Positive Reinforcement Training

Operates a program to breed and raise service dogs in-house, placing puppies in correctional facilities at 8 weeks of age where they are raised by incarcerated individuals for approximately 24 months, with early and continuous socialization from birth. Exposes puppies to diverse environments and stimuli within prisons and through structured community exposure programs.

Distributed free photo booklets documenting the first group of puppies raised at Green Haven Correctional Facility, including their graduation and placement with veterans and active-duty police partners.

Engages approximately 150 incarcerated individuals annually as puppy raisers in its program, providing structured responsibility and fostering empathy through dog training and care.

Has been operating since 1997, facilitating interactions between incarcerated individuals and service dogs for public benefit, and has raised more than 2,000 puppies to date.

Runs volunteer-based community exposure programs including weekend puppy sitting, “Puppies by the Hour” day trips, and weekly shuttles to Manhattan to ensure service puppies are socialized in diverse urban environments.

Conducts routine and extensive follow-up with veteran-service dog teams after placement, retains ownership of the dog for life to ensure performance, and provides ongoing support, advice, and feedback to veterans for years after placement.

Conducts two annual team training sessions that pair veterans, first responders, and police officers with service and therapy dogs. Provides final, individualized training for service dogs matched with disabled veterans based on specific needs, and covers all costs—including lodging, meals, and transportation—for participants attending the 14-day training program in upstate NY.

Trains service, therapy, and explosive-detection canines that improve the lives of hundreds of individuals annually, with each dog receiving at least 10,000 hours of socialization before placement.

Provides advanced obedience instruction preparing handler-dog teams for performance competitions, including heeling, attention, stays, formal patterns, and marker-based training aligned with AKC and WCRL standards. Classes include Beginner Novice, Pre-Competition, and Bridging the Gap levels.

Offers progressive agility training from foundation to masters levels, teaching dogs and handlers to navigate obstacles using positive reinforcement. Includes prerequisite preparation, obstacle-specific drills, and age-appropriate modifications to prevent injury.

Administers AKC Canine Good Citizen certification tests six times per year and offers related preparation classes to promote responsible dog ownership and well-behaved pets in the community.

Provides group and private dog training classes focused on foundational skills such as sit, lie down, wait, loose-leash walking, recall, and impulse control, using positive reinforcement and clicker training. Programs include Family Manners Foundation and Skills classes designed to prepare dogs for reliable behavior in home and community settings.

Organizes and hosts official dog sport events including AKC-licensed rally trials, obedience trials, and Fast Cat trials—timed 100-yard lure coursing dashes—supporting competitive engagement for trained dogs and handlers.

Provides play-based nose work classes that develop dogs' natural scenting abilities using essential oil target odors. Offers levels from introductory to advanced, focusing on independence, problem-solving, odor discrimination, and competition readiness.

Provides one-on-one training sessions through club instructors for dogs with special needs or those not ready for group settings, addressing household behavior challenges with personalized coaching.

Offers structured training for puppies under five months of age, including AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Pre-K Puppy programs that focus on socialization, foundational obedience, housetraining, crate training, and safe interaction with people and other dogs.

Offers instruction in a range of competitive dog sports beyond obedience and agility, including Rally Freestyle, Canine Musical Freestyle, flyball, disc dog (flying disc), and K9 Nose Work, with small class sizes to ensure individualized attention.

Offers training and preparation for handler-dog teams seeking therapy dog certification, including screening evaluations, real-world acclimation using medical equipment like wheelchairs, and readiness for visits to hospitals, schools, and care facilities.