LLLeashes LLC
Email: LLLeashes@gmail.com
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D.A.D.s go through many stages of learning in order to achieve the high standards required of them. Below is a typical timeline for the training of a D.A.D. I train, but each dog is different and sometimes I modify the timeline as I am constantly tweaking things in order to find the most effective way to work with each dog.

< 7 weeks (often training does not begin yet)
  • Luring practice
  • Scent imprinting (put low blood sugar scent on mother's nipples, reward for following scent)
  • Lots of handling
7 - 8 weeks
  • Very basic obedience - mostly luring sit and rewarding for coming to me
  • Imprinting of low blood sugar scent - saliva sample in jar with holes in top, when puppy smells it click and treat.
  • Begin crate training
9-10 weeks
  • More structured basic obedience - sit, down, stand, come, heel, watch me, place, and get dressed.
  • Continued imprinting of low blood sugar scent, gradually begin requiring a pawing of the jar
  • Continued crate training
  • Socialization
  • Short trips to pet friendly stores without any strict behavior standards (may be put in cart, held, etc.).
11-12 weeks
  • Sit, down, stand, stay, heel, recall, leave it, drop, place, and get dressed.
  • Scent training - reward for pawing scent source, transition scent source to hand.
  • Continued crate training
  • Socialization
  • Short trips to pet friendly stores without any strict behavior standards. Practice scent training in the stores.
13-14 weeks
  • Continual work with sit, down, stand, stay, heel, recall, leave it, drop, place, and get dressed. Work a lot on under.
  • Scent training - scent source is in hand, reward for pawing. Begin scent games - put scent in one container with other identical containers and reward when puppy paws positive container.
  • Crate training
  • Socialization
  • Begin public access trips - puppy goes into a store for a few minutes, then we leave. Very quick and positive!
15-16 weeks
  • Continual work on basic commands, with focus on heel, watch me, under, and get dressed. 
  • Work on place for 3 minutes without any interaction.
  • Scent training - continue games from previous weeks. Begin hidden scent samples to see if puppy identifies smell without the prompting of a training session
  • Socialization
  • Public access - still very short trips, but a little longer than the previous weeks'. Still very fun and positive while being on best behavior. Occasionally practice basic scent work in the store.
4-5 months
  • Work on commands and solidifying them in increasingly distracting environments
  • Work on place for up to 5 minutes without interaction.
  • Scent training - continual practice and shaping of the polite alert chain. Add in testing with the meter and waiting for results.
  • Alert behavior - if a bringsel is to be used, it may  be introduced during this time
  • Public access - real trips will be taken, still short at 30 - 45 minutes per day. But manners and good behavior will be expected. Occasionally practice easy scent work in the store.
5-6 months
  • Continual practice with commands in distracting environments. 
  • Work on place for up to 15 minutes without interaction.
  • Scent training - continual practice and shaping of the polite alert chain (with testing and waiting). Add in normal saliva sample as a control that the dog must not alert to.
  • Alert behavior - if a bringsel is to be used it will be introduced if not already
  • Public access - trips from 45 minutes - 1 hour long will be taken a few times each week. Increase frequency of scent work in public.
  • Introduce fetch and the criteria for it. 
  • If not already begun, begin running multiple times each week with the dog.
6-7 months
  • Continue to practice obedience commands and other service dog commands (paws up, get up, close, side, between, etc.).
  • Increase duration of place, up to 30 minutes without interaction.
  • Scent training - increase the scent sessions in public, and increase difficulty level. Add in high saliva samples (250 and above). Continue to work with normal blood sugar level saliva sample.
  • Alert behavior - continue to refine the alert chain.
  • Public access - trips from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. 
  • Continue fetch and running.
7-8 months
  • Continue to practice obedience commands and other service dog commands.
  • Increase duration of place, up to 45 minutes without interaction
  • Scent training - continue scent sessions in public. Add in high samples (200 and above) Continue to work with normal blood sugar level saliva sample.
  • Alert behavior - continue to refine alert chain. Begin to fade out all prompts.
  • Public access - trips up to 1.5 hours. Increase distraction level - pet stores, bowling, movies, etc.
  • Continue fetch and running
8-9 months
  • Continue to practice obedience commands and other service dog commands.
  • Increase duration of place, up to 1 hour without interaction. 
  • Scent training - continue scent sessions in public. Add in high samples (190 and above).
  • Alert behavior - continue to refine alert chain and finish fading out all prompts.
  • Public access - trips up to 2 hours. 
  • Continue fetch and running
  • Be around a diabetic for short spurts.
9-10 months
  • Continue to practice obedience commands and other service dog commands.
  • Increase amount of off lead work
  • Scent training - continue scent sessions in public. Continue with high samples.
  • Alert behavior - continue to refine alert chain. May begin moving bringsel to collar/vest if applicable.
  • Public access - trips up to 2.5 hours.
  • Continue fetch and running.
  • Introduce low impact agility - very low jumps, grids, tunnels, chutes, etc. 
  • Have two training sessions with new handler.
10-11 months
  • Continue to practice obedience commands and other service dog commands
  • Work on off lead behaviors with more distractions.
  • Scent training - continue scent sessions in public. Continue working with high samples.
  • Alert behavior - continue to refine alert chain. Continue working with new bringsel location if applicable.
  • Continue daily running.
  • Continue low impact agility.
  • Have two training sessions with new handler.
11-12 months
  • Continue to practice obedience commands and other service dog commands
  • Work on off lead behaviors with more distractions - dog park, pet stores, etc.
  • Scent training - continue scent sessions in public. Begin adding in normal blood sugar saliva samples close to highs but not quite to differentiate between them. 
  • Alert behavior - continue to refine alert chain.
  • Continue daily running.
  • Continue low impact agility
  • Have one training session each week with new handler.
12-14 months
  • Continue refining everything.
  • Focus on specific areas that need work.
  • Continue running and low impact agility.
  • Have one training session each week, and every other week new handler keeps dog overnight.
14-16 months
  • Continue refining
  • Focus on specific areas that need work.
  • Continue running
  • Regular agility can be done.
  • One training session each week with new handler, and new handler keeps the dog every weekend.
Approximately 16 months - Graduation! 

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What Our Clients Are Saying

“Libby understands her clients and the puppies she trains.  This, combined with her experience, skill, warmth and great ability to communicate, produce happy and meaningful results for all.  Our family and Scout are deeply grateful to her!”
 
 - Amy Taylor and Nelson Rockefeller

Contact Us!

LLLeashes@gmail.com