You may also contact the Champs Foundation directly by email
Contact Champs
Name:
Email:
Question/Comment:
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 coach 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
What is the Purpose of the Champs Foundation
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 levels for the program and training manuals to be used for other training centers across the state and throughout the entire nation. The program is developed in levels and each level designed or targeted to meet certain goals by the end of that session. Champs Foundation is responsible for creating training manuals for each level. The manual should be followed by other centers as closely as possible. A reporting system will be developed so that an outside training center’s program can be reviewed by the Champs Foundation.
Accrediting other training centers to use the program developed by Champs.
Develop and organize recognized competitions for local, state, regional and National competition, using the levels and/or skills developed by the Champs Foundation for the guidelines of the competitions.
Employment and volunteer opportunities. As handlers become proficient in their skills we believe it will open up some employment or volunteer opportunities for them as well, possibly at training centers, dog shelters, doggy day out facilities and other dog related businesses.
Champs is an approved therapy dog group for those dogs who are registered with AKC. Champs dogs can earn hours toward the AKC Therapy Dog Program.
Thank you for visiting Champs
Broken Arrow, OK | www.champsfoundation.org | 501(c)3 organization | 918.557.2349
Celebrating our 10 year Anniversary!!!
2012-2022
With great gratitude to all the coaches, the dogs, and to
K9 Manners and More in Broken Arrow, OK,
our home base for Champs