Champs Foundation

Our Mission is to offer a program for handlers with challenges where they can be partnered with a coach and a dog, with a goal of learning to train dogs! Requirement for handlers is that they have been determined to have intellectual disabilities. CHamps is all about fun with dogs while learning communication skills! Handlers are teamed with a coac... h and the coach's dog, who is a trained obedience and/or therapy dog. Handlers learn how to give simple training commands such as, walk, sit, down, stay and more during the first level. The handlers follow a written curriculum of levels designed by the Champs Foundation. Each session runs for 4-6 weeks and when the handler completes all the requirements of a level they graduate to the next level. The program also includes helping handlers work with their own dogs, or continuing to work with the coach's dog as the handler progresses thru various levels of training. Classes advance to include training for Obedience, Rally and Agility with a goal of entering Champs competitions. As handlers become proficient in their skills we believe it also opens up employment or volunteer opportunities for them, possibly at training centers, dog shelters, doggy day out facilities and other dog related businesses. Champs is a non profit 501 C3 Foundation with Headquarters at 1000 E. Memphis Pl, Suite C, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. Office Hours by Appt Only Teaching handlers brand new skills that will help them in everyday life situations. Benefits include physical, psychological and social improvements. They learn interpersonal skills, social interaction, communication skills, cognitive thinking, improvement in speech and clarity of speech, self-confidence, self- esteem, they learn problem solving skills, awareness of body space, improved range of motion, fine and gross motor skills, they are forced to stay on task and focus on a task, they learn to follow instruction and also to give instruction, they are building better relationships with both people and animals. The development of ...Read More