Service Dog Training Requirements

Before service dogs can help people with disabilities, they must meet certain training requirements and qualities. Like humans, these dogs work very hard to perform their duties. They begin their training as puppies to help them learn how to interact with humans.

Health

Service dogs must be in good health before training. They typically begin training as puppies. They are properly examined and vaccinated by veterinarians. Service dogs are also spayed and neutered before placement with clients.

Temperament

Training requires dogs to have good temperament and behavior. Services do not use aggressive breeds of any kind. The dogs should be able to follow commands without feeling threatened by the person they help. They should not show aggression to those they interact with in home or public settings. Types of service dogs are:

• Labrador Retriever


• Golden Retriever


• German Sheppard

Obedience

Service animals must learn to obey commands. They generally train for a great number of hours on certain commands before trainers consider the skills mastered. Once dogs master a skill they move on to others. Two important obedience skills are following hand signals and voice commands.

Equipment

All service dogs must wear some type of equipment in public. They learn to accept backpacks, harnesses and capes in training. The equipment should also have some type of logo to identify them as service dogs.

Types of Service Dogs

Dogs that guide the blind, hard of hearing and wheel chair bound are common service dogs. Other types are therapy and mentally disabled service dogs.