ABOUT US
Our Mission: is to rescue, place and train shelter dogs to become the working counterparts for their adopted owners to include but not limited to services for hearing impaired, mobility, PTSD, special needs and therapy. We train our clients to train their own dog in their home with assistance of a certified program instructor.
From humble beginnings, Florida Dog Guides FTD, Inc was founded in 1984 from the backyard of our founder Arlene Dickinson. FDG began as a hearing dog training program. Our unique propriety “in home” training concept is recognized in many areas around the state of Florida. This concept allows us to customize training for service to the individual. Our Hearing Service program has led to expansion into mobility, therapy, and veterans using the same training techniques.
We offer Obedience training, Therapy training, and Service dog training through various programs.
SERVICE TRAINING AND SPECIALTY
We also train dogs to be service animals. These handlers and dogs go through a lengthy process of training to be the best they can be and to complete federal ADA standards.
Our specialty program outside of basic obedience and service is the training of teams to become Therapy Dog certified. At Florida Dog Guides a team must complete the first three obedience classes before beginning the therapy class which is eight weeks in length.
OBEDIENCE TRAINING
Here at Florida Dog Guides FTD we offer four levels of obedience classes which take place during the week. Our classes start at Beginner’s and end with Advanced 2. These classes are six weeks each and teach skills ranging from those that help create a great dog at home to a dog that can go out in public in a safe and polite manner.