Raising a service dog can feel like a massive responsibility, especially if you are training a service dog to help you with your disability. As with any dog, start building a foundation of trust with your service dog in training.
Socialization, obedience training, and task training are all key aspects of raising a service dog. Service dogs should be comfortable in crowded, loud public environments, listen to the handler’s commands, and perform the service tasks they have been trained to perform to help manage a disability. The entire training process may take as long as 2 years, and it helps to start raising puppies as service dogs relatively young, as early as 8 weeks old.
For dog walking, dog sitting, and other pet sitting services, call Critter Sitters right away at (404) 793-6178.
What Are Key Aspects of Raising a Service Dog?
Having a well-trained service dog could boost your quality of life and help you navigate the world confidently and safely. Training takes lots of time and dedication, and consistency is key.
Socialization
Service dogs often go virtually everywhere with their owners. This means they need to be comfortable in social settings, such as restaurants, supermarkets, retail stores, and other public areas.
When raising a service dog, prioritize socialization with other dogs, animals, and people. While a service dog’s main priority while on duty is focusing on its owner’s well-being, not socializing, it still can’t be aggressive with or distrustful of other people. Socialization also helps prevent possessiveness in social settings.
Task Training
There is no certification or professional training program for dogs to qualify as service dogs. When raising a service dog, the goal is to train it to perform a task or tasks directly related to the owner’s disability.
Teach specific commands, use positive reinforcement, and practice service-related tasks. Young dogs are the most responsive to service dog training, and can be raised to be completely dedicated to their handlers.
The ins and outs of task training depend on how you need the service dog to support you, such as guiding you as you walk to avoid obstructions, alerting you to changes in your blood pressure or the onset of an impending seizure, or detecting allergens in your food.
Obedience Training
Service dogs need to focus on their handlers and be obedient to them. Obedience training can start when dogs are fairly young, as early as 8 weeks. Teach your pet basic obedience commands and train it against jumping on visitors, barking in public, pulling on its leash, or being disorderly in public.
Service dogs are allowed in all public places, even if there is a no-pet policy, with the major exception being if handlers cannot control their pets and cause a big disturbance.
Building Trust
By being consistent with an animal’s daily routine, training schedule, and your temperament toward it, handlers can build trust and strong bonds with service dogs. This connection enhances the dog’s responsiveness to its handler’s signals that a specific task needs to be performed, so never underestimate the importance of building trust when raising a service dog.
Build trust with the service dog you’re raising by having our pet sitters check in for walks and interaction when you’re gone for too long.
FAQs About Raising a Service Dog
Can I Raise My Own Service Dog?
You can raise your own service dog, and many people prefer to train these helpful pets mostly on their own, with some help from professional trainers for greater success. You don’t need any certification to train a service dog, and a dog does not have to complete any specific training programs to qualify as a service animal.
How Long Does it Take to Train Service Dogs?
All told, raising and training a service dog takes anywhere from 1 to 2 years, sometimes longer, depending on an animal’s temperament. Training is broken down into stages, with task training being one of the last things your dog learns how to perfect.
Is Raising a Service Dog Expensive?
Raising a service dog can be expensive, especially if you seek help from professional trainers. Apart from that, there are the same expenses as with any dog, such as food, vet visits, and flea and tick prevention.
What if You Need Help Walking a Service Dog in Training?
Service dogs in training need to stick to their routines, and we can help by handling walks if you can’t be there. Rates start at $25 for the first dog, and walks last about 20 minutes, plenty of time for a service dog in training to stretch its legs and get some stimulus.
Tell us if you use any specific training tactics on walks, and we can use them to continue your dog’s progress.
What if You Need Help Watching a Service Dog in Training?
Dogs in training to be service animals may not go everywhere with their handlers until their training is complete. If that means your dog is home alone and needs company, food, and walk breaks for fresh air, you can seek support from our pet sitting service.
Is Playing Part of Raising a Service Dog?
Service dogs need the opportunity to have fun and be dogs who run and play. Playing with your dog is the best way to build a stronger bond with your pet. Don’t underestimate the importance of having designated play time when your service dog is off the clock.
Can You Have Other Pets While Raising a Service Dog?
It’s possible to raise a service dog while having other pets, but it requires even more careful management so the dog you’re training succeeds and doesn’t get distracted by the other animals in your home.
Call Our Dog Walkers and Dog Sitters Today
Critter Sitters to schedule dog walking or dog sitting services at (404) 793-6178.
