Whether you’re a veteran with PTSD or a civilian who needs help managing anxiety and panic attacks, having a service dog can make a huge difference in your life. However, training these animals takes work, and it takes time and patience from you and your pet. This article will cover the basics of becoming a service dog owner so you can train your pup to be your helper!
Be ready to commit
Before you even think about getting started on the training process, knowing this will take time and effort is essential. It takes time and effort to train your dog correctly, but don’t worry–you will have plenty of opportunities for them to rest between sessions!
You will need patience and consistency as well. Expect your pup’s behaviour to stay the same overnight; keep working with them until they get used to being around people and other animals (and vice versa). Keep going if you struggle with any part of this process or if something needs fixing! It may take some tweaking before everyone gets used to their new routines. And remember: dogs learn best through repetition, so don’t forget basic obedience commands like “sit” or “stay.”
Assess your dog’s temperament
The temperament of your dog is an essential factor in training. The character will affect your pup’s learning, so starting with a good foundation is necessary.
You can assess your dog’s general disposition by observing them in different situations, but some tests can be done at home or the vet’s office (if they have one). These tests include:
- -The Canine Good Citizen Test: This test evaluates how well-behaved your puppy is around other people and animals and their ability to stay calm when exposed to common distractions like loud noises or strangers approaching them unexpectedly. If you want to take this test with your dog, check Pet Partners‘ website for more information about classes near you!
- -The THERAPY DOG TEST: This test evaluates dogs’ ability to perform specific tasks while interacting with people who need assistance, such as those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of physical disabilities
Teach your service dog how to behave in public
- Teach your service dog how to behave in public.
- Make sure your dog is calm and quiet in public. You don’t want them barking at every person they see, jumping on strangers, or begging for food, so train them not to do these things by rewarding good behaviour with treats and praise when appropriate.
- If someone approaches you while walking your dog, teach them to sit politely until told otherwise (or until the person leaves). This will make both of you more approachable to others who may want their attention; it also teaches them what “settle” means so that if something goes wrong during a walk later down the line, this command can be used as an instant fix-it tool!
Work on basic obedience commands
Working on basic obedience commands is essential as you begin training your puppy. The more your dog knows and understands, the better she’ll be able to perform tasks for you.
You can teach these behaviours using positive reinforcement (good rewarding behaviours) or negative reinforcement (punishing destructive behaviours). Either way is acceptable- it depends on what works best for you and your pup!
Here are some examples of how we taught our pups:
- Sit: We held a treat above their heads and said, “sit,” then lowered it as they sat. Once they got used to doing this without any treats, we started giving them treats out of boredom instead of excitement when they did something right (which helped ensure we were rewarded only when necessary). Eventually, this helps build up motivation so that no extra reward is needed. There will always be another opportunity where one could come into play if desired…and eventually, none once everything else has been appropriately mastered.”
Focus on teaching your dog tasks to help you live an everyday life
When teaching your dog to be a service animal, it’s essential to focus on tasks that are useful for you. This means that the more specific your training is, the better.
For example: If you’re training a dog to help with anxiety-related issues and panic attacks, teaching him how to take deep breaths with his owner to calm down together makes sense. But if this doesn’t affect your daily life (or doesn’t affect it enough), then the distraction might not be worth taking up space in your headspace or time in class–you have other things on your mind! And even if it affects your daily life, there may still be other things that would benefit from training before working on this particular task (e.g., learning how to carry items properly).
In short: Only train what matters most!
Service dogs are essential helpers but can be hard to train
Service dogs are important helpers, but they can be hard to train.
Service dogs provide enormous support for people with disabilities and other physical limitations. They can help people with a variety of conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy and seizure disorder
- Blindness or low vision (including guide dogs for the blind)
They help with a variety of other activities as well, including switching on and off lights and collecting up dropped objects to return them to their owners, retrieving medicine from cabinets or drawers when instructed by their handlers (or even before), opening doors with handles that require gripping pressure from one hand while holding onto something else in another hand (like a cane), pulling wheelchairs up curbs into stores or buildings after being directed where to go by their handlers etc…
(Service Dog & Therapy Dog Training – Dogmata. https://www.dogmata.info/service-therapy-dog-certification)
We hope this article has given you some understanding of the process involved in training a service dog. It’s not always easy, but if you feel ready to commit yourself and your dog to becoming a team, go for it! While it can be a rewarding experience for you and your pup, it’s also important to remember that training takes time and patience.
Service dogs are essential in many people’s lives, providing support and assistance to those with disabilities or other special needs. We offer a comprehensive training program at Parliament Animal Hospital to help your furry friend become a certified service dog. Our experienced trainers will work with you to develop a customized training plan that focuses on the specific needs of your pet and your requirements. We use positive reinforcement techniques to teach your dog essential skills such as retrieving, alerting to sounds, guiding, and more. We also help prepare you for the certification process, ensuring you and your service dog are prepared to set out on a trip that will change your lives. Learn more about our service dog education program by visiting https://parliamentanimalhospital.ca/ or calling (647) 347-3300. Allow your pet to change someone’s life and make a meaningful impact with Parliament Animal Hospital.
