Include Real-Life Stories
Puppies can begin service dogs training as young as 8 weeks old, with the goal being to continue on-going training for 1-2 years before placement. Starting with basic commands such as “sit,” “stay,” and “down,” it’s important that puppies are gently and consistently trained to ensure they learn the proper behavior required of a service dog.
One such story is Samantha’s, whose Goldendoodle puppy, Emmy, began her service dog training at nine weeks old. Being consistent with rewards and praise for good behaviors was the key to success. With patience and love, Emmy eventually knew basic obedience, how to perform taskwork, like picking up dropped items or supporting her owner when standing up or getting out of bed, and previously unknown behaviors like interacting well with other dogs or people. After a successful year of training here Sammy found Emmy was ready to go into full service work–providing daily companionship while alerting in case of any medical issues that might occur.
Another example is Jessica who specifically sought out an older puppy (around 6 months)for her service dog in training. Knowing that animal shelters sometimes have puppies needing homes after owners don’t follow through on the training needed to keep their pets functioning properly in society, she wanted to help an already partially-trained pup become a genuine working service dog—minimizing previous behavioral issues encountered during her prospective pup’s younger months by utilizing positive reinforcement such as treats or verbal affirmations for good responses throughout Jessica’s own service dog journey.
No matter when you decide that you’re ready for a puppy to begin his/her start on the road of becoming a service animal, the main factor for success relies in consistency and commitment from the trainers and families following suit!
Home Training
Home training is a great way to begin your pup’s service dog training journey. Some things you can start teaching them from the time they are 8-10 weeks old include basic commands such as sit, stay, come, down, and heel. These commands can help you have control over your pup when out in public or when needed in certain scenarios. Start by making sure your pup has an understanding of what each command means by using repetition and consistency- practicing multiple times a day throughout the week will help ingrain the commands into your puppy’s mind. Additionally, reward based training is important during this stage to ensure that your pup knows he/she is doing a good job and to keep them motivated. Additionally, it is important to make sure that their learning environment is positive and free from distraction so that they can focus on associating each word with an action or behavior. As your pup gets older, you can move on to more advanced commands and socialization scenarios that will ready them for more public settings and encounters with different people and animals.
Potential Disqualifiers
Potential disqualifiers for service dog training can vary depending on the organization. Generally, an ideal puppy must be between 8 and 12 weeks old, in good health, and have a friendly disposition. Other disqualifying criteria may include: an inability to work with a handler; fearfulness or aggression towards people or other animals; a history of bite inhibition issues; physical deformities; and genetic illnesses that affect the pup’s physical/mental well-being. Additionally, a pup may not qualify if they require too much time or money to bring up to standard (e.g., significant medical expenses due to chronic illness) or if the temperament is deemed too unstable for successful training by the service dog organization.
Service Dog Laws
Service dog laws vary from state to state and can be confusing. Generally speaking, the law recognizes that individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities have the right to use a service animal in places of public accommodation. This includes restaurants, retail stores, hotels, schools, and almost any other place open to the public.
In most cases, there is no specific age for when service dogs must begin training; however some states do have laws requiring puppies to begin basic obedience training before being allowed into public establishments or on airplanes. Additionally many service dog organizations require that a dog be at least eighteen months of age before beginning more specialized training necessary for certification.
Generally speaking only dogs and miniature horses qualify as service animals but certain exceptions may exist in some areas. Local animal control agencies and organizations typically enforce these laws and handle any disputes between owners of service animals and businesses that may try to deny entry to an individual with a disability accompanied by their pet.
Support Services
Service dog training for puppies can begin as soon as 8 weeks of age. Depending on the puppy parent’s preferences, the process may include everything from basic obedience training to more advanced tasks that help with disability assistance. Puppy parents often need lots of support throughout the service dog training process and there are many resources available to them.
Pet stores and local shelters often offer introductory courses where people can learn about responsible puppy care, how to establish basic rules and boundaries, and much more. In addition, there are plenty of online resources that provide tips on selecting and raising a service-dog-in-training puppy. Many organizations provide specific curriculums structured around individualized goals; these are generally established by experienced trainers who have obtained certification in specialized areas like Animal Assisted Therapy or Assisting Those With Disabilities. For those who do not have access to these kind of services, professional trainers may be able to provide home visits or group classes designed specifically for service dogs in training. Finally, many veterinarians have expertise in puppies raised for service purposes, so they should be consulted regarding any medical issues or health concerns.
Welcome to the blog! I am a professional dog trainer and have been working with dogs for many years. In this blog, I will be discussing various topics related to dog training, including tips, tricks, and advice. I hope you find this information helpful and informative. Thanks for reading!
