September is National Service Dog Month, and we believe that all dogs can learn new tricks. At ECAD, we also believe that EVERYONE Can Attempt Dog Training.

You can play along on Social Media.

1. Check out the instructions and visuals for the command.

2. Teach your dog the command

3. Take a video of your dog doing (or failing - ha) the command

4. Post your video to social media

5. Tag ECAD

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECADServiceDogs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ECADServiceDogs

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ECADServiceDog

6.Use hashtags #ECADtraining, #ServiceDogMonth  and the command hashtag (Week 1 is #watchme)

Each week, one random person will win an ECAD t-shirt. 

Sept 16-22

Are you having a day with a lot going on? Maybe you are prepping your house for a party or having workers in and out all day. Adding to the chaos, Fido is interested in absolutely everything going on and is following you around the house, underfoot at your every turn. A handy command at times like these is the “Go To Bed” command.

Go To Bed

Step 1: 

You decide where Fido’s “Go To Bed” place will be. It could be her kennel or a dog bed or rug in a quiet corner of any room in your house that you choose. Place the kennel, bed, or rug where you want it before beginning the training, so your puppy has an actual “place” to be. Laying a rug, towel, or dog bed down will help Ursula understand what you mean and where you want her to physically be. At first, start with one spot so as not to confuse your puppy.

Step 2:

Have your puppy focused on you, on a leash, and have a treat in hand. Say “Fido, Go To Bed,” while leading her to her bed. As you approach the bed, repeat “Fido, Go To Bed.”

Step 3: 

When she is situated where you want her, tell her “Down” and then “Stay.” Now is the time to praise with a “Yes!” and give her a treat. However, you want to keep your praise a bit subdued so your puppy will stay in her bed, not get up because she is excited. Calm petting and a soft, happy “Good Go To Bed” will help keep her wanting to stay right there.

Step 4: 

Repeat “Go To Bed” and “Stay” as you calmly walk away from your puppy on her bed, watching her out of the corner of your eye. After a few minutes, and before Ursula gets up, return to her, reminding her to “Stay” as you approach. Praise and treat again while repeating “Good Go To Bed.” In the beginning, you will need to return to your puppy to release her after only a minute or two. You can gradually lengthen the amount of time before you return.

Sept 8-15, 2016 

“Show Belly” can be used to effectively groom your puppy, inspect for problems, to position your puppy for nail clipping, and to provide you access to the best spot for a puppy belly rub!

Show Belly

Step 1: Environment for Success

Ensure your pup is in a controlled environment, with minimal distractions, on a leash, and that you have plenty of small yummy treats easily accessible.

Step 2: Learning the Behavior

 Step 1: With your puppy watching you, give him the “Down” command. Smile at your puppy and praise, “Good Down!” (You are halfway there!)

 Step 2a: With a treat in your hand, remind your puppy to stay down and then say, “Shaggy, Show Belly”. Allow your puppy to sniff at the treat and follow it with his nose while you draw your hand diagonally toward and over his hip slowly. As his nose follows your hand with the treat, he will drop onto his side. Repeat “Show Belly” and encourage him with, “That’s It! Show Belly!” as he relaxes onto his side. Then bring the hand with the treat to his nose again and lure him onto his back, keeping your commands and the movements calm and smooth, repeating, “Show Belly”.   

 Step 2b:  Once he is on his back, keep repeating, “Yes! Good Show Belly!” while you gently and calmly pet and stroke his fuzzy belly. Smiling, verbal praise, and pets are enough to show him how pleased you are. Do not feed him a treat while he is lying on his back to avoid a choking hazard. You can treat him once he is upright again.  

Sept 1-7, 2016

At ECAD, we use the “Watch Me” command when our pups are unfocused and distracted. “Watch Me!” is a simple command with a huge impact. The “Watch Me” command often replaces the pup’s name.

Watch Me 

Use this command to regain control of your curious furry four-legged family member both on and off leash. 

Step 1: Environment for Success

Ensure your pup is in a controlled environment, with minimal distractions, on a leash, and that you have plenty of small yummy treats easily accessible.

Step 2: Learning the Behavior

a. Be completely silent; use no commands and focus all of your attention on your pup.

b. Hold a treat in each hand.

c. Bring both hands to your pup’s nose, allowing your pup to smell the treats. Note: Do not give your pup the treats yet; this is just to let him/her know they are there.

d. Extend your arms apart and out of reach of your pup.

e. Wait, your pup will probably look at your hands, and may even jump for your hands, but you will not react, you just wait with no words.

f. At the exact moment your eyes meet, even for just half a second, you reward the behavior with a “YES!” while dropping both hands in front of you and dispensing both treats. Note: You are marking the desired behavior by reinforcing that looking at you is positive and rewarding.

Step 3: Reinforcing the Behavior

Repeat the sequence until you see your pup understands that looking into your eyes is the behavior that will result in receiving a reward.

Step 4: Integrating the Command

a. With both arms extended, treats in hand, say the command “Watch Me”. Note: You only say the command once, remember your pup does not speak ‘Human’, so your pup does not understand what “Watch Me” means just yet.

b. At the exact moment your eyes meet, even for just half a second, you reward the behavior with a “YES! Watch Me! YES!” while dropping both hands in front of you and dispensing both treats.

c. Repeat step 4b until your pup is looking at you the moment you say “Watch Me”.

Step 5: Extended Eye Contact

Once your pup is performing the task easily, ask for more. With your arms still extended, delay dispensing the reward for a full three count, or the length of this statement “Watch Me…That’s It…Watch Me.” At the completion of the statement say “YES!” while dropping both hands in front of you and dispensing both treats. Note: Your pup must keep full eye contact with you to receive the reward. If Buster’s eyes wander, quickly say “No!” followed by “Watch Me” and return to step 4. Buster is not 100% ready to hold eye contact yet. Goal: Ultimately, you want your pup to hold eye contact with you for 20 seconds while your arms are fully extended. Once successfully reaching this goal three times consistently, you are ready to move on to step 6.

Step 6: Reducing Cues

Now that you have successfully completed step 5, place your arms by your side, ensuring your pup cannot reach the treats, and repeat steps 4 and 5.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the “Watch Me” training tip. 

“Show Belly” can be used to effectively groom your puppy, inspect for problems, to position your puppy for nail clipping, and to provide you access to the best spot for a puppy belly rub!

Are you having a day with a lot going on? Maybe you are prepping your house for a party or having workers in and out all day. Adding to the chaos, Ursula is interested in absolutely everything going on and is following you around the house, underfoot at your every turn. A handy command at times like these is the “Go To Bed” command.

Did you know that September is National Service Dog Month?

National Service Dog Month was created to celebrate dogs who help humans. Here at ECAD, we've trained more then 300 Service Dogs to enable people with disabilities to gain greater independence and mobility. You can find Service Dogs not only assisting individuals, but in skilled nursing facilities, courthouses, physical therapy practices and hospitals. The goal in each setting remains the same - the working dogs help to support and increase independence for the people they are servicing.

We invite you to join our celebration of National Service Dog Month.

We want to introduce you to some of the Clients ECAD Service Dogs have helped. By Joining our email list you will receiveto get up-to-the-minute details about National Service Dog Month.

This month, we want to introduce you to some of the Clients ECAD Service Dogs have helped regain increased independence.

Every week you will meet a Team that has been made possible by generous supporters like you.  And, you will get to learn a little about their journey to becoming a Team. 

You will also meet a Service Dog Team that work assisting multiple individuals in a facility setting and a Successor Dog!  A Successor Dog is the dog that takes over when the initial Service Dog passes or retires from working.  It’s a very special process and you’ll meet a very special Team.

Every month, thousands of people Google "how to get a Service Dog." We created this infographic to answer the question! ECAD provides people with disabilities with Service Dogs through our simple 5 step process.

Step 1: Inquire and Apply

People interested in learning how to get a Service Dog inquire by completing the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, which allows ECAD to confirm that we can serve your specific situation and needs. If you qualify, you will be invited to complete the online application. If accepted applicants will be reuired to provide a series of documents. 

Step 2: Interview

Once the applicant has submitted all required documents, an interview will be scheduled for a meet and greet with the dogs at the ECAD Campus in Torrington, CT. Following the interview, the applicant will be notified of acceptance status. If accepted, the applicant will be required to provide a non-refundable commitment fee to become a candidate. 

Step 3: Candidate

Candidates, along with ECAD's support team, use the 12 to 18 month waiting period to secure the appropriate funds needed to attend the 13-day Team Training. The ECAD team will be busy too, identifiying and educating a Service Dog that will suit the candidate's particular needs. 

Step 4: Client

With the necessary funds secure and the ECAD team confident we have a Service Dog that will meet the candidate's needs, the candidate is invited to Team Training and becomes a client. 

Step 5: Team Training 

Each client attends a 13-day Team Training at ECAD's Torrington, CT campus. There, clients will be paired with their future Service Dog. The team will prepare for the Public Access Test which accesses the safety of the client, dog and public. 

The end is really the beginning for successful clients and dogs who reach the final phase, becoming graduates. ECAD is committed to the success of the Team and requires an annual Public Access recertification for a minimum of two years post-graduation. We also provide ongoing support for the duration of the partnership.