How to Train a Service Puppy
Training a service puppy can be a rewarding experience. As a volunteer trainer you will be required to house the puppy from the time it is seven or eight weeks old for the first 12 to 18 months of its life. During this time period you will be responsible for training and socializing the puppy in preparation for the dog's future life as a service animal. Puppy service dog training involves teaching basic manners before the puppy matures into a dog and moves on to actual service dog training.
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Things You'll Need
- Leather 6-foot leash
- Nylon collar
- Choke collar
- Service Dog jacket provided by Service Dogs of America
- Dog crate
- Dog treats
Instructions
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Potty train the puppy. Keep your puppy in a crate during the night or when you are not interacting together, then promptly take the puppy outside from the crate using a leash and collar. Stand holding the leash and wait for the puppy to potty. When the puppy potties reward with a food treat and positive reinforcement.
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Socialize your puppy in many different locations. Always have a leash and collar on your puppy with its Service Dog vest so the public knows that it is a puppy in training. Take your puppy into public stores, malls, restaurants or anywhere that a disabled person will go on daily basis.
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Expose the puppy to many different people and situations. Allow a wide range of people to pet your puppy, and practice walking the puppy in heavy traffic or beside noisy trains, autos, planes or around any other sound that might spook it. Exposure to loud sounds and bustling conditions are very important to teach the puppy about the world around it because the puppy should learn confidence in any setting.
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Teach the puppy to sit and stay. Push its rump to the floor while saying "sit." Offer praise and a food treat when the puppy performs the task. Once the sit is mastered teach the puppy to stay by walking away while holding the leash and saying the word "stay." If the puppy gets up say "no" and return to the puppy. Repeat the task until the puppy has the idea of what stay means. Practice walking farther away from your puppy as it sits and stays.
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Teach the puppy to come by walking to the end of the leash during a sit and stay. When you are at the end of the leash give the leash a simple tug and say "come." When the puppy comes offer praise and a food treat. Gradually work your way farther from the puppy by dropping the leash and calling it from across a room or a wider expanse of ground. Work on teaching your puppy to come in your home and on a day-to-day basis.
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Tips & Warnings
Always keep treats in your pocket so you can promptly reward your puppy for a job well done.
Always remember to place your puppy's service jacket on when in public. In most states you will be able to take the puppy into any establishment since it is a Service Dog in training.
Teach your puppy to patiently wait to exit a vehicle for its safety and yours.
If your puppy ever exhibits fear of a situation offer reassurance in a calm voice.
Never force your puppy to do an action if it is afraid. A service animal cannot show fear of loud noises or uncertain situations, so you will need to work at offering comfort and reassurance to your puppy to overcome any fears or misgivings it may ever experience. A puppy that grows into a fearful dog cannot be a Service Dog.
