From Puppy To Service Dog
On average, it takes approximately two years to raise a dog from puppyhood through graduation as a service dog. We rely on a network of volunteers, incarcerated trainers, and our expert staff to prepare each dog that comes through our program to be ready for placement with a client and their individual needs.
Birth to 8 Weeks
Puppies are Born
Our puppies are sourced through our partnership with ADI-accredited members in an international breeding cooperative.
Puppies are born in breeder caretaker homes and spend the first eight weeks of their lives with their siblings and mom. Our caretakers assist in whelping puppies and play a large role in raising and socializing puppies using industry best-practices for neonatal puppies until they are old enough to transition into their raiser homes. When breeder dogs are ready to retire, they are spayed, or neutered, and most are adopted by their breeder caretaker family.
2 Months to Approximately 8 Months
Puppies Live With Puppy Raisers
Brigadoon puppies live with volunteer puppy raisers, who receive training and support from our staff. We focus on positive relationships and socialization experiences that prepare the puppies for a future as service dogs. We aim to take advantage of the critical socialization period of development (from 3 weeks to 14 weeks) that has a lifelong impact on the puppy’s temperament and trainability. Puppies also start to learn cued behaviors through positive reinforcement and clicker training.
Approximately 8 Months to 18 Months
Prison Training Program
At this age, dogs enter our Prison Training Program and rotate between our four participating prisons and volunteer fosters. Each dog is assigned to a team of 2 incarcerated trainers to live with full-time and to serve as the primary provider of training and care. Additional prison training program participants assist with dog walking, training, and respite care. Incarcerated trainers work with our dogs on loose-leash walking, cued behaviors, manners, and continued socialization experiences.
Approximately 18 Months to 24 Months
Dogs Return For Professional Training
After completing their rotations in our prison training programs, the dogs return to the Brigadoon campus to work with our professional trainers on complex tasks and continued public access work that benefit our clients. During this stage, the dogs are introduced to one or more clients from our waitlist pool. Once a preliminary match has been made, the dog’s training is customized to focus on the needs and priorities of their future partner.
Approximately 2 Years
Team Training
Once a client is matched with their future service dog, they are asked to come onto Brigadoon's campus for a 2-week long intensive Team Training course. This course is integral to our clients learning to navigate the world with their new canine partners. Over the course of two weeks, they work together to learn each other's "language", the first week in a controlled setting (e.g., a conference room), and the second week out in public where they undergo a Public Access Test in order to graduate.
2 Years and Beyond
Continued Support
After completing Team Training, our client and their dog begin their partnership as a service dog team. Brigadoon continues to work with both the client and dog for the lifetime of their partnership.