Help U Train

Help U Train offers group classes twice a year, in Spring and Fall, through Pensacola State College at their Milton and Warrington campuses. These classes are 6- or 10-weeks long and are held outdoors, suitable for dogs needing more space. They cover basic and advanced pet obedience, including Canine Good Citizen skills and tricks.

Private lessons are available on a limited basis, either at the client’s home, the trainer’s location, or out in town, with discounts for meeting at the trainer’s location. They also provide Board and Train Boot Camp, an intensive 10-day program for teenage dogs needing order restored, or for owner-trained service dogs needing help with tasks, public access exposure, or respite care.

Their primary focus is on owner-trained service dogs, offering guidance on selection, training techniques, and public access preparation. They emphasize positive operant conditioning and clicker training, integrating practical problem-solving methods. They also provide free phone consultations for house training and resources on service dog laws and emergency planning.

Pricing Summary

Private lessons for pet dogs are $60/hour. Doggy Boot Camp (Board & Train) for pet dogs is $600. Service dog training for documented ADA disabilities is offered on a sliding scale. House training services are $500/week.

Help U Train primarily focuses on assisting owners in training their own service dogs, while also working with pet dogs to improve their relationships within the home. Their goal is to keep dogs in loving homes and help homeless dogs find forever homes.

Cindy Sanford, the Lead Trainer, brings 30 years of experience with dogs and is a Canine Behavior and Training Specialist. Heidi Owens, a Trainer-in-training, is a graduate of Highland Canine Training’s Service Dog program.

The business integrates practical problem-solving methods from the Top Dog program with positive operant conditioning techniques, including clicker training, to foster quicker learning and a happier dog. They offer guidance on service dog candidate selection, provide extensive information on relevant laws (Florida Statute 413.08, ADA, VA), and offer a 5-hour seminar on YouTube.

Help U Train provides free phone consultations for house training and offers downloadable forms for service dog emergency data and support networks. They also have a new venture, Double Doodle Downs, which breeds standard poodles and goldendoodles with a focus on service dog potential.

Accomplishments

Cindy Sanford, the Lead Trainer, is a 2005 graduate of Triple Crown Academy (now Starmark Academy), where she earned the title of Canine Behavior and Training Specialist. She has been a volunteer foster home for Junior Humane Society for 8 years, rehabilitating many dogs with behavioral issues.

Cindy has been an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator for 4 years and holds a Certified Trick Dog Instructor qualification through Kyra Sundance’s Do More With Your Dog program. She has completed courses in Breeding and Whelping Dogs and Puppy Imprinting and Bonding, and attended Train-the-trainer seminars at Service Dog, Inc. and a Diabetic Alert Dog intensive with Linda Cree. She is currently enrolled in a service dog trainer certification course.

Heidi Owens, a Trainer-in-training, is a 2015 graduate of Highland Canine Training’s Certified Service Dog program. She has been a group class helper for 2 years and a volunteer foster dog home for Junior Humane Society for 2 years. Cindy has also been approved as an evaluator for Therapy Pets Unlimited.

How to Get Started!

For group classes, sign up is through Pensacola State College, Continuing Education. For private lessons or Board and Train, clients can call or email. For house training, a free phone consultation is offered first, followed by paid services if needed. For service dog training, they assist with dog selection, recommending questionnaires and tests, followed by obedience training (group or private lessons) and exposure to various stimuli.