Don’t choose a dog that seems shy or anxious. It is essential to find a well socialized dog, as a dog struggling with anxiety issues will make a poor assistance dog.
Focus on rewarding your dog with praise and/or treats whenever they follow a command.
You should have experience training specific kinds of service dogs. Experience with allergy alert dogs does not qualify you to train a hearing dog. Working as a medical professional or caregiver doesn’t necessarily qualify you to train service dogs. Experience caring for diabetics might not qualify you to train a diabetic assistance dog. If you want your dog to be a brace/mobility support dog, they must stand at least 23 inches (58 cm) tall and weigh at least 55 pounds (25 kg). [2] X Research source A keen sense of smell is key for an allergy alert or diabetic alert dog. [3] X Research source Also research different ways of training the service dog. You can train your dog through a non-profit charity who trains specially selected dogs, organizations who undertake training your own dog, or working with a certified trainer in your own home.
Housebreaking. This is requirement for all service dogs. [4] X Research source Start housebreaking your dog when they’re six weeks old. Spaying and neutering. Neutering makes males less aggressive and prevents females from going into heat on the job. Have your dog sterilized between the ages of eight weeks and six months. Determining their age. A dog must be at least six months old to become a service dog. Although there’s no maximum age, avoid training senior dogs for physically demanding jobs. [5] X Research source The annual physical. Schedule heart, eye, joint, and other breed-appropriate tests. Have your dog vaccinated and put on heartworm prevention medication. If you want your dog trained for mobility assistance, physical fitness and strength are especially important. Don’t consider your dog for service training if they have joint problems, bone density issues, or diabetes. Let them live as pampered companions instead![6] X Research source
Good fetchers usually make a good guide dogs. Dogs who react keenly to sound make good hearing dogs. [8] X Research source Dogs who can tolerate frequent mood swings make good companions for dementia patients. [9] X Research source
Once your dog gets used to verbal commands, train them to obey hand signals. [10] X Research source Do not use old-fashioned techniques that rely on dominating the dog. Be patient with younger dogs in the beginning, as they have shorter attention spans.
Tugging: opening doors and drawers, removing shoes, dragging laundry to the washing machine. Retrieving objects such as the phone, medicine, and beverages. Carrying: bringing objects to their partners, paying for items at counters, moving objects between locations. Nudging: shutting doors, flipping light switches, calling emergency services. Pawing: shutting doors, pushing elevator buttons, turning on lamps. Bracing: helping their partner turn in bed, preventing falls, helping partner walk from wheelchair to seat. Harnessing: opening heavy doors, transporting objects like books, preventing their partner from stumbling. Medical assistance: fetching medicine/medical devices, helping their partner cough when no suction devices are available, letting emergency services into the house. [12] X Research source
Tie the rope to the refrigerator door. The dog should be able to reach the rope with all four paws on the floor. Call them to the fridge. Hold the rope out, and tell them to take it. Help your dog tug the door open on the first few tries. When the door is open, click your clicker and give your dog a treat. Practice until your dog can open the door without help. [13] X Research source
Place the bottle on a shelf in the fridge your dog can reach with all paws on the floor. Call your dog to the fridge. Open and prop the fridge door. Point out the bottle, and tell them to take it. Tell your dog to give the bottle back to you. Reward them with treats. Repeat training until your dog can open the fridge and retrieve the bottle without help. Leave the bottle in the same place so that your dog will be able to find it without difficulty each time. [14] X Research source
During each session, stand farther away from the fridge. Continue to increase the distance between the two of you until they can bring the bottle to you in another room. [15] X Research source
Continue to enclose a treat in your fist. Train your dog only to nudge with a closed mouth. Click and treat for reinforcement. Work up to clicking when your dog nudges your fist. Open your hand and reward them. As your dog masters nudging, move your fist to the left and right, up and down. Gradually increase the distance between the two of you until you get about 3 feet (0. 91 m) between you. [16] X Research source Apply this task to the fridge/bottle activity by teaching your dog to nudge the door closed. Use a sticky note to mark the target. [17] X Research source Switch the focus from the nose to the paws to teach paw-based tasks. Target a wooden door to any interior room with a sticky note. Place the sticky note at the edge of the door and at front-paw height for your dog. Use the same steps you used in nudge-training. [18] X Research source Use nudge training when teaching your dog to close glass doors. Paw training on glass can lead to broken glass and serious injuries.
Laws vary from one country to another. If you live outside the U. S. , look up the legal requirements of service dogs, their trainers, and their partners.
You might be required to do a “demo” before taking the actual test. This will usually consist of three tasks that the organization will assess to see if you and your dog are ready for the next step. If your dog has been trained in medical alert tasks, be prepared to submit a video of your dog performing them. [23] X Research source Ask the organization if they record the test. If not, have the test recorded and keep it available at all times. You might need proof in the future that you and your dog passed. [24] X Research source
Make sure your dog can Perform the mandatory tasks. Obey basic and advanced commands. Avoid begging for food or eating food that falls on the floor. Avoid being aggressive toward people and other animals. Avoid barking or becoming agitated among loud noises or in crowded spaces. You will be tested on Unloading your dog into your vehicle. Entering public spaces. Keeping control of your dog no matter the situation. Retrieving a dropped leash. Calmly handling incidents of possible discrimination. Loading your dog back into your vehicle. [25] X Research source
There are many registries and websites across the internet that claim to provide unfettered access via ID cards or papers. This is generally frowned upon by trainers and service dog handlers because certifying a service dog and providing papers for them encourages businesses to ask for them. This is not only illegal, but can also provide an easy way for someone to pass off an untrained pet as a trained service animal. Registering a dog as an emotional support animal (ESA) does not grant any public access for the dog, as comfort is not a legally permissible task under the ADA. Registration is not required for ESAs and has no legal standing. All that is required for an ESA is a letter from a healthcare provider that the animal eases symptoms of a disability through comfort.
