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 …
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Selecting and Training Cues for Service Dog Tasks
Putting a behavior on cue is typically a straightforward process. Trainers choose a word or gesture as the cue, and introduce it when the dog begins to offer the behavior reliably. The trainer should …
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Three Foundation Skills for Service Dog Tasks
When working with a young service dog in training, trainers focus on setting the groundwork for future public access. Service dogs in training need ongoing appropriate socialization in a variety of …
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4 Ways to Troubleshoot Give
When training a service dog to retrieve, the last component of the behavior is the give: having the dog deliver the item to the handler’s hand. This component often goes smoothly in a training …
4 Tools That Make Service Dog Tasks Easier
Service dogs often need to work with items of unusual shapes and materials to perform their tasks. They need to retrieve cell phones and remote controls, and pick up small items like medication …
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