At Paradise Dog, our passion for training dogs is unmatched, as is our belief that well-trained dogs have immeasurable uses. We specialize in paradise dog training in Fenton, MI, and offer comprehensive psychiatric service dog training in Michigan, as well as service dog training in Detroit.
Paradise Dog Training, located in Fenton, MI, specializes in the training and placement of Certified Assistance Dogs and Certified Facility & Therapy Dogs throughout Michigan. Our offerings include expert psychiatric service dog training in Michigan and comprehensive service dog training in Detroit.
These paradise dogs assist individuals with disabilities in leading normal lives and are beneficial in various environments such as hospitals, schools, business places, and at home. For those in Michigan, options like paradise dog training in Fenton MI and psychiatric service dog training can provide the necessary skills for service dog training in Detroit.
With more than 30 years of experience in dog training, our trainers at Paradise Dog Training in Fenton, MI, hold individual certifications in specific training categories. They also work in public community settings to ensure a great fit for both the dog and owner. Our passionate team employs positive reinforcement training methods, inclu
With more than 30 years of experience in dog training, our trainers at Paradise Dog Training in Fenton, MI, hold individual certifications in specific training categories. They also work in public community settings to ensure a great fit for both the dog and owner. Our passionate team employs positive reinforcement training methods, including specialized programs for psychiatric service dog training in Michigan and comprehensive service dog training in Detroit.
When a family member has diabetes, it often feels like you can never stop thinking about their well-being. You're not alone in this concern. Many families worry that their loved ones with diabetes may struggle to lead an independent life. However, a properly trained Diabetic Alert Dog can help families breathe a little easier each day as it learns to recognize the signs and scents associated with diabetes, providing greater freedom and enabling them to lead a fulfilling life.
At Paradise Dog Training in Fenton, MI, we specialize in training medical alert dogs specifically for older children and adults who are insulin-dependent Type 1 Diabetics. These service dogs for diabetics are trained to leverage their exceptional sense of smell to detect fluctuations in insulin levels in real time. When a diabetic experiences a high or low, the body releases chemicals that alter the scent of secretions and other bodily fluids. While these changes are undetectable to the human nose, service dogs excel at identifying them. The key to their effectiveness lies in advanced training. Properly trained scent dogs have demonstrated an accuracy rate of 85-90% in the environments where they operate, which include home settings, public spaces, and nighttime responses. Each dog is unique, with varying strengths and weaknesses. At Paradise Dog Training, we evaluate each dog to ensure it possesses the right temperament to be a reliable scent dog, supporting the owner in building a strong partnership with their service animal. For those seeking psychiatric service dog training in Michigan, our expertise extends to that as well, providing comprehensive support for various needs.
Paradise Dog Training, located in Fenton, MI, has successfully placed therapy and facility dogs in various health care facilities and educational environments across Michigan. These paradise dogs help encourage patients and students with their calming demeanors, soothing sick or upset individuals, and assisting with reading as attentive companions. Their lovable presence can alleviate stress, concern, and anxiety often felt in hospital and school settings. Each dog undergoes individual training to meet the specific needs of each facility. PDT is one of the pioneers in the nation to place therapy dogs in schools and hospitals where the facility actually owns the dog. In addition to the training of the dog, we also assist in training the volunteer handlers, selecting the Host Home, and helping to set up the program. One of our most successful initiatives has been placing several therapy dogs within The Ascension St. John Health Care System. If you’ve visited an Ascension St. John facility, you may have encountered one of our dogs. We have also trained and placed multiple facility therapy dogs at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, as well as various public school systems throughout Southeast Michigan. For those interested in psychiatric service dog training in Michigan or service dog training in Detroit, our programs are designed to meet diverse needs.
What is a service dog?
First, the Americans with Disabilities Act defines a service animal as 'Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.'
However, there is much more to know about service dogs than the legal definition. A service dog is a dog that receives extensive training to perform a job which mitigates his or her handler’s specific disability. The relationship between a service dog and his or her handler is commonly referred to as a partnership or a team. The two work together to achieve what, in many cases, was previously impossible for the handler to do independently.
There are many terms used to refer to these dogs, including generic terminology like 'assistance', 'working,' and 'helper' dogs; and titles that are specific to the types of jobs these dogs perform, like 'guide,' 'signal,' 'medical alert,' and 'psychiatric service' dogs, among others. While the wording may vary from one team to the next, they are all service dogs. Many individuals associate the term 'service dog' with guide dogs that assist the visually impaired, and sometimes with assistance dogs that help physically disabled people in wheelchairs. While these are among the most identifiable types of service dogs, there are several other jobs that service dogs perform that are just as important and life-changing for their handlers.
Service dogs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and breeds. Some of the most common breeds associated with service work are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherd Dogs. However, other breeds like Standard Poodles, Papillons, Doberman Pinschers, Australian Shepherds, Boxers, Australian Cattle Dogs, and Border Collies are gaining in popularity as service dogs. Each breed has its own unique characteristics that make a dog more likely to meet the needs of a handler with a particular disability.
Just as there is a wide variety of service dogs, there is an even wider variety of disabilities. Not all disabilities are immediately apparent to others, and such conditions are commonly referred to as invisible disabilities. Service dogs assist people with invisible disabilities just as much as they do for those with more recognizable disabilities. Whether the dog is guiding a visually impaired person, picking up a dropped item, alerting to an impending panic attack, or performing any other essential task, the service dog plays a crucial role in improving the quality of his or her handler's life.
How our Assistance Dog program works at Paradise Dog Training:
At Paradise Dog Training in Fenton, MI, we train assistance dogs for various disabilities, including diabetic alert dogs and hearing impaired dogs. We typically use Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers due to their excellent temperament for service dog training. If you are considering having a dog trained to be your service dog, we believe it is best to let us provide the dog as it takes a very special dog to do this kind of work. Additionally, there are many factors to consider when matching a dog with a client.
Paradise Dog Training has a Foster Puppy program that raises our puppies until they are old enough to begin training, usually at 16-18 months old. They will spend the next 7-8 months in training at our facility before going to their new home. Once the dog is placed, one of our field trainers will spend 3-4 months working with the client and dog, teaching the dog to work with their new person in their new home. Our company specializes in both onsite and offsite group dog training programs and individually focused dog training programs for use in these environments, including psychiatric service dog training in Michigan and service dog training in Detroit.
Paradise Dog Training, based in Fenton, MI, is a leader in bed bug canine detection. Our program encompasses two key areas: 1) actual detection and 2) providing trained dogs for reputable handlers. As a detection service, our dogs will discreetly sniff out the scent of bed bugs. The Handler then visually confirms the infestation and marks the area for a certified pest control operator to decontaminate. This service is confidential, minimally disruptive, non-threatening (no harsh chemicals), and quickly completed.
Paradise Dog Training also specializes in training and placing dogs with handlers for detection services. Typically, the Handler collaborates closely with a pest control service to eliminate bed bugs from homes and public areas.
Currently, we have four dogs running to meet demands: Rock Star Rudy, Cross Eyed Willy, Jill, and Jazzy, all of whom are Labrador Retrievers.
Lori, our certified trainer, has completed her training through Wayne Booth’s K9 University and is a member of the North American Canine Pest Inspectors, where she certifies annually. She continually trains with one of the top scent detection trainers in the country to ensure excellence in our services.
Lori is available by appointment to search your house or company building for bed bugs. The cost is based on the size of the facility and the time it takes the dogs to conduct the search. Additionally, the investment for a trained bed bug detection dog ranges from $10,000 to $12,000, depending on the initial cost of acquiring the dog before training. For more information on our bed bug detection dogs or to learn more about Lori's services, please email her at lgrigg@paradise-dogtraining.com. If you're interested in psychiatric service dog training in Michigan or service dog training in Detroit, we can also assist with those needs.
Please reach us at lgrigg@paradise-dogtraining.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We purchase our pups from different breeders around the Country. We are very selective about choosing the breeders we work with. We choose breeders that we are able to trace a dogs lineage back several generations in an attempt to avoid genetic issues such as health and behavior problems that tend to surface as the dog ages.
As you can see from our photo gallery we primarily use Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers due to their temperament. Retrievers generally have a natural desire to please and are not so independent that they are more likely to pay attention to where their person is. They also have a natural desire to retrieve which comes in handy for tasks such as "get the phone" as well as retrieving dropped items. They are also typically very food motivated which aids in training.
A majority of our training is done using positave reinforcement. Which is why we like food motivated dogs. We do utilize clicker training in some of the tasks we train our dogs to do such as "up and push" for lights and door openers and retrieving dropped items.
Lori Grigg is the founder and director of Paradise Dog Training in Fenton, MI. With over 30 years of experience in training assistance and hearing dogs, and more than 40 years as an obedience instructor, Lori has established herself as a leader in the field. She has successfully developed programs for schools and hospitals, placing numerous dogs in these facilities. Lori graduated as a certified Dog Trainer through the Penn Foster Career School.
At Paradise Dog Training, Lori is available for obedience classes, private lessons, facility program design, meet & greets, and other events. You can reach Lori via email at lgrigg@paradise-dogtraining.com.
Scott Dingwall, who has been performing dog training for three years, cherishes his experience at Paradise Dog Training. He enjoys working with various breeds, including Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. His focus is on socializing dogs to ensure they feel comfortable in public settings, which is essential for effective service dog training in Detroit. He also participates in dog expos and events, sharing his passion for dog training.
Jennifer DuRocher has been involved in dog training and competition since 1990, primarily with Retrievers. She has extensive experience training psychiatric service dogs and other service dog roles, including mobility and autism response. Jennifer instructs Agility and Obedience classes at premier training facilities in SE Michigan and has trained dogs that have qualified for prestigious AKC events.
Lynn Hoekstra joined Paradise Dog Training in 2021, bringing over 30 years of experience in training Assistance Dogs and Facility Therapy Dogs. She has competed in obedience trials and has a strong background in developing accreditation programs for assistance dogs. Lynn enjoys working with the team at Paradise Dog Training and spending time with dogs and horses.
Sgt David Denhardt, U.S. Army Ret., came to Paradise Dog Training in 2013 seeking an Assistance Dog after being wounded in combat. He was placed with Tank, a Golden Retriever, and has since fostered numerous puppies, contributing to the Paradise Dog Training community. His dedication has led him to become one of our field trainers.
Cathy Kirbach joined Paradise Dog Training in 2022, bringing over 30 years of client services experience and more than 10 years of dog training expertise. When Paradise Dog Training places a therapy dog with a school, Cathy plays a crucial role in training the new handlers. She is also our company photographer, capturing moments of our dogs and sharing them on our Facebook page.
For inquiries about our services at Paradise Dog Training in Fenton, MI, you can reach us at 810-714-4861. We also offer specialized psychiatric service dog training in Michigan. Feel free to send us a message at lgrigg@paradise-dogtraining.com or jack@paradise-dogtraining.com for more information about our service dog training in Detroit.
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