I am an independant private trainer located in the gold country of California. I train and advise on many types of service dogs with my special interest being psychiatric service dogs. I was the first to start an agency to train psychiatric service dogs, though small as it is in 1998. I was one of the first to use a psychiatric service dog in the US. I operate using my own funds, and the fees, if any, I charge for my work. I do not make a living doing this by any stretch of the imagination, I do this because it is my passion and my gift to share with others. My service is very tailored and one on one with my clients and their dogs and as such I cannot take on the caseload that the bigger agencies can. My emphasis is on quality of training of both handler and dog rather then quantity of trained animals. I do not routinely provide pre-trained dogs, my primary focus being assistance to those owner training their own service dogs. As time, energy, and finances permit I and a select few may have a pre-trained dog available to place. I would love assistance becoming incorporated and any donations are welcomed.

I assist with owner training- providing guidance, ideas and support through the process of selection, care and training of a service dog. I also can help those with fully trained service dogs to brush up their training and/or add new tasks. This means generally you live nearby as I do not travel far out of my area at this time or that you be willing to travel to me on occasion. Service Dogs in training under my guidance recieve a picture badge to identify them as such. Much work and support can be done online or over the phone with occasional meetings to check up on how everyone is doing and to provide needed help. Training a service dog takes at least a year or two of time and work. If I get enough trainees locally I will then run a weekly or bi-weekly training group where participants will learn how to train their dogs in basic obedience, public access, and special tasks that they need their dog to do....training will take place generally at some public outdoor location with regular field trips to stores/ restaraunts/ or other indoor public locations to work on our skills.

I am also interested in getting together a social group of local service dog/therapy dog users/handlers to meet about once or twice a month for social time and to discuss issues relating to service dogs.....contact me if you are interested.

I also test and certify trained service dogs. Required for the testing is some kind of documentation of your disability. I use the ADI Public Access Test with my own modifications as my standard in testing. When the test has been completed to satisfaction the owner recieves: A Certificate of Accomplishment, a picture badge to place on their dog, a letter stating that they have completed to satisfaction CCL's public access test, info on any special are of interest they have expressed, rights to use my logo and/or patches on any special equipment they have made in the future, and continuing support.

Also being developed is a special skills test which can be given in conjunction with the Public Access Test to certify that your dog does tasks to assist with your disability. Description coming soon. This would be valuable for a court of law or to prove your dogs monetary value should anything happen to it.

I am also an access advocate that will assist with access problems if the need arises as well as being available to do employee education for businesses.

• Public Access Testing is a one time fee of $60 to run the test and for the provided documents and patches this will also cover a skill certification if done at the same time.

The badge may take up to a week after testing to get to you, as your animals picture is taken at the time of testing or you must provide a picture that shows a good view of the dogs head and must be processed into a badge..these I can send by mail. If you NEED the badge sooner it is possible to make special arrangements. I am very flexible.

I do this for the love of the dogs, and to help those that need them This is MY contribution to the world we live in to make it a better place...for both the animals an ourselves

Skya CGC

Congrats to Skya and her owner! Skya was a shelter rescue pup. Skya has passed her final access and task tests....CONGRATS!!! GOOD JOB!

Fully Certified Guide Dog

Rottweiler/Shepherd mix

Owned and trained by Jolynn Bird under CCL

Sir Jaus vom Stefanhaus CGC, SD, RTD, CD, TT
Rottweiler
Jaus my own new psychiatric service dog.
He passed his final Public Access Test Aug 24 2002
and
his Therapy Dog Certification Oct 27 2002
and
his CD title on Nov 25 2002
and
his ATTS Temperament Test on Aug 2 2003
and 2003 AKC Ace Award Nominee

Owned and trained by head trainer Paula Shepard of Canine Caretakers for Life

of Stefanhaus Kennels-Multi Champion Rottweilers
Home of Luxor Vom Stefanhaus CD,TT (Jaus' Sire)
American Rottweiler Club Top 20 for 2002
AKC Top 20 Year 2000 & 2001
Canadian Top 20 Year 2002

October's Country Star (BeBe)

Welcome Bebe
Certified - Multiple Disability Service Dog

Bernese Mountian Dog from October Kennels
owned and trained by Isabel Pomphrey- Animal Communicator and Author Certified under CCL

Apple Blossom's Caber CGC (Petra)

Welcome Petra
In Training- Hearing and Mobility Dog

Greater Swiss Mountian Dog
Owned and trained by Nancy Glenn and to be certified by CCL

Tino

Welcome and Congratulations Tino
Certified- Multiple Disability Dog

Terrier Mix
Owned and trained by Teresa Broccolli
Certified by Canine Caretakers for Life

Joshua

Certified- Multiple Disability Dog
Cancer Detection Dog

Miniature Schnauzer
Owned and trained by Judith Tudor
Certified by Canine Caretakers for Life