Level 3 - The Human Dog Life Enhancer Course

Theoretical Lesson 1

• Division and definition between emotional support, assistance, and service.
• The three-dimensional method in the training of these dogs.
• Legal framework for the training and operational deployment of these dogs.
• Breeding and development of puppies.
• The rescued dog as emotional support, assistance, or service dogs.
• Importance of dogs in human well-being.
• Importance of the dog as a useful being for humans.

Practical Lesson 1

• Training tools.
• The importance of the crate for memory training and general training process.
• Review of basic obedience, emphasizing ethological and psychological management of dogs.
• Connection, communication, and action through exercises in both basic and advanced obedience.
• Analysis of canine genetics.
• Examination of internal systems in response to the environment, including the application of the 4 x 4 theory to emotional support dogs.

Theoretical Lesson 2

• The Emotional Support Dog: An Overview.
• Genetics and environment of emotional support dogs.
• The relationship between the dog’s internal processes and how they influence its behavior for this role, including internal energy dynamics.
• Assessment of the patient’s needs, including conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.
• Emotional support dog vs facility dog / mobile support dog.
• The impact of the emotional support dog on managing the patient’s stress levels, including the shelter concept.
• The three-dimensional approach to training emotional support dogs.
• Individual vs facility dogs.
• Training the patient to act as a guide and guardian for the emotional support dog.
• Factors that disqualify certain canine candidates from serving as emotional support animals.

Practical Lesson 2

• Basic obedience – control and self-control within the home environment, including vehicles.
• Basic obedience – control and self-control in public settings, such as stairs, automatic doors, and public transportation.
• Adaptive positioning. “Enter” (to go under a chair) or “Behind”.
• Obedience of “Invisibility” (public and environment).
• Avoiding distractions (food – prey drive).
• Full self-control (turning off).
• Positioning for touch, petting, brushing, feeding.
• Dog proxemics, greeting, and calm behavior, maintaining a low energy level.

Theoretical Lesson 3

• AAI Animal-Assisted Interventions: The overarching framework encompassing the entire discipline.
• AAT Animal-Assisted Therapy: Clinical application conducted by healthcare professionals.
• AAE Animal-Assisted Education: Pedagogical approach led by educators.
• AAA Animal-Assisted Activities: Recreational and comfort visits aimed at social engagement.
• Some hybrids like mobile support dogs.
• The dog as a social communication bridge.
• Difference between dogs and other beings.
• Selection of the puppy and the adult dog.
• Breeding and environmental development.
• Important sanitary aspects.
• Cuestiones básicas de operatividad con perros de terapia asistida.
• How to create a tridimensional training program.

Practical Lesson 3

• Review of the previous class.
• Advancing in the concept of the triangle in canine training.
• Relaxation exercises.
• Greeting techniques.
• Prevention of common errors.
• Basic interactive exercises.
• Encouragement of useful instincts.
• Combination of dynamic and strategic obedience.
• Commands through the patient’s user interface.
• Obedience exercises through triangulation with the handler.

Theoretical Lesson 4

• Recap of Lesson 3.
• Introduction to the control of instincts.
• Development vs encouragement of instincts.
• Instincts and socialization.
• Emotional contagion – emotional pairing – emotional synchronization.
• Dynamic and static exercises.
• Compression versus inhibition.
• Negative excitation control.
• Recovery training.
• Introduction to task training.

Practical Lesson 4

• Recap of Class 3.
• Recovery work. Task training.
• Selective retrieval (keys, remote control, cellphone, meds).
• Combining and chaining exercises (stay – recall – bring it – place).
• The rules of the prey.
• Hunt – prey – transportation.
• Introduction to prey training – task training.

Theoretical Lesson 5

• Recap lesson 4.
• The service dog.
• Genetic and environmental development.
• Breeding and selection of the puppy and adult dog.
• Cane dog – mobility assistance dog.
• Hearing dogs: alert deaf individuals to specific sounds such as doorbells and alarms.
• Development of comprehensive work plans incorporating behavioral and micro-behavioral strategies.

Practical Lesson 5

• Opposite reflex training – cane dog training.
• Tugging training.
• Undressing training.
• Turning lights on and off.
• Opening and closing doors and drawers.
• Hearing dog training (doorbell – alarms).

Theoretical Lesson 6

• Recap lesson 5.
• Training patient users (the human factor).
• The Disney Syndrome.
• Guide Dogs: Assist individuals with visual impairments.
• Figure and background concept.
• Medical Alert dog.
• Dogs for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (anchoring – calming down).
• Presentation of real cases and practical training development for the same.

Practical Lesson 6

• Recap lesson 5.
• Guide dog training exercises.
• Obedience from a wheelchair.
• Obedience including walkers and canes.

Theoretical Lesson 7

• Recap lesson 6.
• Introduction to detection training and SAR training.
• Habituation and desensitization techniques – stress inoculation and resilience building.
• Reading micro-movements and biofeedback analysis.
• Introduction to energy synchronization.
• The stages in the working dog: working, obedience, freedom, play, or potty time.
• Training with distractions.
• Fixing issues.

Practical Lesson 7

• Recap lesson 6.
• Training with various types of distractions.
• Stress inoculation exercises.
• Problem-solving in practical scenarios.

Theoretical Lesson 8

• Recap of Lesson 7.
• The Delta Program Project (now you are).
• Designing cases and developing training programs.
• Certifications and legal framework.

Practical Lesson 8

• Recap of Lesson 7.
• Perform exercises as realistically as possible.
• Certification training programs.

• Theoretical: This assessment consists of fifty multiple-choice questions. Approval is required to obtain the certification.
• Practical: Canine Good Citizen Test of the American Kennel Club in a public place with multiple distractions. Approval is not required to obtain certification. (Some dogs are not suitable to reach this level through this initial course.)
• If you have completed the course with your own dog, we are available to assist you in preparing for a real Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluation conducted by a qualified American Kennel Club (AKC) evaluator.

Note: Aldo Cecchi serves as an AKC evaluator for CGC assessments; however, he is unable to administer evaluations to his own students or clients. We can, however, arrange a test with a neutral evaluator.