A Service Dog's Lifetime Timeline

Below is some information provided by Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) that shows how long it takes to train their Service Dogs.

This timeline also holds true for us self-trainers, except we do ALL the work. We do everything the CCI volunteers do and everything the CCI trainers do.

More importantly, we also can experience the same failure rate shown below. Something all self-trainers have to keep in mind.

--------------------------
Only 40% of the puppies that enter the Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) program will complete the more than 2-year-long training and be matched with a human partner.

Dogs are removed from the program along the way for health, behavior or temperament issues.

Puppies that are released from the program are generally adopted by their volunteer puppy raisers or placed in carefully selected homes.

At two months old:
  • Puppy is turned over to a volunteer.
  • Volunteers work with their dogs for up to 16 months.
  • They provide a secure and safe home.
  • They teach 20 core commands and socialize the dogs so they are comfortable and confident in cars, using mass transit, going to the office and working in public.

At 13-18 months:
  • Puppies declared fit to continue in the program are returned to CCI for advanced training for up to six months with a professional trainer to learn 30 more commands.

At 19-24 months:
  • Dogs are matched with prospective recipients based on personality, need and abilities during an intensive two-week training program.
  • Training culminates in a graduation ceremony in which the puppy raiser presents the dog to its new partner.

For the rest of the Service Dogs lifespan:
  • The average service life of each dog is eight years.
  • After a dog retires, it stays on as a family pet.
Source: Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)
--------------------------



Comments

Anonymous said…
Interesting information. Most of us would have no idea of what is involved.
1:18 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Workers free dog trapped in sewer pipe

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) -- The sound of barking underneath a street Tuesday led a team of city workers to a dog trapped in a narrow culvert - and you might say they used a backward approach to rescue the mutt. The sickly, scared dog was about 50 feet from the nearest entry point, but since the culvert was just 15 inches in diameter, the workers couldn't fit into it themselves. Not even offers of food could draw out the dog. "He was exhausted," said Tony Talamantez, a public works foreman. Then Talamantez and his colleagues had an idea. They rigged up a long video camera used to inspect drain pipes, and approached the dog from the back. They used the camera to nugdge the dog forward until he reached an entry point big enough for a person to pull him out. The camera recorded the rescue, showing the dog scampering ahead in fits and starts as the camera pokes him in the rear end. The dog wore no tags, only a worn collar. But Julia Gosen, animal control officer for the city, said
Read more

Axe Me A Question

Go ahead and ask. Ask the questions you always wanted to ask someone in a wheelchair. Nothing is too embarrassing. You might as well ask me on this blog since you are somewhat anonymous and don't have to look me in the eye. What have you always wanted to ask someone in a wheelchair? Here, I'll start: Q: "Hi, my name is LaLaundria! I wanted to know how do you take a shower?" A: Well, LaLaundria, I sit down. On a shower chair. I have grab-bars installed in my shower/tub and my commode rooms to give me extra balance. A shower chair is a hard plastic chair made to fit in showers and tubs. I have a shower massage type shower head that helps get the water closer to my hair. Howze that? Ask away, no question is off limits! (Oh Jeez, what am I getting myself into!)
Read more

Here Doggie!

While shopping at Sprouts today, I had a guy in the next checkout lane actually whistle at Frankie. WHAT?! He whistled to him like he was calling the hounds back from the barn. Then he went to reach for him. I actually placed my hand on this guys chest and said: "He's not a ranch dog, you shouldn't be distracting him, he's working." Mr. Cowboy didn't even apologize... but he got schooled! Oy.
Read more