EDUCATION

Definition of a Service Dog

General: A service dog is a dog that has been specifically trained to perform tasks for an individual living with a disability.

Freedom Service Dogs trains three types of assistance dogs: Professional Service Dogs, Skilled Companion Dogs and Professional Therapy Dogs.

Professional Service Dog
A professional service dog is a highly trained dog that is paired with a person living with a disability, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or a spinal cord injury. Service dogs are required to assist their human partners with a minimum of three tasks. The variety of tasks performed include retrieving and carrying objects, opening and closing doors, operating lights, pushing 911 and lifeline buttons, provides brace and balance while walking, and other specialized tasks needed by the client.

Service dogs are legally guaranteed full public access and are able to accompany their partners to the grocery store, airport, place of employment or school, restaurants, and all other public places. Service dogs are paired with individuals who are 16 years of age or older and capable of handling a dog in public without assistance from a family member, friend, or caregiver. In cases when an individual is under the age of 16 or unable to handle a dog in public, they are matched with a canine partner with the stipulation that the parent or guardian must accompany the team when in public.

Skilled Companion Dog
A skilled companion dog is a highly trained dog that is matched with person with a condition such as autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or anxiety disorder. Skilled companion dogs offer many of the same benefits as service dogs; however, companion dogs lack access to public places. Companion dogs are typically paired with individuals who are under the age of 16. In such cases, the client’s parent or guardian is responsible for the care of the dog.

Professional Therapy Dog
FSD has partnered with University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work to pioneer and implement a program utilizing Animal-Assisted Therapy. Dogs are trained to work in clinical therapy settings with people with mental health illnesses and other conditions, including autism, PTSD, depression and Down syndrome and anxiety disorder by providing companionship and experience through animal-to-human socialization. The benefits of the program include: anxiety reduction in treating patients, improved communication between patient and therapist, and improved behavior of patients outside of the realm of therapy. These dogs are partnered with second year graduate students enrolled in the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work.

FSD Training Philosophy

FSD’s training method is strictly positive reinforcement. Trainers at FSD reinforce behaviors we want with many types of rewards (food, toys, praise, or petting). Our goal is to teach our dogs behaviors rather than forcing behaviors. We want dogs to work because they like to, not because they are afraid not to. Positive Reinforcement allows trust to build a bond with the trainer which helps the dog learn faster.

Additionally, FSD employs clicker training. There is a one second window to capture the behavior you wish to positively reinforce; the clicker is a constant, clear way to do this. When the dog executes the behavior, click and treat. Training works best when it is consistent because then the dog knows what is expected of it and does not get confused. The beauty of the clicker method is that the dog associates good behavior with the sound of the clicker and the clicker can be used by anyone which allows consistent training to be done by more than one person.

Tips for Responsible Pet Owners

Being a dog owner is a lot of fun while at the same time being a lot of responsibility. The following are some general tips to help make your relationship with your dog as enjoyable as possible.


Correcting Undesired Behaviors
If your dog is doing something you don’t like, such as jumping up on people, the best thing to do is to ignore and redirect. Even negative attention, pushing the dog off or shouting “off”, is attention and will reinforce the behavior. Removing your attention is the best way to discourage the behavior. The next step is to redirect your dog to a desirable behavior, preferably one that is incompatible with the undesirable behavior. For example, your dog cannot jump on you when it is sitting. So when your dog jumps on you, ignore him by turning your back and not talking to him, give him the “sit” command and then promptly reward him when he sits. Over time your dog will learn that he will be ignored when he jumps and rewarded when he sits.

Another example is getting your dog to come when you call her. First, don’t walk towards her as you call her. In fact walk away. Walking towards your dog can encourages moving in the same direction as you or waiting for you to get to her. Neither is the behavior you are trying to encourage. Walking away from her as you call excites her chase instinct and makes compliance fun.


Summer Safety
It is important to remember that hot cars and your dog do not mix. Leaving a dog in the car is a half-baked idea that can be fatal to your dog. Even with the windows cracked, cars trap heat like greenhouses. According to MyDogIsCool.com, “On a summer’s day of only 85 degrees F, for example, even keeping the windows slightly open won’t stop the inside temperature form climbing to 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and to 120 degrees in 20 minutes.” Clearly, leaving your dog in your car is not worth the risk. If you can’t bring your dog with you, then leave him or her at home.


Safety Tips for Kids

Additional Resources
Delta Society www.deltasociety.org
Assistance Dogs International www.assistancedogsinternational.org