I first found Sarah and Ralf when I was searching for any type of service dog programs or trainers. I quickly decided that a program dog wouldn’t be the best for me, because they wouldn’t be trained for the specific tasks that would be helpful for me, not to mention the long wait times and that most programs “pre-match” you to a dog that might not be the type you envisioned for your team.
I then started to look for trainers that would work with me to select and train a puppy. Sarah and Ralf were the only ones that I spoke to that provided a full service. They would find a breeder and temperament test puppies. While this could be a long process, I was lucky that the perfect puppy was available shortly thereafter.
My service dog lived virtually full time with Sarah and Ralf until he was 2.5 years old. They trained him perfectly in everything from basic obedience to his task work. He was also exposed to a wide variety of situations and potential triggers ranging from doctor’s offices to small dogs. One of the unique aspects of this program is that I was able to actively participate in my dog’s training. I would visit Sarah and Ralf for training sessions and public access sessions and I got to take my service dog home every so often for bonding and making sure that the flawless behavior he was demonstrating for Sarah and Ralf translated to my home. They truly loved my dog and sent me regular updates on his progress and were always available for calls/questions.
As a handler herself, Sarah is particularly empathetic to how vulnerable the process of receiving a service dog can be. Ralf does a great job of explaining not just what to do with your dog, but also why doing so is in line with dog’s natural instincts.
A service dog isn’t for everyone, which Sarah and Ralf also recognize. However, if it is determined that one is right for you, you can’t find a better place to work with than Total K9 Focus.
Kelsey Ann, California (read on Google)