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I recently acquired a golden doodle. Before I got her, I just wanted a dog to keep me company at home. Once I brought her home, I discovered that she was very easy to train and doesn’t bark. So I started taking her everywhere with me. She doesn’t pull on her leash when walking. She doesn’t bark or lunge at people or other animals. I’ve been teaching her to sit every time I stop. She’s been doing very well. When she does something that I didn’t train her for ( such as coming to me and putting her head on my lap when my anxiety starts to rise, I pet her and give her lots of praise. I have been taking her to many different types of establishments. Because there is always something new for her to encounter. Yesterday, while at a thrift store, we had to walk through a very narrow section with breakable items on both sides. She walked right behind me and was very careful not to knock anything over. When I go out to eat, she lays on the floor under the table. She usually takes a little nap. But if someone approaches from behind, she will lift her head until they pass. If I am sitting outside with a wall behind me, she will lay in front of me. I’ve also been playing sounds that most dogs are afraid of in order to get her accustomed to them. I also make sure she has gone to the bathroom before I take her into a public place. I have gotten tons of compliments on how well behaved she is. Right now she wears a regular harness and leash when we go out. I’ve only had a few people ask if she’s a service dog. I just say yes. Of course I come across people that want to pet her. But she ignores them. She also ignores other dogs that come up to her. I have no idea what training she had before I got her. She is only a year old. She was definitely born to be a Psychiatric Service Dog.
That awesome I’m getting a rescue dog soon and am planing to train it myself for ptsd your so lucky you got that dog it’s hard to find a perfect dog like that.
I sort of fell into AD work with my dog. After years around herders and retrievers, I got my first Terrier. He's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he was a rescue just about to enter his teenage stage (2yrs old). I had to really get on top of his obedience and drive just to make him tolerable. I started to notice he was really tuned into my emotions and stress levels (I'm AuDHD) and became more intentional with my training. I thought I would struggle with public access but the bond we had built over the years combined with his terrier genes meant he adapted to situations very easily. My timeline was, rescued at 2, well behaved pet at 3, home tasked dog at 5, public access trained at 7, fully working by 8. He turned ten in May 2024 and is still super excited to get into his harness for work and gets a health check every 6 months
Thank you so much for these videos. I'm actually looking into local shelters, humane societies, and rescues for a dog. You've taught me a lot, and I've realized I want to focus on dog by temperment. I'm looking into mixed breeds, pitties, staffanshires, bullies, and german sheapherds. I've done tons of research on them (and owned pitties). I've got my eye on a few dogs I'm going to meet soon, to judge them in person!
My first S.D. was a springer and he just fell in love with the work. I just drove up to South Dakota to pick up a new springer. The breeder has been breeding for service dogs. The little guy I just picked up is super smart and work driven. My trainer is super excited to help me start him. Your channel has been so much help to improve my training to help my dog.
A video idea for you - how to prepare for training to pull or steady/stabilize. I've been researching service dogs, training, the ins and outs for a couple years and hadn't planned to get an SD yet but had this young dog fall into my lap who is proving, so far, to been an amazing prospect for SD work. She was 7 months when I got her and is 8 months now. I'm so thankful for you and all of the amazing content you have shared with the world.
I am using your videos to train my pet! She is a 6 month old Malinois/Lab mix and hasn't done a lot of public access work, so I don't plan on having her do public access. I would like to train her to help with my needs around ADHD and Autism. I'm confident that she can help me so much at home, and I appreciate the information that you share on your channel!
I have a standard poodle who is my service dog and she's been training since she was 3 months old and she turns 2 tomorrow she just got her CGC and has a trick dog title She is for stability and my sleep apnea I have trained her myself since she was 3 months and does her job wonderfully She is very calm and very sweet ❤
My texas collie passed away in April and she was a natural alerted and didn't need any specialized training. We asked she preformed. She was 9 when she passed away. I'm picking up a 5 year old dog I connected to instantly and know she's meant to be my dog. She's a German Shepard with natural alerting to silent seizures. She does so for her current owner without having been trained. I'm hoping by training her she can give me the understanding for both of us for learning another service dog after her in a few years.
My service dog from a program still has two months of training to go until he can finally stay with me but I visit him as often as I can. He's a sensitive dog and is sometimes frightened by something but never reacts aggressively. Depending on the situation I (his trainers as well) use it as a training opportunity to show him it isn't that scary or just move a bit further away and take him with me. I honestly don't mind it that much because his sensitivity is a big plus for his service dog work and he recovers quickly after we've moved away or he isn't scared the next time in case we did some training around the object. He's also mirroring me very well which means when he gets spooked more and more about things that normally don't bother him at all it's kind of a pre alert for me.
I have a burnedoodle who is a mix talked about in this video. It was by stroke of luck that I was able to get her without costing me an arm, leg and kidney due to her being a certain breed of dog. I'm highly allergic to dogs and cats even though I grew up with them my whole like so being able to get a dog that I could spend time around, cuddle and play with without triggering my asthma was a blessing. She's normally very calm, but when she can tell that a person stresses me or when another dog barks in my direction that she isn't familiar with; she will bark and be a bit defensive. She is a tad nervous around people, but it normally very calm. For example, she'll be nervous at the vet, and sit by me, but she will let the vet check her. I have fibromyalgia and was hoping to get her trained to be my service dog, as well as ESA. She's very responsive when I need help; is able to tell when I have a flare up and will comfort me when I have an anxiety attack or start crying. However, she does get stressed; like she's still getting used to riding around in a car, but will eventually settle in. I'm really nervous because I'm going to another state for university next fall and want to bring her with me for support, however she doesn't handle being away from me well at all; she'll bark, whimper and panic. She'll even whimper when she's just on the other side of a door away from me. I worry about brining her and having to keep her in a kennel, alone for while I'm at school. But on the other hand, I know that ESA wise that she'll be able to help support me. I've been so torn over the matter. I could really use some feedback as to your thoughts. Thank you
Thank you for this video! We adopted a black lab puppy as a service dog prospect for my dysautonomia and so far he's doing very well! I'm hoping to train counterbalancing, DPT, retrieval tasks, and hopefully cardiac alert.
I'm so glad this video was helpful! I actually have a video on both DPT and retrieval. DPT: ua-cam.com/video/P4F_v8dww0g/v-deo.html For retrieval, I have this video on medication retrieve: ua-cam.com/video/_vcvu4ZQGMs/v-deo.html And this one for item discrimination: ua-cam.com/video/z2OXnRy7MwY/v-deo.html I also have a totally free 45 minute session on training the hold if you sign up for the "free" patreon level. It's part of a larger 3 part series, but the first part is free and should get you started :) patreon.com/doggyu Happy Training!
My dog is super reactive but somehow manages to pull it together when she knows its time to work. She figures this out by the kind of vest i put on her. Her work vest vs her play vest.
They know. Unfortunately mine passed away last week.But he knew when he got the vest on it was work. Matter of fact a waitress told us he was the best service dog she has ever seen. I miss my buddy!
My puppy is still young, just over 6 weeks old. I am the co breeder. I co- own and show his mother. He will be shown and do other sports too. I have Pyrenean Shepherds. He is bonded with me already. I am glad you spoke about health testing. His Mom picked up on touching my left leg with her nose when I am off balance. She keeps me moving forward and I stand up straighter after she taps me. I want to teach DPT, alert to my low electrolytes and high heart rate. I have POTS. Retrieve my meds or other items I need. I also have hEDS.
I just rescued a dog from a life or death situation. She's now just about to full health and showing her personality. Professionally, I am a teacher at an alternative school. We have a therapy dog program with three teachers having adopted puppies and trained them to be therapy dogs. My dog, Biscuit is 5 years old. Not a little puppy. Im wondering if she's too old to be trained to be a therapy dog. I feel like with her experience my students will really bond with her.
My dog is a not quite 10 month Boxer/Great Pyrenees. Fortunately his energy level is more like a Pyr. I want him to be a mobility service dog. And I might need him to help me with clusters of blackouts. So far it looks like his size will be about perfect. And he loves working and training with me. Unfortunately my own mobility was bad enough that I missed chunks of his puppyhood where he should have been exposed more to being in public with me. So he is fairly reactive when there is a lot of new stuff going on around us. And I gave him too much freedom when training him to walk on a leash. I thought I would want him to pull just a little to help me with my balance. But that backfired and now I am in a near constant battle to get him not to pull. I do have a dual purpose for him, too. I have almost no natural understanding of a person's intensions as far as whether or not they are a danger to me. I want a dog who will have a far better judgement of that than I do. And far better than a Lab or Golden would. And I want him to look fairly formidable, which he does. I like that he is extremely aware of our surroundings. I like that he naturally stands in a guarding pose. And I like that he growls if he doesn't trust someone. I hope this isn't an impossible combination of roles for him to successfully fill. And I hope I haven't ruined him.
We needed a dog and brought the perfect puppy into our home. We really just wanted to grow our family. As we‘ve watched how well she naturally handles so many situations, we’re increasingly looking at how we can get her from here to being an allergen alert service dog for me. If we don’t make it all the way, then at least she’s even better behaved in public and easier to travel with. Right now, our focus is more on good behavior but we’d like to start working on allergen testing. She’s a Bichpoo (miniature poodle and bichon frise), 7 months old, not afraid of almost anything, and loves everyone. We’re working through the teenager months. Her selective listening has somewhat increased, but she’ll still do anything for a good treat. My questions: how to get started on scent training for allergens? I’d like to practice with a safer scent first. How to keep her from eating that item? How do I help her know when she’s working/has to show off her good manners and when she’s allowed to just be a dog?? Essentially, when I handle her in public, she’d be working. If I hand her off to my other half, she’s still need to be professional if wearing her harness but might be off duty. So then what?
I owned a Border Collie cross for over 15 years. The amount of energy and edurance they have till 2-3 is awesome. Fortunately I have a huge yard with a 5 ft chain link fence for them to run and play in, so I just have to do the snuggle and walk politely on a leash. The 2 things I was most impressed with were his incredible sense of smell and he never once barked when in the house, outside when a garbage truck went by oh yes. When I became more disabled and retired at 67 he was able to become a couch potato in 3 days. They tend to be nice to everyone but are basically a one person breed. I am 5 ft tall and do not want a 70-90 lb dog, So I was recently able to get a mini bordoole Border Collie/ Poodle. The Poodle to have a smaller dog and one that does not shed as much. The breeder checked the parents genetics and gave him the test at 7 or 8 days that checks how anxious or startled the puppy was. I am working with a professional service dog trainer to guide me through the basics of obedience. I have had dogs for 50 yrs so know a lot already. When he is a year old he may be mature enough for serious mobility training. I then hope to move my camper close to one of the few schools that does MCAS training on a dog they did not raise. He will then hopefully pass the scent training in 1-3 months so he can give me early warning of an impending attack, like a seizure dog do, I travel a lot and a sudden attack when I am driving could be fatal. So I am working for the best. I already have a very nice dog for a pet.
I will be adopting a dog this coming weekend, and I think he will be a good fit for a service dog. He is two years old, and I won't necessarily need him to do a whole lot when I am out and about in public. That would be more for my anxiety, but atop things or need something I can't get to, it home, when I dr will be so much help. I'm in a power wheelchair so getting around is tough.
Hi Laura, As Ive told you before I live with Chronic Illnesses and am in Severe pain. I Suffer from ComplexPTSD and I still have Meltdowns at 64 years old. I totally understand where you're coming from. As for me I look at whats most important to mitigate my emotional and Physical Problems. When I cry or get very upset he will immediately get on top of me and ground me. When I am sitting he will come up and put his paws on my legs/thighs. To Me that is invaluable. He also will pick up anything I drop and put it in my hand. Now the BAD part or the HARD PARTS. He knows obedience however he is highly stubborn and will break a totally known command. His public access needs to be better. Here is where we differ. His parts that need work I am willing to help him till he gets it. That's hard, very hard on me. HOWEVER his personality and puppy like antics give me a JOY that makes my life worth living. That may sound very odd, but when I am as sick as I am having him running by my Mobility Scooter is to me an emotional task that keeps me Alive. I am between a rock and a Hard place. I hope you will let me know if this makes sense to you. Thanks Laura.♥️🐾♥️🐾♥️🐾
Hi Kavita! It sounds like he may still be young. Having a goofy personality can be a joy to work with. However, we don't want to think of dogs as stubborn. When a dog isn't able to execute a behavior consistently, it is typically because we've overfaced their current skill set and need to take a step back and work on building fluency for the behavior. It sounds like your pup is doing a lot of wonderful things to help your disability!
@@DoggyU Hi Laura, I understand what you mean by saying take it back to where he is consistently able to do the task properly and then build from there. It's a sign I've asked for too much. An example of why I called him stubborn is he knows Sit. Yet sometimes I will say sit, and he looks at me and just won't sit. Same with other well known behaviors. The truth is I can't give the time to train him correctly and he most likely is Not a good candidate to be a Real good Service Dog. He's already 2 years and a few months old. Thanks for getting back to me😢
@@DoggyU hey Laura, What I meant is in the World of Service Dogs he would probably be a pass. HOWEVER he learns so quick. And when it is Presented step by step I can tweak my Training. For instance Robert Cabrall just gave a stop pulling on the leash Video. I changed a couple of things and Finn caught on so quick. Big Changes Already. I also watched some public access Work, I believe it was from you, I was allowing him to do certain things that were Not ok. He has already changed for the better. I will continue to train him till he becomes a wonderful Service Dog. I just need to find the right easy approach to a few tasks. Thank you Laura. I appreciate you getting back to me!!
The pup I picked for allergy alert I got at 8 weeks old is a mini cattle pomchi. We brought him home to find he is socially aggressive. I had to wash him of the SD work
That's because little dogs aren't good for service work. It's very rare to see small dogs as successful service dogs. They are tiny and they have small dog syndrome.
Thank you for your videos. My 4 lb 9 month old maltipoo has been servicing me by being with me so I can get out. It is important that I have him on me in a sling to feel safe and keeps my heart rate low. I know he doesn’t qualify yet but how can I get him to pass the rest of the requirements. Having him on my lap he is so calm and attentive. He doesn’t bark much which I love. He is very still in restaurants too. Never begs for food. I had to take him on a plane he was amazing. So smart. I know he needs to get more training. He does love other dogs more than people. We live in nyc he is accustom to sirens and cars. Very cool I’ll have to join your community
Hi JnT! So even for little dogs, you would want to train all the requirements mentioned in this video here: ua-cam.com/video/3T8Ej_UEK0Y/v-deo.html You can use these tests as a road map to help you plan out your training journey. This will give you versatility to be able to carry or walk your dog as needed, meeting generally accepted service dog behavior standards. Because you have a smaller pup, make sure to use tools to help with food delivery and training such as a target stick to teach them to move into different positions, as well as peanut butter on a wooden spoon (or similar) to reinforce. This will save your back! Happy Training!
@@DoggyU thank you for your thoughtful response and encouragement. I don’t see training for little dogs but I assure you I would not function well without him. He is perfect for my disability. Life triggers me and having him close in a sling or on my arm keeps me present at crucial moments I don’t know how come he knows the right thing to do but he does. He’s so portable and compliant. Wish I could show you photos. There are training issues I am struggling with because he is not Food motivated Hoping over time with maturity and practice he will get better. He is getting neutered tomorrow. Do you think this makes a difference? Do you have a video on that? Curious. Thanks again.
@@JnTmarie glad your little dog is functioning for you the way you need him too. Ideally, all dogs, regardless of size, should receive basic training. I work with rat terriers, and they are anywhere from 3 pounds to 20 pounds, and I trained them and have the same basic expectations as I do my large German shepherd guide dog. All my dogs little or big know how to sit, walk on a leash, come when called, and do very specific target exercises just for fun. Using things like a target stick as Laura suggested is definitely a game changer.
I went with a rescued border collie/golden mix( I will never do BC again!) while shes a total couch potato( me too girl, me too!) she came with an insane noise sensitivity to fans and idling engines( no problems with loud noises) due to her time in animal control and their large industrial fan. It took me YEARS to get her thru it but shes good with them 99.9%of the time now and for that 0.01% of the time, stopping her and giving her a moment to collect herself does the trick. Shes phenomenal at guide work! My next dog(#2) will be a lab though. But shes great for my lifestyle as an elementary level teacher, she LOVES kids and chaos!
Love your comment about being a couch potato 😂 And it sounds like you figured out what works best for her! And getting a dog that loves kids can can handle elementary school is worth their weight in gold! Sounds like a lovely pup!
My dog Murphy is a great fit to be a service dog, about three years ago. I started training him to be a guide dog. I am owner training. About the only task I do not have down with him is the leave it that one he can’t quite get the hangover.
Sounds like a lovely dog! I have a video over on Patreon that goes through how I train a food drop leave it like the one that is typically on a public access test. You can find it here: www.patreon.com/posts/leave-it-and-for-72110249
I have a standard poodle he is almost four years old I have been training Smokey sense he was a puppy he is a great service dog I have still some work to do
I trained my dog to do 3 tasks for me. He's only about 20lbs he can pull my up from my chair and when I say hold he puts his legs out for support and can keep me from losing my balance. He's trained for my psychiatry needs
My Belgian Malinois was not a public access fit, but she was great at home. I hope your advice (and a local SD trainer) will get the next one on the right track. I do think I chose the wrong breed, as Belgians tend to take on the personality of the owner, and I'm anxious. I have decided on a more chill, detached breed.
I'm so sorry it didn't work out for public access but glad your Mal was a great at-home service dog! Unfortunately, as you experiences, some herding dogs do not excel at psych work due to their tendency to be influenced by their guardians feelings about a situation. I really love labs for psych work. There's a reason they are the most frequent breed used for service dog work - because their success rates are high, because their temperament is generally well-suited.
My daughters dog is 6months old calm able to go in public good in car and follows commands from my daughter she is able to rest in public and do nothing but when my daughter sits down on the ground she goes over to her and sits next to her. We are about to start her in basic obedience training we are collecting scents for blood pressure and blood sugar but its taking time to get the samples. We have only recently collected samples and have positive for low blood sugar, high blood sugar and high and low blood pressure. So im not sure how exactly to go about scent training im new to scent training and service dog information.
The problem with us finding a trainer is that we can't find one that doesn't automatically want to shock collar out Malinois. The past 2 years we have worked with our Mali on positive reinforcement training and she has done very well. She is good at going to most places, we haven't taken her to eat IN a restaurant but have done patio seating and she is good with that. The hardest thing to train her for is the task we need her to learn. Seizure alert. To train the task, her person needs to be in a situation where a seizure could happen. So far, she has picked up on symptoms, and I encourage her to alert but I also need to help her person so we can prevent/ mitigate the seizure. So, while I want to help her learn to task, I need to focus more so on her person. She is coming along, but it's been a slow process.
Hey Taby! Finding a positive reinforcement SD trainer can definitely be a challenge. You may need to use an online trainer. Have you checked ADIs website or Atlas Assistance Dogs to see if there's one in your area?
A lot of people really like them for service work :) They aren't my personal choice because I don't love the grooming maintenance, but if you don't mind that, there's many wonderful poodles out there doing service work!
Thanks for your great videos, I have a severe traumatic brain injury and after the first five years someone suggested a therapy dog/assistance dog for myself and then I got the run about from someone selling trained therapy dogs! So after that waste of time and headaches and with the help of my late Mother I ended up with a springer spaniel, poodle, cross puppy! Now 10 months old and I feel like I’m going crazy most of the time, since getting my puppy we learned that there is a full network of assistance dog training in New Zealand having a puppy. It’s too late. I’m lucky to have found a personal dog trainer who is willing to help me. Sadly my puppy is not able to become a qualified assistance. Dog sadly limits my ability to go to places with him. But that’s life.
@@DoggyU thank you for replying, my Mother chose the breed of Spoodle for there energy and ability, she’s old enough to walk with me from 10 to 20 kilometre day hikes (I’m an ex long distance cyclist) so walking is my future goal and the biggest disappointment is not having him recognised as my helper
These things to look for and to look out for are spot on!👍 My first SDiT ended up having a few of the issues you mention to be avoided, and even through doing a great deal of training, it was obvious that her natural baseline temperament didn't suite the stress or needs of public access. We ended up "retiring" her from public access, and she now simply happily tasks for me at home and it is a much better fit for her. In contrast, my current SD is AMAZING, checks all the boxes of good qualities which has made him exponentially easier to train even amid my chronic illness flare days/weeks. These traits to look for REALLY do make a difference! They 100% matter!!! For those choosing a dog to possibly be a service dog: I know all too well how hard it can be to admit our beloved dog or cute prospect is not a good fit, but it is really is what is BEST for the dog, for you and for the public to NOT put your dog in public access situations if they are not a good fit. You really do want to choose a dog whose temperament meets the criteria mentioned and who enjoys working in these super stressful, people filled, and unpredictable public environments with you. Great content!
Thanks Tiffany for posting this! When you have a dog that's not the right fit, it feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It's so much easier with the dog has the right temperament and propensity for the work!
@@DoggyU They are the same exact breed mix with the exact same percentage of each breed....just very different temperaments. We learned the hard way that temperament trumps all. With our first one, we saw some of the "red flags" right away, and "glazed" over them hoping we could "train through them"(we were newbies at the time to the Service Dog level of dog training.) Had we known then what we know now, we would have selected a different pup right away. One gift she gave me though is that because of her issues we went into a much more extensive deep dive into studying training, behavior, temperament, etc. For that I am grateful! We then went on our hunt for the second one with VERY specific temperament traits that we spelled out and if the pups presented didn't match even one trait or had one red flag, we passed until we found the right fit. We passed up a decent amount of "close" (and adorable) candidates, because we knew all too well from our first SDiT what challenges those elements could create long term and that they increased the chance of them not making it as a Service Dog. Our fella's temperament is amazing and has 1000% been worth any wait. He has trained exponentially faster, easier and training him has been a vastly more pleasant, peaceful, and joyful experience. 😊
You said a car sick dog not a good candidate for SD work not always correct my dog was car sick when I first started training her I took her out daily in the car around the neighborhood started very short trip working up to a hour in the car n got her over being car sick
You asked for ideas for a video, and this is what I am needing... My husband and I have talked about getting me a service dog. I feel like there's probably a lot of things that should happen before you physically have the dog in your house but I'm not sure where to start. Is there a checklist somewhere of not only the things we should have physically in the house but also videos to watch, a timeline of how to start training them and when etc. I don't want to have a new puppy jumping around my feet while I'm trying to research " now what do I do?" I'd like to have all my ducks in a row in a certain amount of knowledge under my belt before the dog comes into my house.
Hi Mary Beth! I love that you're going into this by educating yourself first, and then jumping in! That's the best way to go about it, and ultimately, will help you be successful! I actually did a video on what to do before you get a service dog prospect. You can find that video here: ua-cam.com/video/7MT3OtpYj3o/v-deo.html I also have a list of recommended reading that is about general dog training that you can find at my Amazon shop under "Recommended Reading" that you might find helpful: amazon.com/shop/doggyu Finally, I'm working on organizing all my public videos by category (second tab). Specifically check out the one on "Puppy Essentials". Here's a link to that spreadsheet that you will likely find helpful: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KIIkljhR7__R7R89-N4FsgQgcoa8HRVqge5QiXG5QqQ/edit?usp=sharing This spreadsheet also has all of my Patreon videos in the first tab organized by topic, category etc. If you're interested in joining that DOGGY•U Community, you can join for as little as $3 and check out what I offer at Patreon.com/DOGGYU The Community has tons of livestreams where people just like you ask questions every month, as well as exclusive videos and PDFs like "Puppy daily schedule". It's a great group of people. Hope that gives you a bunch of resources to check out! Again, kudos to you for starting before you jump in! I wish more people took your approach
I really needed this right now. This helped me feel much more confident about my puppy. My puppy loves looking at dogs (which is normal but still scary for me!) And he has had a couple of fear periods but I think he meets almost all of these criteria! Do you think a dog who runs away from only a couple of things and recovers with some training is a concern? They seemed like "fear period" things An example was a construction sign. He doesnt run away from really anything anymore now luckily!
If he's young, and these things pop up and then go away, it's likely a fear period. There were a couple weeks during CoolWhip's adolescence that I stopped all training and only hiked in the woods with her because she was going through some fear-period related things. If you notice they're struggling, it's not a bad idea to give it a break for a week or two and just go out into the woods together, or play in the yard or house.
My dog Leka fits everything you listed. She’s a 2yr old golden retriever and we noticed from an early age that she was responding to my anxiety as well as the few times I’ve passed out. She also naturally shifts her weight when we’re out walking to help with my balance. I’m hoping she’ll be able to help with both the balance/falling as well as PTSD/Anxiety. Is it possible for a dog to handle both tasks?
As in all things - depends on the individual dog. But there are plenty of multi-purpose service dogs out there that can handle multiple tasks/disabilities.
My current sdit is a 10 month old Rottweiler and I was actually kind of worried since before when I first got him he wasn’t very high energy but now I think that’s kind of a good thing since I work from home mostly. He’s very docile and friendly towards people, kids, and other dogs, he just has an issue of wanting to chase after a dog he sees running bc since he’s still a puppy and he’s used to chasing his sister around that it’s playtime, but i took him to the vet and there were tons of dogs jerking and sniffing him and he seemed pretty content with his spot on the floor so I think with training he should be able to stop doing that when it’s work time. Honestly I would like to know some different methods for scent training since he’s training to be a medical alert dog, and there’s no trainers in my area since I live in a country that has zero knowledge of service dogs, which is also making public training super hard for us bc most people are scared of him bc of his size and all areas aside from the vet that allow pets are very little or super fluffy dog biased
Hi Skeletal - I would look into Debby Kay's Super-Sniffer program or another online, scent-based program that specializes in scent-based service dog training. There are so many online options now, you should be able to get the knowledge you're looking for! Happy Training!
wondering if you ever went to college and if you did what did you major in? I am thinking about doing this but might also want to go to college. I was thinking animal science would be a good major.
I did! I have a BS in Management and Entreprenuership, and then a Master of Public Administration. Then I went for a 3 year apprenticeship as a guide dog mobility instructor. Animal Science would be a good option!
Would it be to late to start trying to train my 8 month old golden he has basic commands but I want to start pressure therapy and getting him desensitized to reacting in public because he does get a little excited I’m just kinda asking if I should start earlier with hm
If your dog has the temperament that is appropriate for service dog work, it's not too late to get started! I would start with a professional evaluation by a service dog specialist and go from there!
Hi NinjaSuda! Thanks for reaching out! As far as resources go, I would reach out to an ADI certified organization that specializes in service dogs for ASD. You can check the ADI website at assistancedogsinternational.org/ Hope that helps! Happy Training!
I’m looking to get a pittie mix. I’m going to train him to be an anxiety and ptsd service dog. Can you do a video on anxiety, ptsd and hair pulling please?
Good news! I'm actually making an entire course on training behavior interruptions and alerts. There's much more to them than can go in a youtube video. Stay tuned for a discounted presale in February. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for my newsletter at DOGGYU.com. :)
Hi there, I am planning to be coming a professional dog behavior trainer and certified service dog trainer. I am not sure where to start from. I was planning to go catch academy but I heard it is wasting money. Do you have any suggestions ? Could you please give me some advice on how to start? Thank you so much! By the way I love your channel ❤
So glad you’re enjoying the channel! Have you seen my videos on becoming a service dog trainer? Those would be helpful but generally I would look into Karen Pryor Academy or Jean Donaldson’s Academy and also apprenticeship opportunities. It’s important to get the academic and hands on experience.
@@DoggyU thank you so much for advice. I will watch one more time and research about those academies. I am also looking for mentors near Seattle or and possibly online. Thanks again! 😊
If you're in Seattle, check out Atlas Assistance Dogs! They have a couple programs that might fit your education goals as well as the ability to learn and give back to other service dog handlers! They are located in seattle :) @@sapphire_pear4979
@@DoggyU ong !!! Thank you so much. I am actually going my first service puppy in few months and I am excited my new journey to learn and experiences. I really appreciate you ! ❤️❤️❤️
@@sapphire_pear4979 so glad this was helpful! And if you haven't already joined Patreon, you can join for as little as $3 and there's over 150 Patreon-exclusive videos over there, plus a wonderful community of service dog trainers. You can find it at Patreon.com/doggyu. Also be sure to check out my new, totally free, online "Trainer's Toolbox" course here: laura-demaio-roy-s-school.teachable.com/
That's a great question. I haven't run into this, and to get an accurate answer I would contact FHA administrators. But if it were me, I would get an ESA letter for my at-home service dog to cover all my bases.
@@DoggyU well, she’s not my emotional support animal, I mean she is she’s a great support emotionally but I don’t have any psychiatric conditions that would qualify me for one so I wouldn’t need an ESA letter. But she does service tasks for me at home like picking up dropped objects, bringing me specific items such as the phone and water, letting me know when people approach the house etc. etc. What does The acronym stand for that you mentioned I should double check with?
@@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084 It sounds to me like that would definitely qualify, but because that is not my area of expertise, I would double check with either the FHEO (fair housing and Equal Opportunity) division of HUD who I believe oversees things to do with FHA (Fair Housing Act). Alternatively, DOJ (department of justice) may be another option to contact if the FHEO can't help you. That's the limits of my knowledge on the subject. Hope that helps!
I have a golden doodle who is 23 months we have a year of basic obedience, some nose work training, some disc dog classes, he already is a good boy that will lay next to me for hours. He follows me around. He is slightly dog reactive in that he will sit next to me but will stare at the dog passing or the children near by. This eliciting the person wanting to put him. He stays relatively calm. I am interested in training him to assist me and my husband to alert to people calling our name (both of us are deaf). My dog will already go to my husband when I say Bret. I want him to help me with my ADHD. If I start talking to fast or talking over the conversation be The dog would distract me. My husband is diabetic I want the dog to recognize a diabetic moment
Hi Andeesignsable! In general, we want to train a dog for a single person, especially when you have a lot of tasks you want to train. This helps reduce confusion and burn-out for the dog. If your dog has some issues with reactivity, you'll want to address this first before embarking on any service dog training. This video might be helpful in working on reactivity: ua-cam.com/video/M5OANGG342Y/v-deo.html I wish you the best of luck on your training journey!
I found a breeder that breeds very calm and smart dogs she does ENS at 2 weeks old but is wondering if there is anything else that would be helpful for the service dog prospects.
There's so much to look for when searching for the right breeder for service work. I actually cover it extensively in my Service Dog 101 Course, along with a breeder checklist, and a video on how to conduct some simple tests with puppies to evaluate them for work. You can check that out here: courses.doggyu.com/ I also have a quick guide over on my blog that might be helpful: doggyu.com
@DoggyU awesome ty so much I will check that out and let her know if there is anything else she can do to help. I love that she wants to do what is right for the development of the puppies.
so i dont have a dog yet but i am gathering as much information as i can for my first one. I know what breed i know what breeder i want to go with im just looking for how to train them for the tasks i want and how to pick out the right puppy. I am looking to have a F1B Bernedoodle. I would like it to be able to detect and bring me back from disassociations, ptsd/anxiety attacks, and retrieving water from a bag or medications. If you have any advice on how to train them for the disassociation part i would love to learn more.
I don't have a ton of experience training for disassociation, outside of the dog finding the door, or a seat for the handler. Lots of experience with the other tasks. While there are some videos here on UA-cam, you can find a lot of deep dives over on my Patreon including videos on choosing a puppy. However, I advise going with a breeder who puppy tests, has experience with service dogs and either picks for you, or helps you select the dog. I highly recommend my Service Dog 101 course for more information on selecting a breed and breeder, along with service dog etiquette and training timelines along with laws and how to handle challenging situations. You can find that at DOGGYU.com Is there a reason you're going with a mixed breed instead of a full bred poodle? There's many more poodle breeders that conduct extensive health testing and prove their dogs vs mixed breeds. They also have coats that are generally easier to maintain.
@@DoggyU i just didnt want something that every one has but the breeder i am getting a puppy from eventaully has a therapy dog. I considered a red retriever but i couldnt find one near me and my parents think i need a low shedding dog. the four breeds i considered were slowly eliminated. first was a cavapoo i decided that was too small for what i needed. Then i considered a aussiepoo but they have assuie which require way to much exirses. Then i considered the red retriever but there were none in my area. so i considered the bernedoodle. because the breeder im talking to will actually let me come up and assess the puppies. where most of the breeders around me fly the puppies. im looking for a dog thats not common, that is super good with kids, that gets to about 45-60 pounds which the breeder i talked to said their f1b's get about 55 pounds. then i need a dog that is low shed, that can be a couch potato but also go on hikes when i want to. if you have any other breed ideas for me let me know.
@@foxylynn don't get hung up on "what everyone else has". There's a reason certain breeds are used, and it's because they are more successful, easier to train, and happier in the role of service dog. I would recommend a well-bred standard poodle or a well bred bench lab (my favorite pick). Here's a resource that might be helpful: www.doggyu.com/post/2022/05/19/how-to-choose-a-service-dog-breeder/ As a trainer who has trained hundreds of service dogs, my next service dog will be one of the "breeds everyone else has" because my health hinges on the success of my dog, and I want to give myself the best chance possible to have a fully trained service dog that is happy doing the job. Hope that helps!
Speaking of emergency situations, do handlers bring their SD with them if they are hospitalized or do they need to dons someone else to take care of them in this situation?
While your dog can absolutely ride in the ambulance with you and stay with you at the hospital (as long as you're not in a sterile/off-limits portion of the hospital), the staff are not responsible for taking care of your service dog. So if you can't take care of, manage, exercise, take the dog out, etc. you will either need to leave the dog with a guardian, or have them come in to take care of the needs of the dog. Hope that helps!
@@DoggyU would they allow you to leave your room to walk the dog? I’ve usually been confined to my room when admitted but I’m wondering if they’d make an exception
@@free2bkittenforever you would need to do whatever was in the best interest of your health, first and foremost, and that would be at your doctor's discretion.
I need a mobility dog, I am an amputee. I have the opportunity for a mastiff/ Saint Bernard puppy. What are your thoughts. I can't afford outside training
Hi Dixie, If I were unable to afford help from a trainer, I would want to get a dog that is generally easiest to train for service work. That would generally be a well-bred lab from health tested lines with service dogs in the lines. Without knowing the details of your situation, I can only offer a general opinion that a mix of two large breed dogs would not be my first choice, and I would wait to save up for a well-bred labrador. This video might also be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/AZEREOVWh-o/v-deo.htmlsi=yEC6xYEcm5LsyZOa
My SDiT meets like... 90% of the criteria outlined. I'm really and truly hoping that because he's a herding breed (Belgian Malinois) that this is just an extended fear period as can be typical for these kinds of dogs.
Do you have a video or ideas for training dogs to wear PPE (personal protection equipment) for service dogs that accompany their handlers into spaces where PPE is required/needed? I.e. goggles, hearing protection, coat/cover, booties, etc.
Not PPE specifically, but this video on training them to choose to wear a vest or harness has the same concepts you need so it should be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/UY5ch2FY_jU/v-deo.html
@@scemolivvy I haven't made that specific video yet on breed, but here's a video that talks alot about breed and my own decisions about breed: ua-cam.com/video/AZEREOVWh-o/v-deo.html
I want to train my GSD. He’s fantastic in public, he comes to cafes and stores that allow dogs and will just lay at my feet when I stop and ignore everyone. What I need to work on is other dogs, he’s not reactive but pays way too much attention to them. I’m not sure how to overcome this. He’s young, 14 months so I’m hoping he’ll get better.
I personally prefer labs that are purpose-bred and health tested. But I think goldens are a very close second. No other breed has as high a success rate.
While individual members of this breed may have the characteristics necessary to be a service dog, they would not be a breed I would recommend if you're getting a puppy for service work. They are also somewhat brachycephalic, which is not ideal for service work due to concerns in the heat. Check out this resource to learn more about selecting a breed: www.doggyu.com/post/2022/05/19/how-to-choose-a-service-dog-breeder/
Awesome content! Thanks a lot. We are about to embark o the challenge of training a service dog, and I’ve being researching international travel. Looks like some European airlines require proof that an assistance dog (service dog) be trained by an ADI certified trainer. Is it possible to start the training with a dog by ourselves, WITH CGC certifications and PAT test, and then get an ADI trainer to test and validade the dogs training? Anyone here has experience flying in Europe with a self trained service dog?
Hi Ivan! Thanks for posting! While I have not traveled outside of the US with a service dog, I have had clients who have. Typically, ADI organizations require some amount of training with them (ie. 6 months of training with the organization) to be able to do a public access test. ADI does not certify individual trainers (for instance, I can't be certified) but instead, organizations as a whole. I would find an ADI organization in your area and get information now, before you get your prospect, so you know what to expect. Hope that helps!
My dog would pass all of these suggestions EXCEPT for fireworks- do you have any suggestions for helping him get over this? He’s fine with loud noises but not fireworks
My pup is 1 1/2 years old and has SO much energy! She's a lab who fits all of the other criteria you mentioned well. Honestly i startle at loud noises more than the dog does 😂 Is it true that labs start to mellow out once they hit 2 or 3 years old?
I think all dogs mellow out a bit around 2-3, but you can definitely help them be more settled by providing plenty of mental and physical exercise, but also structured settling time. Do you practice tie-down time at home? That can be really helpful in teaching them how to settle (assuming you've already met their mental and physical stimulation needs).
@@hey_virginia yes - different than crate time. I start puppies at 8 weeks settling on a tether near me after exercise to chew a bully stick, or KONG or similar. They start to learn that sometimes it's boring and after I chew my thing, I should just nap. It really is something that needs to be cultivated. I started CoolWhip at 8 weeks with this and now she's solid but she did not have an off-switch pre-installed lol! I'm hoping to do a video, but you can start even later in life. Short tether time next to you at a desk or tethered to the couch, on a mat (after exercise) with a Toppl, lick mat or similar and build duration over time. I like to try to do this twice a day, but at least once a day with young dogs. It teaches them how to settle at home so you can then start using that skill out in public. Hope that helps!
@@DoggyU so helpful, thank you! My pup is very food-motivated (another good sign from your video) so I have confidence she'll learn how to do tether time. You're a gem!! 💎
I don't need a service dog but was curious to see how well mine would be suited to it. As I suspected, he'd ace almost everything, *except* being willing to lie or sit around doing nothing for most of the time. Nope. He's moderate to low energy but gets bored easily so when we're out on a walk, if I run into people and talk for too long, and (horrors!) they stop paying attention to him, he lets me know in no uncertain terms it's time to keep walking. I could probably train him out of that, but he goes about it in such a cute way, I don't mind.
@@Catbooks yeah she's an Australian Koolie and I like the CoolWhip Family Guy skit so that's where it came from :) - the other one was a rescue so I just kept his name - Jake
I suffer from PTSD and I've been officially disabled for a couple of months now and have been wanting to adopt a dog. Unfortunately my income is limited so I can't adopt senior dogs since the health insurance would be prohibitive for me to pay and I don't want to adopt a dog not to provide him the best care possible. So my main goal is to adopt a dog that I'm a right fit to and if he can be trained to help me, great! If not, that ok too!
I highly recommend you foster to adopt if possible. That will give you the best chance of understanding if the dog would be suitable for public access work. Worst case scenario, they aren't, and you've been a helpful foster along their journey to their next home. Fostering can be a great way to vet a dog for what you're looking for!
Deciding if training will take "too long" is a personal decision. If you're okay with putting a lot of time and effort into training, knowing that your dog will have a shorter working life, that's totally fine! And if your dog, say, already has a lot of solid obedience behaviors and is excellent in public, it may only take 6 months of training to get where you need to be for service dog work. Every situation is different. All else equal, it's better to start a 1 year old than a 4 year old, just because of overall longevity, but if you've got a 4 year old that's great for the role, that works too!
Surprise surprise, my boy yellow lab meets the self evaluation. I’ve never met a dog like him who couldn’t care less about other dogs walking up to him lol. He doesn’t care about traffic, car horns, sirens, or the local military base firing range 😂😂
When I get a rescue dog again someday I want to be able to turn that rescue dog into a service dog if that's possible because in my opinion the best service dog is a rescue dog because you saved their life and they're helping you with your life that's the way I look at it❤ can you please let me know what you think?
Hi Mandy, I don't generally recommend rescue dogs as my first choice, and I've actually been getting this question a lot lately so I'll be putting out a video on this in the next two weeks. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe and click the bell button to be notified when it comes out!
The reason why I asked if a rescue dog would make a good service dog is because my younger brother and I got a black Labrador retriever pitbull mix named Maggie from the Oregon humane society back on June 22nd 2013 she was 9 years old until August 20th 2018 when she passed away from cancer she was 14 years old and then my younger brother Patrick he passed away from a heart attack in his sleep from a alcohol overdose on August 2nd 2020 he was just 28 years old when he passed away 😢💔 ever since they're passing my depression and anxiety has gotten a lot worse and I really feel like a service dog would help me not only with my depression and anxiety but helping me with a lot of stuff that I need help with such as opening doors closing doors picking stuff up that I drop but I can't have a service dog because the Icare facility I live in doesn't allow any dogs at all which is really! Upsetting to me but I respect it
My dog is a cardiac alert dog. She does great. I must admit she’s been a little nervous or scared in grocery stores. Probably because she wasn’t training in them as a puppy. She will be two next week. I’m still taking her and she seems to be getting some better. Do you think it’s possible for her to totally feel confident in a grocery store? And how long before I know I’ll have to wash her if not. She’s a golden retriever by the way.
Hey Moonchaser - if it were me I'd be trying to figure out what specifically about the grocery store is making her nervous, and then working towards helping her feel confidence with those particular things. So for instance, is she okay in Target? Is she okay in Starbucks? Other places with large open isles? Other places with carts? Other places with food? Do you behave differently in grocery stores because it's a trigger for you? What specifically do you think is triggering her behavior. And then once you've pinpointed that you want to take baby steps towards building her confidence around those things. You could start by just hanging out outside the grocery store and chewing on a bully stick, and then leaving. Then hanging out just inside the grocery store for a minute or two, lots of treats and leaving for instance. Or if it's carts, can you have her do the engage disengage game while looking at a cart, then while someone is pushing a cart, working up to you pushing the cart, etc. That being said, it may be good to get an in-person SD trainer to get a second pair of eyes on the situation.
@@DoggyU you really may be onto something. I had a severe cardiac episode in a grocery store before I got her. It was frightening. Perhaps she smells my adrenaline change. She does fine in everything else. Restaurants, coffee shops, thrift stores, malls etc. it just all grocery stores! I’ve looked for a SD trainer to help. But where we’ve moved there is absolutely nobody.
And she also seems better with the cart than without. It’s almost seems like a shield for her. She will still do commands and take treats when told. But her head is awfully busy looking all around instead of at me.
@@moonchaserstudio that's what I was wondering about :) Often they can pick up on our changes in relation to a certain trigger. I would halt your current trips to the grocery store with her and spend some time hanging out outside of the store, even playing tug not vested, etc. I would also consider, if you have a trusted friend or family member, or friend with an SD doing some partnered trips. Often we tend to relax when we have additional supportive humans with us, or our SDs can relax when they have a buddy. Doing some targeted training and progressing at your dog's pace could be the key to helping her (and you) feel more confident in these situations.
Excellent Video Laura, Ticked All the pertinent boxes. Nice Job 👍 Cheers Bruce Stone and Dr Alena Bykova DVM Interdyne International K-9 Medical Service Dogs of ALL Types Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn's Local Business of the Year for 2022 and 2023
Ì first had à JŔT and he guided me like a champion. Way back then he was an at home service dog only, he was as hard working as my days were long, I ended up needing a larger dog in the end, working around a wheelchair was too hazardous for him, I couldn't consider working him anymore. My next dog was a pure kelpie who was soon to retire from farm work. Kaos was a wonderful dog, but he wasn't talĺ enough for when my hips stopped responding to me, he was great for me though, he taught me to have patience and understanding when training. Horse was the best! I got him at 18months old, his family got him as a border collie cross, one look told me that wasn't his breed. His height size and ŵeight were brilliant for me. The RSPCA ķèpt being called on us for 10 years because
...the people across the road used it to distract from her (and her 15 kids, the mother had custody of maybe 3 or 4, but the dads were not interested in becoming fathers so the kids stayed with their mother and created havoc in the neighbourhood.) Horse was my lifesaver during that crap, he did social anxiety work before it was recognised as such, he carried my keys because it's impractical for me, he helped me stand and turn for public toilets, and ĥe helped me organise my life. It's been too long, I need another dog in my life.😊
Hi Leon! Fear can be a product of genetics and lack of exposure. Unfortunately, fearful dogs do not make good service dog candidates, but you can still help your dog by building their confidence. I have a lot of confidence building exercises at Patreon.com/Doggyu can you can join for as little as $3/month. Positive reinforcement training and giving them small challenges they can be successful at can be really helpful. Good luck with your pup! Remember that they're never giving you a hard time, they're having a hard time. That mindset will help you when your dog's fearfulness becomes frustrating
GSDs can be prone to reactivity. It's something you'll want to get started on working on now. I have a video on the engage-disengage game that should be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/M5OANGG342Y/v-deo.html I would also get a positive reinforcement-based trainer on board asap to help teach your pup to feel comfortable and confident observing other dogs. Happy training!
Like I said in the video, just because they aren't service dog (public access) material doesn't mean they aren't awesome pets. They can also always help out at home. My rescue dog is well-trained but not a good fit for service dog work. That's okay - he's amazing and I love him! I'm sure you love your pups too!
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I recently acquired a golden doodle. Before I got her, I just wanted a dog to keep me company at home. Once I brought her home, I discovered that she was very easy to train and doesn’t bark. So I started taking her everywhere with me. She doesn’t pull on her leash when walking. She doesn’t bark or lunge at people or other animals. I’ve been teaching her to sit every time I stop. She’s been doing very well. When she does something that I didn’t train her for ( such as coming to me and putting her head on my lap when my anxiety starts to rise, I pet her and give her lots of praise. I have been taking her to many different types of establishments. Because there is always something new for her to encounter. Yesterday, while at a thrift store, we had to walk through a very narrow section with breakable items on both sides. She walked right behind me and was very careful not to knock anything over. When I go out to eat, she lays on the floor under the table. She usually takes a little nap. But if someone approaches from behind, she will lift her head until they pass. If I am sitting outside with a wall behind me, she will lay in front of me. I’ve also been playing sounds that most dogs are afraid of in order to get her accustomed to them. I also make sure she has gone to the bathroom before I take her into a public place. I have gotten tons of compliments on how well behaved she is. Right now she wears a regular harness and leash when we go out. I’ve only had a few people ask if she’s a service dog. I just say yes. Of course I come across people that want to pet her. But she ignores them. She also ignores other dogs that come up to her. I have no idea what training she had before I got her. She is only a year old. She was definitely born to be a Psychiatric Service Dog.
That awesome I’m getting a rescue dog soon and am planing to train it myself for ptsd your so lucky you got that dog it’s hard to find a perfect dog like that.
I sort of fell into AD work with my dog. After years around herders and retrievers, I got my first Terrier.
He's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and he was a rescue just about to enter his teenage stage (2yrs old). I had to really get on top of his obedience and drive just to make him tolerable. I started to notice he was really tuned into my emotions and stress levels (I'm AuDHD) and became more intentional with my training. I thought I would struggle with public access but the bond we had built over the years combined with his terrier genes meant he adapted to situations very easily.
My timeline was, rescued at 2, well behaved pet at 3, home tasked dog at 5, public access trained at 7, fully working by 8. He turned ten in May 2024 and is still super excited to get into his harness for work and gets a health check every 6 months
Thank you so much for these videos. I'm actually looking into local shelters, humane societies, and rescues for a dog. You've taught me a lot, and I've realized I want to focus on dog by temperment. I'm looking into mixed breeds, pitties, staffanshires, bullies, and german sheapherds. I've done tons of research on them (and owned pitties). I've got my eye on a few dogs I'm going to meet soon, to judge them in person!
My first S.D. was a springer and he just fell in love with the work. I just drove up to South Dakota to pick up a new springer. The breeder has been breeding for service dogs. The little guy I just picked up is super smart and work driven. My trainer is super excited to help me start him. Your channel has been so much help to improve my training to help my dog.
Hey Tyler! I'm so glad you've found the channel helpful! Springers can be such lovely dogs. Good luck on your training journey!
A video idea for you - how to prepare for training to pull or steady/stabilize.
I've been researching service dogs, training, the ins and outs for a couple years and hadn't planned to get an SD yet but had this young dog fall into my lap who is proving, so far, to been an amazing prospect for SD work. She was 7 months when I got her and is 8 months now.
I'm so thankful for you and all of the amazing content you have shared with the world.
I am using your videos to train my pet! She is a 6 month old Malinois/Lab mix and hasn't done a lot of public access work, so I don't plan on having her do public access. I would like to train her to help with my needs around ADHD and Autism. I'm confident that she can help me so much at home, and I appreciate the information that you share on your channel!
Thanks so much Hera! Welcome to the channel
I have a 5 and half month old pedigree malinois how did you get the nipping tendency to stop? Thanks!
I have a standard poodle who is my service dog and she's been training since she was 3 months old and she turns 2 tomorrow she just got her CGC and has a trick dog title
She is for stability and my sleep apnea
I have trained her myself since she was 3 months and does her job wonderfully
She is very calm and very sweet ❤
She is also fully tested and clear
I hope to one day breed her and train her puppies to do service dog work!
She also used to show in AKC confirmation
Sounds like a lovely dog!
@@DoggyU she is lovely and I appreciate you making this video it helped not only me but some of my friends and family and others I'm sure
My texas collie passed away in April and she was a natural alerted and didn't need any specialized training. We asked she preformed. She was 9 when she passed away. I'm picking up a 5 year old dog I connected to instantly and know she's meant to be my dog. She's a German Shepard with natural alerting to silent seizures. She does so for her current owner without having been trained. I'm hoping by training her she can give me the understanding for both of us for learning another service dog after her in a few years.
My service dog from a program still has two months of training to go until he can finally stay with me but I visit him as often as I can. He's a sensitive dog and is sometimes frightened by something but never reacts aggressively. Depending on the situation I (his trainers as well) use it as a training opportunity to show him it isn't that scary or just move a bit further away and take him with me. I honestly don't mind it that much because his sensitivity is a big plus for his service dog work and he recovers quickly after we've moved away or he isn't scared the next time in case we did some training around the object. He's also mirroring me very well which means when he gets spooked more and more about things that normally don't bother him at all it's kind of a pre alert for me.
I have a burnedoodle who is a mix talked about in this video. It was by stroke of luck that I was able to get her without costing me an arm, leg and kidney due to her being a certain breed of dog. I'm highly allergic to dogs and cats even though I grew up with them my whole like so being able to get a dog that I could spend time around, cuddle and play with without triggering my asthma was a blessing. She's normally very calm, but when she can tell that a person stresses me or when another dog barks in my direction that she isn't familiar with; she will bark and be a bit defensive. She is a tad nervous around people, but it normally very calm. For example, she'll be nervous at the vet, and sit by me, but she will let the vet check her. I have fibromyalgia and was hoping to get her trained to be my service dog, as well as ESA. She's very responsive when I need help; is able to tell when I have a flare up and will comfort me when I have an anxiety attack or start crying. However, she does get stressed; like she's still getting used to riding around in a car, but will eventually settle in. I'm really nervous because I'm going to another state for university next fall and want to bring her with me for support, however she doesn't handle being away from me well at all; she'll bark, whimper and panic. She'll even whimper when she's just on the other side of a door away from me. I worry about brining her and having to keep her in a kennel, alone for while I'm at school. But on the other hand, I know that ESA wise that she'll be able to help support me. I've been so torn over the matter. I could really use some feedback as to your thoughts. Thank you
Thank you for this video! We adopted a black lab puppy as a service dog prospect for my dysautonomia and so far he's doing very well! I'm hoping to train counterbalancing, DPT, retrieval tasks, and hopefully cardiac alert.
I'm so glad this video was helpful! I actually have a video on both DPT and retrieval.
DPT: ua-cam.com/video/P4F_v8dww0g/v-deo.html
For retrieval, I have this video on medication retrieve: ua-cam.com/video/_vcvu4ZQGMs/v-deo.html
And this one for item discrimination: ua-cam.com/video/z2OXnRy7MwY/v-deo.html
I also have a totally free 45 minute session on training the hold if you sign up for the "free" patreon level. It's part of a larger 3 part series, but the first part is free and should get you started :)
patreon.com/doggyu
Happy Training!
My dog is super reactive but somehow manages to pull it together when she knows its time to work. She figures this out by the kind of vest i put on her. Her work vest vs her play vest.
You should see about getting your dog a thunder vest/jacket. Sounds like deep pressure is helping with some anxiety.
They know. Unfortunately mine passed away last week.But he knew when he got the vest on it was work. Matter of fact a waitress told us he was the best service dog she has ever seen. I miss my buddy!
You give me hope ❤
Thank you for the video! I think I have to show this to a dog training client I'm working with!
My puppy is still young, just over 6 weeks old. I am the co breeder. I co- own and show his mother. He will be shown and do other sports too. I have Pyrenean Shepherds. He is bonded with me already. I am glad you spoke about health testing. His Mom picked up on touching my left leg with her nose when I am off balance. She keeps me moving forward and I stand up straighter after she taps me. I want to teach DPT, alert to my low electrolytes and high heart rate. I have POTS. Retrieve my meds or other items I need. I also have hEDS.
I just rescued a dog from a life or death situation. She's now just about to full health and showing her personality. Professionally, I am a teacher at an alternative school. We have a therapy dog program with three teachers having adopted puppies and trained them to be therapy dogs. My dog, Biscuit is 5 years old. Not a little puppy. Im wondering if she's too old to be trained to be a therapy dog. I feel like with her experience my students will really bond with her.
My dog is a not quite 10 month Boxer/Great Pyrenees. Fortunately his energy level is more like a Pyr. I want him to be a mobility service dog. And I might need him to help me with clusters of blackouts.
So far it looks like his size will be about perfect. And he loves working and training with me.
Unfortunately my own mobility was bad enough that I missed chunks of his puppyhood where he should have been exposed more to being in public with me. So he is fairly reactive when there is a lot of new stuff going on around us.
And I gave him too much freedom when training him to walk on a leash. I thought I would want him to pull just a little to help me with my balance. But that backfired and now I am in a near constant battle to get him not to pull.
I do have a dual purpose for him, too. I have almost no natural understanding of a person's intensions as far as whether or not they are a danger to me. I want a dog who will have a far better judgement of that than I do. And far better than a Lab or Golden would. And I want him to look fairly formidable, which he does. I like that he is extremely aware of our surroundings. I like that he naturally stands in a guarding pose. And I like that he growls if he doesn't trust someone.
I hope this isn't an impossible combination of roles for him to successfully fill. And I hope I haven't ruined him.
We needed a dog and brought the perfect puppy into our home. We really just wanted to grow our family. As we‘ve watched how well she naturally handles so many situations, we’re increasingly looking at how we can get her from here to being an allergen alert service dog for me. If we don’t make it all the way, then at least she’s even better behaved in public and easier to travel with. Right now, our focus is more on good behavior but we’d like to start working on allergen testing. She’s a Bichpoo (miniature poodle and bichon frise), 7 months old, not afraid of almost anything, and loves everyone. We’re working through the teenager months. Her selective listening has somewhat increased, but she’ll still do anything for a good treat. My questions: how to get started on scent training for allergens? I’d like to practice with a safer scent first. How to keep her from eating that item? How do I help her know when she’s working/has to show off her good manners and when she’s allowed to just be a dog?? Essentially, when I handle her in public, she’d be working. If I hand her off to my other half, she’s still need to be professional if wearing her harness but might be off duty. So then what?
I owned a Border Collie cross for over 15 years. The amount of energy and edurance they have till 2-3 is awesome. Fortunately I have a huge yard with a 5 ft chain link fence for them to run and play in, so I just have to do the snuggle and walk politely on a leash. The 2 things I was most impressed with were his incredible sense of smell and he never once barked when in the house, outside when a garbage truck went by oh yes. When I became more disabled and retired at 67 he was able to become a couch potato in 3 days. They tend to be nice to everyone but are basically a one person breed. I am 5 ft tall and do not want a 70-90 lb dog, So I was recently able to get a mini bordoole Border Collie/ Poodle. The Poodle to have a smaller dog and one that does not shed as much. The breeder checked the parents genetics and gave him the test at 7 or 8 days that checks how anxious or startled the puppy was. I am working with a professional service dog trainer to guide me through the basics of obedience. I have had dogs for 50 yrs so know a lot already. When he is a year old he may be mature enough for serious mobility training. I then hope to move my camper close to one of the few schools that does MCAS training on a dog they did not raise. He will then hopefully pass the scent training in 1-3 months so he can give me early warning of an impending attack, like a seizure dog do, I travel a lot and a sudden attack when I am driving could be fatal. So I am working for the best. I already have a very nice dog for a pet.
I will be adopting a dog this coming weekend, and I think he will be a good fit for a service dog. He is two years old, and I won't necessarily need him to do a whole lot when I am out and about in public. That would be more for my anxiety, but atop things or need something I can't get to, it home, when I dr will be so much help. I'm in a power wheelchair so getting around is tough.
You've given me confidence I cannot thank you enough 🙏
💜💜💜
Really great in-depth information. So much to think about. Thanks Laura❤
Very helpful!! ❤
I'm so glad!
Thanks Laura!
☺️
Hi Laura,
As Ive told you before I live with Chronic Illnesses and am in Severe pain. I Suffer from ComplexPTSD and I still have Meltdowns at 64 years old. I totally understand where you're coming from. As for me I look at whats most important to mitigate my emotional and Physical Problems.
When I cry or get very upset he will immediately get on top of me and ground me. When I am sitting he will come up and put his paws on my legs/thighs.
To Me that is invaluable.
He also will pick up anything I drop and put it in my hand. Now the BAD part or the HARD PARTS. He knows obedience however he is highly stubborn and will break a totally known command. His public access needs to be better.
Here is where we differ. His parts that need work I am willing to help him till he gets it. That's hard, very hard on me. HOWEVER his personality and puppy like antics give me a JOY that makes my life worth living. That may sound very odd, but when I am as sick as I am having him running by my Mobility Scooter is to me an emotional task that keeps me Alive. I am between a rock and a Hard place. I hope you will let me know if this makes sense to you. Thanks Laura.♥️🐾♥️🐾♥️🐾
Hi Kavita!
It sounds like he may still be young. Having a goofy personality can be a joy to work with. However, we don't want to think of dogs as stubborn. When a dog isn't able to execute a behavior consistently, it is typically because we've overfaced their current skill set and need to take a step back and work on building fluency for the behavior. It sounds like your pup is doing a lot of wonderful things to help your disability!
@@DoggyU Hi Laura, I understand what you mean by saying take it back to where he is consistently able to do the task properly and then build from there. It's a sign I've asked for too much.
An example of why I called him stubborn is he knows Sit. Yet sometimes I will say sit, and he looks at me and just won't sit. Same with other well known behaviors.
The truth is I can't give the time to train him correctly and he most likely is Not a good candidate to be a Real good Service Dog. He's already 2 years and a few months old. Thanks for getting back to me😢
@@kavitadeva I'm sorry that he's not a good candidate. That definitely happens more times than not
@@DoggyU hey Laura, What I meant is in the World of Service Dogs he would probably be a pass. HOWEVER he learns so quick. And when it is Presented step by step I can tweak my Training. For instance Robert Cabrall just gave a stop pulling on the leash Video. I changed a couple of things and Finn caught on so quick. Big Changes Already. I also watched some public access
Work, I believe it was from you, I was allowing him to do certain things that were Not ok. He has already changed for the better. I will continue to train him till he becomes a wonderful Service Dog. I just need to find the right easy approach to a few tasks. Thank you Laura. I appreciate you getting back to me!!
The pup I picked for allergy alert I got at 8 weeks old is a mini cattle pomchi. We brought him home to find he is socially aggressive. I had to wash him of the SD work
That's because little dogs aren't good for service work. It's very rare to see small dogs as successful service dogs. They are tiny and they have small dog syndrome.
I am hoping to train for anxiety symptoms. The main one being nail biting
Thank you for your videos. My 4 lb 9 month old maltipoo has been servicing me by being with me so I can get out. It is important that I have him on me in a sling to feel safe and keeps my heart rate low. I know he doesn’t qualify yet but how can I get him to pass the rest of the requirements. Having him on my lap he is so calm and attentive. He doesn’t bark much which I love. He is very still in restaurants too. Never begs for food. I had to take him on a plane he was amazing. So smart. I know he needs to get more training. He does love other dogs more than people. We live in nyc he is accustom to sirens and cars. Very cool
I’ll have to join your community
Hi JnT! So even for little dogs, you would want to train all the requirements mentioned in this video here: ua-cam.com/video/3T8Ej_UEK0Y/v-deo.html
You can use these tests as a road map to help you plan out your training journey. This will give you versatility to be able to carry or walk your dog as needed, meeting generally accepted service dog behavior standards. Because you have a smaller pup, make sure to use tools to help with food delivery and training such as a target stick to teach them to move into different positions, as well as peanut butter on a wooden spoon (or similar) to reinforce. This will save your back! Happy Training!
@@DoggyU thank you for your thoughtful response and encouragement. I don’t see training for little dogs but I assure you I would not function well without him. He is perfect for my disability. Life triggers me and having him close in a sling or on my arm keeps me present at crucial moments I don’t know how come he knows the right thing to do but he does. He’s so portable and compliant. Wish I could show you photos. There are training issues I am struggling with because he is not Food motivated Hoping over time with maturity and practice he will get better. He is getting neutered tomorrow. Do you think this makes a difference? Do you have a video on that? Curious. Thanks again.
@@JnTmarie glad your little dog is functioning for you the way you need him too. Ideally, all dogs, regardless of size, should receive basic training. I work with rat terriers, and they are anywhere from 3 pounds to 20 pounds, and I trained them and have the same basic expectations as I do my large German shepherd guide dog. All my dogs little or big know how to sit, walk on a leash, come when called, and do very specific target exercises just for fun. Using things like a target stick as Laura suggested is definitely a game changer.
I went with a rescued border collie/golden mix( I will never do BC again!) while shes a total couch potato( me too girl, me too!) she came with an insane noise sensitivity to fans and idling engines( no problems with loud noises) due to her time in animal control and their large industrial fan. It took me YEARS to get her thru it but shes good with them 99.9%of the time now and for that 0.01% of the time, stopping her and giving her a moment to collect herself does the trick. Shes phenomenal at guide work! My next dog(#2) will be a lab though. But shes great for my lifestyle as an elementary level teacher, she LOVES kids and chaos!
Love your comment about being a couch potato 😂
And it sounds like you figured out what works best for her! And getting a dog that loves kids can can handle elementary school is worth their weight in gold! Sounds like a lovely pup!
My dog Murphy is a great fit to be a service dog, about three years ago. I started training him to be a guide dog. I am owner training. About the only task I do not have down with him is the leave it that one he can’t quite get the hangover.
Sounds like a lovely dog! I have a video over on Patreon that goes through how I train a food drop leave it like the one that is typically on a public access test. You can find it here: www.patreon.com/posts/leave-it-and-for-72110249
I have a standard poodle he is almost four years old I have been training Smokey sense he was a puppy he is a great service dog I have still some work to do
I trained my dog to do 3 tasks for me. He's only about 20lbs he can pull my up from my chair and when I say hold he puts his legs out for support and can keep me from losing my balance. He's trained for my psychiatry needs
My Belgian Malinois was not a public access fit, but she was great at home. I hope your advice (and a local SD trainer) will get the next one on the right track. I do think I chose the wrong breed, as Belgians tend to take on the personality of the owner, and I'm anxious. I have decided on a more chill, detached breed.
I'm so sorry it didn't work out for public access but glad your Mal was a great at-home service dog! Unfortunately, as you experiences, some herding dogs do not excel at psych work due to their tendency to be influenced by their guardians feelings about a situation. I really love labs for psych work. There's a reason they are the most frequent breed used for service dog work - because their success rates are high, because their temperament is generally well-suited.
My daughters dog is 6months old calm able to go in public good in car and follows commands from my daughter she is able to rest in public and do nothing but when my daughter sits down on the ground she goes over to her and sits next to her. We are about to start her in basic obedience training we are collecting scents for blood pressure and blood sugar but its taking time to get the samples. We have only recently collected samples and have positive for low blood sugar, high blood sugar and high and low blood pressure. So im not sure how exactly to go about scent training im new to scent training and service dog information.
I don't specialize in scent training, but I'd check out MD Dogs resources.
The problem with us finding a trainer is that we can't find one that doesn't automatically want to shock collar out Malinois.
The past 2 years we have worked with our Mali on positive reinforcement training and she has done very well.
She is good at going to most places, we haven't taken her to eat IN a restaurant but have done patio seating and she is good with that.
The hardest thing to train her for is the task we need her to learn. Seizure alert. To train the task, her person needs to be in a situation where a seizure could happen. So far, she has picked up on symptoms, and I encourage her to alert but I also need to help her person so we can prevent/ mitigate the seizure. So, while I want to help her learn to task, I need to focus more so on her person.
She is coming along, but it's been a slow process.
Hey Taby! Finding a positive reinforcement SD trainer can definitely be a challenge. You may need to use an online trainer. Have you checked ADIs website or Atlas Assistance Dogs to see if there's one in your area?
What do you think of standard poodles for service work. I have a prospect (fully health tested and SD lines and testing is done) coming in January.
A lot of people really like them for service work :) They aren't my personal choice because I don't love the grooming maintenance, but if you don't mind that, there's many wonderful poodles out there doing service work!
Thanks for your great videos, I have a severe traumatic brain injury and after the first five years someone suggested a therapy dog/assistance dog for myself and then I got the run about from someone selling trained therapy dogs!
So after that waste of time and headaches and with the help of my late Mother I ended up with a springer spaniel, poodle, cross puppy!
Now 10 months old and I feel like I’m going crazy most of the time, since getting my puppy we learned that there is a full network of assistance dog training in New Zealand having a puppy. It’s too late. I’m lucky to have found a personal dog trainer who is willing to help me.
Sadly my puppy is not able to become a qualified assistance. Dog sadly limits my ability to go to places with him.
But that’s life.
I'm sorry you had that experience with your first puppy. I hope you can eventually find a suitable candidate for your needs
@@DoggyU thank you for replying, my Mother chose the breed of Spoodle for there energy and ability, she’s old enough to walk with me from 10 to 20 kilometre day hikes (I’m an ex long distance cyclist) so walking is my future goal and the biggest disappointment is not having him recognised as my helper
These things to look for and to look out for are spot on!👍 My first SDiT ended up having a few of the issues you mention to be avoided, and even through doing a great deal of training, it was obvious that her natural baseline temperament didn't suite the stress or needs of public access. We ended up "retiring" her from public access, and she now simply happily tasks for me at home and it is a much better fit for her. In contrast, my current SD is AMAZING, checks all the boxes of good qualities which has made him exponentially easier to train even amid my chronic illness flare days/weeks. These traits to look for REALLY do make a difference! They 100% matter!!! For those choosing a dog to possibly be a service dog: I know all too well how hard it can be to admit our beloved dog or cute prospect is not a good fit, but it is really is what is BEST for the dog, for you and for the public to NOT put your dog in public access situations if they are not a good fit. You really do want to choose a dog whose temperament meets the criteria mentioned and who enjoys working in these super stressful, people filled, and unpredictable public environments with you. Great content!
Thanks Tiffany for posting this! When you have a dog that's not the right fit, it feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It's so much easier with the dog has the right temperament and propensity for the work!
@@DoggyU They are the same exact breed mix with the exact same percentage of each breed....just very different temperaments. We learned the hard way that temperament trumps all. With our first one, we saw some of the "red flags" right away, and "glazed" over them hoping we could "train through them"(we were newbies at the time to the Service Dog level of dog training.) Had we known then what we know now, we would have selected a different pup right away. One gift she gave me though is that because of her issues we went into a much more extensive deep dive into studying training, behavior, temperament, etc. For that I am grateful! We then went on our hunt for the second one with VERY specific temperament traits that we spelled out and if the pups presented didn't match even one trait or had one red flag, we passed until we found the right fit. We passed up a decent amount of "close" (and adorable) candidates, because we knew all too well from our first SDiT what challenges those elements could create long term and that they increased the chance of them not making it as a Service Dog. Our fella's temperament is amazing and has 1000% been worth any wait. He has trained exponentially faster, easier and training him has been a vastly more pleasant, peaceful, and joyful experience. 😊
@@tiffanybeck1803 Glad you stayed true to your goals and found what you were looking for!
You said a car sick dog not a good candidate for SD work not always correct my dog was car sick when I first started training her I took her out daily in the car around the neighborhood started very short trip working up to a hour in the car n got her over being car sick
I want to train for grounding, DPT, and maybe an alert for anxiety attacks.
You asked for ideas for a video, and this is what I am needing... My husband and I have talked about getting me a service dog. I feel like there's probably a lot of things that should happen before you physically have the dog in your house but I'm not sure where to start. Is there a checklist somewhere of not only the things we should have physically in the house but also videos to watch, a timeline of how to start training them and when etc. I don't want to have a new puppy jumping around my feet while I'm trying to research " now what do I do?" I'd like to have all my ducks in a row in a certain amount of knowledge under my belt before the dog comes into my house.
Hi Mary Beth!
I love that you're going into this by educating yourself first, and then jumping in! That's the best way to go about it, and ultimately, will help you be successful!
I actually did a video on what to do before you get a service dog prospect. You can find that video here: ua-cam.com/video/7MT3OtpYj3o/v-deo.html
I also have a list of recommended reading that is about general dog training that you can find at my Amazon shop under "Recommended Reading" that you might find helpful: amazon.com/shop/doggyu
Finally, I'm working on organizing all my public videos by category (second tab). Specifically check out the one on "Puppy Essentials". Here's a link to that spreadsheet that you will likely find helpful: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KIIkljhR7__R7R89-N4FsgQgcoa8HRVqge5QiXG5QqQ/edit?usp=sharing
This spreadsheet also has all of my Patreon videos in the first tab organized by topic, category etc. If you're interested in joining that DOGGY•U Community, you can join for as little as $3 and check out what I offer at Patreon.com/DOGGYU
The Community has tons of livestreams where people just like you ask questions every month, as well as exclusive videos and PDFs like "Puppy daily schedule". It's a great group of people.
Hope that gives you a bunch of resources to check out!
Again, kudos to you for starting before you jump in! I wish more people took your approach
I really needed this right now. This helped me feel much more confident about my puppy. My puppy loves looking at dogs (which is normal but still scary for me!) And he has had a couple of fear periods but I think he meets almost all of these criteria!
Do you think a dog who runs away from only a couple of things and recovers with some training is a concern? They seemed like "fear period" things
An example was a construction sign. He doesnt run away from really anything anymore now luckily!
If he's young, and these things pop up and then go away, it's likely a fear period. There were a couple weeks during CoolWhip's adolescence that I stopped all training and only hiked in the woods with her because she was going through some fear-period related things. If you notice they're struggling, it's not a bad idea to give it a break for a week or two and just go out into the woods together, or play in the yard or house.
My dog Leka fits everything you listed. She’s a 2yr old golden retriever and we noticed from an early age that she was responding to my anxiety as well as the few times I’ve passed out. She also naturally shifts her weight when we’re out walking to help with my balance. I’m hoping she’ll be able to help with both the balance/falling as well as PTSD/Anxiety. Is it possible for a dog to handle both tasks?
As in all things - depends on the individual dog. But there are plenty of multi-purpose service dogs out there that can handle multiple tasks/disabilities.
My current sdit is a 10 month old Rottweiler and I was actually kind of worried since before when I first got him he wasn’t very high energy but now I think that’s kind of a good thing since I work from home mostly. He’s very docile and friendly towards people, kids, and other dogs, he just has an issue of wanting to chase after a dog he sees running bc since he’s still a puppy and he’s used to chasing his sister around that it’s playtime, but i took him to the vet and there were tons of dogs jerking and sniffing him and he seemed pretty content with his spot on the floor so I think with training he should be able to stop doing that when it’s work time.
Honestly I would like to know some different methods for scent training since he’s training to be a medical alert dog, and there’s no trainers in my area since I live in a country that has zero knowledge of service dogs, which is also making public training super hard for us bc most people are scared of him bc of his size and all areas aside from the vet that allow pets are very little or super fluffy dog biased
Hi Skeletal - I would look into Debby Kay's Super-Sniffer program or another online, scent-based program that specializes in scent-based service dog training. There are so many online options now, you should be able to get the knowledge you're looking for! Happy Training!
wondering if you ever went to college and if you did what did you major in? I am thinking about doing this but might also want to go to college. I was thinking animal science would be a good major.
I did! I have a BS in Management and Entreprenuership, and then a Master of Public Administration. Then I went for a 3 year apprenticeship as a guide dog mobility instructor. Animal Science would be a good option!
Would it be to late to start trying to train my 8 month old golden he has basic commands but I want to start pressure therapy and getting him desensitized to reacting in public because he does get a little excited I’m just kinda asking if I should start earlier with hm
If your dog has the temperament that is appropriate for service dog work, it's not too late to get started! I would start with a professional evaluation by a service dog specialist and go from there!
My cat does at-home service tasks! But cats would be terrible at public access lol
Have you training a dog for the deaf? My son is 2 about to be 3.He deaf in both ears.
What are best recourses for Service dogs that help people with High Functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome?
Hi NinjaSuda! Thanks for reaching out! As far as resources go, I would reach out to an ADI certified organization that specializes in service dogs for ASD. You can check the ADI website at assistancedogsinternational.org/
Hope that helps! Happy Training!
I’m looking to get a pittie mix. I’m going to train him to be an anxiety and ptsd service dog. Can you do a video on anxiety, ptsd and hair pulling please?
Good news! I'm actually making an entire course on training behavior interruptions and alerts. There's much more to them than can go in a youtube video. Stay tuned for a discounted presale in February. You can stay up-to-date by signing up for my newsletter at DOGGYU.com. :)
Hi there, I am planning to be coming a professional dog behavior trainer and certified service dog trainer.
I am not sure where to start from. I was planning to go catch academy but I heard it is wasting money. Do you have any suggestions ? Could you please give me some advice on how to start?
Thank you so much!
By the way I love your channel ❤
So glad you’re enjoying the channel! Have you seen my videos on becoming a service dog trainer? Those would be helpful but generally I would look into Karen Pryor Academy or Jean Donaldson’s Academy and also apprenticeship opportunities. It’s important to get the academic and hands on experience.
@@DoggyU thank you so much for advice. I will watch one more time and research about those academies. I am also looking for mentors near Seattle or and possibly online.
Thanks again! 😊
If you're in Seattle, check out Atlas Assistance Dogs! They have a couple programs that might fit your education goals as well as the ability to learn and give back to other service dog handlers! They are located in seattle :) @@sapphire_pear4979
@@DoggyU ong !!! Thank you so much. I am actually going my first service puppy in few months and I am excited my new journey to learn and experiences. I really appreciate you ! ❤️❤️❤️
@@sapphire_pear4979 so glad this was helpful! And if you haven't already joined Patreon, you can join for as little as $3 and there's over 150 Patreon-exclusive videos over there, plus a wonderful community of service dog trainers. You can find it at Patreon.com/doggyu. Also be sure to check out my new, totally free, online "Trainer's Toolbox" course here: laura-demaio-roy-s-school.teachable.com/
at home service dog are given the same housing rights as service dogs who work in public right?
That's a great question. I haven't run into this, and to get an accurate answer I would contact FHA administrators. But if it were me, I would get an ESA letter for my at-home service dog to cover all my bases.
@@DoggyU well, she’s not my emotional support animal, I mean she is she’s a great support emotionally but I don’t have any psychiatric conditions that would qualify me for one so I wouldn’t need an ESA letter. But she does service tasks for me at home like picking up dropped objects, bringing me specific items such as the phone and water, letting me know when people approach the house etc. etc. What does The acronym stand for that you mentioned I should double check with?
@@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084 It sounds to me like that would definitely qualify, but because that is not my area of expertise, I would double check with either the FHEO (fair housing and Equal Opportunity) division of HUD who I believe oversees things to do with FHA (Fair Housing Act). Alternatively, DOJ (department of justice) may be another option to contact if the FHEO can't help you. That's the limits of my knowledge on the subject. Hope that helps!
@@DoggyU OK, thanks for explaining.
I have a golden doodle who is 23 months we have a year of basic obedience, some nose work training, some disc dog classes, he already is a good boy that will lay next to me for hours. He follows me around. He is slightly dog reactive in that he will sit next to me but will stare at the dog passing or the children near by. This eliciting the person wanting to put him. He stays relatively calm. I am interested in training him to assist me and my husband to alert to people calling our name (both of us are deaf). My dog will already go to my husband when I say Bret. I want him to help me with my ADHD. If I start talking to fast or talking over the conversation be
The dog would distract me. My husband is diabetic I want the dog to recognize a diabetic moment
Hi Andeesignsable! In general, we want to train a dog for a single person, especially when you have a lot of tasks you want to train. This helps reduce confusion and burn-out for the dog.
If your dog has some issues with reactivity, you'll want to address this first before embarking on any service dog training. This video might be helpful in working on reactivity: ua-cam.com/video/M5OANGG342Y/v-deo.html
I wish you the best of luck on your training journey!
I found a breeder that breeds very calm and smart dogs she does ENS at 2 weeks old but is wondering if there is anything else that would be helpful for the service dog prospects.
There's so much to look for when searching for the right breeder for service work. I actually cover it extensively in my Service Dog 101 Course, along with a breeder checklist, and a video on how to conduct some simple tests with puppies to evaluate them for work. You can check that out here: courses.doggyu.com/
I also have a quick guide over on my blog that might be helpful: doggyu.com
@DoggyU awesome ty so much I will check that out and let her know if there is anything else she can do to help. I love that she wants to do what is right for the development of the puppies.
@@shaunatuck1965 You're welcome! :)
so i dont have a dog yet but i am gathering as much information as i can for my first one. I know what breed i know what breeder i want to go with im just looking for how to train them for the tasks i want and how to pick out the right puppy. I am looking to have a F1B Bernedoodle. I would like it to be able to detect and bring me back from disassociations, ptsd/anxiety attacks, and retrieving water from a bag or medications. If you have any advice on how to train them for the disassociation part i would love to learn more.
I don't have a ton of experience training for disassociation, outside of the dog finding the door, or a seat for the handler. Lots of experience with the other tasks. While there are some videos here on UA-cam, you can find a lot of deep dives over on my Patreon including videos on choosing a puppy. However, I advise going with a breeder who puppy tests, has experience with service dogs and either picks for you, or helps you select the dog. I highly recommend my Service Dog 101 course for more information on selecting a breed and breeder, along with service dog etiquette and training timelines along with laws and how to handle challenging situations. You can find that at DOGGYU.com
Is there a reason you're going with a mixed breed instead of a full bred poodle? There's many more poodle breeders that conduct extensive health testing and prove their dogs vs mixed breeds. They also have coats that are generally easier to maintain.
@@DoggyU i just didnt want something that every one has but the breeder i am getting a puppy from eventaully has a therapy dog. I considered a red retriever but i couldnt find one near me and my parents think i need a low shedding dog.
the four breeds i considered were slowly eliminated. first was a cavapoo i decided that was too small for what i needed. Then i considered a aussiepoo but they have assuie which require way to much exirses. Then i considered the red retriever but there were none in my area. so i considered the bernedoodle.
because the breeder im talking to will actually let me come up and assess the puppies. where most of the breeders around me fly the puppies.
im looking for a dog thats not common, that is super good with kids, that gets to about 45-60 pounds which the breeder i talked to said their f1b's get about 55 pounds. then i need a dog that is low shed, that can be a couch potato but also go on hikes when i want to.
if you have any other breed ideas for me let me know.
@@DoggyU keep in mind this is after my current dog passes away which most likel wont be for 2-5 more years.
@@foxylynn don't get hung up on "what everyone else has". There's a reason certain breeds are used, and it's because they are more successful, easier to train, and happier in the role of service dog. I would recommend a well-bred standard poodle or a well bred bench lab (my favorite pick). Here's a resource that might be helpful: www.doggyu.com/post/2022/05/19/how-to-choose-a-service-dog-breeder/
As a trainer who has trained hundreds of service dogs, my next service dog will be one of the "breeds everyone else has" because my health hinges on the success of my dog, and I want to give myself the best chance possible to have a fully trained service dog that is happy doing the job. Hope that helps!
Speaking of emergency situations, do handlers bring their SD with them if they are hospitalized or do they need to dons someone else to take care of them in this situation?
While your dog can absolutely ride in the ambulance with you and stay with you at the hospital (as long as you're not in a sterile/off-limits portion of the hospital), the staff are not responsible for taking care of your service dog. So if you can't take care of, manage, exercise, take the dog out, etc. you will either need to leave the dog with a guardian, or have them come in to take care of the needs of the dog. Hope that helps!
@@DoggyU would they allow you to leave your room to walk the dog? I’ve usually been confined to my room when admitted but I’m wondering if they’d make an exception
@@free2bkittenforever you would need to do whatever was in the best interest of your health, first and foremost, and that would be at your doctor's discretion.
I need a mobility dog, I am an amputee. I have the opportunity for a mastiff/ Saint Bernard puppy. What are your thoughts. I can't afford outside training
Hi Dixie,
If I were unable to afford help from a trainer, I would want to get a dog that is generally easiest to train for service work. That would generally be a well-bred lab from health tested lines with service dogs in the lines. Without knowing the details of your situation, I can only offer a general opinion that a mix of two large breed dogs would not be my first choice, and I would wait to save up for a well-bred labrador.
This video might also be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/AZEREOVWh-o/v-deo.htmlsi=yEC6xYEcm5LsyZOa
@@DoggyU Thank you so much.
My SDiT meets like... 90% of the criteria outlined. I'm really and truly hoping that because he's a herding breed (Belgian Malinois) that this is just an extended fear period as can be typical for these kinds of dogs.
Do you have a video or ideas for training dogs to wear PPE (personal protection equipment) for service dogs that accompany their handlers into spaces where PPE is required/needed? I.e. goggles, hearing protection, coat/cover, booties, etc.
Not PPE specifically, but this video on training them to choose to wear a vest or harness has the same concepts you need so it should be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/UY5ch2FY_jU/v-deo.html
Ok, thanks!
Could you make a video of specific dog breeds that you would recommend or find to be good fits from your experience and training?
Yes! It is on the list! :)
@@DoggyUlink?
@@scemolivvy I haven't made that specific video yet on breed, but here's a video that talks alot about breed and my own decisions about breed: ua-cam.com/video/AZEREOVWh-o/v-deo.html
I want to train my GSD. He’s fantastic in public, he comes to cafes and stores that allow dogs and will just lay at my feet when I stop and ignore everyone. What I need to work on is other dogs, he’s not reactive but pays way too much attention to them. I’m not sure how to overcome this. He’s young, 14 months so I’m hoping he’ll get better.
Hi NotFalling4it! Sounds like a lovely dog. I think this video will help you with the dog-focus: ua-cam.com/video/M5OANGG342Y/v-deo.html
@@DoggyU Thank you.
What would be the best sd out of the fab 4??
I personally prefer labs that are purpose-bred and health tested. But I think goldens are a very close second. No other breed has as high a success rate.
@@DoggyU Thank you!
Are American bulldog’s a good breed to train for SD?
While individual members of this breed may have the characteristics necessary to be a service dog, they would not be a breed I would recommend if you're getting a puppy for service work. They are also somewhat brachycephalic, which is not ideal for service work due to concerns in the heat. Check out this resource to learn more about selecting a breed: www.doggyu.com/post/2022/05/19/how-to-choose-a-service-dog-breeder/
Awesome content! Thanks a lot. We are about to embark o the challenge of training a service dog, and I’ve being researching international travel. Looks like some European airlines require proof that an assistance dog (service dog) be trained by an ADI certified trainer. Is it possible to start the training with a dog by ourselves, WITH CGC certifications and PAT test, and then get an ADI trainer to test and validade the dogs training?
Anyone here has experience flying in Europe with a self trained service dog?
Hi Ivan! Thanks for posting! While I have not traveled outside of the US with a service dog, I have had clients who have.
Typically, ADI organizations require some amount of training with them (ie. 6 months of training with the organization) to be able to do a public access test. ADI does not certify individual trainers (for instance, I can't be certified) but instead, organizations as a whole. I would find an ADI organization in your area and get information now, before you get your prospect, so you know what to expect.
Hope that helps!
My dog would pass all of these suggestions EXCEPT for fireworks- do you have any suggestions for helping him get over this? He’s fine with loud noises but not fireworks
My pup is 1 1/2 years old and has SO much energy! She's a lab who fits all of the other criteria you mentioned well. Honestly i startle at loud noises more than the dog does 😂 Is it true that labs start to mellow out once they hit 2 or 3 years old?
I think all dogs mellow out a bit around 2-3, but you can definitely help them be more settled by providing plenty of mental and physical exercise, but also structured settling time. Do you practice tie-down time at home? That can be really helpful in teaching them how to settle (assuming you've already met their mental and physical stimulation needs).
(also mellowing out and not having energy are very different - my nearly 14 year old cattle dog can still out-hike me 😂)
@@DoggyU Hadn't heard of structured settling time before - thank you for the idea! I assume that's different than crate time?
@@hey_virginia yes - different than crate time. I start puppies at 8 weeks settling on a tether near me after exercise to chew a bully stick, or KONG or similar. They start to learn that sometimes it's boring and after I chew my thing, I should just nap. It really is something that needs to be cultivated. I started CoolWhip at 8 weeks with this and now she's solid but she did not have an off-switch pre-installed lol! I'm hoping to do a video, but you can start even later in life. Short tether time next to you at a desk or tethered to the couch, on a mat (after exercise) with a Toppl, lick mat or similar and build duration over time. I like to try to do this twice a day, but at least once a day with young dogs. It teaches them how to settle at home so you can then start using that skill out in public. Hope that helps!
@@DoggyU so helpful, thank you! My pup is very food-motivated (another good sign from your video) so I have confidence she'll learn how to do tether time. You're a gem!! 💎
I don't need a service dog but was curious to see how well mine would be suited to it. As I suspected, he'd ace almost everything, *except* being willing to lie or sit around doing nothing for most of the time. Nope. He's moderate to low energy but gets bored easily so when we're out on a walk, if I run into people and talk for too long, and (horrors!) they stop paying attention to him, he lets me know in no uncertain terms it's time to keep walking. I could probably train him out of that, but he goes about it in such a cute way, I don't mind.
Love this! CoolWhip will get impatient if she's in "hiking mode" and we stop early on in the hike. She's like, okay human, less chit-chat, more hike!
@@DoggyU Her name is CoolWhip? How adorable is that! What's the other one's name? Ha ha, yep, exactly that, less chat more hike 😂
@@Catbooks yeah she's an Australian Koolie and I like the CoolWhip Family Guy skit so that's where it came from :) - the other one was a rescue so I just kept his name - Jake
@@DoggyU Aw, that is too cute! I love the backstory on her name :). I mistakenly thought she was an ACD mix!
@@Catbooks Yes lots of people do! Koolies are pretty rare in the US!
I suffer from PTSD and I've been officially disabled for a couple of months now and have been wanting to adopt a dog. Unfortunately my income is limited so I can't adopt senior dogs since the health insurance would be prohibitive for me to pay and I don't want to adopt a dog not to provide him the best care possible. So my main goal is to adopt a dog that I'm a right fit to and if he can be trained to help me, great! If not, that ok too!
I highly recommend you foster to adopt if possible. That will give you the best chance of understanding if the dog would be suitable for public access work. Worst case scenario, they aren't, and you've been a helpful foster along their journey to their next home. Fostering can be a great way to vet a dog for what you're looking for!
@@DoggyU Thanks! I will follow your advice!
My dog just turned 4years… I didn’t know the training was “too” long 😢
Deciding if training will take "too long" is a personal decision. If you're okay with putting a lot of time and effort into training, knowing that your dog will have a shorter working life, that's totally fine! And if your dog, say, already has a lot of solid obedience behaviors and is excellent in public, it may only take 6 months of training to get where you need to be for service dog work. Every situation is different. All else equal, it's better to start a 1 year old than a 4 year old, just because of overall longevity, but if you've got a 4 year old that's great for the role, that works too!
i have a at home medical alert dog
Surprise surprise, my boy yellow lab meets the self evaluation. I’ve never met a dog like him who couldn’t care less about other dogs walking up to him lol. He doesn’t care about traffic, car horns, sirens, or the local military base firing range 😂😂
Love a good Labrador!
When I get a rescue dog again someday I want to be able to turn that rescue dog into a service dog if that's possible because in my opinion the best service dog is a rescue dog because you saved their life and they're helping you with your life that's the way I look at it❤ can you please let me know what you think?
Hi Mandy,
I don't generally recommend rescue dogs as my first choice, and I've actually been getting this question a lot lately so I'll be putting out a video on this in the next two weeks. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe and click the bell button to be notified when it comes out!
Thank you
I did subscribe to your channel
I am a really! Big dog lover and puppy lover
The reason why I asked if a rescue dog would make a good service dog is because my younger brother and I got a black Labrador retriever pitbull mix named Maggie from the Oregon humane society back on June 22nd 2013 she was 9 years old until August 20th 2018 when she passed away from cancer she was 14 years old and then my younger brother Patrick he passed away from a heart attack in his sleep from a alcohol overdose on August 2nd 2020 he was just 28 years old when he passed away 😢💔 ever since they're passing my depression and anxiety has gotten a lot worse and I really feel like a service dog would help me not only with my depression and anxiety but helping me with a lot of stuff that I need help with such as opening doors closing doors picking stuff up that I drop but I can't have a service dog because the Icare facility I live in doesn't allow any dogs at all which is really! Upsetting to me but I respect it
My dog is a cardiac alert dog. She does great. I must admit she’s been a little nervous or scared in grocery stores. Probably because she wasn’t training in them as a puppy. She will be two next week. I’m still taking her and she seems to be getting some better. Do you think it’s possible for her to totally feel confident in a grocery store? And how long before I know I’ll have to wash her if not. She’s a golden retriever by the way.
Hey Moonchaser - if it were me I'd be trying to figure out what specifically about the grocery store is making her nervous, and then working towards helping her feel confidence with those particular things. So for instance, is she okay in Target? Is she okay in Starbucks? Other places with large open isles? Other places with carts? Other places with food? Do you behave differently in grocery stores because it's a trigger for you? What specifically do you think is triggering her behavior. And then once you've pinpointed that you want to take baby steps towards building her confidence around those things.
You could start by just hanging out outside the grocery store and chewing on a bully stick, and then leaving. Then hanging out just inside the grocery store for a minute or two, lots of treats and leaving for instance. Or if it's carts, can you have her do the engage disengage game while looking at a cart, then while someone is pushing a cart, working up to you pushing the cart, etc.
That being said, it may be good to get an in-person SD trainer to get a second pair of eyes on the situation.
@@DoggyU you really may be onto something. I had a severe cardiac episode in a grocery store before I got her. It was frightening. Perhaps she smells my adrenaline change. She does fine in everything else. Restaurants, coffee shops, thrift stores, malls etc. it just all grocery stores! I’ve looked for a SD trainer to help. But where we’ve moved there is absolutely nobody.
And she also seems better with the cart than without. It’s almost seems like a shield for her. She will still do commands and take treats when told. But her head is awfully busy looking all around instead of at me.
@@moonchaserstudio that's what I was wondering about :) Often they can pick up on our changes in relation to a certain trigger. I would halt your current trips to the grocery store with her and spend some time hanging out outside of the store, even playing tug not vested, etc. I would also consider, if you have a trusted friend or family member, or friend with an SD doing some partnered trips. Often we tend to relax when we have additional supportive humans with us, or our SDs can relax when they have a buddy. Doing some targeted training and progressing at your dog's pace could be the key to helping her (and you) feel more confident in these situations.
@@DoggyU thank you so much ❤️
Excellent Video Laura, Ticked All the pertinent boxes. Nice Job 👍
Cheers Bruce Stone and
Dr Alena Bykova DVM
Interdyne International K-9
Medical Service Dogs of ALL Types
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Ì first had à JŔT and he guided me like a champion. Way back then he was an at home service dog only, he was as hard working as my days were long, I ended up needing a larger dog in the end, working around a wheelchair was too hazardous for him, I couldn't consider working him anymore.
My next dog was a pure kelpie who was soon to retire from farm work. Kaos was a wonderful dog, but he wasn't talĺ enough for when my hips stopped responding to me, he was great for me though, he taught me to have patience and understanding when training.
Horse was the best! I got him at 18months old, his family got him as a border collie cross, one look told me that wasn't his breed.
His height size and ŵeight were brilliant for me. The RSPCA ķèpt being called on us for 10 years because
...the people across the road used it to distract from her (and her 15 kids, the mother had custody of maybe 3 or 4, but the dads were not interested in becoming fathers so the kids stayed with their mother and created havoc in the neighbourhood.)
Horse was my lifesaver during that crap, he did social anxiety work before it was recognised as such, he carried my keys because it's impractical for me, he helped me stand and turn for public toilets, and ĥe helped me organise my life.
It's been too long, I need another dog in my life.😊
I have very scared dog she scared everything how can I let her know everything kk
Hi Leon! Fear can be a product of genetics and lack of exposure. Unfortunately, fearful dogs do not make good service dog candidates, but you can still help your dog by building their confidence. I have a lot of confidence building exercises at Patreon.com/Doggyu can you can join for as little as $3/month. Positive reinforcement training and giving them small challenges they can be successful at can be really helpful. Good luck with your pup! Remember that they're never giving you a hard time, they're having a hard time. That mindset will help you when your dog's fearfulness becomes frustrating
Is there any trainer in Phoenix that can help me
@@leonbell3639 I'm not familiar with the Pheonix area. I would check assistancedogsinternational.org/ for organizations nearby.
@@DoggyU no it was not no good info
My dog reacts to other dogs. She’s a 4 month old shepherd.
GSDs can be prone to reactivity. It's something you'll want to get started on working on now. I have a video on the engage-disengage game that should be helpful: ua-cam.com/video/M5OANGG342Y/v-deo.html
I would also get a positive reinforcement-based trainer on board asap to help teach your pup to feel comfortable and confident observing other dogs.
Happy training!
my pets don't reach this profile at all.
Like I said in the video, just because they aren't service dog (public access) material doesn't mean they aren't awesome pets. They can also always help out at home. My rescue dog is well-trained but not a good fit for service dog work. That's okay - he's amazing and I love him! I'm sure you love your pups too!