How to Train a Service Dog

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By Justine Freeman
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Service dogs are helpful companions.

Owning a service dog can be a very rewarding experience. These special animals are trained to assist disabled people. They are taught to do a variety of specific tasks on command. There are numerous organizations who train and place service animals, but you can choose to train your own dog as a service animal. The following are some helpful training tips and resources to use when training your own service dog.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A Well Tempered Dog
Yummy Treats
A Training Vest
Patience

Step 1

A Labrador Retriever is commonly used as a service animal.

BREED CHOICE-Any breed of dog can become a service dog, but there are three top breeds that are usually chosen to do this kind of work. If you plan to adopt a dog to become a service dog, you may want to consider a Labrador Retriever, a Golden Retriever, or a German Shepherd Dog. The dog you choose must have a mild temperament and be in excellent health.
Step 2

All service animals need to know the basics.

THE BASICS-Like all dogs, service dogs need to be taught the basic commands. These include sit, stay, down, and heel. It is important for a service dog to be taught to stay in a requested position until released as he will be asked to "sit, stay" or "down, stay" for long periods of time. A great place to start is to sign up for a beginning training class. Ask family, friends, or your veterinarian to recommend a good class for you to attend with your dog.
Step 3

There are a variety of styles of vests available for service animals.

GET A TRAINING VEST-There are many websites that offer vests and identification cards. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 "guarantees every person who is disabled the absolute right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas open to the general public." Once you obtain a vest, your dog will have access to public areas. Be aware that service dogs are not to be pet by other people while they are working. They are also not allowed to play games such as "fetch" as it distracts them from their work.
Step 4

TAKE YOUR SERVICE ANIMAL EVERYWHERE-Expose him to all situations. He needs to be able to navigate through a crowd and be comfortable with unusual circumstances. For example, a service dog should be able to lie down quietly through a meal in a restaurant. It is valuable to practice loading and unloading from a car when familiarizing your dog with different places. Service dogs may not interact with other dogs.
Step 5

Service animals can be trained to retrieve items for their owners.

BEYOND THE BASICS-Once your dog knows the basic commands, you can move to more specialized training. A service dog needs to be taught a "leave it" command where the animal leaves something on the ground alone. "Get" is another common command taught to service dogs. This is when the dog retrieves a specific item for his owner. Dogs can also be taught to alert their owner when there is a knock at the door, turn on lights, brace themselves for their owner to lean on them, open doors, and even call 911 in an emergency. Remember when teaching a new behavior begin with small steps while working up to achieving the entire behavior.
Step 6

PRACTICE-Once your dog has learned the behaviors you want him to perform, practice them! Practice them everywhere. Just because your dog will consistently pick up your keys in your home doesn't mean he will pick them up when you drop them in a parking lot. Practice often and practice in different places.
Step 7

A clicker is an excellent training tool.

METHODS FOR TRAINING-A popular method used when training a dog is what is known as "clicker training." This method uses positive reinforcement. Although this is a widely accepted method of training, sometimes the person's disability does not allow them to be able to use the clicker. Therefore, a cue word like "yes" can be used in place of the clicker sound. Whatever method you choose to use, keep in mind that most certified dog trainers support using positive reinforcement to teach dogs new behaviors.
Step 8

Canine Companions for Independence provides disabled people with service dogs.

ORGANIZATIONS THAT TRAIN DOGS-There are many organizations that breed, raise, and train service animals for people with disabilities. Some of these specific organizations are Canine Companions for Independence, Loving Paws, Canine Angels, and Canine Support Teams, Inc. If you are interested in obtaining an already trained service animal, you should contact a local organization and put your name on their list as there is usually about a two year wait.