Owner Trainer Academy

In our Owner Trainer Academy, we work with clients and their current dog. An assessment is required to ensure the dog is safe in public, enjoys their work and have the potential for service work. If the dog passes the initial assessment, we can begin our training curriculum.

In the event a dog does not meet our requirements, or does not pass the evaluation, we cannot continue forward with that dog.

In the event a client has a working Service Dog (Self taught/ Trainer Assisted/ Program Dog) they still must have an assessment done.

**If a client does not have a dog and needs help finding a suitable candidate, we can aid them in their search.**

The Owner Trainer Academy takes dedication. It is designed to encourage the team, challenge them with their testing and teach the dog helpful tasks which will aid the handler in their day to day lives. Smith Haven Service Dogs aims to produce confident and successful Service Dog Teams.

The Owner Trainer Academy works alongside the Handler. Smith Haven Service Dog Trainers are there to teach the handler, advocate for dog wellness, and provide a structured training regiment that will help create a dog that is trained to mitigate and assist the Handler.

Clients in this program must be dedicated and self motivated to continue their training when away from their trainers. The success of the dog is based on the consistency of the training and hours put in.

Working Support means support from our program for the entire working life of your dog. We are not only here for training needs but for travel, daily life questions, and more. We can help contact air travel companies to ensure your flight goes smoothly, Hotel companies to solidify a well-rested night. We can also help you with access denial and have even helped teams with their HRTC paperwork.  

Clients have access to contact their trainer should they have any questions or concerns.  

All dogs part of the Owner Trainer Academy are purchased and owned by the client. Dogs part of this program are not the property of Smith Haven Service Dogs.  

This program and the time it takes to complete it, is determined by the handler. Handlers can take their time and decide to go at their own pace choosing what they want to work on during their private sessions.   

The Owner Trainer Academy involves a lot of time management skills, self-motivation on you as the handler to continue training at home. Owner Training is not easy and can be quite stressful so when thinking about which route to take, it is best to be honest with yourself and those in home with you.  

Smith Haven Service Dogs will never push a handler to graduate, this program is handler driven! 

Owner Trainer Academy -

Applications OPEN, closing JUNE 7th

* Certain limitations apply