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Designed for those ready to begin their service dog journey

Service Dog Training

Are you considering having your dog trained and certified as a service dog or therapy dog? Wilde Acres can prepare your dog for a working life! Our service dog training programs are designed and led by seasoned Wilde Acres service dog trainers, who have been training service dogs for 15 years. When you book a service dog training at Wilde Acres, rest easy knowing your dog is in the best hands.

Your pup might make a good service dog if they:

  • Are friendly
  • Are easy going
  • Have a stable temperament

A service dog can help you or others dealing with a myriad of physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and even mental health challenges. Bringing a service dog to work, on day-to-day errands, and on public transportation and planes can help some people achieve more independence. A service dog can perform specific tasks to help their handler directly.

We also offer therapy dog training for dogs who could offer physiological or psychological therapy to people other than their handlers. This is especially great if you’re wanting to take your future therapy dog into daycares, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and more.

how it works

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Schedule Initial Lesson

Meet with our service dog training team to develop a training plan and schedule specifically tailored to you and your dog.

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Service Dog Training

You and your dog start lessons onsite, or your dog stays overnight at Wilde Acres and learns our training foundations while we work on unique service dog skills.

Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Continued Handler Training

You and your dog will get follow-up private lessons with the service dog team, reinforcing new habits.


everyone who completes a retreat is eligible for

post retreat handler classes

Every training retreat at Wilde Acres includes six follow-up sessions called Post Retreat Handler Classes. After a dog has completed a training retreat, both owner and dog are eligible to attend the weekly handler classes.

Handler classes are designed to help dog owners handle their dogs the way the Wilde Acres staff did, thus getting better behaviors. These classes will help owners feel completely confident in their dog and their skills. Wilde Acres staff recommends attending at least three handler classes.

Retreat Highlights

What Service & Therapy Dog Training Include

What Can Be Achieved
Depending upon your goals, specific outcomes can include:
  • Public access manners
  • Retrieval of dropped items
  • Mobility assistance
  • Work with assistive devices (power and manual wheelchair, walker, crutches, etc.)
  • Carrying items
  • Balance/support for walking
  • Brace (getting out of chair or up off the floor)
  • Forward momentum/pull-in harness
  • Tug cabinets, fridge, drawers, doors
  • Close doors
  • Tactile stimulation
  • Crowd control
  • Positional cues around humans
  • Body blocking
  • Turn off/on lights
  • Aircraft training
  • Deep therapy pressure for calming effect
  • Hit emergency button
  • Assistance in crisis
  • And more!
What You Can Expect
Your pup’s training program will be customized to your goals. All training programs include:
  • 1-on-1 lessons with an expert trainer
  • Follow-up private lessons
  • For dogs staying overnight, an exit bath that includes hair brushing and washing (up to $160 value)
  • Unlimited phone and email support from Wilde Acres trainers and staff
Daily Training Schedule
The daily schedule includes 1-on-1 obedience lessons and walks in the woods to practice good dog behavior. We also do regular offsites for public access training, so your dog can expand its learning to other environments, such as retail stores and parks. In addition to 1-on-1 time with our trainers, they will also have employee supervised playtime with other dogs.

If you’re seeking dog training for a pup that needs basic fundamentals or other specific types of training, check out our other dog training services options.

A Life Changer!

Carter and all of the people at Wilde Acres are super dedicated and genuinely love dogs and helping owners make a better life with their dogs. They trained my super reactive adult dog and I can now take her anywhere with confidence. A life changer- I enjoy this beautiful dog now and she is so happy.

I also have completed the puppy training program and have a well-behaved and happy Lab that I can take anywhere.

We board with confidence and my dogs go nuts as we approach the facility. Everything about the people and the facility and the methods they use will make you and your dog happy. Thank you Wilde Acres!!!

Professionals & Experts!

I have been so happy with the folks at Wilde Acres. They have been attentive with all my needs. I’ve had many questions, and they have patiently answered them all. I am in a wheelchair and the team made sure to train my puppy to behave appropriately with a handler in a wheelchair. I highly recommend this group of professionals and I don’t use that term lightly. They truly are professionals and experts in what they do. Finally, I have to add that they are also truly pleasant and enjoyable to talk to and work with. You can stop looking now; this is the place.

Changed Our Life!

We took Chief to a number of trainers, spent way too much money and was even referred to a dog behavioral specialist by one of our previous trainers because they were convinced something was wrong with our dog. We eventually just had to change our lifestyle to accommodate the dynamic Chief brought into the family.

After 1 session with Carter, we saw a complete change in Chief's behavior. Before meeting Carter it was miserable taking Chief on a walk, he had horrible leash aggression, constantly pulled and always barked at other dogs. After multiple sessions it was like we had a completely different dog. We had hope that we could go back to doing the things we loved, with our dogs! Fast forward to today. We now go camping, hiking, running, and anything else you can imagine because of the tools Carter gave us. We cannot recommend Carter highly enough, he truly changed our life!

Service Dog Programs

Pricing

All new clients considering service dog training, must schedule an initial private lesson for $250, which is refundable within 7 days of start date. After that, a custom training program and pricing will be determined.

Service Dog Training

Prices vary due to the wide range of needs for dog and handler teams.

New Client Consultation Free of $250

Service Consultation Request

Booking

Let us help you select the right service dog.

Thank You!

Your retreat request has been submitted!

Someone from our Wilde Acres staff will be in touch with you shortly to schedule your retreat. Please note, you have not officially booked a retreat with Wilde Acres.

While you wait, here are great resources that can help answer questions you may have.