About Human-Animal Bond in Colorado Center (“HABIC”)

What they offer

Human-Animal Bond in Colorado (HABIC) is a nonprofit center in Colorado State University's School of Social Work, at 2479 International Blvd in Fort Collins. Besides its volunteer therapy animal program, it runs public dog training classes. Beginnings is a four-week class covering heeling, leave it, polite greetings, recall and stay, and the site describes it as a basic obedience course for any dog as well as the first step toward therapy dog work.

Further classes include Therapy Dog Foundations, which prepares teams for HABIC therapy dog certification, a series of K9 Nose Work classes starting with Intro to K9 Nose Work, and electives such as polite greetings, tricks and a rattlesnake-avoidance class.

How they train

"Our training is grounded in positive reinforcement", says the site. Its staff page lists a lead animal trainer with the KPA CTP credential and an animal trainer based at the HABIC Training and Research Center.

Good to know

To enroll, create a HABIC profile, then email the training team with your preferred class. Dogs may start Beginnings at six months, and therapy dog classes require dogs to be at least 16 months old. Proof of rabies, Bordetella and DHPP vaccines is required.