How To Answer Questions About Your Service Dog In Public
For Most Handlers, Interacting With The Public Is The Worst Part of Being Partnered With a Service Dog For most handlers, unless you're an extrovert, interacting with the public is the worst part of being partnered with a Service Dog. Here's a typical scenario: You go out to run a quick errand. Your Service Dog's behavior is always excellent. But when the manager approaches, your palms began to sweat. Fortunately, the manager is educated enough to know what questions he's allowed to ask — and you have taken appropriate steps in order to be educated enough. You breathe a sigh of relief, knowing it could have gone very, very differently. However, not all business owners or employees are fluent with the law as it pertains to Service Dogs. While it can be uncomfortable at times, you have to be prepared to be an advocate for yourself and your Service Dog on some level. When working your Service Dog or SDiT in public, be certain to keep the following points in mind, especially if your Service Dog works "naked" without any gear. Be Honest About Your Service Dog's Training Level Service Dogs in Training are of course not yet Service Dogs. However a key part of Service Dog training is exposing them to public environments. After all, how else would would any dog ever learn how to behave in public? While Service Dogs are protected by federal law and may accompany their disabled handlers anywhere the general public is allowed to be, Service Dogs in Training are not. It is up to each individual state, community or manager of whatever store or public place you're entering to extend access to your canine partner. Always be honest concerning the status of your partner, and never fudge the facts. Know the laws in your state as well as any areas you frequently travel, particularly if your partner is in training. Special Service Dog Vests or Harnesses Or Any Other Gear Are Not Required Federal law does not require a Service Dog to wear gear of any kind. Your Service Dog does not have to wear a vest, harness, tag, ID card, collar or any other working equipment identifying your partner as a Service Dog or Service Dog in Training. This is because anyone who uses a Service Dog is disabled — a fact some disabled handlers choose to be discreet about. However, the simple fact remains that the public is conditioned
Service Dog Standards Offers Free Webpages for Trainers
Dog Trainers have a tough job. Not only do they train animals — but they also have what is often a far more difficult task: training humans. And with Service Dogs, a trainer's job is even harder. Service Dog Standards helps trainers make sure that their clients understand not only their rights, but their responsibilities as well. How Service Dog Standards Works for Trainers If you're a trainer and you currently train Service Dogs or would like to begin, create an account on Service Dog Standards. Then, set up your free business or organization page. It's so robust, you can even use it in place of a website — no hosting fees or other costs of any kind. If you have a domain name, you can even forward it directly to your SDS profile page. From there, it's easy to invite clients to join. Example of a Service Dog Trainer profile page on Service Dog Standards Service Dog Standards features: · Free for trainers and handlers forever · Public profile page for service dog handlers with a secure resume · Business listings for dog trainers and breeders · Robust tools to manage service dog puppy candidates, graduates, washouts and more · Manage multiple service animals and their status · Secure training and ownership history · Clear explanation of expectations for service dog trainers and handlers · Service Dog Standards Public Access Test · Service Dog Standards Training and Behavior Standards · Template and guidance for getting a physician letter · Information to help the public better understand the complexities of Service Dogs In addition to these features, Service Dog Standards has a supportive online community of nearly 20,000 service animal trainers, handlers and their families, friends and fans. Check out their website at www.servicedogstandards.org. Based on over a decade of input from experienced service dog trainers and handlers, Service Dog Standards clearly lays out what is expected in terms of training, public behavior and more. Service Dog Standards aims to encourage adherence to the ADA and increase public trust through technology and education.
Here’s The Safest Way to Pet a Service Dog
Before you pet any dog, you should always ask for permission. It's not only polite, it's a safety issue for you — and in the case of a working Service Dog, it's a safety issue for the disabled handler as well since distractions can interfere with the dog's ability to work. Service Dog Standards lets you "pet" a Service Dog in the safest way possible! See live example of a Service Dog Handler profile page Based on over a decade of input from experienced service dog trainers and handlers, Service Dog Standards clearly lays out what is expected in terms of training, public behavior and more. Service Dog Standards aims to encourage adherence to the ADA and increase public trust through technology and education.
A Day In the Life of a Service Dog
Every Service Dog team is different, but most teams' daily life includes the same elements. Learn more about the life of a Service Dog now! It's a Service Dog's Life: Work For many Service Dogs, work encompasses a large portion of their day. For others, it's only a small piece.
4 Ways to Boost Your Dog’s Immunity
A dog with a weak immune system can be prone to many diseases such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, infections and cancer. It is important to maintain your dog’s immune system as it is the first line of defense against viruses, bacteria, parasites and other unwanted toxins. A balanced immune system will improve your dog’s overall health and well-being. Here are some ways you can boost your dog’s immunity. Balanced Diet A balanced diet is the most important element of building immunity since the gastrointestinal system makes up 70% of a dog’s immune system. A moist, meat-based diet is usually recommended for dogs. Dry foods might contain a lot of starch which can lead to inflammation. A starch-free, grain-free diet containing a good amount of fiber and liver bacteria from fresh foods works best. Fresh meats and vegetables can also be added to your dog’s daily intake. Keep in mind that each dog’s nutritional needs are different, so be sure to consult your veterinarian to ensure that your pet is receiving immune-boosting meals. Exercise Dogs are active creatures that require physical activity to stay healthy. The need to keep them active will also make you more active which is a win-win situation. Lack of exercise can lead to your pet gaining weight, which is an invitation to a host of different health problems. Since dogs inherently love to play, exercise will not be a chore with them. You can also try to teach your dog new activities such as retrieving, doing scent work or simply learning new tricks. Hydration Ensure that your pet has access to clean and fresh water. It is as essential as a nutrition filled diet. Water encourages digestion, promotes healthy blood flow, regulates body temperature and flushes out toxins and harmful substances from a dog’s body, which ultimately boosts their immunity. Generally, dogs require around twelve ounces of water per ten pounds of body weight every day. The number can vary based on the age, weather, activity level and breed. Supplements You can consider adding nutritional supplements to your dog’s diet. Canine foods bought at the store might not always have the necessary vitamins and minerals for your dog’s daily needs. Additional supplements can fill those requirements. According to The Bircher Bar Australia, many all-natural supplements are available nowadays and you can easily find them online. Make sure you don’t overdo the supplements and consult your vet about the supplements that will work best for your
What Disabilities Do Service Dogs Help With?
Service Dogs help people with a wide range of disabilities to live fuller, more independent lives. Some disabilities are visible, such as a mobility impairment, whereas others, like many neurological or psychiatric disabilities, are "invisible," and cannot simply be seen. Read on to learn about the types of disabilities Service Dogs assist with!
Becoming a Service Dog Handler: Is A Service Dog Right For Me?
I’d never considered the possibility that a service dog could help me until the day I flipped on the TV and saw a woman — a mom like myself — who also had a similar mobility disability. She was being interviewed for a news story and sitting there beside her was a gorgeous yellow Labrador Service Dog. At that moment, something in my mind clicked and I wondered if a dog like that could help me, too.
Fundraise For a Service Dog: 100 Ideas
Obtaining a Service Dog isn't without its costs, and coming up with ideas to fundraise can be difficult. While effective fundraising takes time, energy, and passion, with a little creative thinking and planning, anyone can fundraise for a Service Dog. To get your creative juices flowing, here's a list of 100 Service Dog fundraising ideas.
How to Improve Your Service Dog’s Basic Obedience Positions
Basic obedience positions, consisting of sit, down, and stand, provide a foundation for much of the movement your Service Dog does throughout the day. Public access uses long downs, mobility work relies on rock solid stands, and sit is the most commonly cued position for most dogs. Lots of puppies learn sit first. Next, they master down and down stays. Some go on to learn stands, but many don't. By improving your basic obedience positions, you can improve your communication with your Service Dog while also improving task work, public access, and functionality. You can also use basic obedience positions to build your dog's strength, mobility, and flexibility. In addition, improving sits, downs, and stands offers a great chance to work on your dog training skills, including timing, reward placement, and reinforcement schedules. These skills also serve as a base for more advanced obedience and positioning skills, like pivots, emergency downs, and stays out of motion. Basic Obedience Positions and Cue Differentiation Does your dog know sit? Many people believe their dog does but then discover their dog relies on a mixture of physical, environmental, contextual, and verbal cues and not on the cue "sit" itself! The same goes for downs and stands -- does your dog still respond to the cue if you're standing straight up and you don't use your hands? What if your back is turned? Many dogs, including highly trained ones, only know what their handler wants if the cue is delivered with precisely the correct elements. Work on improving your dog's response to verbal cues. Strive to reduce or remove physical elements from your cues. Change the way you deliver cues -- sit down, stand up, lay on the ground, try it from an elevated position, etc. Work until your dog performs reliably off a single verbal cue regardless of the environmental set up or the position you yourself are in. Expanding your dog's generalization of a cue might come in handy during emergencies or in situations your dog can't readily see you. Basic Obedience Position Transitions Playing position transition games is a great way to improve basic obedience positions. Most dogs can go into a down from a sit, but does your dog pop into a sit from a down on cue? Do they stand on cue while sitting or in a down? How many times can they transition cleanly? These games are great opportunities to work on cue differentiation
Dog Training: You’re Doing It Wrong – Part 1
Many common dog training mistakes get in the way of your dog learning. Most people have no idea these common errors exist, though! While professional dog trainers make dog training look simple, it's far too easy to do it wrong. Dog training mistakes include simple things like practicing for too long plus more complicated errors surrounding timing, reinforcement, or other technical concepts. If you want to become a better dog trainer and handler, then keep reading. You'll get an overview of the most common dog training mistakes plus tips on how to avoid or fix them. Dog Training Mistakes: Training For Too Long Training for too long results in increased frustration for both dog and trainer. It also causes your dog to retain less material and, furthermore, can build a lack of focus and enthusiasm into behaviors. You don't need to train for 20 minutes at a time in order to get results. Stick to frequent, short (2-5 minute) sessions multiple times throughout the day and watch your dog's progress soar. Dog Training Mistakes: Not Training Enough Oddly enough, not training enough is just as common, if not more common, than trying to train for too long at a time. It's too easy to train your dog for a few minutes one day and then, before you know it, 4 or 5 days have passed with zero training time. Falling into this dog training trap means spending your time perpetually going back over things you've already worked on instead of building new skills and polishing old ones. Set a timer on your phone for the same time every day to remind you to do the bare minimum -- 90 seconds to 3 minutes of active, focused training on a single skill you're seeking to teach. Do this every single day. If you can, add additional sessions throughout the day for quicker progress. Dog Training Mistakes: Under Reinforcing If you want your dog to work for you, you have to pay them for their effort and attention. Trying to get your dog to work for pats on the head is akin to someone trying to get a professional photographer to work for "exposure." No one likes it and the idea is just insulting. Reward your dog frequently and well with things your dog finds valuable. Note: just because you think your dog should like something doesn't mean they do! Behaviors that aren't reinforced don't stick around. This doesn't mean you have