Confident Canines


East Coast Affiliate of


K9 Country Inn Working Service


​Dogs

Confident Canines strives to provide a unique trainer-assisted owner trained service dog and support program that involves dog training and peer support from other dog handlers who are going through similar situations.  We have team members on hand that can explain your rights as a service dog handler, help you through training situations in person, on the phone, and by video. We have several options for training, depending upon your comfort level, how far away you live, if you can drive or have the ability for someone to bring you to training. Our difference is, in our support program we are with you along each step of the way to help with training during the first two years of owning your service dog.
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If you are thinking of purchasing a new prospective puppy Confident Canines can help by pointing you to approved breeders that have a record of placing service dogs. Confident Canines will also help you decide what type of dog meets your needs and will be the best type of companion and support for you. Training your prospective service dog begins at 12 weeks of age. It is a process that lasts for a period of 2 years, it can be extremely repetitive as obedience and socialization is your main focus for the first year of their life, but it ensures the dog is confident working anywhere, anytime. Full service dog status is given to dogs who are between 18 and 24 months of age with full health clearances and adult temperament has been established, along with the general training and tasks they must perform for their handler.

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Service Dog Accreditation

Currently, in New Brunswick, there is no standard service dog certification or test. We are proud of our program and training. Our goal is for our teams to be recognized as part of Confident Canines and K-9 Country Inn by the quality of training the team has from close and afar. Our program certification exam is a two-day test, administered by Laura MacKenzie of K-9 Country Inn, that includes obedience, task work, public access, and outdoor manners. We observe each team we test under specific criteria, such as teamwork, critical decision making, and interacting with the public to name a few.
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Temperament testing is the first thing we assess. Your dog must be a happy confident dog, outgoing, good around children, adults and other animals. Any questionable behaviour will be an automatic fail. The purpose of service dogs are to aid their handlers and potentially save their life anywhere they go and they must display appropriate behaviour and etiquette when doing so.
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Our exam can be administered for a fee. If you are a part of our Gold and Silver programs, this exam is included in your package. Once your dog is program accredited through K-9 Country Inn Service Dogs/Confident Canines, they must be re-certified every three years until retirement to assure the team is still working efficiently.
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Evaluation

If you have a dog of your own and you are wondering if he/she would be eligible for service work, an evaluation will be required for your dog to be considered. We look at age, temperament, health, personality and work ethic when considering a service dog.

Keep in mind that the health of the dog will be looked at. Poor joints such as hips and elbows, lameness, any hindering genetic default will disqualify your dog from being a service dog. Any working dog must be healthy, we put the dog’s best interest first.

If your dog is suitable for work based on our evaluation, we will consider the programs below and help you select which is best for you.

Dogs that are not suitable will not be eligible for our program. At this point, we would discuss the possibility of another dog if you are able. We will help you select an appropriate candidate based on your needs and direct you to breeders we have worked with personally to get your prospective puppy to start training. New puppies will have to enroll in our Gold Program.


Requirement

We require all potential service dog teams to have approval by their general practitioner/family doctor and/or a specialist supporting their need for a service dog as an aid to their treatment. A letter must be provided stating so on letterhead and submitted to Confident Canines within the first three (3) months of working with us.

Owner Trained Service Dog Application

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Gold Program

Our Gold program is our 2-year program for clients that have the ability to drive or have transportation to training. This program takes you from puppy to certification. We can help you pick your puppy, direct you to suitable breeders and do temperament testing for Service Dog candidates. We help you with choosing equipment, training methods, legal documentation. We are your support system for training.

• Bi-Weekly, in-person training
  (If you cannot attend for any reason weekly, we will create a personalized plan for you)
• Training is customized to fit the needs of the client
• Video training
• Telephone support 
• Public access outings
• Group outings
• Includes CGN Test
• Includes Public Access Exam

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Silver Program

Our Silver program is our 1-year program for clients that have the ability to drive or have transportation to training. This program is for owners that already have started to train their service dog but maybe having some problems or concerns or just need a little extra help so that their canine team member can become the service dog their handler requires.

Bi-Weekly, in-person training

• (If you cannot attend for any reason weekly, we will create a personalized plan for you)
• Training is customized to fit the needs of the client

• Telephone support 
• Public access
• Group outings
• Includes CGN Test
• Includes Public Access Exam

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Bronze Program

Our Bronze program is our 1-year program for clients that have the ability to drive or have transportation to training. This program is for owners that already have started to train their service dog but maybe having some problems or concerns or just need a little extra help so that their canine team member can become the Service Dog they require.

• Bi-Weekly, in-person training
  (If you cannot attend for any reason weekly, we will create a personalized plan for you)
• Training is customized to fit the needs of the client
• Telephone support 
• Group outings

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​Program Dogs 

​Our Program dogs are trained to full Service Dog status, they are trained to meet the specific needs of the client. They have been socialized, obedience trained and task trained to the individual needs of the handler.  Your new Service dog companion will be trained over a period of 2 years and placed in the new handlers home with private in-home instruction on handling techniques. Unlike other programs the handler is invited to join Confident Canine's group obedience and public access classes to enhance the handler and dog relationship and reinforce obedience in the home.  If you are interested in one of the trained program dogs please complete our application 

Program Trained Service Dog Application

Private Lessons

We offer private lessons to those who wish for one-on-one training and guidance.
 

Please call or email for program fees.  

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