Service dog training question - Page 1

I must preface this by saying I have a desperate situation with my son, who has multiple medical conditions.  We are working closely with his doctors to manage as best we can.

That said, we would like to train our GSD to do some service-dog related tasks in our home.    She's smart, good pedigree, and we have some beginning schutzhund work.  She is mainly limited by my skill as a trainer, and not her ability to learn.  She adores children, and seems to know they require special consideration.  We are training her to gently grab a sleeve or shirt hem to pull someone away from a dangerous location in our house.  The house itself is not dangerous, it's just that our son is making some unsafe choices.  This is mainly an issue when he knows we can't see him, but if Georgia could alert us by barking and physically block him, things would be much better.

My questions is, how would you train the dog to do this out of sight of the handler?  This would be somewhat similar to guarding a stationary object.

Any resources would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance,

Opal

Sounds like the dog is suitable for the tasks your require of her.  I would seek professional help from and assistance dog school.  This is not a situation where you want to try this and that from an eboard.  You need to do it right from the getgo and you need professionals to help you.  Otherwise, the dog may become confused and unreliable and that would be worse than no training at all.

Wishing you all the best help you can find.

CD

I feel fairly confident that you COULD teach  your girl almost anything, however, it is very important in service dog work and training that you are confident in teaching, consistent and that the dog is proofed and rewarded for her job well done.

I also recommend that you contact a professtional trainer that has done service dog work and training, not therapy dog training, but actual service dog work.  That person needs to come and assess your home and requirements and be able to follow through with your girls training without interruption or confusion.  That begins from the basic training through all of the tasks that you want her to perform one by one.  It can be done however, it does take technique and time.  My GSD boy is 7 and he still is learning and still does have to be reminded at times.  So it is an ongoing task.

Good luck and I hope she is everything you need and want.  Service Dogs of America or Delta Association might be able to put you in touch with someone in your area.

I agree with all of the above.  Where are you located if I may ask?

If you want this dog to be doing Service work, it is highly advised to stop the SchH training (at least protection).  I've learned over the course of having my own SD that having your dog trained in a sport that involves biting while the dog is ALSO a working service animal could me your dog is considered a concealed weapon.

We're in Wisconsin.  We haven't done much protection training because I was really working on a foundation of obedience first.  She's almost 5, and we've had her 3 years.  She was rehomed with us from her breeder, and we started from square one - no focus or respect, just an underlying good temperament (first owner did nothing with her).  We had a great trainer in Alaska, it's just a matter of finding someone here to work with but I appreciate the pointers on what to look for.

My goal is for this to be in the home - or son would not be able to manage a dog at this point.  He is legally blind, and at some point when he's older, a service dog would benefit him greatly.

Thanks,

Opal

Oh!  You're in the same state as me, Opal (lovely name).

Good point Xeph, however, if someone asks me if they can pet my boy I 'SAY no"  HE IS WORKING.  Well doe she bite?  I say YES.  After all, he is for my protection and not for the public to pet or anything else.  That is how I want him.

I go with everyone else: professional training from a certified trainer of assistance dogs.

"I have a desperate situation with my son, who has multiple medical conditions...our son is making some unsafe choices."

You are asking this dog to do nothing less than save the life of your son.   How  can you possibly want anything less than the absolute best of assistance dog training?

Thanks - I got some pms about specific trainers that might help.  I knew our local service dog organization did not help people train their own dogs, so I really needed other resources. 

Our son presents unique challenges, and even though we see top-notch physicians, they are also unable to provide any insight into his behavior.  We will do whatever it takes to keep him safe.

Opal

Sorry for the late weigh in on your issue.

I have carefully read all of the responses to you questions and agree with most.  However, one thing that is hard for people to understand is the difficulty of getting professional "service dog" training help in a timely fashion.  It is ussually 2-5 years and serveral thousand dollars and then they only want to take on the cases they feel will be most successful. Please keep in mind this is not to be cruel but to be effecient, especially with the numbers of wounded military personell that are returnining.

I know, as I train medical service dogs for the psych field.  It is very heart breaking to turn someone away or place them on a lengthly waiting list.  Just because of criteria.

So. A couple of years ago I started working on a "Owner-Trainer" (O-T) Program.  Where if a person met (once again) a set of criteria.  We would do what I called "training outside of the box". 1. Helping them pick out a dog and negotiate the price, saving $$$; 2. Weekly group and sometimes individual training, Speeding time and saving $$$$; negotiating with vets for their serv, saving $$$$, etc. All of the cost saving we did was to help them due to ALL of our client being disabled and limited incomes. So for its working.  BY THE WAY IT TAKES US A FULL YEAR So be patient.

90% are GSD
10% Labs - kids carry labs to school the schools are not to wild about GSD (although ADA 1990 said they must allow any service animal) we just don't fight that battle.
0% Pits or other pit types - another battle we will not fight

I said all of this to tell you seek out a "OWNER-TRAINER PROGRAM" in your area this may open doors - the professional trainers are probably hesitant to tell you the truth about training service dogs.

Good Luck,
Happy New Year