Service Dog Training Guide: The Basics

Training your dog to become a service dog is easier and can be more cost-effective than you think, as there are options for you to train your dog yourself, hire a professional, or sign up for group classes.
If you train your service dog yourself, it’s highly recommended you become familiar with humane and positive reinforcement training techniques as well as become educated on canine care and health to ensure the dog is responding correctly and no damage to them or bad behaviors are being learned.
Here are what the phases of service dog training look like:
- Mastering foundation skills
- Service task training
- Public access training
- Practicing reliability
- Keeping skills sharp with ongoing maintenance
And, for more information:
Phase 1: Mastering Foundation Skills
Obedience skills aren’t just “nice to have” — they’re the foundation upon which everything else builds. Service dogs must respond to commands instantly in any situation, even potentially dangerous ones. ADA service dog rules require you to maintain control of your service dog at all times, so reliable command response isn’t optional.
Start training in a quiet, distraction-free space before gradually adding challenges. Your service dog needs to master these essential commands:
- Sit and Down: Teach these separately, then build staying power. Begin with quick 10-second holds and work up to 2-3 minute stays.
- Stay: Start small — 5-second stays with you just 2 feet away. Gradually increase both time and distance until your dog can hold a rock-solid stay for 3+ minutes with you at least 20 feet away.
- Come: This command could literally save your dog’s life. Practice first in enclosed areas, then add a long training line in open spaces. Never punish a dog that comes when called (even slowly), as this teaches that coming to you leads to bad things.
- Heel: Begin with short 30-second walking sessions, rewarding your dog for staying in the perfect position. Over time, build up to 5+ minutes of consistent heeling.
- Leave it/Drop it: These safety commands are crucial in public. Start with boring items your dog doesn’t care much about, then gradually work up to more tempting objects.
Keep sessions short (5–15 minutes) but frequent (3–5 times daily) rather than drilling for hours. This keeps your dog mentally fresh and excited about training.
Smart Socialization: Building Confidence
Contrary to popular belief, socialization isn’t about meeting every person and dog possible. It’s about teaching your dog to stay calm and confident in all kinds of situations. An under-socialized dog will fall apart exactly when you need help the most — when facing something unfamiliar or startling.
Focus your socialization efforts on:
- People diversity: Expose your dog to people of different ages, heights, and appearances. Include people wearing hats, uniforms, bulky coats, and people using wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers.
- Environmental variety: Let your dog experience different floor surfaces (slippery tile, carpet, metal grates), stairs, automatic doors, and various weather conditions. Visit buildings with different sounds and acoustics.
- Sensory experiences: Introduce your dog to common noises like vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, car alarms, children playing, and music — sounds they’ll encounter during regular service work.
Use the “distance-first” approach: Start from a comfortable distance rather than throwing your dog into overwhelming situations. For example, sit on a bench where your dog can observe children playing from afar, then move closer only as they remain calm and interested.
Impulse Control
Impulse control is what separates service dogs from well-behaved pets. Your dog must resist temptations in public — dropped food, other animals, friendly strangers — and stay focused on you. Without strong impulse control, your dog might abandon their post to investigate distractions exactly when you need assistance.
Build impulse control through:
- Doorway manners: Your dog waits while you open any door, then crosses only when you release them. Start practicing with interior doors before moving to more exciting exterior doors.
- Food restraint: Place treats on the floor or even on your dog’s paws, requiring a “wait” until you give a “take it” cue. Gradually increase difficulty with longer waits and more tempting foods.
- Greeting protocol: Teach your dog to stay sitting or lying down when meeting people instead of jumping up or seeking attention.
Always reward your dog exactly where they’re showing restraint. If they’re maintaining a “stay” at the doorway, bring the treat to them there instead of calling them to you for the reward, which teaches them to break position.

Phase 2: Service Task Training
Service dogs aren’t just well-behaved pets — they must perform specific tasks that directly help with your disability. This isn’t about emotional support or comfort (though those are nice bonuses). It’s about trained behaviors that actively help manage your condition.
Without identifying the right tasks, you might spend months training behaviors that don’t actually qualify as service dog work or that your dog physically can’t perform reliably. When a business owner asks, “What tasks does your dog perform to help with your disability?” — which they legally can — you need a clear, specific answer.
Check out our comprehensive list of service dog tasks to get ideas about what these dogs can do for various disabilities.
Breaking Down Complex Tasks
Think of teaching complex service dog tasks like building a house — you can’t start with the roof! Most helpful tasks involve complicated behavior chains that dogs would never do naturally.
Trying to teach an entire task like “retrieve my medication” or “alert to low blood sugar” all at once usually leads to confusion and frustration for both you and your dog. Instead, break each task into small, manageable pieces that build on each other.
For example, if you’re teaching retrieval, the separate steps might include:
- Recognizing the specific item by name or scent
- Picking it up properly without damaging it
- Holding it securely without dropping or chewing it
- Carrying it back to you directly
- Releasing it gently into your hand
Master each step completely before connecting them together. This approach makes training clearer for your dog and lets you fix specific problems without starting over.
Making Tasks Bulletproof
There’s a big difference between a dog performing tasks in perfect training conditions and performing when you’re actually having symptoms and need help. Task refinement bridges this gap.
In early training, you’re likely working in quiet environments with lots of guidance. But real disability support happens in unpredictable settings when you might be unable to give perfect cues or help your dog succeed.
Build reliability through these steps:
- Duration: Gradually extend how long your dog must perform. If you need deep pressure therapy during anxiety attacks, start with 10 seconds of sustained pressure, then work up to 2+ minutes.
- Distance: Increase the space between you while maintaining reliability. Your dog should eventually retrieve items from 10+ feet away or alert to your symptoms from across a room.
- Distractions: Slowly add challenges while requiring perfect performance. Start with quiet talking nearby, then add more intense distractions like other dogs or loud noises.
- Putting it all together: Finally, link multiple behaviors into complete sequences. For example, train your dog to not only find another person when you need help but also lead that person back to you.
This refinement process creates a service dog who performs reliably when you need them most — even when you’re experiencing symptoms and can’t provide perfect guidance.
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Phase 3: Public Access Training
The key word in public access training is “gradual.” Think of it like teaching someone to swim — you don’t start in the deep end! Throwing your dog into overwhelming situations too quickly can create fear that’s hard to overcome.
When you build exposure step by step, your dog learns to handle each new challenge with confidence. It’s like building a ladder — each rung needs to be solid before you climb to the next one. This careful approach also helps you spot your dog’s specific triggers (like fear of automatic doors or children) early on when they’re easier to address.
Here’s a simple progression that works for most dogs:
- Start with peaceful places: Empty parks or quiet sidewalks during off-hours. Just practice basic commands with minimal distractions.
- Move to calm businesses: Try pet-friendly stores during their slowest times. Home improvement stores are great for this — they have different floor surfaces and moderate activity but aren’t overwhelming.
- Step up to busier places: Once that’s comfortable, try busier stores, outdoor shopping areas, and restaurants with outdoor seating.
- Graduate to challenging environments: Finally, work up to grocery stores, malls, and food courts — places with many distractions, smells, and activities.
Remember the “3–visit rule” for each new place: The first visit is just about getting comfortable, the second is for basic work, and the third is for more serious training. Don’t rush — taking an extra month in training is better than creating fear that might never fully resolve.
Perfect Public Behavior
Businesses can legally ask your service dog to leave if they’re disruptive, even if they’re perfectly trained in their actual assistance tasks. A dog that barks, has accidents indoors, approaches strangers, or can’t settle quietly can lose their public access rights under the ADA, no matter how well they perform their disability tasks.
Your dog needs to master these essential public behaviors:
- Quiet settling: Your dog should calmly lie under tables or beside chairs for at least 30 minutes without getting restless. Start practicing this at home during your meals, then try outdoor cafés, before moving to indoor restaurants.
- Moving through tight spaces: Your dog needs to stay close beside you through narrow store aisles, between restaurant tables, and in crowded areas without bumping into things or people.
- Elevator manners: They should enter calmly, stay in position during the ride, and exit in a controlled way. Start with empty elevators during quiet hours.
- Ignoring temptations: Deliberately drop food near your dog during practice sessions (start with boring food before trying more tempting items). This prepares them for the inevitable dropped french fry at a restaurant.
Here’s a training hack: Set up a fake “restaurant” at home with a table, chairs, and family members eating a meal. Have your dog practice settling underneath while everyone eats. Once they’ve mastered this controlled setting, move to a quiet outdoor café and finally to indoor restaurants during less busy times.
Getting Around: Transportation Training
Your service dog’s ability to handle different transportation can make or break your independence. A dog that panics on buses or can’t handle a subway ride significantly limits where you can go for medical appointments, work, or social activities.
Build transportation skills in this order:
- Car rides: Make sure your dog has a consistent position in the vehicle where they stay calm without climbing around or showing anxiety.
- Elevators and escalators: For elevators, practice calm entry/exit and stay in position during the ride. Escalators require special care — first practice on non-moving ones to teach safe paw placement. Many handlers skip escalator training entirely due to paw injury risks, so consider whether you need this skill.
- Public transportation and flights: Buses have unique challenges like sudden stops, tight spaces, and frequent rider changes. Trains and planes add noise, crowds, and longer durations. Start with short trips during quiet times and gradually increase difficulty.
Safety tip: If you do train for escalators, be extremely careful. Start on turned-off escalators, use high-value treats, and consider carrying small dogs. Many service dog trainers recommend avoiding escalators entirely and using elevators instead.

Phase 4: Practicing Reliability
Think of it this way: your dog might be perfect at performing tasks at home, but that’s like practicing basketball in an empty gym. The real game happens with screaming fans, other players, and pressure. The same goes for your service dog.
Your dog needs to learn how to help you while dealing with all the distractions of real-life — people walking by, interesting smells, loud noises, and busy environments. This is much harder than performing tasks in your quiet living room.
To build this skill:
- Practice where you actually go: Take your dog to the places you visit regularly — your workplace, favorite coffee shop, grocery store, and doctor’s office. Each new place adds a new challenge.
- Mix up the tasks: Don’t always ask for the same task in the same order. If your dog learns, “We always do task A, then task B,” they might start doing things automatically rather than listening to what you actually need in the moment.
- Build stamina gradually: Start with short 15-minute outings and slowly work up to longer sessions of 2+ hours. Watch for signs your dog is getting tired or stressed (yawning, looking away, shaking off).
For example, if your dog is trained to help with anxiety, start practicing in a quiet park, move to a small shop with few customers, and eventually test their skills in busier places like malls with more noise and activity.
Testing Under Pressure
The hardest truth about service dog work is that your dog needs to perform at their best exactly when conditions are at their worst. Think about it — you’re most likely to need help during a medical emergency, an anxiety attack, or in overwhelming environments. Many dogs that seem well-trained can fall apart during these critical moments.
To make sure your dog is ready for these situations:
- Create safe practice scenarios: Set up controlled situations that mimic stressful events. Have a friend suddenly drop something nearby or create unexpected noises while your dog performs a task.
- Check their recovery time: How quickly can your dog refocus on you after something startling happens? A well-trained service dog should recover within seconds.
- Practice during symptom flare-ups: If safe to do so, practice having your dog assist you when you’re actually experiencing mild symptoms of your disability, not just when you’re feeling your best.
- Test their endurance: Make sure your dog can handle working for as long as your typical day requires without getting too tired to help you.
Remember, the point isn’t to stress out your dog — it’s to make sure they can handle real-life situations. Always end these practice sessions on a positive note with success and rewards.
Phase 5: Keeping Skills Sharp with Ongoing Maintenance
Think of your service dog’s training like a musical instrument — even professional musicians practice daily. Without regular practice, your dog’s skills will get rusty and deteriorate, especially tasks they don’t use every day.
For example, a dog trained to respond to seizures might go months between actual episodes, or a dog trained to retrieve emergency medication might rarely need to use that specific skill. But when these emergency skills are needed, they must work perfectly the first time.
Regular practice keeps all your dog’s skills sharp and ready for action. It’s not about teaching them anything new — it’s about making sure they remember everything they’ve already learned.
Simple Training Schedule
Here’s an easy way to keep your dog’s skills fresh:
- Every day (5-10 minutes): Practice basic commands during normal activities. Ask for a “sit” before meals, practice “heel” during walks, or work on “stay” while you’re making coffee.
- Every week: Run through all of your dog’s special tasks, especially ones they don’t use often. If your dog is trained to press emergency buttons or retrieve specific items, practice these skills even if you haven’t needed them lately.
- Every month: Take your dog to a challenging environment they don’t visit often — maybe a busy store, public event, or restaurant — to keep their public behavior skills polished.
- Every three months: Do a complete check-up of all your dog’s skills. Test everything they know and look for any weak spots that need extra attention.
Many handlers find it helpful to use a simple calendar to track what skills to practice each day. This way, you don’t overwhelm yourself or your dog but still cover everything regularly.
Growing Together
As your disability changes, your service dog’s skills should evolve too. Many conditions change over time — mobility issues might worsen, symptoms might present differently, or new challenges might emerge.
To keep your service dog’s assistance relevant:
- Check-in with yourself: Every few months, consider whether your needs have changed. Are there new tasks that would help you? Are some tasks no longer as helpful?
- Build on what works: When teaching new skills, start with what your dog already knows. If your dog retrieves items well, they can learn to open drawers or refrigerators to get items. If they already alert you to sounds, they might learn to alert you to new sounds like medical devices.
- Gradual additions: Don’t try to teach several new skills at once. Add one new skill at a time while continuing to practice established tasks. Set aside specific training sessions for new skills while maintaining regular practice of core abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Service Dog Training
- Are service dogs required to have certification or complete a specific number of training hours?
- Who is responsible for ensuring a service dog meets proper training standards?
- What does the ADA require from service dog handlers to prove training?
- How long does service dog training typically take?
- Can I train my own service dog?
- What are the benefits of self-training my service dog?
- What about costs?
- What challenges should I expect if I self-train my service dog?
- Can any dog become a service dog with proper training?
- How do I know if my dog is making appropriate progress during training?
- Is it better to train a puppy or an adult dog for service work?
- What if my service dog in training isn’t making progress?
Are service dogs required to have certification or complete a specific number of training hours?
You might be surprised to learn that there’s no federally mandated certification process or required training hours under the ADA. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to train a dog to become a service dog — quite the contrary. Effective service dogs need comprehensive training to perform their essential work, but the government doesn’t regulate exactly how that training happens.
Who is responsible for ensuring a service dog meets proper training standards?
As a handler, you and you alone are responsible for ensuring you have a qualifying disability and that your dog meets behavioral standards and can perform specific tasks related to your disability. The ADA places the responsibility directly on you, not on certifications or third-party verification.
What does the ADA require from service dog handlers to prove training?
Under the ADA, you’ll need to:
- Self-attest to your disability status when asked
- Ensure your dog is trained to perform tasks directly related to your disability
- Maintain control of your dog at all times in public
- Make sure your dog is housebroken and well-behaved
How long does service dog training typically take?
While there’s no official standard in the US, many professionals follow guidelines of approximately 120 hours of training spread over six months, with at least 30 hours focused specifically on public access skills.
Your individual training program may vary significantly based on:
- Your dog’s temperament and learning style
- The complexity of tasks your dog needs to master
- Your consistency with training sessions
- Environmental factors and available training resources
Some handlers find their dogs ready for full service work after 6-8 months of dedicated training, while others may spend up to two years developing all necessary skills. Remember that rushing the process can lead to gaps in training that may create problems later.
Can I train my own service dog?
Yes, you can train your service dog yourself rather than working with a professional organization. The ADA allows you to self-train a service dog without third-party help. However, be prepared for a significant time commitment and potential challenges along the way. Don’t hesitate to consult a professional trainer if you encounter difficulties — their expertise can be a game-changer in overcoming specific training obstacles.
What are the benefits of self-training my service dog?
Self-training your service dog creates a unique partnership from day one. When you get a fully trained service dog from a program, there’s often a transition period where both handler and dog need to learn to work together — imagine trying to learn a dance with a skilled partner who’s used to dancing with someone else. The dog needs to adjust to your specific movement patterns, verbal cues, and daily routines, while you need to learn all their trained commands and behaviors. It can take weeks or months to truly sync up.
In contrast, when you train your service dog, you learn to dance together from the first step. Every command and every task is built around your specific needs, voice, and way of moving. You’ll shape their training around what works best for both of you, and a special bond comes from being both trainer and handler. Plus, there are no lengthy waiting lists to endure — you can start building that relationship right away, and many states, like Texas, even support your journey by granting service-dog-in-training access rights.
What about costs?
The cost to train a service dog can vary greatly depending on how you train, the tasks you need, and how your dog learns the best. Check out our guide on how much it costs to train a service dog to get a better idea.
What challenges should I expect if I self-train my service dog?
The sheer time commitment of service dog training often catches owner-trainers off guard. Needing 120 hours over six months is not uncommon, and the reality can be more intense. What starts as teaching basic retrieval can take months to develop into reliable service work — first, your dog learns to pick up a specific item at home, then different objects, then in new locations, and finally amid real-world distractions. Every task must be broken down into small steps and mastered before moving forward, and progress isn’t linear. You might spend weeks perfecting a task at home only to start almost from scratch when you begin practicing in public.
Your service dog also has to master public access. Your service dog in training needs to remain focused on you and their job while navigating a world of challenging distractions. They must maintain composure when other dogs bark at them in stores, stay calm when strangers try to pet them without asking and resist the temptation of food at nose level in restaurants. Even after months of solid training, some dogs begin showing stress signals or develop unexpected fears of everyday situations like automatic doors or crowds. No matter how well they perform their tasks, you must always watch for signs that the work might be too stressful for them to monitor whether your dog is emotionally equipped for the demanding life of a service dog.
Can any dog become a service dog with proper training?
While the ADA doesn’t specify breed restrictions, not every dog has the temperament or physical capability to become a service dog. The ideal candidate should be calm, focused, non-reactive, and physically capable of performing the necessary tasks. Before investing in extensive training, have your dog’s temperament tested and honestly assess whether they have the natural disposition for service work.
How do I know if my dog is making appropriate progress during training?
Progress in service dog training rarely follows a linear path. Generally, your dog should be consistently mastering skills in increasingly challenging environments. Create a training log to track specific behaviors, noting successes and challenges in different settings. If your dog repeatedly struggles with a particular skill despite multiple training approaches, consider consulting with a professional trainer to evaluate whether you need a different training strategy or if the dog might not be suitable for service work.
Is it better to train a puppy or an adult dog for service work?
Both approaches have advantages. With puppies, you can shape their development from the beginning, but you won’t know their adult temperament with certainty until they mature. Adult dogs (1–2 years old) have established temperaments, making it easier to assess their suitability for service work, but may have developed habits that need to be addressed. The best approach depends on your specific situation, including your disability needs, experience level, and timeline.
What if my service dog in training isn’t making progress?
Not all dogs are suited for service work, even with extensive training. If your dog consistently shows stress, fear, or inability to focus in public settings despite proper training approaches, it may be time to reassess their suitability. This difficult decision shows respect for the dog’s wellbeing and your needs. Many experienced service dog handlers have “career-changed” dogs before finding their successful working partner. Remember that a dog can be an excellent pet but not suited for the demands of service work.
Register Service Dog HereAbout the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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Looking for a grant to make my dog a service dog and an Emotional support dog. So I can take it into nursing homes and hospitals to help kids and other patients with supports
These are completely different types of dogs. To be a Service dog, he must be concentrated on his handler. A Therapy dog (what you’d want to take to nursing homes since emotional support dogs too are concentrated on their handler) is trained to focus on others, NOT its handler. You must decide which type of dog you want to train your dog to be; it can not be expected to be two or three different kinds of dogs depending on the day. It wouldn’t be fair.
Fantastic response! 100% agreed! I would like to just add too, that if you try to train a dog to do long, emotionally exhaustive days being a therapy dog and then a kind of part time sorta out and about the town service dog, you will burn your dog out. Please be careful not to overwork your dog. They are strong, resilient, loyal and ready to please friends and workers. They have emotions, wills, desires too, and they need time to be a dog.
Can i use my bully pit he’s already been. Around me when i have my seizures and p.t.s.d. Anixity and panic attacks and around a crowd of people
This is not entirely true. My daughters dog supports her at home and during tough social situations but she is my classrooms therapy dog and does fantastic.
What you describe sounds more like a therapy dog, rather than a service dog. There are several organizations that you can test your dog with to become a therapy dog – TDI – Therapy Dogs International, Pat Partners, etc.
I adore my SD. He is always with me and helps with my balance, anxiety and pain. We used to train for periods of fifteen minutes and then a happy break! His job is to protect me and mine is to train him, feed him,shelter him and keep him healthy and happy.
Is it necessary to have a certificate for legal purposes? How do I find out about a testing, etc.? Thanks so much
That would be a therapy dog. My puppet is training for this and I would recommend training at places like PetSmart. I take mine there for training sessions, and after our session of walking through the store using treats to reinforce behavior, she gets to pick out a toy if she’s been good. You might also want to teach your dog things like jumping on the bed when commanding and (s)he should be able to be pet by a toddler waving a candy bar around without any issues.
that is a therapy dog not a service dog or emotinal support dog. they need training by a trainer. service dogs are the only ones allowed in stores and do not need to be certified or registered but must be trainer to assist your disability. an emotinal support dog is only their for your omtions and only needs a doctor note. but they can only go into housing for free. compfort is also not a task for a service dog
That is a Therapy dog. Service dogs work for one person only. ESA is an animal that stays at home to give their owner/s happiness. Therapy dogs also do not have public access, so you have to set up times to go to places. They can’t go into stores or places that are not dog friendly. Most of the information you find online is crap. You can find great TD groups on Facebook.
I have had two brain surgeries and trigeminal neuralgia attacks.. I had a 14 year old goldendoodle who suffered right along with me when I had attacks she would simultaneously pant and circle me, she recently passed, and I have a new puppy a goldendoodle who is intelligence. How do I find a training so she can alert me?
You can either find a local trainer that has service dog training experience or you can train the animal yourself.
Find a group on Facebook. There are lots of handlers on there that will be happy to help. DO NOT get any papers online. They hold no value and are not needed. I hope you can find a group that can help. Thanks a Service dog handler.
Scent training. When you get an attack, suck on a cotton ball and put it in a container and into the freezer. Then when training, let the dog smell it and give a a preferred alert command (paw, nudge, jump) the dog will then associate that command with the scent. Make sure to change the sample frequently
So on here it gives a list of tasks. If my dog is for ptsd anxiety and cognitive disorders what are things he would need to be trained on. I guess I’m confused.
What signs do I look for in selecting a puppy, bernedoodle.?
Get on Poodles and Doodles on Facebook. There you can get lots of help. I’m on it because I’m a SD handler. You can write my name down then page me if you want .
Hi, I am considering adding a dog to my physical therapy clinic and training him to assist with treatment in specific ways, for example playing tug or fetch with them to work on balance, or helping them with gait training and fall prevention. Would he be considered a therapy dog or a service dog? Thank you.
Are they any places in UK that I could get in touch with I live in Devon thank you
That is a Therapy dog. Service dogs work for one person only. ESA is an animal that stays at home to give their owner/s happiness. Therapy dogs also do not have public access, so you have to set up times to go to places. They can’t go into stores or places that are not dog friendly. Most of the information you find online is crap. You can find great TD groups on Facebook.
That would be Therapy dog. They go through lots and lots if training. I would find a TD Facebook page and have them help you. Most it not all( I haven’t found any yet) the stuff you find online for TD’s ESA’S abd SD’s are a scam. Please research and find the right way to DI this.
This would be a therapy dog
Hesper Fang, he would be considered a Facility dog which is a type of therapy dog as he would be concentrating on your patients instead of you. Therapy animals can still receive specialty training to assist other people.
I have a question. I have been told that clicker training your dog is a fairly quick and easily learned way to train your dog. Is this true?
that’s a therapy dog i think because it’s helping multiple people right
When is legal for a service dog in training to run off leash? A neighbor says he training German Shepherds to be service dogs. His training is to ride his bike with the dog running along side, no leash.
Thanks or pointing out that because some of the tasks required of service dogs are complex service dogs require extensive and complex training. My sister is thinking about getting a service dog for her daughter because she thinks it could help her with getting in and out of her wheelchair among other things. I think it would be smart to look into people that could train a service dog for her so that she could know the dog would be ready to take on those tasks.
Therapy dog. A service dog’s main focus and attention is on the handler and his/her disability. A therapy dog is trained to assist others besides the handler
I have a 11month choc Lab, I we have started training together, she picked me, she stays with me all the time, how would I get or apply for a grant to help us with this new chapter in our lives.
Can you refer me to a service dog trainer in Nevada? I just can’t seem to find one.
Good Luck to you, I’m having same problem in SC.
I am a Vet with anxiety due to PTSD. I have a 9 month old boxer who I would like to have trained to be my service dog. There is a trainer who can do it, however, it is very expensive. Do any of you know of grants or scholarships that can help me pay? The only thing I’ve found is monetary aid for dogs who are already trained.
I posted this on someone else’s as a reply, sorry! I have a question on service dogs:
I have a 9 month old Goldendoodle who I Am training as my stability service dog. I wanted to know, is she allowed to travel with me on a plane while in training? The airline has only asked me her breed and weight and what service she is providing. However, I want to do everything the right way.
I have already trained her to help me when I walk to keep my balance and prevents me from walking in a zigzag pattern. She is NOT completely trained, but helps me more than my cane does and allows me independence.
Thank you in advance for your prompt response.
I think it depends. Some states have different laws and policies regarding service dogs in training.
We have one that is 15 months and is having a hard time wondering if you have any suggestions?
We also would like it to be used as a walking assistance, but still has issues with the basic.
Perhaps a service mobility trainer in Illinois
Can you recommend an online Service dog mobility training Course. Thank you
Make sure you have had your dog tested and cleared for mobility by an orthopedic vet! Mobility work can cause harm to dogs if they haven’t been cleared for it.
When you need assistance in training your dog or puppy to be obident, we are the experts that you need. We also provide service dog programs as well!
Where are you located?
Soooo, after reading this, which was eye-opening, I have some ideas on what questions I need to ask when I purchase my psych service dog. After this article, I have absolutely no clue where to start?
I know the beginning of getting a service dog can be daunting, but once you’ve gone thru the process, it’s positively life-changing. You may find this article on how to qualify for a service dog interesting. There’s a quick run-down of the initial steps to take https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-anxiety-depression/ Good luck!
How do we find a VA trainer?
At what age should training start?
One thing I would suggest that worked well for my daughter and I when we trained her Service Dog was muzzling the first … I believe it was 6 or 8 times we took him into any public situation. Now, before people start saying ‘what a horrible way to treat a dog’, let me explain why it was done. One, Bentley is an American Bulldog and he was already a year old when my daughter called about him. The man she spoke with said he wanted to sell Bentley because he had bred his dogs for weight pulling competitions but Bentley blew his ACL and the guy didn’t want to’dump money’ into a “yard dog”. (Yeah the dude was a piece of work.) Anyway, I have zero things against young/juvenile pups as pets, but I also know that they are animals who, like human beings can be negatively affected if they are mistreated. If people don’t know who the dog comes from, they can’t know how it would’ve been treated. A muzzle, to my way of thinking, is NOT punishment for the dog, but protection. I’ve found that in public places, it works a couple of ways.
1) people see a dog in a muzzle, the majority immediately assume the animal is aggressive or has gotten before, this keeps the ones who aren’t aware that it is not acceptable to run up and pet a working animal from actually doing it. Yay!
2) Just like they have to get used to the idea of a crate as a space to unwind and not a ‘bad’ place, dogs begin after a few attempts to find comfort in wearing a muzzle, especially if the pup had never been intentionally socialized. People often mistake nervousness in a dog as aggression but it isn’t. They might snap at an excited young child who runs up and grab’s an ear because the parent couldn’t catch them or has never taught proper behavior toward animals. With a muzzle, the sound is still a warning, but there won’t be any scars.
We went to get our Bentley and by the time we left, I was positive Bent got very lucky and that man was actually fighting dogs. Yes, I called the police Dept and told them about it. Anyway, Bentley turned out to be amazing across the board but until we were sure if his temperament, he wore a muzzle in public and around my grand babies. He is now an awesome seizure alert dog. He can tell when my daughter is about to have one and will stick his nose to her leg to nudge backwards telling her to sit. If he does this twice and she won’t sit, he stands on his hind legs paws on her chest, barks 2 sharp barks and will literally force her to sit. He then gets beside and behind her like, and has taken the abuse of her banging head.
Wearing that muzzle kept HIM safe from the people who like to provoke and cause issue with dogs, especially with dogs who are of the Bully breed. When public training, it’s just a good way to protect the one you will depend when it’s important. We took care of Bentley by letting him wear a muzzle ( which he actually tried to wear sometimes!) And now his awesome self projects my baby.
***Also, I wanted to say Bravo to the people responsible for this site and the information on it. The advice given and the resources were correct and clearly explained. A lot of the websites spread misinformation. Thanks for being good guys!
I had a terrible episode last week. I need a dog to tell me when to sit down. Some say they can tell before they have a seizure, I find out afterwards. I can be in a middle of a task, like riding a bus, and change direction. I walk out my home with a T-shirt and socks in the snow, and cannot get back in my home. Last week I bruised my neck, back, and foot. It’s bad enough I have sleep seizures, I could not get comfortable to lay down.
I was reading that some dogs make better service dogs than others, like Labrador retrievers? Is this true? Oh yeah, I also have diabetes. I have a lot of medicine to take, and remember to take.
There are Seizure Alert Dogs — service dogs that are specifically trained to help with seizures. You may want to look if there’s a provider in your area. I’m sure they could also be trained to help you remember your meds. And Labradors are all-around great service dogs, but with the right temperament and skill level, almost any breed can be a perfect service dog. Good luck!
If someone wanted to become a trainer and devote their lives to learning how to work with service dogs and owners
is there a way to make a living doing this? I am asking for a young friend who loves dogs and people and is a
wonderful young person who lives in South Carolina.
I still don’t understand who to take my dog to for training or where to go?
I’am interested in getting certification for serviced dog .I would enjoy knowing how to get started, and where to take classes
Thank you.
The service dog’s training is the certification. You may choose to get the dog trained by a trainer or train it yourself. Since each person has unique needs for a service dog, there are no official classes you can take. Once your dog can perform all the tasks needed and has passed a public access test, your dog is considered a certified service dog. A certificate or registration is not required by the ADA, however many service dog owners find the registration and issued ID help when bringing your service dog to public places. You may find this article on how to certify your service dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-certify-a-service-dog/
I recently saw a completely intact male service dog. It was a bulldog mix and wearing what said was a “service dog – training “, this make no sense to me. Can a service dog be un-neutered/spayed?
ADA rules are silent on whether a dog has to be neutered/spayed, but all service dogs must be well-behaved at all times and not pose a threat to the health and safety of others.
My Doberman service dog is intact and operates flawlessly . He is appropriate in all scenarios. When he was early in training , people who were wearing .asks and head apparel together would put him on a defense alert. This guy performs more tasks than any dog I have ever seen.
YES.
My dog is strictly for emotional support . I have depression and anxiety .
My name is Peggy I have a border collie and she’s three and I’m 80 she picks up everything I ask that I drop she takes my socks off she find my shoes she picks up all her toys she helps me undress find my shoes picked them up she does anything I ask her to do I love her dearly I would like to get a service dog collar for her I’d like to take her out with me what do you suggest I do thank you
We’re happy to hear your dog is able to help you with these daily tasks. To qualify for a service dog however, it is not enough to have a task trained dog. The owner must also have an ADA qualifying disability. If you’re unsure whether you meet this criteria, you may want to speak with your healthcare provider.
Considering it is healthier for a dog to wait to be neutered until they are completely grown, yet a puppy needs to start their training before that, it makes perfect sense for an unaltered dog to be in training. I currently have a five month old that is unaltered and he is out and about getting trained several times a week. If I waited until he was past his growth window, he could have developed some fears/insecurities that took a lot more time to work out of him.
Exactly what Kelly said….
In general, it takes about two years to train a service dog and the current health recommendations recommend waiting until a dog is almost 2 years old before spay/nueter. So yes, a service dog in training could very well be un-neutered/spayed.
I do believe so. My service dog In training is not neutered yet. However it would probably help with their aggression and it will make them calmer
Yes they can. There is no mandate that they have to be spayed or neutered. Some breeds are not neutered until there growth plates have closed and they research maturity. Since the dog you saw was a sdit. Service dog in training that could be the case. Most of us spay or neuter our dogs because it makes it easier to focus on their job and handler, instead of other dogs they run across. In heat females are out of service for about 4 weeks.