Small Service Dog Tricks

Service dogs for the blind are often large breeds, but small dogs still perform valuable services for people with physical and mental disabilities. The trick to training small service dogs is to make use of their energy and intelligence by teaching them to perform tasks that help their owners without overwhelming the dogs physically or exceeding their strength.

  1. Retrieving Objects

    • Small dogs can still retrieve objects; they just have to be small objects. Teaching a service dog to retrieve a key ring, pencil or notepad can make the life of a person with limited mobility easier. Training the dog to retrieve medication or a cellphone pre-programmed with an emergency number from a specific area, like a cabinet or closet floor, can save the owner's life. Placing the objects to be retrieved in a small bag with a handle makes them easier for small dogs to carry or drag.

    Canine Alarm Clock

    • Dogs of all sizes have an almost uncanny ability to repeat an action at the same time every day. By training a small dog to nudge or bark at the owner in exchange for treats or food at a given time each day, the dog can act as a reminder for taking medication, even at night. Dogs can also learn to nudge or bother a hearing-impaired person whenever there is an audible stimulus, like a smoke alarm or a phone ringing.

    K-9 Rescue Phone

    • Small dogs can be trained to use a K-9 rescue phone in an emergency in which their owner is completely incapacitated. The K-9 rescue phone is pre-programmed with a single number, like 911 or a suicide hotline. The dog operates the phone by pressing a single, large button with its paw. Training the dog to operate the phone if the owner collapses offers an additional safety net for circumstances where the person cannot give the dog a command or seek help herself.

    Communication with Others

    • Service dogs of any size can act as a communications medium with other people by delivering written messages to and from their owners. The dog can learn to take a message to a specific person in a specific place, in an office setting, for instance, or to deliver the message to any person in the room that the owner indicates. Dogs can also communicate on the owner's behalf by gaining the attention of a specific person through barking or nudging.