How Are Service Dogs Trained?

There are a variety of different methods for training service dogs and most potential service dogs do not begin training until about 12 to 15 months old. Classes and training for service dogs can last anywhere from six months to one year, and depends on the organization training each dog.

During the first several week of service dog training; the dogs are placed through a number of different medical screenings. THe dog’s temperment is meassured and blood and medical tests are preformed that include X-rays to make sure the dog suffers from no life threatening genetic deffects that may make him/her untrainable. Many dogs are let go from the training program because they do not pass certain areas of these important medical tests.

The first half of the training program with service dogs focuses on teaching basic commands. The dogs will also begin working with wheel chairs, and focus on retrieving items a person confined to a wheel chair may need. If a service dog passes the first half of the training program they will be able to continue with the most important part of the program.

The second part of a training dog program usually involves building and adding to the commands that were learned during the first half of the course. Once a potential service dog make it through this, they are paired with a disabled individual called “team training”, where both the dogs and their recipients are trained on how to work and accomplish things together for the last couple of weeks of a training session.

Upon proper completion of all three aspects of training a dog graduates and is considered a service dog for the rest of his life. Many service dog recipients continually add new commands to their dogs repitoir by visiting workshops and seminars that a service dog trainer may provide throughout the years of a service dogs life.

The Breeding of Service Dogs

Yellow and "fox red" Labrador Retriever.
Image via Wikipedia

Service dogs are bred from two different species of dogs, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers and are sometimes mixed between the two. These two breeds are very smart as well as protective of their owners. Most Labrador and Golden Retrievers that are bred to produce service dog puppies are, or were once, service dogs themselves. Organizations and service dog recipients that wish to breed their dogs can travel to very far places in order to find a male or female that meets the qualifications needed for breeding.

When the puppies come along they are raised from birth to several weeks old and if a breeder is unable to handle all the puppies, the puppies are placed in temporary household until they are 12 to 15 months of age. The temporary households these puppies are placed in are well screened volunteers that offer to take on all responisibilities of these puppies until they are old enough to start a service dog training course. Volunteers usually begin teaching the puppies basic commands, so that the puppies have a foundation to build on for the numerous commands they will be tought throughout the rigorous training programs to be considered a service dog.

To enter various training programs to be considered a service dog, these puppies are put through numerous medical and temperment evaluations to ensure they will be the best for not only the program, but for a possible recipient. Many puppies even though they come from excellent bloodlines and parents do not make it past the medical evaluations phase. If a puupy passes the rigorus medical and temperment evaluations, they are placed in the beginning phase of training.

Much like being in school, these dogs are tested in a number of different ways and can’t complete the entire program unless they pass each portion or class of the program that lasts about 3 months.

What Kind of Service Dogs Are Available?

Service dogs in general assist people with disabilities or special needs and help them function in a normal society. There are three different types of service dogs:hearing dogs, facility dogs and skilled companion dogs. These dogs are used in a number of different settings and which dog is assigned to someone needing assistance varies by what will best suit their needs.

Hearing dogs are Laborador or Golden retrievers that are very carefully bred and raised to assist those with hearing impairment. Hearing dogs will nidge or bump a deaf person to alert their owners of something inparticular. These hearing dogs can alert a hearing impaired individual of incomming email messages, alarms, doorbells, and a person approaching. These dogs are trained with the recipient to fit the recipients everyday needs, so alerting an individual will vary from dog to dog, depending on what they were trained for.

Facility dogs are specifically trained to interact with different people in a public setting. These dogs can be found in places such as hospitals, schools, and other facilities providing rehabilitative services to special needs children and adults in a number of different enviroments. Facility dogs give love and undivided attention to each individual person they interact with, making them the ultimate companion dogs. Hospitals frequently use these dogs to calm children with critical illnesess a sense of ease.

Skilled companion dogs are trained to help disabled recipients, children and adults, reach and do things they normally can’t do. These dogs can retrieve dropped items, turn on and off light switches, and ring a doorbell. Just as hearing dogs are trained to do the things that are owner specific so are these dogs. These dogs help individuals feel more self sufficient, allowing them to do more on their own with the help of their new furry companion.

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