How Do I Train My Dog To Be a Service Dog?
Eclair, a service dog candidate, practicing relaxing while in public
Originally published March 2019; updated November 2024
The very first service dogs were guide dogs trained to assist blind veterans of World War I. Since then, the service dog field has grown to include mobility dogs, medical alert dogs, psychiatric service dogs, seizure response dogs, hearing dogs and more.
As awareness of these dogs increases, more individuals wonder if their own dog might help them. If you’re one of those people, here are some prerequisite questions to consider!
Step #0: Are we talking about the same thing?
One of the first things I do when talking with an owner about service dog training is double-check vocabulary — it can be confusing!
Service Dog.
This dog is specially trained to perform tasks that mitigate his handler’s disability/disabilities. He has public access rights into locations that don’t allow pet dogs (such as restaurants and grocery stores).
Service dogs do not have to be registered or certified in the USA and they are not required to wear any special equipment or identification.
The only legal requirements are a disabled handler and a dog trained in tasks that mitigate that disability.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA).
This dog helps his handler by being there and does not require any training for the designation. Although a dog’s comforting presence can be incredibly valuable, it is not recognized as a “task” by the Americans with Disabilities Act. ESA’s only access rights are housing rights under the Fair Housing Act.
Therapy Dogs.
This dog helps people other than his handler, and should have training to ensure good manners and the skills needed to perform this job. He does not have public access rights, but is invited to work in places like libraries, hospitals and nursing homes.
Step #1: Does your dog want the job?
If a Service Dog is what you need and you already have a dog in mind, a professional assessment of the dog’s temperament is next.
This step is crucial and, unfortunately, where a lot of otherwise lovely pet dogs fail.
The world is extremely chaotic, and service dogs have to be comfortable in it to fully support their handler. Toddlers screaming, shopping carts clattering, and men in baseball caps can’t ruffle their fur.
“But isn’t that what training is for?”
Service dogs do require a lot of training, and a lot of that involves teaching them to be extremely well-behaved in public places.
However, training cannot make a scared dog comfortable enough to thrive as a service dog. Forcing a dog into a job he doesn’t enjoy and isn’t suited for is not only unethical, it doesn’t ultimately help the handler or the dog.
If you’re in the Austin, Texas area, Sarah Bond at Bond Dog Training provides assessments.
Step #2: Training
If your dog’s temperament gets the green light, the actual training can begin!
A qualified, reward-based trainer is invaluable in guiding you through the process as efficiently as possible. Training your own service dog is like a marathon and you need a good coach! Be prepared to spend 1-2 years training
It’s also a good idea to include your doctor or therapist in the process — especially if you think a dog could help you, but don’t know exactly how. Once you’ve identified which parts of your day or activities are most difficult and what kind of aid is most effective, the trainer can join the conversation about how a dog might be trained to assist.
The training process usually involves three or four big categories:
Basic life skills (e.g. potty training, crate training, etc.)
Basic obedience (sit, down, come, etc)
Tasks
Public access
Even though a Public Access Test is not required by law, it’s still a good idea to train to a standard the industry accepts.
Want to know even more about training your own service dog?
Check out this short webinar from Every Dog Behavior and Training and Sarah Bond, CDBD, CPDT-KSA
