Most service dog public access tests focus heavily on the dog’s behavior. Can the dog walk on a loose leash through a store? Hold a down-stay? Ignore distractions? Respond reliably to cues? These …
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Keeping Training Progressing During Client Health Fluctuations
A client messages to let you know they've had a rough week: a flare, a hospitalization, a procedure. They're apologetic and feel like they've let their dog down and are falling behind. Health …
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Teaching “Get Dressed”: Strategies for Service Dogs
Introducing a service dog to their harness, vest, or collar is an opportunity to begin training sessions and public access work on a positive note. Service dogs can learn to associate being handled …
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Flexible “Rules” for Happier Service Dogs
Service dog industry language regarding public access training has historically been very absolute. No sniffing while working, no petting while working, always “invisible” and out of the way. In …
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Platform Work and Its Uses in Service Dog Training
Whether it’s navigating a tight space next to a wheelchair, standing behind a handler with PTSD to perform “blocking,” or lying under a chair in a crowded coffee shop, service dogs need to move their …
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Making Group Classes Truly Inclusive
Group classes offer tremendous value for service dog handler teams, as I discussed in an earlier post. But creating a group class that truly supports clients with disabilities requires thoughtful, …
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