Owner Training a Service Dog Version I

"Oh, so sad you have to give him up." 
"What program are you training for?"
"Oh! He's for you? Really?"

These are common comments you receive when you are owner training a service dog or have an owner trained service dog, even if they are old and gray and about to retire.  It can be frustrating answering the questions of why you are owner training or why you need a service animal.  But, it's part of the social atmosphere in the United States.

When you owner train your own service dog, there can be quite a few stigmas attached to it or even just using a service animal.  Service animals are legally considered medical equipment.  yes, they are living things, but by law, they are equipment.  Luckily, this equipment does get time off and is allowed to enjoy life.

But owner training a dog isn't easy and takes a lot of time, energy and education.  You have to educate yourself on breeds, useful tasks, training methods, state laws on top of the ADA laws, etc.  There are many states that do not allow a person to train a service animal if they are not a trainer from an organization.  These states are not a good place for owner trainers.  Luckily, Illinois, protects service dogs in training and allows owner trainers.  This has made my life easier.  You also need to look into outside training resources.  Lincoln has been trained in obedience, all the way up to his CGCA, at our local kennel club.  This was my personal choice and it allowed him to be socialized around different dogs of all different types.  You also need your puppy or adopted dog personality tested for any personality issues that could cause them not to be an ideal candidate.  This is vital!  You don't want a service dog to be aggressive, overly fearful, dominant, etc.  A service dog should be submissive and pretty easy going around various noises, events, people or anything else that comes their way.

Puppy raisers for organizations are given manuals and have counselors and staff that they can contact with questions on behaviors, foods, toys, etc.  When you are owner training, you don't have these manuals and have to come up with the lists, supplies, vet treatments, etc on your own.  Here is an exampled of the Canine for Independence puppy raiser manual: CCI Manual

Here are examples of my very shortened version of that manual:

Commands (seen below)
Toys: cow hooves, bully sticks, jolly balls, tug ropes, plush toys, split antlers, tennis balls, no artificial chew toys/bones
Food: prey model raw (20% bone)
Treats: Zukes, liver treats, dehydrated heart, turkey hotdog cut up
Equipment: Custom vest, prong collar, flat collar, metal crate, soft cone, baby gates where needed, 8 way BLD leather leash, basic 6' leather leash for training, custom BLD basic harness, dog beds for outside and inside crate, food bowls, drinkwell, towels to dry them, ruffwear booties, coat, clicker
Health: Shots, neuter at 1 years of age, document weight every 2-3 weeks, check entire body every week (eyes, paws, inguinal, ears, gums, teeth, fur, skin), trim nails weekly, brush weekly, bath every 3-4 weeks and have groomed every 6 weeks
Public Access/Socialization: (I have a check sheet)
Emergency: Take to Bellwood or ER vet if weekend or after hours

Basically, know where to take your animal for health care, keep an eye on their personality, body regions, keep them groomed, watch when they play or chew toys, etc.  Prepare for your new puppy, basically baby/puppy proof your home.  Keep an eye on your puppy until at least 6-7 months of age (then just be in the same room as them). Do not let a puppy under 6 months out of your sight! Silence is bad if you have a puppy!

Now task training can be done with an outside trainer or by yourself.  You need to know how to train tasks if you yourself do it and some can be tricky.  But, in todays technology, there are multiple different resources online and especially on Youtube.  Utilize these resources.

I have just started Lincs task training.  We are starting with the basics and will eventually move on to more advanced tasks.  The last 6.7 months were spent on team building, obedience and public access training.  This was by choice.  While I did some basics throughout the past several months, now we are getting into it full time.  Here are a couple of videos of teaching him basic "grab it" and basic "touch" or hand targeting.

Grab It

Touch

Once he has mastered these tasks well enough at home, I will be training him to use them in public.  Many of his commands are also connected to a hand signal if I am unable to speak. Here is a list of basic commands he already knows:

• Come
• Let's Go
• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Wait
• Up
• Turn (turn in my direction)
• Heel (walking next to me or returning to the heeling position)
• Say Hello (his command to sit and greet someone)
• Back
• Go Potty
• Uh Uh (if he is doing something undesirable)
• Crate
• Alright (his release word)
• Leave It
• Paw/Other Paw (will be changed to push when performing a task)
• Drop It
• Load (getting into the car)
• Enough (to stop whining or barking)

Some task commands he is learning or already knows:

• Pressure (deep pressure therapy)
• Block (body blocking in front of me)
• Grab it
• Give
• Tug
• Meds (to retrieve a bag of emergency meds)
• Push
• Find (find the car, the door, help, etc)
• Hold (hold an item he picked up)
• Open (open a door with a tug)

Also, here is a list of some current tools I am using to help me train Linc:

• Clicker (various)
• Click Stick
• Old Starbucks card (instead of an actual credit card)
• Springsle (for hold command)
• Old empty medicine bottle (various sizes)
• Staples Easy Button
• Various highlighters
• Wadded up Yarn (for grab it, yarn)
• Paracord items attached to keys to grab

You can use whatever works for you.