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THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
Teaming up with a purebred, intelligent, people-loving Collie, bred and raised at Kings Valley and trained as a Service Dog, will bring you mobility and with it, renewed self-esteem and personal independence. You will not only feel good, you will feel in control of your life again.
Our initial consultations will give us the opportunity to
get acquainted: we learn about your frustrations and hopes, about
your special abilities, physical rhythm and energy level, and
about your primary support person. We may hear stories about
your previous dogs, and we will discuss all aspects of life with
a canine partner. If we feel that a Kings 
Valley
service dog could provide the desired assistance, we will select
the most promising Collie trainee and develop a training plan
tailored to the needs of the new team.
Learning to work as a team is a process of living and growing
together. Your partner will be an active participant in all aspects
of your life. S/he will be present to help and support you, and
to love and protect you.! S/he will act in response to your verbal
requests as well as your shifting weight and your changing pace.
S/he does not simply follow your directions but will do what
you need.
Keep in mind that you will be a team member.
You will be the navigator -- deciding when and where to go. Your
canine partner will be the engineer who makes your progress and
movement smooth and steady. Trainers act as the transmission
fluid that helps the partnership shift gear -- to become more
confident, efficient, and secure.
Building a successful partnership is an extended education
process for both human and canine partners. Through exploration
and with experience, you will discover what works for you. You
will learn to read the subtle signals of body language. Your
sharpened perception and skill in "reading" your dog
will help you understand what motivates your dog. Whenever you
elicit a desired response, you will feel your strength as a team.
Communicate as to an equal, with respect and appreciation of
every effort, and you will surely find your personal comfort
level.
THE PATH TO SERVICE
Kings Valley service dog candidates are d
rawn
primarily from the Kings Valley Collies breeding program which,
for the last three decades, has consistently selected for pronounced
working ability and physical and emotional stamina. Puppies and
adolescents are exposed to herding, carting, agility, conformation
events and temperament tests and, along with the adults, participate
in family and farm activities.
Collies are endowed with an intrinsic richness of character and a highly developed sense of appropriateness. Our training process builds on these inherent qualities which Collies unfailingly bring to their work as service dogs. Throughout their early schooling, they are rewarded with praise, touch, or treats for every affectionate gesture towards people. As they mature, we use every opportunity to reward initiative and good judgment.
As training progresses,
the dogs' repertoire of skills broadens. Almost imperceptibly,
they assume a new, 'professional' demeanor. They are now in full
swing of integrating all the newly honed skills with a growing
awareness of human diversity and needs. They are ready and eager
to bond with their new partners.
The changes that take place when our Collies become working service dogs reflect a maturing process - the transition from learning skills to a lifestyle which integrates their education into daily life. They have learned to use their skills in different contexts, and they are motivated by the love and respect for their new partners to apply their knowledge, experience, and intuitive wisdom. Repeatedly, we see our Collies undergo a graceful transformation from Trainees to working Service Dogs.