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PSD LIFESTYLE
So how do you start off right? How can you be sure that the precious money and time you are going to spend will payout in the end? The short answer is that there is no absolute guarantee. But there are guidelines and clues that you can use to minimize the chance that your service dog won’t work out. There are three basic training formats for service dog training. First, there is the option of a fully-trained service dog, where the animal comes to you fully trained. This is obviously the most expensive kind of training. Next, a trainer may provide you with a partially-trained service dog (known as a service dog in training). That approach is less expensive but would require that you, the consumer, complete the training for your dog. Finally, you can take on the task yourself to obtain a dog and, perhaps with the help of an experienced trainer, train the dog yourself. Regardless of which of these plans you choose, knowing what to look for in a trainer is essential to the success of the project. Here are some of the characteristics to pay attention to and questions to ask when obtaining either a fully or partially trained service dog from a professional trainer. Openness. Is the trainer open about where the dog to be trained came from? Is it a rescue animal? What is known about the dog’s developmental history? Will he or she allow you to watch a training session? Also, ask if you can visit another dog that the trainer has trained. Does the dog obey commands quickly and willingly or grudgingly? Will the trainer allow you to come see the kennel arrangement? Meet the trainers? If not, think twice about doing business with them. The Contract. As was said before, service dog training is expensive, and you, as the consumer have the right (and the need!) to make sure you will get value for your money. A key point to discuss right at the start is ownership of the dog. Some trainers prefer to retain ownership rights to the dog, even after he is sent to you and the training bill has been paid in full. The lingering fear that the trainer could lawfully reclaim your Service Dog after you have thoroughly bonded with him is too anxiety-provoking for some handlers. Thus, final ownership of the dog is something that you should address early-on in your discussions with the trainer. In addition, there is likely to be a lag time, sometimes very lengthy, between when you send the trainer the money for your dog and when the dog is actually delivered to you. You should ask what happens to the money during that time. Is it held in a trust, in case the dog they promised doesn’t work out? Do you have to pay all up front (never a good idea!) or will they let you pay a portion at the start and the balance when you are sure the dog meets your needs? What if, for some reason, the trainer cannot deliver a dog of satisfaction to you, do you get a refund? A partial-refund? Be sure to be clear on the trainer’s reimbursement and refund policies – have them written into a contract with the trainer if possible. Behavior Testing. Has the trainer tested the dog for her temperament and aptitude? Ask to see the temperament testing notes and score sheet for the dog. The Monks of New Skete, experts in dog training, explain the importance of aptitude testing in their book, The Art of Raising a Puppy. Just as with people, there are some dog temperaments that are just better suited to certain tasks and others that are not. What evidence does the trainer provide that the dog is appropriately tempered for working in public where chance encounters may include rowdy children, loud clanky moving objects and other potentially startling surprises? Health Testing. You want to be sure that the animal is thoroughly tested by a veterinarian for a wide variety of possible health problems. The trainer should give you the written report from the vet’s office, and it should be expected that you may call the vet to follow-up with any questions you might have. Among the most important tests that should be run: heartworms, internal parasites, thyroid function, and eye certification. For larger dogs, they should also be screened for hip dysplasia. The dog should also be current on all his required shots and the trainer should be willing and able to provide you with the proof from the vet on this. All this may sound like a lot to do, but a service dog with health problems will not be of help to you. These are relatively easy steps to take to try and rule out some common problems. Training the dog. Will they show you video of the dog working? How about her public access skills? Is there videotape of the dog acting appropriately off-leash? In public? Do they keep training logs that record how many hours of training were done with the dog? Who are the trainers? What kind of background do they have? Will they give you references from others who have had their service dogs trained with them? If so, follow up and talk to the people who have dogs trained by the group or person you are considering, you could learn a lot about what to expect from them. Will the dog obtain a Canine Good Citizen certification (a measure of dog obedience training)? What other tasks will the dog be trained to do? It is also particularly important that the dog be trained to complete tasks off-leash. You never know if you will need the dog to take steps to help you when you are not able to give her a command in the usual fashion because you are not well. Training you. What kind of program do they have during the dog’s training period to incorporate you into the program? What kind of follow-up training do they have after the dog has been placed with you? Do they come to your home to see how you are doing? Offer advice about how to improve your communication with your dog? If you get the feeling that once you’ve paid for the dog you are off their radar, look for another trainer. You are probably feeling exhausted after reading that to-do list of questions and clues, and there is a lot of work to do. But remember, this is all so that your quest to obtain a service dog becomes a dream situation, not a nightmare.  Acknowledgements: The author thanks Nora Terrell for substantive input and Courtney Mayers for review of the manuscript. Back to PSD Lifestyle
© 2008 Psychiatric Service Dog
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