The Calais School was thrilled to host and participate in the United K9 Professionals and Merlin’s KIDS’ four-day annual national service dog and handler’s training convention, October 9th-12th, 2015.  Speakers, guests, service dogs and handlers gathered at the Calais School campus and out in the community to share their knowledge of service dog training and canine behavior techniques. Experts from the service dog world demonstrated various specialty areas, including the development of institutional service dogs trained specifically to work in special education programs with learning disabled students throughout the United States and abroad. Service dogs at The Calais School are currently employed on a full-time  basis with certified handlers to provide therapeutic interventions related to psychosocial behavioral disabilities. Additional therapeutic interventions include work with occupational therapy, speech, physical therapy, and reading.

Attendees gained a truly authentic experience of the Institutional Service Dog world through workshops on integrative behavioral therapy, therapeutic facilitation, and behavioral interventions–techniques incorporated daily in the academic and therapeutic program at The Calais School.

UK9 and Merlin’s KIDS provided service dog and handler training on beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels and will benefit special needs populations in 38 states. We are proud to say that Calais School teachers and service dog handlers Lara Ferment and Casey Butler were integral parts of the program and offered valuable insights to a national audience Ms. Butler, currently certified in Animal Adaptive Therapy, Behavioral Intervention, Therapeutic Facilitation, and service dog training presented on therapeutic facilitation and behavioral interventions to a national audience.

Lara Ferment, currently certified in Animal Adaptive Therapy, Therapeutic Facilitation, and Natural Canine Behavior Rehabilitation shared her insights about the event:

“For United K9 Professionals and Merlin’s Kids members, the convention allowed us the opportunity to expand our knowledge base, make connections amongst other professionals, and most importantly, a gave us time to gather as a team and remember the very reason we chose to be part of this community.”

Participants and presenters spent a great deal of time and energy sharing strategies, techniques, and stories. By the end of the convention, everyone–including the dogs–were tired out!