Can My Dog Be Trained As A Service Dog

Types of dogs trained.

Can my dog be trained as a service dog.

A dog that has already served as a pet usually can t be trained later as service dog. A properly trained service dog is a real asset to a person with a disability. The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability. Training program designed to assist the handler to train their own service dog.

Professionals estimate that training a service dog fully can take up to 18 months. Service dog training can take up to two years and these dogs usually wear a vest in public for easy identification. Halo dog training dawn hagan cottage grove oregon 97424 510 342 9364 email. Review all the commands the dog has learned together with the new command and only add a newer command after the dog has adapted to the previous command perfectly.

For example a person with diabetes may have a dog that is trained to alert him when his blood sugar reaches high or low levels. A disability can be a physical disability but also includes disabilities in the form of a mental illness that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as depression severe anxiety or ptsd. Autism service dogs medical alert stability psychiatric support hearing. To apply for a psychiatric service dog you will need a recommendation from a medical doctor or licensed.

A person with depression may have a dog that is trained to remind her to take her medication. Training options include training him yourself or hiring a professional trainer. While you may love him as a pet a service dog is a working dog not a pet. A service dog is a dog specifically trained to perform work for a person with a disability.

Service dogs can enhance a person s independence by helping with tasks such as pulling a wheelchair opening doors turning light switches on off or picking up objects as small as a dime. Any dog can enter service dog training regardless of breed or age. When training a service dog at home expect the dog to learn one new command or action at a time. If your dog can be individually trained to perform specific tasks to assist disabled individuals he can become a service dog.

Service dogs are valued working partners and companions to over 80 million americans. Service dogs accompany their handler everywhere including in public places that are usually off limits to dogs such as shops libraries museums theaters hospitals and cinemas.