Training a dog to carry medication without dropping it, assist with dressing, alert to changes in blood sugar or pull a door open with a tether are all important tasks, requiring a level of precision …
Blog
Emergency Preparedness for Service Dog Handlers
If a service dog handler collapses at home, is involved in a car accident, or is forced to evacuate due to a hurricane or wildfire, what happens to the dog? How do emergency responders know the dog is …
Continue Reading about Emergency Preparedness for Service Dog Handlers →
Not-So-Basic Basic Training for Service Dog Candidates
When we think of basic training for service dogs, we often think of teaching cues like sit, down and coming when called — in short, the same behaviors taught to many pet dogs. In many ways, basic …
Continue Reading about Not-So-Basic Basic Training for Service Dog Candidates →
Public Access Testing and Service Dog “Certification”
“Can you certify my dog for service work?” This common question is one professional trainers often dread. Clients expect a quick yes or no answer but in reality, it’s more complex. In the United …
Continue Reading about Public Access Testing and Service Dog “Certification” →
Falls and Service Dogs: Essential Considerations for Trainers
While service dogs are trained to assist in many ways — retrieving items, performing alerts, opening doors and turning on lights — helping a person safely get up from a fall involves some unique risks …
Continue Reading about Falls and Service Dogs: Essential Considerations for Trainers →
Anxiety Alert Training
An anxiety alert is an important service dog task for some people with mental health conditions. This task serves as an early warning system: The dog alerts their handler to their increasing anxiety …