- Corona, Queens
Important Update
No More In-Home Training
Top Dog Training no longer does In-Home Training. We exclusively do Boarding and Training at our new center in Corona, Queens.
Top Dog Training no longer does In-Home Training. We exclusively do Boarding and Training at our new center in Corona, Queens.
At Top Dog Training, our Psychiatric Service Dog training program empowers dogs with the essential skills to support individuals with psychiatric disabilities, such as depression, PTSD, and severe anxiety. Using positive, science-based methods at our Corona, Queens facility and in your home environment, our expert trainers develop practical, task-specific abilities. We build trusted partnerships that enhance independence and improve quality of life.
Believe it or not, there is no license or permit requirement to have a service dog. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) reads that a service animal is a guide dog, signal dog, or other animal trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Again, the ADA doesn’t require governmental certification, of any kind, for service dogs. Further, businesses have to abide by the ADA law as it pertains to service dogs and must allow entrance to their places of business regardless of whether the dog is displaying a service uniform, tag or other declaration. Additionally, businesses that work with the public, including stores and restaurants, cannot require proof of the disability or a service dog certification. However, you must have a disability listed under ADA guidelines.
So what does the dog owner need to do in order to make his dog an official service dog? Technically? Nothing. There are only 2 questions an establishment owner can ask when you arrive with your service dog. In situations where it’s not obvious that the dog is indeed a service dog, the store owner (or staff) can only ask (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Again, staff cannot require documentation, ask the dog to demonstrate his/her task, or ask about the person’s disability. In fact, the only times the staff can ask the owner to remove his service dog is when the dog is out of control and the owner fails to take corrective action, or the service dog is not housebroken.
Inside an establishment, the service dog can go anywhere their owner goes. A store employee’s or customer’s statement that she is allergic to dogs is an unacceptable excuse to remove the dog from the establishment. Service dogs are not pets. One should not pet or play with a service dog unless permission is granted by the owner. No identification card or documentation is required to on the service dog or on the owner’s person.
During our intensive 3-week Service Dog Board & Train Program at our facility in Corona, Queens, your dog will receive individualized training designed to build the obedience, manners, confidence, and disability-related task work necessary for a working service dog.
Your dog will be trained multiple times each day in one-on-one sessions with our professional trainers. Training is customized around both your dog’s temperament and your individual needs.
During the three-week program, your dog will learn and practice approximately 20 commands and skills, which may include:
We also address appropriate socialization, impulse control, leash manners, environmental confidence, and unwanted behaviors that could interfere with your dog’s ability to work successfully in public.
A major part of service-dog training is teaching the dog that being in public is different from simply being a pet on a walk. Your dog will work on remaining calm, focused, and responsive around distractions such as other dogs, strangers, noises, food, doors, vehicles, and busy environments.
In addition to obedience and public-access skills, we will train your dog to perform specific tasks directly related to your disability. Depending upon your individual needs and your dog’s physical abilities and temperament, tasks may include:
The exact service tasks taught will be discussed with you before training begins so that the program can be individualized to your needs.
Your dog will receive:
When your dog is not actively training, walking, exercising, or participating in daycare, your dog will normally rest in a crate. Private suites may be available as an upgrade, depending upon availability.
We also offer half-day or full-day doggie daycare, as well as pickup and drop-off transportation, for additional fees.
Training the dog is only part of developing a successful service-dog team. The handler must also understand exactly how to maintain the dog’s skills.
After your dog’s three-week stay, we will schedule three private follow-up sessions at your home. During these sessions, we will transfer everything your dog has learned to you, including:
Our goal is not simply to return a trained dog to you. Our goal is to develop a working partnership between you and your dog and give you the knowledge necessary to maintain that training.
The cost of our 3-Week Service Dog Board & Train Program is $6,000.
The program includes: 3 weeks of boarding and intensive training, individualized disability-related task training, and three private follow-up training sessions at your home.
This video explains the overall process and the steps involved in developing a service dog: Watch here.
For more detailed information specifically about our Psychiatric Service Dog Program, watch: this video.
We invite you to read our 325+ 5-STAR Google reviews and see what our clients have to say about their experiences with Top Dog Training: Read our reviews.
Top Dog Training has also been honored as “World’s Greatest Dog Trainer” by the acclaimed television series World’s Greatest!… Our feature has aired on Bloomberg TV and related syndication outlets, highlighting Top Dog Training and our approach to professional dog training. You can watch our World’s Greatest! feature here: Watch the feature.
Every service-dog candidate is different. Temperament, health, age, confidence, trainability, and the specific tasks required all play a role in determining whether a dog is appropriate for service work. Our program is therefore customized around the individual dog and handler rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
