The Process of Becomng a Service Dog

In order for a dog to become a service dog they must go through “school” training. Most of the puppies received for this job are bred on the training site so the obedient behaviors of past breeds will continue. The puppies are then sent to live with experienced volunteers or families until they learn basic commands and social interactions. After the fundamentals are mastered, they are returned back to the site where each pup will be spayed or neutered. Only then does the rigorous educating begin. Teaching each dog how to walk, see, hear, and even speak for mentally or physically disabled individuals is so demanding that only around half of the dogs graduate. The other half may have been overly hyper, or too eager to play. Those dogs are put up for adoption as well-behaved pets.

The training fee for these types of dogs varies by program and trainers. While one dog may cost nothing, another’s price could be a few thousand dollars. Anyone who has owned a dog knows that between shots, food, and toys, the expenses are not cheap. With service dogs, it is much more. They constantly need different supplies, depending on what they will help with, and the trainers must be compensated for driving them to different public areas to work on a regular basis for up to two years. When a service dog has fully learned how to assist an owner they are paired together based on needs of skills and personality. An owner must pass a screening and an interview to prove they are in fairly good health with an acceptable home. After they are matched the owner has to stay on the training site for several weeks, learning how to groom and control them properly. Handling these dogs in an appropriate way is essential to the collaboration between owner and assister...

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...s, pull wheelchairs, carry baskets/bags, open doors, turn on and off lights, and even balance the owner. They give independence back to a person who, at some time, never thought they would be able to accomplish day-to-day activities. For an emotionally disabled person, they provide affection and comfort in a hospital, retirement home, and even stressful situations. They are trained to wake a handler from nightmares, or panic/anxiety attacks, to bring the person back to “reality”.

These dogs help owners overcome daily obstacles whether it be a branch up above, or an overly crowded public area. The significance of a Service Dog may differ from person to person, but the satisfaction and appreciation of having that security by their side everyday is undoubtedly equal. To some they are just a pet or a best friend, but to many others they are the sole purpose for living.