Service Dog Skills

 

First and foremost when in Public: 

  • Your dog should be well groomed and behaved

  • Your dog should have identification as a Service Dog

  • Your dog is required to be leashed or harnessed

    (except if performing a specific task that tethering would impede)

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Here is a list of some Service Dog skills and a link to how to train them? 

Below is a list of potential skills for a service dog and what they are used for.  Click on the link to see how to train the skill.  

Basic Obedience 

(sit, stay, come, down, heel, stand) 

This is a must!

Manners

(no jumping up on people, no begging, leave it, etc.)

Manners cannot be ignored.

Housetrained

(no marking in public.  Must learn to potty on cue)

Leash trained

(no pulling, unless for a specific task)

Still Behavior, Settle

(stay/stand stay/sit, stay/down)

Dog must be quiet

Nose press

(for alert to allergens, seizure alert, and for tasks)

Paw Touch

(turning on and off, interrupting human behavior)

Object Discrimination

(putting names to object)

Retrieve/Fetch

(picking up objects)

Retrieve

(bringing back objects)

Tug

(opening cabinets, doors, pulling)

Tug

Brace 

(dizziness, balance)

Block

(dog stands or lies down in front of you and provides a barrier for the handler)

Cover

(dog stands lies down behind you and provides a barrier for the handler)

Nuzzling

(interrupting undesirable owner’s behavior)

Chest press

(Laying across a person’s chest) for comfort or seizures

Under

(Usually when seated.  Dog is under a chair or table)

Scent detection

(alerting to allergens, diabetes, etc.)

Tuck

(to keep your service dog out of the way of the public when you are seated)

Reminder

If you have medications you have to take at a certain time of day, you may want to train your dog to remind you to take them.