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)

____________________________

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!

Obedience

Manners

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

Manners cannot be ignored.

Manners

Housetrained

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

Housetraining

Leash trained

(no pulling, unless for a specific task)

Leash Training

Still Behavior, Settle

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

Dog must be quiet

Settle

Nose press

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

Nose Press

Paw Touch

(turning on and off, interrupting human behavior)

Paw Touch

Object Discrimination

(putting names to object)

Objects

Retrieve/Fetch

(picking up objects)

Get It

Retrieve

(bringing back objects)

Bring it here

Tug

(opening cabinets, doors, pulling)

Tug

Brace

(dizziness, balance)

Brace

Block

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

Block

Cover

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

Cover

Nuzzling

(interrupting undesirable owner’s behavior)

Nuzzling

Chest press

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

Chest Press

Under

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

Under

Scent detection

(alerting to allergens, diabetes, etc.)

Scent Detection

Tuck

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

Tuck

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.

Reminder

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)

____________________________

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

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)

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.