Joel Silverman’s Special Needs Dog Trainer Program – This dog training program is designed to empower high functioning special needs individuals with autism or Down syndrome aged 16 and up. This program is ideal for who love dogs and have a desire to train them, and provides students with the knowledge and understanding of dog training using positive reinforcement techniques. Most importantly, the skills developed through this program can be shared with friends and family. Additionally, these techniques can pave the way for high functioning special needs students to pursue a paid career in dog training if they wish to continue in this field. By starting in the state of Nevada and identifying candidates with these qualities, our goal is to build a strong team of special needs dog trainers working at dog training facilities, dog day care businesses, and humane societies within the state. Once these trainers have a solid foundation, the next step is to take these individuals with us as we teach other special needs throughout the nation.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services – We are currently in the process of applying as a contractor with Vocational Rehabilitation Services of Nevada. As a contractor, we hope to work with dozens of high functioning special needs individuals each year throughout the state of Nevada (focusing on the Reno and Las Vegas markets). Vocational rehabilitation, also abbreviated VR or voc rehab, is a process which enables persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities, impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining, or returning to employment or other useful occupations.
DAY 1 – Wichita, Kansas – The PLACE behavior is one of the most important, and easiest behaviors to train. One of the reasons it that an elevated area is a defined place, and by using this tool, it creates clarity for the dog. It also is essential in helping teach the STAY behavior.
DAY 3 – Wichita, Kansas – As the dog begins to learn, we can now start to create distance between the dog and the elevated area. By doing this, we not start to teach distance and control, but this also allows us to teach the “sit”, “stay”, and “place” at the same time.
The SIT behavior is another important behavior because when the dog is in a sitting position, the dog is neutral and this also creates clarity for the dog. Students will learn two different ways to teach the SIT behavior.
As the dog begins to understand, over the course of time, we begin to put the “sit” behavior on cue.
The simplest way to teach the SIT behavior is using an elevated area, which we call “capturing the sit behavior”. Anything techniques we can use that will shorten the “learning time” for the dog, we will use. This is one of the few behaviors that we will “capture”.
The HEEL is one of the most important behaviors, because it teaches the dog control, and to be next to the owner. A lot of behavior problems occur when a dog is allowed to pull and lunge. By teaching this behavior, it eliminates that opportunity.
The simplest way to teach the STAY behavior is by using an elevated area, which is a defined place. Many people make a huge mistake by teaching this behavior on flat ground, and by doing so, the dog is able to cheat. Elevated areas eliminate the “cheating” problem.
As the dog begins to understand, over the course of the next few days, students then are able to start creating distance and control.
When the dog is in the LIE DOWN position, it is the most neutral position a dog can be in. By doing so, it really helps when teaching the STAY behavior, and asking the dog to stay for longer periods of time.
SMALL STEPS
We have figured out that the best way to teach people to train dogs is to break behaviors into 6-8 small steps. We also talk a lot about the foundation, and how some of the beginning steps are the most important ones. By teaching the students to understand these 6-8 steps for each behavior, it simply makes it a lot easier for for both the trainer and dog. We feel like breaking down all these behaviors into small steps can be especially helpful in learning for special needs students!
THE BOND AND RELATIONSHIP
Joel Silverman’s core value is understanding about the bond and relationship in with dogs. Quite often, this very important point that is overlooked, and this message is always talked about in all his books, DVDs, and TV shows. Students learn the value of the bond and relationship, and getting the animal in a place where he simply wants to make them happy. Once the dog is in that place, it lays an incredible foundation for dog training.
THE BEHAVIORS
We understand that there are some limitations in teaching special needs dog training. One of the main things we will not be focusing on are behavioral issues like jumping, barking, and aggression. Instead, we will be only teaching the same six behaviors we teach in our regular JSDT1 Dog Trainer Certification Program. It is a fact that many behavioral issues can develop because dogs were never taught these behaviors:
– Sit
– Stay
– Come
– Place
– Heel
– Lie Down
WHAT’S INVOLVED?
We simply come to you, and work with the up to three students for three days. We want to stay involved with their training, so we will have them send us texts and videos of their training and progression.
UPON COMPLETION
Upon completion, all students recieve:
– A signed JSDT1S (Joel Silverman JSDT1 Special Needs Certification)
– Two signed books – (More What Color is Your Dog? and Rituals)
– Lifetime membership to Joel Silverman’s Membership area on his website (We have videos from start to finish with over 15 behaviors)
GOALS
We have three main goals with this program.
– The first is to give these students an understanding of dog training, so that they may share these techniques with family and friends. By doing so, we feel that this will empower them as they are able to actually teach people these training techniques they have learned.
– The next would be to take the training to a level of actually becoming a dog trainer and being paid, and this comes from time spent training multiple dogs.
– Our last goal is to teach some of the students to not only train dogs, but also to teach other special needs. We plan on taking some special needs with Joel Silverman to other cities to teach others. By doing so, we feel that we can slowly create a nation of special needs dog trainers.
For more information, please email us at joel@joelsilverman.net or call us at (661)713-8832. We are fully insured with:
