Comments on: Train your “service” dog

By: Dan Fox

Dan Fox — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:50:22 +0000

Wow, way to miss the point. Several hundred words on service does and not one of them is “disability” or “disabled”. And no matter how well-trained a dog is, it cannot be a service dog unless its owner is disabled. The mere fact that a dog may be “of service” doesn’t cut it.

I’m really sort of boggled that you seem to think it’s OK for people to fake that their dog’s a service dog just as long as it’s well-behaved enough to pass. It’s not.

By: debi

debi — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:18:16 +0000

I need to train a lab/shepard to be of service to an
elderly lady I am a caregiver for, anyone help me
with this? I cannot attend a class as it is a
24 hour a day job.

By: Lyra

Lyra — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:44:31 +0000

(c0nt) place. no one has the right to judge another. if you have a problem with it ask a manger to check for the proper tags and leave the disabled alone. and i do train my dogs to fit the appropriate venue of a service dog. for you animal haters……sad so very sad…you will never understand what a service dog can do for some one. i pray a member of your own family never needs one. pity you for what you find out about the needs of the disabled person….rock on pet lovers and disabled…..be kind and don’t hate.

By: Pets

Pets — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:31:13 +0000

There should be some training, but the pickle is who is to decide how much is enough.
One idea is to have applicants for service dog tags have their dog pass the Canine Good Citizenship test of a variation of that.

By: Lynn Holmes

Lynn Holmes — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:31:33 +0000

I agree, all breeds have the potential to be trained as a service dog. a companion dog should not be confused with a service dog. training for specialized skills should come before the license.

By: Janice Goodman

Janice Goodman — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:16:19 +0000

Thank you for this article. I have a hearing disbility in both ears. One of my dogs is able to alert me to sounds or movements while we are outside by her movements. This is especially evident when she is on leash, which is a short 18 or 20 inch leash. She is a mixed breed of who knows what. Our new GSP puppy has quickly become very protective of our home and yard. He is able to awaken me at night while I am sleeping without being obnoxious and bark when necessary to get my attentiong (we’re still working on when to and when not to bark, but he’s still a puppy!) I now sleep much better when my husband has to travel out of town on extended business trips.

I am very interested in recieving more training for myself and to help others in the future. Schooling at CCI or ADI/Bergin University of Canine Studies is not an option at this time due to other commitments.

I am a firm believer that almost any dog can be of service in one way or another. I hope that humans don’t ruin this program just so they can take their pet to any public place.