At Glasybont we also have experience with building upon the foundations of the pet trained gundog which takes place over the first 6 -8 months of the puppies development and training. Once we have achieved the foundations, we are able to move onto more advanced task based training.
Examples of task based training include but is not restricted to the following:
- Assistance dogs
- Therapy dogs
- Dogs for going into special educational needs environments
- Scent detection dogs
To prepare a task trained dog, we start from the breeding and then the foundation program that is used in our pet trained program before moving onto specific task orientated training and would expect to have a hand over against the agreed training goals between 12-18 months of age.
We start with the breeding selection depending on the type of task that is requested. A puppy that is destined to spend its life working with children in an educational setting will need to be different to a dog that potentially needs to have a drive if used for scent detection. Likewise build and stature are important if a dog is needed for task driven activities if the client handler requires the use of a wheelchair.
The foundations in the first 6 months of the puppies life are integral to the ability to learn and ‘muscle memory’ skills that are needed for a task trained dog to be successful.
At Glasybont we look at the first 12 months of the puppies life as trimesters:
Trimester 1
Trimester 1 is all about manners and being a puppy. Looking to enhance the characteristics we desire whilst limiting the development of naughty habits.
Trimester 2
Trimester 2 is about starting the learning of identified skills and tasks.
Trimester 3
Trimester 3 is about muscle memory. Repeating and embedding the skills that are needed before a managed handover to the new handler for continuation training.
Bodhi
Our Journey looking for a trained Labrador for our son with Autism.
We started our journey a few years back. Looking for a companion to our son with autism. He has very limited speech. We talked to several ‘high end’ breeders and trainers but Zoe and Richard stood out. Their life story and experience, integrity, humbleness, and their impeccable skill being gun dog breeders/trainers were second to none. Bodhi came to us at the age of 1 years old. Soft touch, no barking, walk to heel, waiting at least 10 seconds for his food( he is like no Labrador we had seen before so that and is still doing it before each meal ) his empathy towards our son has been the most touching bond for us to watch from the side lines. They are so connected to each other, unspoken friends for life. Everyone in the family always says- ``Oh Bodhi you are so wonderful.`` Zoe’s training is absolutely fantastic and we feel very lucky to have Bodhi as a part of our family.
Hades
After speaking with Richard and Zoe in 2018, we made the decision to bring a task trained assistance dog into our lives. Zoe was able to consult with us on the training needs around managing extreme anxiety and select the correct puppy and start the training. Hades has been trained to facilitate confidence to go out into public and gain a public access licence so Hades could accompany Phoebe to re start an educational journey.
Duke
We contacted Zoe in 2018 after reading about how Zoe’s son Owain had benefited from an assistance dog. Both Owain and X have a condition called Duchenne muscular dystrophy and so had similar needs from an assistance dog. Zoe was able to consult with us on the breeding selection and select from a puppy and train Duke for us to a point where we were able to integrate him into a busy London based family life.
