Ruff Translating

Update: I wanted to write an update now that my dog has graduated the service dog program. Ejay was a massive support in getting us to graduation. I had a lot of medical struggles going on and he helped create a plan for success that I could follow so I could meet the training and care needs of my dog but also not tank my health further doing it. My dog and I recently traveled abroad as a working team to the Caribbean together and my dog showed what a pro he was when he did seizure response on a moving sailboat for an hour while we sailed back to shore so I could get the help I needed. Then recently again he blew me away when he was out of gear and not expected to work and I had a medical emergency. My service dog chose to work while technically off duty and helped me by providing medical alerts that in turn aided paramedics by letting them know in advance I might go into another seizure. Once I was awake the first responders were raving about how cool it was and how accurate my dog is with his alerts. Now that we are out in the world working as a team full time I know I made the right choice with Ruff Translating 100%. They gave me not only a solid working dog but a dog who truly loves his job which is invaluable. We have hit a nice flow as a team and I’m so happy I have my teammate by my side each day. Ruff Translating is training my medical alert and mobility service dog and are an amazing establishment. The owner, Ejay, is willing to answer any questions and concerns you may have and is very accessible. They treat your dog like their own dog. So much love and thought goes into what they do. The structure they have is also wonderful. They have muttesori academy (the name is also cute), adventure club, and boarding options on top of private lessons. Ejay even helped me select my breeder and puppy prospect and temperament tested him to make sure he was the right dog for service work. In regards to my experience with the service dog training specifically... I couldn’t be happier. They base how to approach training on where each individual dog is at in their maturity level, confidence, etc. If I need something specific addressed ASAP I just let them know and they’re right on it. Ejay also thoughtfully considers how your disability impacts you and how he can make training a service dog safer for you. For example, I needed heavy focus on heel work right off the bat because I very easily dislocate joints due to a connective tissue disorder. So there was a concern that if Bodhi tugged on the leash he could dislocate my shoulder. The dislocation aspect also guided Ejay in which tools to use and which to avoid as he only wanted to use tools accessible to me as well. He also thought of ways to practice commands and expend all the puppy energy from a seated position during times when I’m more symptomatic and need to stay seated for safety. There’s just such a community at RT where even the clients themselves support one another in their training journeys. Bodhi is so thrilled to go to RT each day and quite literally jumps for joy (poodle hops lol) when he sees Ejay. This same enthusiasm carries over into his work with me. A service dog who loves to work makes for a great service dog. I can leave Bodhi at Ruff Translating each day knowing they’re taking care of my future lifeline like one of their own family members.

Ejay and his team are amazing. He knows ‘everything dog’. RT trained my daughter and her service dog Mabel to give her the confidence and independence she needed to navigate life! She just finished her first year of college on the Deans list both semesters! We owe these successes to her hard work, the perfect dog that Ejay personally chose for her and this special talented caring team of trainers! ❤️

One of the best decisions we made was choosing Ruff translating to train our two pups. Ejay and his team are incredible, they are extremely knowledgeable, kind, and truly care about setting both handler and dog for success. His team is dedicated and clearly have a passion for what they do. I would recommend them to anyone who is serious about their dogs training and looking for a place they can trust. We are so thankful for our time there, our dogs absolutely love the team and so do we.