Our Service Dog Training Promise
Our promise is to provide personal support and encouragement through the entire process of training your own service dog. We only accept clients 100% committed to the process of training their dog to improve their life. If this describes you, we would love to welcome you to the College for Pets family.
3 Service Dog Training Programs To Help You
Owner Trained Service Dog Puppy Program
The ideal service dog scenario is to raise your puppy from 8 weeks through adulthood. This option is a complete program that will assure your puppy is well socialized, well adjusted and eager to learn.
We combine early group socialization in Puppy Preschool, foundation learning skills in Group Basic Obedience/CGC and round out your program with with service skills focused private training lessons.
Age appropriate interactive toys are included as a way to hone your puppies problem solving abilities. A vest, harness, leash and badge are included.
With our Owner Trained Service Dog Puppy Program, we are your coach through the entire process of puppy development to working service dog.
Tuition: $5,500
Payment Plan Available
Owner Trained Adult Service Dog Program
Training an adult dog for service dog work is not only possible, but in some ways easier than training a puppy. An adult dog has already had months or years of experience with learning how to learn.
We designed our Owner Trained Adult Service Dog Program for dogs over 5 months old that have had some basic obedience training. Private lessons allow for laser focused training on the specific assistance skills you need.
Your service dog must be reliable and focused in public, therefore Public Access Skills training is much of this program. Registration, lifetime support, a vest, harness, and badge are included.
With our Owner Trained Adult Service Dog Program, we are your coach through the entire process of building a foundation to being rewarded with a working service dog.
Tuition: $4,500
Payment Plan Available
We Are Your Partner in the Training of Your Service Dog
What Our Clients Have To Say
“I absolutely loved the service dog training that Hank and I completed with Mike. Mike is very knowledgeable and you can tell he knows how to train animals. Sometimes one way of teaching Hank a task did not work and Mike could give an alternative method that worked. He also made sure that I understood what Hank, and I needed to work on, which helped us to be successful.”
-Jen Laudenbach and Hank Military Veteran Service Dog
“Every step I was included in and informed and any questions or concerns I had through out the whole process he answered and helped with. But training not done when you go home. He would give me worksheets explaining what we did that day and give me some homework to do with my dog at home till next training session. In-between training sessions he would check in and see how things are going. Sometimes he asks for you to video training at home and may give suggestions on what might help. To me that just goes to show that he does everything he can to help and genuinely cares and wants to help. He helps, makes it fun, and easy to get along with which for me made it better and felt like could trust him with helping me with my dog.”
-Alyssa & Kato
“Mike is great! He is very flexible about schedules, when need be. He is patience with both the pet and the pet parent. His gentle way of training is far more effective than the yelling and popping on the nose that I learned growing up with dogs. Piper and I learned a ton from Mike, and the play groups were important for Piper to feel comfortable with dogs outside of her own “pack”.”
-Ivy Page and Piper the Service Dog
Service Dog Training Questions & Answers
Working service dogs need to possess these five characteristics:
- Zero aggression towards people or animals.
- Zero fear or anxiety in new situations and around new people or animals
- A high tolerance for noise and commotion.
- A motivation to learn and serve.
- Be the appropriate size for the tasks. This is critical for mobility work.
Remember, even if the dog doesn’t possess all five characteristics, they still may provide assistance. If the disqualifying factors cannot be changed with training, the dog will not be suitable for public access, but may be able to learn home assistance skills.
There are literally hundreds of jobs that you can train a dog to perform. Here are the most common tasks that we include in our training.
- Pick up a specific object and bring it to the handler
- Remind the handler to take pills
- Lay on the handler to provide touch comfort
- Help with balance and stability
- Recognize anxiety and distract the handler
- Alert the handler to alarms, doorbell, knocking, sirens, etc
- Turn the lights on and off
We Provide Training for the Following Conditions
- Mobility Support
- P.T.S.D.
- Psychiatric Support
- Seizure Response
- Reading Assistance
- Diabetic Alerting
- Hearing Disability
- Stress & Anxiety Conditions
We Do Not Currently Train For
- Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Seizure Alerting
- Childhood Autism
- Allergen Alerting
- Epilepsy Alerting
The time needed to complete your training varies widely based on the skills you need, the current skill level of your dog and your availability to train. Plan on 18-24 months of training for your dog to be proficient in most skills needed, followed by a year or more of working those skills during your daily life.
We accept financing through PayPal Credit. Many customers are approved for the full cost of training with the benefit of No Interest if paid in full in 6 months.
You can apply for pre-approval here.
We also offer an in-house payment plan. Apply in person or contact us.
Other options for raising the money needed for training are fundraising, crowdsourcing (GoFundMe, etc) or applying for grants. We also accept all major credit cards.
We require full payment before training begins.
Congratulations on making the first move in your journey to increased freedom! The next step is to answer a few short questions that will help us prepare the best program outline for you.
Once you have submitted the answers, and we have reviewed it, we will get in touch to schedule a time to meet you and your dog.
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I’ve been boarding my dogs with Mike for years when we’d go on family vacations and have always felt so comfortable our dogs have been very well cared for. ... read more
Heather Phillips
February 25, 2022Every member of the staff cares for our dog as if they were their own (maybe better!). In particular, our little Frenchie is full of energy and WMCP allows her... read more
Jini Rae Sparkman
May 2, 2021I leave my 13 year old ornery doxie here and am thrilled at their comfort level in dealing with a grouchy old man. Other pet places in this area wouldn’t... read more
Erin Kampmann
February 25, 2022 -
Positive: Professionalism , Quality , Reliability , Responsiveness , Value They gave me training as an owner of a great dog to do what I... read more
Walter Burkhart
October 27, 2021From the very first day, the staff at White Mountain College for Pets has been so welcoming & eager to help. They truly care about all the pets they... read more
Valerie De Rosch
February 25, 2022The staff is incredible and my dog is well cared for. We vacation in the NH lakes region twice a year and we have been White Mountain College clients for... read more
Patrick Jay
September 2, 2021 -
I went to WMCP because I had a dog/people reactive dog. He now eagerly attends camp to socialize and PLAY with other dogs! My vet, groomer, friends and family all... read more
Donna Borges
March 25, 2022I have 2 young male dogs who attend College for Pets twice weekly. They look forward to going and are very tired when they return. The staff is professional, hard... read more
Maureen Toland
February 25, 2022Been sending Millie to doggie day camp this summer. She loves it! People are all great and really care about the fur babies they have in their charge.
Lynne Bates
July 2, 2021 -
Really great caring staff and top notch facility- our positive experience started with a few training classes when our dog was a puppy, all excellent and helpful for our pup's... read more
Andrew Ines
April 25, 2022My dog Biscuit loves going to White Mountain College for Pets! They have a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and I feel as though my dog is well taken care of... read more
Michelle McCauley
February 25, 2022We have used many services from White Mountain College for pets. Where to start, puppy classes, obedience foundation, grooming, lodging plus. The facility is super clean. Staff... read more
B Ladd
March 25, 2022 -
My dog, Rio (English cream golden, 1 year old), is extremely happy at White Mountain College for Pets. She finished the basic trainings recently and already behaves well. She also... read more
Kaori Ito
February 25, 2022My fiancé and I are so thankful that we found White Mountain College for Pets! As most everyone we know knows, Beau is the most hyper pup I have ever... read more
Callie Bechtol
April 2, 2021They take great care of your cat while you are on vacation. Like sending your kitty to camp for the week!
Mark Andrew
September 2, 2021 -
We have been bringing our pups here for 3 years. From obedience training, to fun agility classes and weekly day care - Mike and his team are professional, kind and... read more
LeeAnne O'Neil
February 25, 2022This is my go-to place for my lacie. They take such good care of her.
diana jay
September 2, 2021