Tips For Training Service Dogs

Dogs can be trained and used as service dogs to help people with a range of disabilities and conditions including blindness, deafness and autism. Dogs can help people with a range of daily tasks which their disability prevents them from doing otherwise. According to Support Dogs, having a service dog can also help reduce the stress and anxiety caused by having a disability. Although many different breeds can be service dogs, it is important for a service dog to be confident and to have a calm, submissive temperament.

  1. Socialize

    • It is important to socialize the dog from a young age by exposing it to as many different people, dogs and situations as possible. Early socialization will prepare the dog for becoming a service dog when it is older. The dog is less likely to react with excitement or fear when out in public if it is used to a wide range of noises, scenarios including different types of public transport and busy locations. It is vital for a service dog to keep calm in all situations while it is out with its owner. You should train service dogs to work with a number of different types of hospital equipment, such as wheelchairs or walking apparatus that their disabled owner may use.

    Patience

    • A service dog will be required to wait for long periods of time if the owner is going out to a restaurant. During this time the dog should be trained to sit and wait patiently either under the table or on the floor at the owner's feet. The dog should be discouraged from picking up any scraps of food that fall on the floor. The dog will also benefit from learning to sit patiently in other areas, including elevators and public toilet cubicles.

    Canine Good Citizen Certificate

    • To become a certified therapy dog and to move on to service dog training, a dog must first pass a "Canine Good Citizenship" test. The dog will need to know to "come," "sit," "lie down," "wait" and "go back" on command and should exhibit good manners. Owners can arrange for their dog to take the CGC test by applying through their local humane society.

    Further Training

    • For a certified therapy dog to become a service dog it will require a course of specialized training. This is vital to ensure that the dog is reliable and capable of practicing the required job. This could include leading a blind person, alerting a deaf person or helping a disabled person to carry out tasks, such as picking up dropped items, loading a washing machine, opening doors or helping to put on or remove clothing. People who wish for their dog to take this course should contact a service dog organization. It is important to remember that not all of the dogs that take the course will be capable of being a service dog.