How to Train a Puppy to Be a Service Dog
Service dogs may be trained for various tasks--such as picking up dropped items, helping a person walk or responding to medical conditions. He may be trained as a hearing or signal dog, or a dog for the blind. You will need much patience and dedication to train a puppy to be a service dog, but the rewards will be great.
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Things You'll Need
- Training equipment for puppy (depending on the type of service dog the puppy will be)
Instructions
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Socialize the puppy. The puppy must be able to be around people and other dogs without getting distracted. Take him to both indoor and outdoor places and a variety of environments. You may want to make a vest or sweater for the dog with a sign that says he is in training and requests that others do not touch or pet him.
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Teach the puppy basic obedience skills. Before he can begin more specialized training, the puppy must learn voice and hand signals for basic commands, such as sit, stay, lie down and coming when he's called.
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Target specific tasks. Depending on what type of service dog you believe the puppy will excel at (such as a guide dog for a blind person), you will need to begin to teach him tasks specific to that field. You also may need to purchase special equipment--such as a harness for a guide dog--that he will need to be familiar with in order to be a service dog. You may need to teach the puppy to pick up items, open doors, pull a wheelchair or lead a blind person.
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Introduce the puppy to his new partner. In addition to training the puppy, you will need to also help his new owner adjust to having a service dog, how to give commands, how to care for the dog and how to deal with any health issues the dog has.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait for the puppy to finish growing before asking him to do tasks such as pulling a wheelchair. Service dogs usually are allowed access to public buildings or transportation. It is not required they wear a vest or sign that says they are a service dog, but good behavior is required. If you are going to place the puppy into a home as a service animal, he will need to be current on vaccinations and also be spayed or neutered.
Before you train a service dog, you should be able to train a dog in basic obedience. Each mistake you make will set you back in training. According to Service Dog Central, "Inexperienced trainers have about one chance in a hundred of succeeding." So if you are not confident in your skills, perhaps ask a professional for help training your puppy or send him to various training schools and organizations throughout the country. The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners may be a good place to start if you need to find a trainer.
