Foundation Obedience
Every service dog starts with solid basic obedience. These commands are non-negotiable:
- Sit — reliable in all situations
- Down — especially with duration and distance
- Stay — with distractions present
- Come — recall under any circumstances
- Heel — walking precisely at your side
- Leave it — ignoring food, items, and distractions
Public Access Skills
Service dogs must behave impeccably in public. Essential skills include:
- Settle — lying quietly at your feet for extended periods
- Under — going under tables or chairs to stay out of the way
- Wait — pausing at doorways and thresholds until released
- Back up — moving backward to create space
- Watch me — refocusing attention on the handler
Task Training
Beyond obedience, service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks related to the handler's disability:
Mobility Assistance
- Pick up dropped items
- Open and close doors
- Pull a wheelchair
- Provide balance support
- Brace for transfers
Medical Alert
- Alert to oncoming seizures
- Detect blood sugar changes
- Alert to sounds (for deaf handlers)
- Alert to anxiety/panic episodes
Psychiatric Service
- Deep pressure therapy
- Room search (checking for intruders)
- Interrupt repetitive behaviors
- Create a physical barrier in crowds
Training Tips
- Start young — begin socialization and basic training as early as 8 weeks
- Use positive reinforcement — reward-based training builds a willing partner
- Be consistent — use the same cues and expectations every time
- Generalize — practice in different environments and with increasing distractions
- Keep sessions short — 5-10 minute sessions are more effective than long ones
Professional Help
While owner-training is possible, working with a professional service dog trainer ensures proper task training and public access readiness. Look for trainers experienced with your specific disability needs.
A well-trained service dog is a partnership built on trust, consistency, and clear communication.