Service Dog – Advanced Skills Training Track

Trainer/Evaluators: Holly Leas & Laura Amick

Service dogs are recognized by the law as trained working dogs performing specific tasks for those who are differently abled. Disabilities can include both physical and mental impairment. It is crucial that the dog perform tasks that directly relate to owner’s disability. This can include anything from opening doors for people in wheelchairs to warning the owner of an impending seizure, helping with deep pressure therapy or urging the owner to remain seated.

A service Dog is not considered a pet and must be desensitized to distractions. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides access to public spaces for properly trained service dogs. Dogs training for service need to focus solely on their owners and ignore all distractions such as traffic, children, etc. The ideal candidate dog should be:

• Obedience Trained to a Word Command
• Desire to Work, Willing to Please
• Ready to follow owners everywhere
• Calm Demeanor and Friendly Temperment
• Alert
• Socialized
• Nonreactive to public and strangers
• Quick to learn
• Able to retain information

Training a service dog is a significant investment not only in cost, but commitment to the training over a period of years. Some skills that service dogs may perform are:

• Open and close doors, drawers, and cabinets
• Turn lights on and off
• Help people get dressed or undressed
• Assist persons to an upright position
• Move feet and arms onto wheelchair footrests and armrests
• Prevent falls and provide stability
• Call 911 in case of emergency
• Identify and alert to symptoms
• Bark or find help on command
• Find places, vehicles, or their owner when disoriented and bring to safety
• Assess owner’s safety and guide away from stressful situations
• Help with insomnia and interrupt nightmares
• Interrupt flashbacks and prevent self-harming behaviors using tactile stimulation
• Detect allergens, low and high blood sugar levels
• Provide deep pressure therapy
• Redirect owner away from self-harming/repetitive behaviors

Therapy Dogs (TD) and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not service animals and do not have the same rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Although training is essential for service dogs, that does not mean that you cannot train the dog yourself. Many people choose to train their service dog themselves because professional service dog training can be a long and expensive process. In the end, even professional trainers cannot guarantee your dog will be able to become your service dog. Our trainer/evaluator teams have years of experience guiding clients to their desired level of service animal. Please click below to contact us and schedule a time for evaluation.

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