Sometimes a service dog needs to pick up an item very precisely. For example, they may need to pick up a medication bag by the handle in order to prevent damage to the medication inside, or the dog …
Four Tips for Hearing Alert Training
Hearing dogs need to be able to alert to a wide range of different sounds including doorbells, fire alarms, traffic sounds and the sound of another person speaking to their handler, just to name a …
Continue Reading about Four Tips for Hearing Alert Training →
A Deeper Look at Deep Pressure Therapy
Deep pressure therapy (DPT) is a service dog task that, while seemingly simple, can be important for many service dog handlers. DPT involves the dog leaning on or lying down on the handler. The warmth …
Continue Reading about A Deeper Look at Deep Pressure Therapy →
Three Mistakes Service Dog Trainers Make When Teaching Targeting
Service dogs often need to push different items likes drawers, lights, doors and accessible door buttons to help their handlers. Service dogs are usually trained to push items with their nose, but …
Continue Reading about Three Mistakes Service Dog Trainers Make When Teaching Targeting →
Selecting Service Dog Tasks
When service dog trainers ask their clients which tasks they need a service dog to perform, they often are given a very long list. People sometimes hope their dog will perform tasks they have heard of …
Training Service Dogs to Flip Light Switches
Turning light switches on and off is a commonly needed service dog task for dogs helping people who have disabilities ranging from mobility impairments and low vision to PTSD. This is one of those …
Continue Reading about Training Service Dogs to Flip Light Switches →