Q&A for How to Train Your Service Dog Without a Professional Trainer

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  • Question
    Who trains service dogs?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    This depends on the nature of the disability the dog is being trained to support. For example, people with sight issues should contact the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization, who run programs to spot talented puppies with the potential to be service dogs. Other organizations linked to specific disabilities can put you in touch with trainers registered with the specific skills to train a support dog. Alternatively, professional bodies such as the Association of Pet Dog Trainers provide links to useful resources that may be of help.
  • Question
    How do I train my dog to go get help if I fall down outside?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Break the task down into small elements and train the dog to do one part, then once he has firmly grasped that move onto the next element. For example, decide on the sequence of events which in this case might be: You fall down, the dog barks to draw attention. First, teach the dog to bark on demand. Then teach the dog to bark with you fall.
  • Question
    Can a dog be trained as a service animal to go into nursing facilities? I work as a traveling consultant in different nursing facilities.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    No, a service dog is trained to assist a specific individual by performing tasks related to their specific disability. The type of dog you're talking about would most likely be considered a therapy dog. While many nursing facilities allow therapy dogs, there's no legal requirement that they do so.
  • Question
    I have a trained dog from a breeder for a girl who has narcolepsy with catalepsy. The ADA requires certification through a 501(c)3 organization, but will not certify a dog trained by others. How do we get certification?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    The ADA does not require any type of certification or registration of service dogs. If the dog is trained specifically to perform tasks related to the girl's disability, it is a service dog.
  • Question
    I have Meniere's disease and trained my dog to help me when it flares up. Can he be a service dog?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes. Your disease would qualify as a disability if it substantially limits 1 or more life activities. If you've trained your dog to perform specific tasks related to your disability, he is a service dog.
  • Question
    The dog gets a lot of treats while training. What type of treat do you suggest?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    The best type of treat is one that your dog loves because that will best motivate the dog to perform in hopes of getting the treat. If your dog has a favorite treat, start using that for training purposes only—don't give the dog that type of treat at any other time or for any other reason.
  • Question
    As an autistic adult I cannot find any (Canadian) service dog training body to work with me. How do I train a dog to keep me calm in places I cannot be calm enough to train a dog in?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Train your dog to recognize signs that you're becoming anxious and perform some task that calms you. This may mean simulating behavior so your dog learns the signs. You might also want to enlist a trusted friend or relative to take your dog to some of those public places you have a hard time with. Your dog needs public access training before it can effectively help you.
  • Question
    Can a dog be trained to prevent suicide attempts?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It would be difficult to train a dog to prevent suicide attempts, generally, since there are many different ways a person could attempt suicide. However, you could train a dog to stop or interrupt self-harm, or to call for help using K-9 Rescue Phone, 911, or a preprogrammed suicide hotline.
  • Question
    Can a Bichon be trained to walk on the left side of a person only? My husband is visually impaired on the right and does not want to hurt the dog or cause himself to trip over the dog.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Any breed of dog can be trained to walk on one side of a person over the other. Use the clicker training method and reward the dog when it walks on the left side. It's important to note, though, that simply training your dog to walk on one side doesn't make it a service dog. It's not performing a specific task that assists your husband—it's just staying out of his way.
  • Question
    I have PTSD and general anxiety disorder. How would I train my dog to help with that?
    Animebread
    Top Answerer
    Think abut your symptoms. If you have panic attacks, then you could train your dog to apply pressure to you. There are plenty of sites and forums willing to help you with this.
  • Question
    How old does a dog have to be in order to become a service dog?
    Community Answer
    Some dogs start training after they are 18 weeks old. They are usually trained as pups and learn how to react to commands after 1 to 2 years of training. If the dog has had previous training, he or she may start learning commands at 6 months of age.
  • Question
    Where do you go after you train your dog to get a vest?
    Community Answer
    There's no official vest or anything necessary in the U.S.A., nor is it technically necessary to mark your dog as a service dog in any other way. However, you can find numerous vests in online stores like Amazon and Etsy, etc., and through dog supply companies, which you can place the proper patches on. In other countries, ask the relevant training association for vest requirements first.
  • Question
    What law states that a person has a right to train their own service dog?
    Community Answer
    The Americans with Disabilities Act does not require that a service dog be trained by someone other than their owner. This is not the case in many other countries.
  • Question
    What kind of training is needed for a service dog for a hearing impaired person?
    Animebread
    Top Answerer
    You would need to train it to recognize your name, in case someone is calling. There are sites with tasks to help with this.
  • Question
    Can a dog be trained to recognize seizures?
    Community Answer
    Yes, and some dogs can even recognize them naturally.
  • Question
    Can my dog be a service dog even though there is nothing wrong with me?
    Community Answer
    No. Service dogs are for people who have a disability, not for people who just want to take their dogs in public places and on planes.
  • Question
    Can we train a service dog for my son that has seizures from an autoimmune disease?
    Community Answer
    Yes, and seizures are a very common reason for owning a service dog.
  • Question
    Should a dog being trained as a service dog be with me 24/7?
    Community Answer
    A service dog should accompany you where ever he is of assistance to you, whether that be to work, school, or social events. Depending on the condition, it is possible your dog needs to be with you 24/7, in case you need him. Service dogs may accompany you absolutely anywhere and everywhere, and have the right to do so by law.
  • Question
    How can I train my puppy to focus on me and not greet others?
    Community Answer
    You can carry treats around with you. I know this may sound silly, but when someone approaches, hold the treat up by your eyes and say "Watch me," once he/she looks at your eyes (even if it's just for a split second) reward him/her with the treat. Soon your dog will pay attention to you instead of another human or distraction.
  • Question
    What specific training is needed to allow the dog to identify coming symptoms of PTSD? My husband is a 50 percent disabled veteran and his doctor suggested getting a service dog.
    Community Answer
    You need the dog to alert, so there are a few steps to it. First off, does your husband demonstrate any signs pre-episode, such as tapping fingers, shaking, heavy breathing, etc? If so, it's easy to train a dog to be alert to those things. If there aren't signs though, then you need to do scent-based alerts, which are much harder to train. In the case of physical signs besides scent, first train your dog to paw/bark or another form of alert at something (like a small lid) on a command. Next, have your husband do one of the warning signs for an episode with the lid positioned on top of the point of motion (so if it's shaking legs, lid on the knee), and give the alert command.
  • Question
    Can dogs really alert you of low or high glucose? And how does one train a service dog for it?
    Community Answer
    Yes, dogs are able to sense hormonal changes in humans, as well as warn you when someone's about to have a seizure. Some dogs have a natural ability to alert you without prior training. However, to pass as a service dog it is a bigger challenge. Talk to your doctor or vet about getting a recommendation.
  • Question
    What kind of training should a service dog have for a child with sensory processing disorder and ADHD?
    Community Answer
    All service dogs need to be trained in public access behavior. This means that he needs to behave and be undistracted in public. He must also do a task to accommodate your son. An autism dog is trained to handle sensory processing disorder, to be alert to your emotions. A trained dog can let you know if yu are getting anxious so that you can leave the situation or use sensory blockers. A trained dog can prevent you from hurting myourselfyself during sensory meltdowns and soothe you until it is over, and so on.
  • Question
    Can a dog be trained as a service dog for an adult and child both?
    Animebread
    Top Answerer
    A service dog can be trained to help an adult or a child. However, service dogs are usually for one person. It ruins the point of a service dog if it's for two people because the dog must be with the handler constantly.
  • Question
    I have a seizure disorder. Where can I find one that is already trained?
    Animebread
    Top Answerer
    Try looking for a non-profit program near you. You can apply and if you get accepted they will train your dog for free unless there is an application cost or additional costs to the program.
  • Question
    What are all of the types of disabilities that the dog would be a service dog for?
    Animebread
    Top Answerer
    There are plenty. Mobility (Wheelchair users, people with balance issues, etc.), Guide (For the blind or almost blind), Hearing (Self-explanatory), Psychiatric (if they are severe enough, like PTSD), Seizure Alert/Response (Alerting to seizures and/or responding to them), Diabetic Alert (Alerting to low or high blood sugar levels), Medical Alert/Response, (Alerting to migraines, syncope, seizures, etc., and/or responding to them by calling 911 or alerting people), and Autism.
  • Question
    I have epilepsy, which causes me to have anxiety. Will I be able to have my dog as an emotional support animal? Can I have my neurologist write the letter, and if not, what doctor should I use? My dog will be trained as my service dog, but he's not yet.
    Animebread
    Top Answerer
    Emotional support animals are not service dogs, and are thus not granted the same liberties in public spaces. Emotional support animals are for at home. If you are saying that he will be trained later as a service dog, you don't need a letter unless it's for housing or traveling on an airplane. ESA's are usually labeled for those reasons.
  • Question
    Would a pitbull be a good breed for a service dog for someone with depression?
    Community Answer
    Any dog can be used as a service animal, so if you would prefer a pitbull, you can absolutely use one. As long as you properly train the dog, there shouldn't be an issue.
  • Question
    My pup is 10 weeks old. Is it too young to start?
    Community Answer
    Not at all, it's the perfect time!
  • Question
    If I am training my dog to be my service dog, can I take it wherever I go while in training? Isn't she supposed to be with me 24/7?
    Community Answer
    In the United States it is permissible to bring a service dog in training whoever necessary to complete or progress in such training. Some places may request that the dog be marked or otherwise distinguished (wearing a "service dog in training" vest is typically adequate).
  • Question
    How do I stop my puppy from barking at people when they come to my door, or sometimes in public, while training him to be my service dog?
    Community Answer
    Socialize him. Constantly take your dog for walks. Go to the park. Introduce him to all kinds of people, especially children.
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