Service dog

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A service dog is a type of assistance dog, specifically trained to help people who have disabilities other than visual or hearing impairment, or medical response dogs. Service dogs are sometimes trained and bred by private organizations. In other cases, a disabled handler may train their own dog with or without the aid of a private dog trainer.

Contents

[edit] Training

[edit] Program-trained dogs

Many assistance dog organizations employ programs where future service dogs spending a year or more with a host family- particularly if the program breeds their own dogs or otherwise receives the dogs as puppies. During this time, they are primarily acclimated to working around people and all kinds of potential situations, as well as exposed to obedience training.

In addition, in the United States, use of selected inmates in prisons as animal trainers and puppy-raisers has proved a valuable resource to service dog organizations. In addition to teaching the dogs basic obedience and other skills needed to prepare them for their future careers, such programs have proved to be mutually beneficial relationships. Often, the inmates develop improved socialization skills and behavior as a result of their work with the dogs.

The process of obtaining a "program" service dog usually includes an application and evaluation process, after which potential handlers may spend time on a waiting list while a suitable dog is found and/or trained. The dogs may be free of charge, while some may require large amounts of money- financial assistance may or may not be offered. Once partnered, the new handler learning to work with the dog may take a few weeks to a period stretching over several months. In addition, many service dogs are required to touch up their training after they are formally placed, on a yearly or otherwise regular basis.

[edit] Self-training

A growing number of people choose to train their own service dogs. These dogs come from a wide variety of places- some choose to pick a dog from a breeder or rescue one with the idea of training them to work in mind, while others decide a current, older pet might become a suitable partner (particularly if they develop the ability to alert to a medical condition). Handlers sometimes choose to research and train the dogs themselves, while others may employ a professional trainer or organization that accepts handler-picked dogs to help. People who train their own dogs generally a year or more with the dog "in-training," though self-trained dogs in particular never stop learning new skills.


First the service dog goes to a puppy rasier. There the raiser teaches the puppy basic commands such as, sit, stay, no, and leave it, etc. then it goes to training with the properly placed owner. At the school the dog learns special commands like, Turning on the lights, opening the refrigerator, etc. .

[edit] Accessibility

Public accessibility of service dogs varies according to the country and region. A number of states employ specific laws to ensure the rights of handlers while in public. For example, in the United States, service dogs and their handlers enjoy special protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990[1], which gives them equal access to anywhere the general public is allowed, such as restaurants, taxis, and aircraft, as well as provide protection for handlers living in places "pets" are generally not allowed.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[1.^ The online copy of The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990]