Service Dog TraIning Program
WHAT IS A SERVICE DOG?
There is much confusion about this topic- so I decided I would clear it up a bit. See Article Here
· Service Dog- A service dog helps a person with a disability lead a more independent life. According to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a “service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” The function of this dog is much like a medical device- it is needed to greatly improve the quality of life for the one using it. Therefor service dogs have completely different rights then your average pet.
Service dogs must be handler-focused, desensitized to distractions, and highly trained to do specific tasks. They should not be distracted by the public, as they should focus solely on their owner when working. Training can last up to two years. Service dogs typically wear a red vest that identifies them as a service dog and asks the public not to pet them and distract them from their job.
Although there are no legal required certificates, registrations, or affiliations required; in order for a dog to be able to serve as a medical device and improve the life of someone who is medically disabled- I believe that they should be able to pass all the following tests and this is what I train for to navigate through public and to be able to perform tasks which greatly improve quality of life for the disabled. Bellow is a general curriculum that I use.
Typically dogs take 18-24 months to complete this type of training on top of practicing their “Assistance Task” until they retire. For this reason, many older dogs may not be suitable. See “Can You Train My Dog to be a Service Dog”
ATTENTION US VETERANS APPLY FOR THE "LIFE BUDDY" GRANT PROGRAM
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ATTENTION US VETERANS APPLY FOR THE "LIFE BUDDY" GRANT PROGRAM 〰️
Follow My Lead, LLC supports our veterans and is now a proud partner of the Sierra Delta “Life Buddy” Grant Program which provides resources and funding to veterans for professional dog training- as we all know how much dogs can play a critical role in helping our veterans return to civilian life.
Basic Obedience Tasks
"Watch"/Dog's Name
"Sit"
"Down"
"Come" Recall
"Stay"/"Wait"
"Free" Take a Break/Release
“Quit!” NO.
"Leave It" Don't touch that!
"Drop It" Drop what you have in your mouth
"Heel" Loose Leash Walking
"Place" Go Lay Down in your spot
Boundaries, Introduction to Impulse Control, & Manners
Intermediate Obedience Tasks
Basic Obedience Tasks will be required to be completed with:
High levels of distractions, longer durations of time & more distance
· Wait at Barriers
· Give Attention to handler regardless of distractions
· Go to place- dog bed, kennel, etc.
· Polite greeting
· Work around other people, dogs, and things in 5 different places
Advanced Obedience (6 weeks) - Tasks (AKC Canine Good Citizen Cert.)
1. Accepting a friendly Stranger
2. Sitting Politely for petting
3. Appearance and grooming
4. Out for a walk (walking on a loose leash)
5. Walking through a crowd
6. Sit and down on command/staying in place
7. Coming when called
8. Reaction to another dog
9. Reaction distraction
10. Supervised separation
Advanced Obedience Tasks- AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced Cert.
1. Dog stands, sits or lies down and waits under control while owner visits with another
person
2. Walks on loose leash in natural situation (not in a ring)- dog does not pul
3. Walks on loose leash through crowd
4. Dog walks past distraction dogs present; does not pull
5. Sit-stay in small group (3 other people with dogs)
6. Dog allows person who is carrying something (backpack, computer bag, etc.) to
approach and pet
7. “Leave it. Dog walks by food and follows owner instructions, “Leave it.”
8. Down or sit stay- distance (owner’s choice)
9. Recall with distractions present (coming when called). Handler goes out 20ft (off center)
and calls dog
10. Dog will sit or stand (owner’s choice) while owner enters/exits a door way or narrow
Passageway
Public Access Training (Service Dog In Training)
Commands for Navigating in Public
Tuck Under a chair/bench
Follow Behind
Left Side Heel
Right Side Heel
Middle Heel
Back Up
Potty in designated areas only
Simulated Leash Drops
Use of Training/Controlling Aids
____Throughout the test, no treats, harsh leash corrections, or other training aids were used.
1. Leash Tension
____Throughout the test, team had an appropriate level of looseness in the leash/harness.
The dog should not continuously/repeatedly strain at the leash (normally forms a “J”). Harness tension is okay if actively needed for disability mitigation (e.g., mobility or guide work). Retractable leashes are acceptable only when needed for disability-specific work. In either of these cases, the handler should alert the tester to the need and always maintain control without excessive pulling or wandering.
3. Inappropriate Service Dog Conduct
____Throughout the test, dog did not display any inappropriate behaviors bulleted below.
• growling or inappropriate, excessive barking
• nipping or biting
• showing or baring teeth
• lunging at other people or dogs
• being out of handler’s control
• inappropriately eliminating (urinating or defecating)
4. Working Position
____Throughout the test, dog was comfortable and confident in its working position.
Each team’s working position will be different to meet their unique requirements. When the person is seated in place, a small dog may work exclusively from the user’s lap. When moving, dogs that are normally held or carried also need to be able to pass the relevant challenges from the ground.
5. Vehicles and Public Transportation
____Dog enters and exits any form of transportation in a safe manner.
____Dog is able to ride in any form of transportation in a controlled manner.
6. Parking Lot Behavior
____Dog transits parking lot safely.
7. Controlled Entry into a Building
____Dog enters building in a controlled manner.
8. Navigating a Store
____Dog does not bump into shelves or interact with merchandise.
____Dog does not interact with other people unless instructed to do so.
____Dog does not lick or closely sniff food or other items in store.*
____Dog maintains a working position while the handler uses a shopping cart.
9. Working with Distractions
____Dog is able to work despite distractions encountered in normal working environment.
10. Obedience Training
____Dog holds a sit, down, or stand stay on cue for 30 seconds.
____Dog comes on cue from a distance of 6 feet or greater.
____Dog walks past and leaves a food item on the ground.
____Dog is able to ignore, greet, or get out of the way of a stranger, whatever the dog has been trained or cued to do.
____Dog does not exhibit any inappropriate behavior when touched by a stranger.
____Dog focuses on the handler on cue.
11. Restaurant
____Dog does not beg or attempt to eat or closely sniff any food on the floor or on tables.*
____Dog is positioned to cause the least obstruction to the flow of business.
____Dog is not on a table, chair, or bench, but is always either on the floor or in a lap if required for disability mitigation.
____Handler does not feed or water their dog from the table.
12. Elevator
____Dog should be able to load into an elevator and travel both up and down with the dog remaining confident and unruffled in a sit, down, or standing position.
13. Stairs
____If the handler uses stairs, the dog should maintain a working position. The dog should not cause the handler or others to fall or stumble. Teams that do not navigate stairways should be able to navigate wheelchair access ramps in the same manner.
14. Working around Other Dogs
____Dog should be able to maintain a working mode while in the presence of other dogs.
15. Use of Public Restrooms
____Dog does not cause a disturbance in the restroom.
Assistance Task Training
The Service dog must be able to do 3 or more of the following tasks.
Pick up dropped items
Open Doors
Create Safe Space in Crowds
Retrieve Medical Bag
Brace for Mobility Support
Get Help for Fall Risk/Passing Out
Deep Pressure Therapy (Hugs)
Many dog’s will develop a “Natural” Medical Alert as a deep bond grows with their human