I need help with teaching my 5 month old service dog

Command for him to watch me two fingers at his eyes n say (watch momma)

 

Ok, I do not mean to be rude here but am I missing something?

The OP has stated she has epilepsy and that she needs a service dog. From what I have read on these dogs they are trained to react to a seizure. Not sure they need to be put into "work mode" to function. The seizure itself is the cue for the dog to enter "work mode".

" seizure dogs are responsive, not preventive, meaning they do not detect seizures but rather aid their handler in the event that a seizure does occur."

So it seems to me that the dog does not need to be in work mode 24/7.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

Hi @Jessica Daniels it sounds as if you could be trying to train to many things at one time from your last 2 posts plus learning to open doors, picking up phone etc etc. If he us finding the 'learning game' too hard, he won't want to play and will show behaviours of 'not listening' or 'being silly' - all methods to deflect. I would slow the training down and focus on just one new 'job' at a time and refine all the basics. For example it seems that you are trying to teach 'leave' to mean at least 3 different things all at the same time. Normally we would teach 'leave' to mean one thing (usually tasty treats) and once that is solid and on cue and solid in different locations you can start to extend the meaning of 'leave' to apply to whatever you ask him to leave. Personally I wouldn't use leave in reference to other dogs but just for attention to me. He does need to be able to meet, greet and play with other dogs to maintain his socialisation/habituation but at our invitation on a release word - other than that I ask for attention to me with either a kissy sound or mouth click

 

Would some training with a specialist in training medical detection dogs be more useful as this is so specific? I think trying to train on your own might be too difficult and overwhelming. x

 

You are right that no dog (or human) can be expected to be in work mode 24/7. That may have been the original problem, just understanding that her pup can't, even as an adult, be 100% of the time in work mode. Then the second challenge was the dog following commands in some environments (at the doctor's office) but not others (at home).

I'm actually mystified about how they train dogs to detect seizures. It would be really interesting if Jessica could explain. I would think that it would need some sort of "play acting" in teams, if that makes sense, so one person can pretend to have a seizure while the other works with the dog to shape the desired behaviour. But if he's already doing all that plus the other things Jessica mentions, seems he is actually doing amazing for his young age.

The thing any service dog needs to master regardless of the actual service is how to behave in public. The bulk of the exams (which vary by organization and function) are the basic stuff of good public comportment: a rock solid 'wait', 'leave it', complete lack of reactivity to other dogs. Then tasks specific to the human half of the team get added on to that: alerting for a seizure, picking up and retrieving items, turning lights on, etc.

So while a service dog isn't in work mode all the time, maybe a better definition would be to say that they need to be READY to go into work mode 24/7 and when in public, even when not performing a SD task such as alerting to a seizure, they should behave to a certain standard (not weeing in the grocery store, for example!).

I didn't have a seizure alert dog, but did a LOT of research (you know me, lol) into owner-trained service dogs, SD certification and schools which accepted owner-trained teams. While it's kind of a big unregulated mess out there (at least in the US) there are good schools and trainers out there if you look and pay close attention to referrals.

Most of what I'd call reputable schools had a similar set up: you handle puppy's first 6-12 months with the usual full barrage of puppy classes (puppy I/II, Intermediate I/II, Advanced I/II/II), then on to a Canine Good Citizen test, then on to the service dog school. Some schools were live in (big $$$ and time commitment), some in person only (classes or private) and some remote. I chose remote, self paced with weekly trainer check ins by phone and anytime access by email. We had a very structured syllabus and worked through specific tasks each week under the direction of the trainer. When the syllabus was completed and with the approval of our trainer, we flew to the school's location for our exams.

I found this very good as it gave me a structure plus a great trainer to get me over the bumps. I still got frustrated at times, but it was much less confusing and overwhelming than doing it by myself, yet much easier to self-pace than if I'd been in a class setting with other student teams.

But there are lots of great options out there, especially in the age of YouTube and online everything!

 

Ur right and wrong all n one go to this website usaservicedogregistration.Com it will tell u what they can and cannot do

 

I have never had a lab act like him he doesn't have the same normal lab puppy behavior he is more laid back n calm except for when he c a dog,cat,kids,n his barkbox arrives that's it other than that he wants to love on me n sleep n go where ever I go at all times

 

Sounds like a wonderful boy!

 

That site is nothing more than a bogus enterprise to collect money.

There is no "registration" of service dogs in the US. They "register" them alright, in their own database after they collect some money. The law is very clear on service dogs in this country. And it is becoming a problem with people who claim their dog is a service dog so they can take them everywhere they go. They go to sites like the one you listed so they can say "oh, my dog is a registered service dog". Means absolutely nothing. The Americans Disability Act is very clear on this matter. No registration or certification is required.

The real facts about service dogs in the US can be found here:

https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html