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September is dedicated to our service dogs and all the help they provide. But how are they chosen? How are they trained and what does that include. And how are they matched with their masters? I have looked into these questions and you can see the results…all about service dogs…below.
Companion Dog vs. Service Dog
First, I located the Disabled Veteran Empowered Network which tells about Service Dogs and the differences between Companion Dogs and Service Dogs. They show that Companion Dogs are not able to escort their person into public establishments nor are they trained to tolerate a variety of experiences as are Service Dogs. Also Companion Dogs are not trained for one specific person but are mainly for emotional support. Whereas training of a Service Dog is not for emotional support but to help with one person’s specific needs. You can see the chart here and check out the top canines to be trained as companion animals: Disabled Veteran Empowered Network.
Training Costs: Companion vs. Service Dog
According to the Dog Alliance the costs for training a Companion dog depend on how much and what type of training one needs. Private lessons are $75 to $150 for each session. Group lessons can be found for $250 to $500 for 6 to 8 weeks of training. And Board and Train for 1 to 4 weeks average $1,500 to $4,500. In addition there is a certification fee of $100 to $300.
The service dog, however, is a lifelong investment for independence and needs training beginning in puppyhood. The Academy of Pet Careers tells us that the costs can vary widely. The factors influencing the total cost include:
- Selecting the right puppy or dog
- Training duration and intensity
- Location of facilities
- Health and veterinary care
- Specialized equipment and gear
So the average cost of training a service dog in general estimates from the Academy of Pet Careers are as follows:
- Guide Dogs $20,000 to $50,000
- Mobility Assistance Dogs $15,000 to $30,000
- PTSD Dogs $10,000 to $30,000
- Autism Support Dogs $10,000 to $25,000
However, there are several programs to help with the service dog training costs including Veteran’s Assistance programs, non-profit organizations, charitable groups, grants and scholarships, and community fund raising.
How Service Dogs are Chosen
In an article from the American Kennel Club, entitled “Service Dogs 101”, an organization named NEADS World Class Service Dogs breeds and receives some puppies donated by pure bred breeders. This organization “..works closely with reputable breeders to determine whether their puppies are appropriate for our program based on the temperament, health and behavioral history of both the dam and the sire”. NEADS also selects alert, high-energy dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups as candidates for training as hearing dogs.
They mainly use Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds but maintain that regardless of breed, the dogs best as Service Dogs are those that “are handler-focused, desensitized to distractions, and highly trained to reliably perform specific tasks. They are not easily diverted from their tasks at home or in public and remain attentive and responsive to their owners while working”.
Service Dog Needs
Training of a Service Dog depends on the need or needs of the dog’s future handler. For example, there are Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for those hard of hearing, Mobility Dogs for balance problems, Medical Alert Dogs for those with seizure issues for instance, psychiatric service dogs, and so on. They can be large or small depending on their handler’s needs. Papillions, the article mentions, are great ‘hearing’ dogs; while a mobility issue definitely calls for a larger breed.
Professional Handler Training
There are many professional training organizations available to train service dogs. However, a handler is not required by the American Disabilities Act and USA service dog laws to use a pro training group; the handler can train their ‘service dog’ themselves. A handler can also apply for a certification to more easily enable themselves getting into public areas with their dog and even on a plane. But they do have to have a disability and train their dog to assist them with that specific disability. For example the dog needs to be able to notice a drop in blood sugar and acknowledge such for their diabetic handler or to be able to let another person know of the drop, and to retrieve medications.
Online Training
Since the training is so involved and expensive many handlers do the training themselves. They can also take advantage of online training tutorials. One online training company is Service Dog Training School.org. The training is an ongoing process in order to keep the service dog in tune and alert. There are just two questions a handler can be asked or challenged with and those are: “Is the service dog required due to a disability?”; and, “What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”. A handler can also register their service dog to make it easier for any one questioning them to verify his or her service animal.
The AKC has some recommended training courses available to handlers for foundation training issues like their AKC Canine Good Citizen program and their Confidant Puppy E-Learning course. These programs are available for pure-breed or mixed-breed dogs.
Charitable Organizations
There are also organizations who do provide service animals for people with disabilities. One such organization is Canine Companions which trains service dogs and collects donations just for the purpose of being able to provide a person with a disability their own service dog free of charge.
Professional training groups report that 50 and up to 70 percent of their dogs fail to meet their qualification process. And, in that event, there are many households available to scoop up those animals.
Typical Length of Training
The Dog Base gives us the time of 18 months to 2 and one half years. The timeline:
- Puppy Socialization – 0 to 6 months
- Obedience and Social Access Training – 6 to 12 months
- Task Training – 12 to 18 months
- Advanced Public Access and Certification – 18 to 24 months
The dog’s public interaction and training for the particular disability task it needs to learn is what takes so much time.
Also take a look at “The Importance of Service Dogs for Disabled Individuals”. And one other is entitled: “Honoring our K9 Vets: a tribute to military and working dogs”.
Animal Videos
Compliments of Big Geek Daddy, enjoy everyday heroes.
Second in line is about animals saving other animals.
Third see some super hero dogs.
Thanks
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