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Top Dog
TOP DOG teaches people with physical disabilities how to train their
own dogs to become fully certified service dogs. Each TOP DOG client
does all the "hands-on" training him/herself, under the guidance and
tutelage of TOP DOG's highly experienced instructors, many of whom are
also disabled, and have also trained their own service dogs.
TOP DOG uses positive, gentle training methods to achieve its goals.
The end product is a team - a person and dog working together happily,
and understanding each other completely. TOP DOG teaches the students
in its training program to appreciate how a dog thinks. We teach them
basic obedience but we also teach canine behavior, body language,
bonding, breed characteristics, pack relationships -- all the different
factors which make up a dog.
TOP DOG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, number #86-0711039.
Teamwork
Training Manuals
Stewart Nordensson and Lydia Kelley, two of TOP DOG's founders, have
written a two-book training manual entitled TEAMWORK, which is devoted
to imparting the TOP DOG philosophy and training methods to the general
disabled community. A dog can be taught to perform many helpful skills
that will make his owner's life much easier. TEAMWORK I offers insight
into dog behavior while giving easy to understand instructions for
people with disabilities to teach basic obedience skills to their dogs.
The companion volume, TEAMWORK II, takes that instruction to the next
level teaching service exercises.
To
Apply or Volunteer
If you want to apply to our program, become a volunteer, or would like
to become a member, please download the information and application
packets from our Web site or contact us. We will be happy to send you
the applications and information you need. We look forward to hearing
from you!
TOP DOG,
5049 E. Broadway #102, Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 323-6677
WEBSITE:
http://www.topdogusa.org/