The Five Factors That Make a NEADS World Class Service Dog
Our Dogs:
NEADS aims to acquire about 100 dogs within each fiscal year, with about half of the dogs graduating. About 95% of our puppies are acquired by purebred breeders. We currently use Labrador Retrievers in our training program; however, we occasionally work with other breeds as well. NEADS works closely with reputable breeders to determine whether their puppies are appropriate for our program based on the temperament, health and behavioral history of the pup’s parents.
NEADS dogs undergo temperament testing beginning at around 4 weeks of age. All dogs are tested and screened for suitability through a tool called the Behavior Check List. Dogs that enter into our program fall into a temperament range that is conducive to being a Service Dog.
The remaining percentage of our dogs are acquired from animal shelters and rescue groups throughout New England. We typically look for smaller mixed breed dogs from shelters that fit the temperament of a Hearing Dog. The disposition of a Hearing Dog is different from the rest of our program dogs – they must be reactive and are typically higher energy. NEADS is pleased to have relationships with so many wonderful animal shelters and rescue groups!
Our Trainers:
NEADS trainers must start as an apprentice trainer and are required to spend two years in that role until they graduate to the position of trainer. Typically, our apprentice trainers begin their work with rescue dogs so they have an opportunity to work with different pup personalities and temperaments.
Apprentice trainers begin by visiting two prisons a week and observing client trainings. They begin working with rescue dogs, eventually moving on to working with clients at the six month mark of their apprenticeship.
Not only does a NEADS trainer need to be excellent with dogs, but they also must be great with people and all types of personalities. They must possess the maturity and professionalism to work in a prison facility. Additionally, trainers must be able to express empathy towards others to fully understand each client’s unique circumstances.
NEADS has trained Service Dog teams for 39 years. Through research and experience, our trainers remain up to date with current training methods and trends in the industry. We routinely explore new dog breeds and new tasks to make certain that we are meeting the needs of our clients.
Our Training:
NEADS Dogs are trained to perform tasks and behave obediently through the use of positive reinforcement and clear leadership. We select dogs that are natural followers, so it is easy to guide them into choosing behaviors that we like in order to reward them.
Our dogs love to work. The behaviors we teach are inherently fun for them (like tugging on a rope or running to a sound), so the dogs learn to associate work with having a good time. As a puppy grows and learns, each positive experience influences future behaviors.
The Laura J. Niles Early Learning Center
Typically, a puppy will arrive at the Early Learning Center at about 8 weeks old. On campus, the puppies learn that humans are friendly and fun, loud noises are not scary and unusual items are not frightening.
Prison PUP Partnership
Once a puppy has become acclimated with the NEADS program, they head off to one of 8 correctional facilities throughout New England. Our statistics show that, under the guidance of NEADS staff, inmates are able to provide consistent training at a high level simply because of the amount of time they are able to devote to the dogs. This enables us to place dogs faster with people in need.
Puppy Raiser Program
To ensure that the puppies have a full range of experiences, volunteers help out by socializing the puppies on weekends. These weekend puppy raisers, specially trained in socialization skills by NEADS, are assigned to a puppy for the entire time the dog is in the prison program. Puppies spend their weekends at a volunteer’s home and follow the volunteer’s routine around town. This way, the puppies become accustomed to things like car rides, traffic, bus stations, movie theaters, restaurants, grocery stores, and all the typical experiences of life.
NEADS Dogs are taught a list of core commands and they follow a basic training schedule throughout puppyhood. However, once a dog is nearing completion of the program and is matched with a specific client, the dog’s training is tailored to the client’s unique needs. After the client experiences 10-14 days of training with a skilled instructor, they can barely remember a time when the dog wasn’t a part of their life. Most importantly, we raise and train the perfect working partner for each of our clients.
Our Matching Process:
The matching process that takes place between a client and a NEADS dog is vital to making the partnership work. For NEADS, the process is detailed and thorough as to ensure that each match is the right one. Kathy Foreman, NEADS Director of Client Relations & Training, started her career at NEADS in 1980. She began as a kennel attendant/assistant trainer at the first site in Holden, MA. During thirty five years and through the growth to the NEADS program, Foreman’s exemplary skills have provided hundreds of perfect pairs.
The route to a lasting partnership begins with a potential client completing the NEADS application through NEADS.org. Within the application, questions are designed to help NEADS have a better understanding of the client’s lifestyle and needs. The application also includes a medical form that must be completed by a physician.
Following the online application process, a comprehensive interview occurs either in person or via Skype, depending on the client’s location. The interview allows NEADS to take a closer look at the requirements of the prospective client, and provides a better idea of what type of dog would be a good match.
From this process, a client profile is created. The profile enables NEADS trainers to emulate the client so they have the ability to look more closely at a dog to determine if they would be an ideal fit.
Our Campus Based Training:
NEADS believes that campus based training is fundamental in creating lasting partnerships. By offering training on site, the client is removed from all of the outside distractions that home provides, and they can focus entirely on bonding and training with their new partner. It also provides NEADS trainers the ability to have control over field trips that clients take during the training process. For clients, this eliminates the stress of navigating a new partnership in an unfamiliar location. Additionally, campus based training provides the opportunity for clients to potentially train with similar clients.
By having clients train on campus, we also have the ability to provide the client with a visit to the prison facility where their dog was trained, and meet the inmate handler that worked with their dog.
We schedule 2-5 clients to train at one time. Training involves intensive learning about how to live and work with a Service Dog. Classes occur daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with an hour’s lunch break. Classes include active, hands-on exercises with the dog and trips into town restaurants and malls. Additionally, we include sit-down classes in subjects such as health records, first aid, grooming and public access. Most classes are taught by the instructor who has overseen the dog’s training and who matched the dog with the client. Other classes are taught by various staff members.
Each client must successfully complete the training schedule and also receive a passing score on a public access test to graduate and leave campus with the Service Dog.
The Kathy Foreman Client House & Training Center
On September 19th, 2015, NEADS opened our brand new Kathy Foreman Client House & Training Center. Building the new facility was necessary to keep pace with an ever-growing population of people who require canine assistance.
Under the leadership of our CEO Gerry DeRoche, NEADS officially launched the fundraising campaign for the construction project, entitled Foundations for the Future in the spring of 2014. On June 16th, 2014, we officially broke ground on the construction of the building of a new client house and the rehabilitation of 301 Redemption Rock Trail South in Princeton, Massachusetts. The construction was completed in August of 2015.
The client house is named after NEADS Director of Client Relations & Training, Kathy Foreman. Foreman has been vital in forming perfect partnerships for the last 35 years and her talents for matching clients and their pups are invaluable.
The new building, which was designed with client input, provides:
Multiple bedrooms with adjacent access for care providers, three handicapped accessible bathrooms, a handicapped accessible kitchen, a conveniently accessible training area, two conference rooms, an elevator, a handicapped accessible pathway to the main facility and much more.