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Candidates and Evaluation

  /  Candidates and Evaluation

Service dogs are incredible companions, transforming lives by providing invaluable assistance to people with disabilities. But with such a vital role, choosing the right canine partner is crucial. This article explores the key considerations for selecting a service dog candidate, ensuring a successful and fulfilling partnership for both you and your furry friend. Identifying Your Needs: The journey begins with a deep understanding of the specific tasks you require assistance with. Do you need help with mobility, balance, or retrieving objects? Will your service dog need to perform medical alerts or deep pressure therapy? Perhaps you need a dog trained for seizure response or other medical interventions. Be as specific as possible – having a clear understanding of your needs will guide your search for a dog with the appropriate temperament, trainability, and physical attributes. Breed and Size: While there's no single "perfect" service dog breed, some breeds excel in specific tasks. Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are popular choices due to their intelligence, trainability, and gentle nature. They can be ideal for tasks like retrieving objects or providing emotional support. German Shepherds or Poodles may be better suited for mobility assistance due to their size and strength. Consider your lifestyle and physical limitations when choosing a size – a large dog might be difficult to manage in tight spaces, like crowded public transportation. Picking the Perfect Pup: A Multi-Faceted Evaluation Temperament: Look for puppies with a friendly and eager temperament. Curiosity and a lack of fear in new situations are positive signs. They should be playful but not overly boisterous, showing signs of focus and a willingness to please. Avoid puppies that are easily startled, shy, or exhibit aggressive behaviors. Trainability: Observe how quickly the puppy grasps new concepts. This can be done through simple games or commands. A good candidate will be eager to learn and easily redirect if distracted. Present a toy and ask the puppy to "leave it." See how quickly they disengage and refocus on you. Health: Inquire about the puppy's health history and any potential genetic concerns within the breed. A healthy dog will be better equipped to handle the demands of service dog training and have a longer working life. Request to see documentation of health screenings from the breeder or veterinarian. Stability: Look for a puppy with a calm and even temperament. They should be able to recover quickly from startling experiences and not exhibit excessive barking or whining. Take the

Everyone knows that Service Dogs are supposed to be calm, well trained dogs who work hard to help their human partners.

It’s time to look for your next Service Dog. What traits should you look for? What's important? What doesn't matter? There is a sea of misinformation that a Service Dog handler must sort through while picking a Service Dog puppy or candidate. Cut through the chaos and learn what what to look for while selecting a potential partner.

Properly-trained Service Dogs can provide an incredible breadth benefits to disabled individuals. From mobility assistance and independence, assisting with everyday tasks, summoning help when needed, alerting to night terrors and more. There's a lot of focus on Golden Retrievers, Bichon Frisés and German Shepherds, but purebreds aren't the only types of dogs that can be trained to become excellent Service Dogs.  Some organizations are helping homeless dogs get a second chance as Service Dogs.

No one method will be right for everyone, but here's my story regarding the steps to take towards getting a successor dog and retiring a current service dog. First, begin the process before you need to. The last thing anyone wants is to have an older dog that won't get a chance to retire. I start the process when my current dog is around 8 years old. It often takes 2 years to comfortably switch over to my successor dog and also because one can not replace a soul. There are dogs after your first, second, third, and so on. and they are called "Successor Dogs". When you are partnered with dogs as long as I've been, you gain a unique perspective. I am an owner trainer that has benefited from the knowledge of many amazing mentors, several of them over the years. A few of my mentors stand out over others, and some are good friends that I have met along the way. Some people prefer program dogs, that professional trainers teach, and then match them to their people. This is a great route to go. I recommend, because of the time and expense, you start early and learn about fund raising. Also apply to a lot of reputable organizations, especially if you're not military affiliated (like a Combat Veteran). Most people that aren't military affiliated don't get dogs donated, so fundraising is a big deal, since dogs can cost a lot, with price varying due to the complexity of the trained tasks the dog must know and what the dog will be doing. My personal choice was to be an owner trainer, because I grew up with dogs and have been training dogs for almost 40 years. This is the information I know best. My first step is to come to terms with the fact that my best partner ever (they each are) is getting older. The big "joke" is that about the time they're perfect, you need to start the process of training the next of a hopefully long line of dogs, and begin to retire the partner that you've worked with for years. Make a Plan The next step is to plan. You need to plan and ask and learn. For example, I refresh my memory of how to teach the basic foundation behaviors, as well as their more complicated finished behaviors. It sounds silly, but after having a solid partner to the

There are thousands of Service Dogs in the United States. Many of those Service Dogs graduated from programs or organizations, some were owner-trained, and still others trained and placed via other methods. For many owner trainers and programs, rescue dogs are selected to complete Service Dog training, to varying degrees of success.