Obedience training
All dogs should undergo obedience training is something that a in their lifetime.
Basic obedience training usually begins at 8 weeks of age and includes the common commands: to sit, stand, etc.
Puppy obedience training should focus on socialization.
During this time, the puppy can actively experience as many situations as possible to build confidence and prepare him for the environment of other dogs, people, places and sounds. But behavioral training doesn’t end at a young age.
Mastered commands should be regularly consolidated and new tricks taught. Your dog needs daily mental stimulation and exercise.
Obedience training is a great way to mentally exhaust your dog while bonding with you.
You can even enroll your dog in a training class if you need guidance during the process. Attending a puppy play class for socialization is highly recommended. Dog interaction is essential to a dog’s well-being and social behavior.
Handlers simply use their voice and body language to guide their dogs over obstacles. Do not touch the dog or entice it with treats. To avoid overloading the developing joints, agility training should begin at age 1. Training will vary depending on the dog’s temperament and size.
Shy dogs need more work to not be afraid of certain obstacles like tunnels. Obstacles should be adapted to the dog’s size, as giant mastiffs can be a little slow and smaller breeds can fall off certain obstacles.
We recommend that you attend a beginner agility class and try it yourself to see if your dog is apt for this type of exercise. We also have access to all the gear you need and other experienced handlers. Start with these easy and fun dog tricks.
Behavioral training
Behavioral training is a bit like obedience training, but focuses primarily on basic dog behaviors and how to work out unwanted behaviors.
That includes housebreaking, digging, barking, biting, being kept on a leash, and coming when called.
To ensure that your dog is well behaved, the American Kennel Club has developed the Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC) to assess your dog’s behavior.
To learn more about the exam content and how to take it, find the Canine Good Citizen Test here. If you really struggle with behavior problems, read the resources on this blog or consult a professional behaviorist.
There is nothing that hard training and understanding cannot solve.
Therapy Training
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and affection to people in schools, hospitals, hospices, or other settings.
The therapy dog category is not protected by law and does not have special privileges like service dogs.
To be certified, your pet must pass her AKC Therapy Dog her test. Our training courses are accredited and prepare your dog for therapy visits. The qualities that a therapy dog should look for are:
- very sociable
- calm and gentle
- friendly to strangers
- well educated
- high stimulation threshold
- trained laces
Almost any dog can become a therapy dog, but Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are the most common breeds.
There is nothing that hard training and understanding cannot solve.
Tracking
Tracking is another great sport for dogs who love to sniff.
Some dog breeds are particularly well suited for scent work – Take the Bloodhound for example!
Their large ears are there to block out sounds while tracking scents. Watch the following video on how to teach your working dog how to track correctly.
Remember that any dog can engage in light tracking work. The game actually starts off as a hide-and-seek game. There is nothing that hard training and understanding cannot solve.
Protective Training
Protective training is a type of dedicated obedience training. Not all dogs are suitable for protection and guarding, as certain qualities must be used as a basis.
Learn about the best guard dogs and what to expect with proper training.
A guard dog should be fearless, confident, controlled, and naturally suspicious of strangers. Breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers are perfect for this job.
Do not attempt protective training without proper instruction. Guardian breeds have an instinct for this, and need not foster a natural distrust of strangers.
Various Protection training courses are available. These courses will likely have some requirements, such as basic obedience commands such as sitting, staying, and stepping.
Service Training
The most common are guide dogs and diabetes dogs just to name a few.
To get a service dog, you will need to get a written document from your doctor or psychiatrist where your physical or mental condition is clearly stated.
The service dog has to be tailored to your specific condition.
The training will depend on the type of service dog that is required.
Service dogs can be trained privately but not everyone has the ability and knowledge for such a long and dedicated training.
There are many agencies that specialize in the years of training that these dogs require.
Autism Service Dog
Service dogs for autistic children and adults perform physical and mental duties.
These dogs not only provide their owner with comfort when stressed, they also can perform routine tasks. They also are trained for emergencies such as preventing an autistic child from running away.
They often wear vests with contact and emergency information.
Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD)
Diabetic alert dogs can smell subtle changes in human blood sugar levels. You can tell if it’s too high or too low before it reaches dangerous levels.
Hearing dogs
These dogs are specially trained to alert their deaf owners to important sounds.
They inform the owner of the noise and direct him in the direction. For example, you can ring a doorbell, hear your name, or sound an alarm such as a car horn.
Seizure reaction dog
These dogs are taught to respond to seizures by protecting their owners, obtaining medication, enlisting the help of people, and raising alarms.
These dogs often learn over time to anticipate and respond to impending seizure.
Service dogs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD service dogs can provide their owners with comfort and safety to go about their daily lives. They can even calm her down and remind owners to take their medicine.
HOW TO GET A SERVICE ANIMAL
Taking care of animals is a great way to improve your mental health. However, not all landlords allow pets. This can be avoided if your psychiatrist confirms that you need an emotional support animal. There are other types of service animals. It’s important to understand what you want to get, as the steps are different for each type.
The procedure is different for each country. In the US:
Emotional Support Animal (ESA)
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is exactly what it sounds like, a pet that provides emotional support. ESAs require no special training (beyond the normal training your pet requires). Dogs and cats are the most common, but any domesticated animal can become an ESA.
ESA falls under the Fair Housing Act. This allows people with ESAs to keep pets in their homes, even if they have a “no pets” policy. The law also prohibits additional ESA pet fees. You can also bring a small ESA on board for free. Unlike assistance dogs, ESAs cannot enter other public places where pets are not normally permitted.
To benefit from ESS, you need a prescription from a psychologist. This is basically a signed letter stating that you have a mental illness and that your pet is helping you.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to perform duties on behalf of a person with a disability. This may be a physical, sensory, mental, intellectual or other mental disorder. Only dogs are legally considered service animals. Other pets are only recorded as emotional support or therapy animals.
Qualifying for a service dog is easy, but it’s a little harder to get the dog itself because the training and investment required to produce it are both intensive .
Before getting any kind of pet or service animal, it is important to seriously consider the responsibilities that come along with it. Think about whether you can care for it physically, mentally, and financially. Service animals in particular are a big commitment.
To qualify for a service animal, you need to obtain documentation from your healthcare provider that you are being treated for an emotional or psychiatric disorder or disorder and that you require animal assistance. The job your dog is trained to do should be specific to your condition. Training a service dog yourself is difficult and can take years. Acquire a companion dog, usually from someone else who has already been trained.
The US Dept of Justice Civil Rights Division has information about applying for a service do