of individual sessions.

Below are the answers to important Program Summary points:

1) Types of Dogs used and breed

Any size or pure or mixed breed of dog can be a disable or emotional support or service dog, emotional support dogs do not have to be professionally-trained to perform any task. Service dogs can be trained by their owners or in any other manner the owner desires.

2) Dog habits and problems that will be corrected

If your dog has aggression or major behavioral issues, those would need to be fixed before they could be a certified service dog.  Service dogs are required to go in population public places; therefore, it is important that they are well mannered, friendly, obedient, and confident.

3) Training Packages

The dog must demonstrate the ability to sit, stand and lie down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Test the ability to come when called under distraction. The dog will come when called by the handler (from 10 or more feet away on leash). Test their reaction to another Dog. The dog will behave politely around other dogs.

Once the dog has all the obedience requirements for service dog certification, we can begin a custom training program to complete the specific tasks needed for certification.

Basic Obedience Package One – The first individual lesson can cost as much as $300.00 (This does not include the cost of K9 Training Equipment, a 6 foot, and Training collar). Then each additional lesson is just $25.00 per session!

Basic Obedience Curriculum, “Come,” “Sit,” and “Extended Sit.”, “Down” and “Extended Down.”
“Place” and “Extended Place.” They will sit on a specific location that you point to (chair, park bench, etc.)
“Out.” To drop any and all things you ask them to. “Loose Leash Walking.” They will walk right beside of you on a leash, “Off.” Do not jump on me or anyone else.

The dog must finish our Basic Obedience Package before we will teach them advanced lessons! We offer numerous advanced lessons! Some are: extended distance obedience (your dog will be sitting/downing on command from 50+ yards away from you), heel command (they come running, go around you and sit down right beside your left leg), watch command (stare at you until you release them), through command (go in between your legs and sit down), stand command (they will assume a standing position on command), front command (they will come running and sit directly in front of you no matter where they are), focused heeling (will stare at you the entire time they heel), touch command (they will run up and stand up against anything you point to), and many more!

Advanced Obedience Package Two – This does not include the an Off-Leash K9 Training E-Collar which all of our dogs are trained on, an 20 foot leash, but does includes 10 lessons for $900.00. By the end of this package, your dog will be able to be outside, off-leash, with distractions listening on command.

Advanced Obedience Curriculum **Extended sit, down, and place means your dog will REMAIN in the down, sit, or place position until YOU tell them to “break” (release them).

4) Summary of Owner/Operators Qualifications—Roland T. Williams

• Current Law Enforcement Officer
• Former – K9 Handler (for a Metropolitan Police Department) 8 Years’ Experience
• Former – Training Director for K-9 Koncepts
• Former – Training Director, Certified USA Trial & Club Helper of the Greater Baltimore Schutzhund Club
• Former – Police Officer, Housing Authority of Baltimore City Police Force
• Former – Training Director, Trial & Club Helper of the Baltimore Police and Schutzhund Club
• Former – Training Director, Trial & Club Helper of the Charm City Schutzhund Club
• Former – Training Director of the Charm City Working Dog Association.
• Trained and managed the training of more than 3,000 dogs of multiple breeds during my 40+ year’s career

Education & Training:

• Bi-Weekly In-Service K9 Scent Training for Narcotic & Firearms (Numerous Street Seizures of Narcotics and Firearms)
• Baltimore City Police Academy (Yearly In-Service Police Training) Patrol duties, Traffic, Narcotic Enforcement & Mass Raids
• Attended Training Seminars and Classes in Public Speaking, Communication Skills & the Art of Negotiation
• Instructor Training Course (MD Police Training Commission)
• Schutzhund USA Trial & Club Helper Certification (Jim Hill – Schutzhund USA Teaching Helper)
• ARF Certified Ring Sport Decoy (Brevet)
• USA Northeastern Regional Helper Schutzhund Seminar with a German SV Helper.
• DVG Northwestern Regional Helper Schutzhund Seminar with DVG Judge Jean-Claude Balu
• Private Investigations Training (MSP Detective Denis Smar)
• Hospital Security Training Program
• Commercial & Corporate Security Training Program (Coppin State College)

Professional Experience:

• Sworn Police Officer since 1990
• Police K9 Handler with Numerous Street Seizures for Narcotics and Firearms
• Coordinate weekly training classes for Basic, Advance Obedience & Agility Training as head trainer for K9 Koncepts
• Training Handicap Assistant dogs for K9 Koncepts
• Coordinate weekly training for Schutzhund Training, Tracking, Obedience for the Greater Baltimore Schutzhund Club
• Assist in the Establishment of the Greater Baltimore Schutzhund Club (Training Director, USA Trial & Club Helper)
• Competitor and member of Schutzhund USA, PSA, PPD, Ring Sport and AKC
• Schutzhund USA Club Certified Trial & Club Helper
• Personal Protection & Security dog trainer
• Established the Baltimore Police and Schutzhund Club (Training Director, USA Trial & Club Helper)
• Established the Charm City Schutzhund Club (Training Director, USA Trial & Club Helper)
• Established the Charm City Working Dog Association (Training Director, USA Trial & Club Helper)
• Interviewed Major Wilson Davis – (Famous Book Author “Go Find”-AKC Tracking Judge – Pioneer Trainer Baltimore City Police K-9)
• Read in excess of 625 dog related books & magazines
• Viewed in excess of 10,900 dog related videos, YouTube Video clips & television shows
• Read more than 6,500 dog-related training periodicals, articles, & web sites
• Breeder & Importer of Belgian Milionis, Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, & Pit Bull dogs
• Conducted numerous dog-training seminars. Provided private and group training sessions & Demos
• Demo – on USA Today TV Show, Demo – on Local WJZ News Station.
• Private Investigator -Paragon Investigations – General Investigative techniques: Observation with the use of video and 35mm cameras; client interviews, record search and surveillance. Also insurance accidental and criminal investigations. Proficient and certified in the use of firearms. Extensive public contact.
• K-9 Dog Trainer – MBI K-9- (Trained numerous Security Officers how to handled K-9 dogs. Also trained security dogs for industrial and commercial use under the direct supervision of Captain Bill Flynn head trainer of MBI K-9)