About ADTI

Our Training

ADTI provides custom training for service dog owners based on individual needs. We use positive reinforcement methods to teach the behaviours that are necessary for dogs working in public settings and to train the specific tasks you need from the canine partner in your life. Our trainers have experience working with children, adults, and families training their dogs to create successful dog/handler teams.

We specialize in a personalized approach that focuses on how your partnership with your service dog will help you overcome the challenges you face in your home and public. We use positive reinforcement methods to teach the behaviours that are necessary for dogs working in public settings and to train the specific tasks you need from the canine partner in your life. We either find a perfect puppy for our client, adopt and train, or start training a dog that the client already owns.

​Service/Emotional dogs increase freedom and independence by assisting in everyday life. Service/Emotional dogs can improve the lives of people with a wide range of disabilities, whether physical, neurological, or psychiatric. We train dogs to mitigate symptoms of many disabilities such as autism, anxiety disorders, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, hearing impairment, multiple sclerosis (MS), narcolepsy, post-traumatic stress (PTS or PTSD), severe allergies, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). We also often customize tasks for a specific client’s needs.

The following are examples of the most common disability skills we teach:

DETECT:

• Allergens, such as specific foods or triggering odors

• Low blood sugar levels

• The presence or absence of people in a designated area or location

• Change in cortisol levels

ALERT:

• To people approaching

• As a response to your name or someone trying to get your attention

• For specific sounds, such as alarms, ring tones, sirens, or vehicles backing up

• For specific smells, such as smoke or gas

• Seek help from someone else when you have a medical emergency

• Press a medical alert button for designated emergency contact

• Wake-up alerts

SUPPORT:

• Act as a positional buffer – behind, in front, looking the opposite way, or circling

• Turn on and off lights, including turning on the light for you before you enter a room

• Open and hold doors

• Provide bracing for you to stand up or steady yourself

• Tug or hold clothing, socks and shoes to assist with dressing and undressing

• Pull to assist manual wheelchair propulsion

• Target away from walking out into a street or other dangerous areas

• Offer a signal that allows you to excuse yourself from the company of others politely

CALM:

• Apply or receive deep pressure therapeutically

• Cuddle on cue

• Interrupt repetitive movements or compulsive behaviours

• Lead to uncrowded area or place to sit down

• Respond to anxiety or panic attack

• Interrupt nightmares or night terrors

RETRIEVE:

• Get personal items and bring to you, such as keys or cell phones

• Carry items for you

• Deliver payment to store clerk or receive and carry merchandise for you

• Open and close doors, cabinets, drawers or appliances to bring you something from inside

• Bring medication to you at a designated time

We provide our Certified Service Dog Certificate ONLY at the completion of training and the successful completion of the Public Access Certification Test once they have completed 120 hours of training in a 6 month period as set out by the IAADP Minimum Training Standards for Public Access.