Tulane University Service Dog Training & Education Program (TUSTEP)

Our club allows students the opportunity to raise and train service dogs for the organization Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). CCI is a national organization based in Santa Rosa, CA which places trained canines in a variety of different capacities. They may be placed as service dogs for those with physical handicaps, skilled companions for people living with mental disabilities, hearing dogs for the hearing impaired, and facility dogs that help out at different types of government and medical institutions. Canine Companions for Independence breeds Labrador/Golden Retriever mixes in Santa Rosa and leaves the puppies to a “Breeder Caretaker.” When the puppies reach eight weeks of age, they are shipped out to new puppy raisers across the country, who then begin the raising process. Eighteen months later, after countless training and socialization exercises, the raisers travel to their local headquarters (ours is located in Orlando, FL) to turn their dogs back over to CCI. After the matriculation, the dogs spend six to nine months with professional trainers learning to do all sorts of advanced tricks and commands, until they are deemed ready to graduate. They are then taken to “Team Training,” in which several dogs interact with several potential human matches, so as to naturally develop a bond with their future person, instead of being assigned to them. When a match is made, the puppy and human graduate as a team, and begin their lives together.