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Our Puppy Programme

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This is an original MCC programme and is still the only one of its kind.

 
 

Groundbreaking Success

 
 

We place young puppies with their future end user families. This is a totally new approach to providing qualified service dogs to families.The child's parents will socialise and carry out basic training with the puppy under the supervision of their MCC instructor and with the encouragement and support of mentor families who have completed the programme.

They will attend monthly classes on handling and obedience with MCC instructor. This is an original MCC programme and is still the only one of its kind.

This programme has fast become our main service with over ¾  of our  service dogs qualifying  through this approach. The success of this programme is double that of traditional programmes.

This programme epitomises the My Canine Companions motto “Bringing families together.”



 
 

The advantages of this new approach are many:

  • Success Rate of over 90% of puppies on the programme qualifying as service dogs, this is almost twice the industry average using traditional programmes of training

  • The bond between the child and the dog becomes stronger as they grow together.

  • For children who have difficulty with change (most children on the autism spectrum) they have more time to accept the dog and the change is gradual and less stressful.

  • The puppy will be extremely well socialised to the particular families environment and needs and to the specific behaviours of the child, thereby reducing the stress levels in the child and dog.

  • There is fantastic community feeling to this programme as families are all working together with their future service dogs. This is fostered through get togethers between groups of parents/clients, buddy system and scheduled training classes.

  • Handlers/Parents become extremely confident and competent in handling their dogs as they have built up a huge wealth of knowledge and experience throughout the 2-year programme. Handlers will have completed hundreds of hours training with their dogs as opposed to a class condensed into a short period.

  • MCC also provide a private social media platform which all our clients are added to where they can ask questions about training, share stories and advice  about our dogs and wider issues surrounding autism. 

Help Make a Difference with Ireland’s Largest Service Dog Provider.

 
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My Canine Companion: Providing life-changing support to children and families living with autism.

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