A new surface, a busy doorway and a quiet place to rest present different training questions. Use these guides to plan what to introduce, what to practise and what to consider when assessing service-dog work.
Plan introductions to everyday sights and sounds
Socializing Service Dogs in Training: A Practical Checklist groups experiences such as people, surfaces, sounds and transport. Its examples help you identify gaps in a plan; they are not a requirement to complete every item or rush through new experiences.
Connect practice with a real outing
AP’s guide to service-dog behaviour in public looks at the practical demands of sharing space with other people. Use it alongside the checklist when deciding which everyday situations need more preparation.
Include a chance to settle
Teaching a Puppy to Settle on a Mat gives you a focused lesson to return to between new experiences. It explains how to introduce a resting place and make changes to the exercise gradually.
Consider whether the work fits the dog
AP’s guide to suitability for service-dog work discusses concerns that deserve a closer look, beyond whether a dog can perform a particular exercise. For individual skills and further reading, browse the Training Library.