Pulling is a service dog skill that is commonly needed for tasks ranging from opening doors to assisting with removing clothing. Like many service dog tasks, this is one that requires more precision than it first seems. For example, service dogs that are pulling a door open usually need to stop pulling when the door is fully open but continue to maintain tension on the tether to keep the door open. On the other hand, a service dog assisting with removing clothing needs to pull with enough tension to help the handler but not so hard as to cause the handler to lose their balance. In both cases the behavior needs to be trained so the dog performs the pull in a safe and controlled way.
Two Strategies to Train Service Dogs to Pull
Both of these strategies require that the dog already have a reliable take and hold behavior on cue. This means the dog will grab an item in their mouth on cue, and then also hold it steadily on cue without chewing the item. These behaviors, which many dogs learn as part of a service dog retrieve, should be taught prior to introducing the pull behavior.
Using Play to Teach Pull
A frequently used strategy to train a service dog to pull is to incorporate tugging in play to elicit the pulling behavior. Working with a tug toy or an item of a similar material, the trainer can begin by moving the item in a playful way to elicit a tug. When the dog is grabbing and tugging, the trainer can quickly click and reward the dog. The trainer then needs to fade out the play while continuing to mark and reward the tugging behavior. When the dog offers a pull with more duration, trainers can then interrupt the pulling by cuing “hold,” which the dog should already know, and mark the dog for maintaining tension without pulling.
Advantages to this approach include ease of implementation and the fact that it is often fun for the dog. However, this approach makes it hard to control directionality of the pulling behavior. Service dogs often need to pull at a particular angle to perform tasks like opening a door. Additionally, some dogs become excited very quickly and start to chew and tug uncontrollably. Behaviors like chewing and shaking of the tether can be difficult to fade out.
Using the “Back Up” Cue to Teach Pull
A more controlled approach to training pull is to build on a previously trained backing up behavior in conjunction with take and hold behaviors. Trainers often use a back paw target or platform to teach dogs to walk backwards. This approach involves chaining these foundational behaviors. The take and hold components of the retrieve are cued first. Then, with the target platform close to the dog, “back up” can be cued, and the trainer can click and treat when the dog’s back paws are on the platform. As the dog gains fluency, the platform can be positioned farther back to increase distance.
Advantages to this approach include that control and precision are built into the process. You can control the direction of the pull and then work with the platform in different locations to help make sure the dog pulls open doors in the needed direction. Additionally, most dogs will hold the item without pulling when they reach the platform, so a controlled hold while maintaining tension is built into the learning process. However, this approach can be challenging because it builds on several foundational skills. Those foundation behaviors need to be fluent, reliable and well generalized. If they are not, then combining the behaviors will be difficult at best, and impossible in most cases.
Training a service dog to pull effectively requires more than just teaching them to tug on an object. Precision, control and safety are key considerations. While using play can be fun and relatively easy to implement, it may lack the precise control needed for some tasks. On the other hand, training with a “back up” cue can provide better directionality and control but requires well-established foundational behaviors that take time to train. Ultimately, choosing the right method depends on the individual dog and the specific tasks they will perform. By understanding the complexities involved and tailoring training methods accordingly, handlers can ensure their service dogs are trained effectively and safely for a variety of pulling tasks.
