Table of Contents
Introduction vii
Chapter 1 Service Dog Overview 1
Service Dog Basics 1
Things Handlers Want You to Know 3
The Path to Becoming a Service Dog 7
Basic Standards Overview 12
About Service Dogs and the ADA 13
Service Dog History 13
Service Dog Legalities 19
North America 19
Other Regions 29
Chapter 2 Service Dog Types/Jobs 33
Alert Dogs 33
Allergen 35
Diabetic 35
Medical 36
Psychiatric 36
Autism Assistance Dogs 37
Brace and Mobility Support Dogs 40
Guide Dogs 53
Hearing Dogs 54
Medical Assistance Dogs 55
Medical Response Dogs 55
Psychiatric Service Dogs 56
Seizure Dogs 57
Not a Service Dog, but Still a Working Dog 58
Therapy Dogs 59
Emotional Support Animals 59
Facility Dogs 60
Courthouse Companion Dogs 60
Service Dog Considerations 60
Questions to Ask Before Partnering with a Service Dog 61
Issues That Make a Dog Unsuitable 69
"Fake" Service Dogs 73
Fund-Raising Options 79
Partnering with a Service Dog: Final Considerations 79
Chapter 3 Service Dog Selection 81
Service Dog Source 81
Basic Considerations 81
Picking a Service Dog Breed 82
Evaluating Candidates at the Shelter 88
Programs 95
Service Dog Breeds 103
Labrador Retriever 103
Golden Retriever 105
Lab-Golden Cross 106
Doodles 108
Labradane 110
Standard Poodle 111
Bernese Mountain Dog 112
Doberman Pinscher 113
American Pit Bull Terrier and Other Bully Breeds 115
Papillon 116
Mixed Breeds 117
Chapter 4 Service Dog Gear Overview 119
Gear Overview 119
Head Collar 119
Muzzle 120
Face Wipes 121
Collar 121
ID Tag Holder 121
Harness 122
Vest 122
Coat 122
Boots 122
Nail Caps 123
Other 123
Vests, Jackets, and Harnesses 123
Cape Vests 123
Cape Harness 124
Pulling Harness 124
Brace and Mobility Support Harnesses 124
All About Boots 124
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 128
Chapter 5 Service Dog Training 129
Basics of Training 129
The Three Ds 129
Things to Remember 129
Tips 130
Logs and Documentation 131
Titles, Paperwork, and Certifications 134
Puppy Training 135
Puppy Basics 135
Socialization 136
Housetraining 142
Tether Training 144
Place Training 147
Basic Training for Service Dogs 149
First Five Things to Teach 149
Next Steps 154
Public Access Training 155
Vital Public Access Skills 155
Being Prepared to Answer Questions in Public 159
Escalator Safety 161
Required Skills for Flying 162
Task Training 169
Target Training 170
Teaching a Service Dog to Close a Door 174
Teaching a Service Dog to Retrieve 176
Teaching a Service Dog to Retrieve a Beverage 193
Chapter 6 Service Dog Care and Keeping 199
Emergency Preparation 199
Remain Calm and Be Prepared to Communicate 200
Plan Ahead 201
Service Dog Emergency 201
Service Dog Team Benefits 202
Hospital Access Rights 202
The Basics 203
The Problems 204
The Real Facts 205
Things to Consider 205
The Hospital's Rights 207
The Service Dog Team's Rights 208
Health 209
Seasonal Safety-Autumn 209
Seasonal Safety-Summer 211
Work and School 217
Service Dogs at Work 217
Service Dogs at School 220
Retirement 223
When is it time to retire my service dog? 224
What are signs my service dog should be retired? 224
What are the options for my retired service dog? 225
Resources 227
Additional Resources 227
Sue Ailsby's Training Levels Program 227
Susan Garrett's Crate Games 228
Control Unleashed and The Puppy Program 228
Building Blocks for Performance 229
Canine Life and Social Skills Program 229
Learning Games 230
101 Dog Tricks by Kyra Sundance 230
Donna Hill YouTube Channel 230
Teamwork Manuals 230
Sound CDs 231
Glossary 233
About the Author 239
Acknowledgments 241
Index 243
