Tuesday Training Byte: Training your dog to be a service dog

Just recently I observed two different individuals who were teenagers attempting to train their own service dog and making all kinds of mistakes. Before sending your dog off to a trainer or enrolling in a dog training class, I would advise talking with the trainer about their methods. Various service dog and training organization use the LIMA method. LIMA stands for Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive. The Association of Professional Dog Trainers are required to use this method, as are the puppy raisers and trainers for Canine Companions that provide service dogs. Service dogs are trained with a plain buckle collar. Harnesses are used primarily as an identification except for guide dogs and balance support dogs, but they are started with the plain buckle collar. The dogs are trained to walk on the left side without pulling, and ignoring other people and dogs. ¡Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) also uses the training philosophy often referred to as Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA). This approach emphasizes positive reinforcement and setting dogs up for success to minimize the need for punishment or corrections. GDB's training prioritizes teaching and nurturing puppies effectively, while also addressing potential behavior challenges that could hinder them from becoming guide dogs. Service dogs need to be well socialized but have excellent impulse control. Even dogs that are specifically bred for service work and properly socialized and trained from the beginning may wash out of the program. I have trained two service dogs and one police k-9, using the LIMA methods, with the exception of the police k-9, I used a fursaver slip chain collar for training the latter. If you want your dog to be a service dog I suggest the AKC STAR Puppy course that emphasizes socialization and manners. Following that, I suggest the Canine Good Citizen title and Virtual Home Manners title. This lays the solid foundation needed for service work. You may want to seek out the help from a trainer who uses LIMA for help with impulse control and any reactiveness that could interfere with your ultimate plans for your dog. If you have a disability and need a service dog, seek out assistance. Be aware that it is against the law in many states to represent your dog as a service dog when it is not fully trained to do specific tasks to help with your ADA disability in order to gain access to a place that would otherwise prohibit it.