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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You would need to train it to recognize your name, in case someone is calling. There are sites with tasks to help with this.

Yes, and some dogs can even recognize them naturally.

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.

Yes, and seizures are a very common reason for owning a service dog.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Not at all, it's the perfect time!

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).

Socialize him. Constantly take your dog for walks. Go to the park. Introduce him to all kinds of people, especially children.