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  • How did I get started training dogs?
    I've been involved with dogs my entire life. There are photos of me only a few weeks old surrounded by a litter of puppies my parents were fostering. I've grown up with a passion for animals and everyone who knew me knew that I would find a career working with one. I had been taking pre-med veterinary classes the year I became disabled. My schooling was unfortunately put on pause while we figured out the mystery ailment(s) that were reeking havoc on my life. During this time, my doctor suggested looking into a service dog so that I could regain some independence. Unfortunately, at the time, the only option available to me was to work privately with a trainer while raising the dog myself. It didn't take long while training my first prospect to realize I was in love with dog training. Not long after training my first prospect, I began studying to become a professional trainer myself. I have been training dogs professionally since 2016.
  • What are your qualifications to train dogs?
    I am a certified as a dog trainer by Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). My certification from this council is Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). This certification is an intense process to ensure that I have appropriate experience (minimum 500 hours dog training and a reputable reference from another qualified trainer or a veterinarian) and pass a test to ensure my knowledge is accurate. Additionally, I received a certification from the Fear Free certification board. This certification allows me to partner with your veterinary team to ensure successful visits to the vet, teaching cooperative care methods, as well as helping pets overcome things that may induce fear. While this certification is a bit new, the concepts that it stands for is something I have been utilizing in my training plans for a very long time. While these are currently my only certifications in dog training, in my opinion, the learning never ends. Dog training is an ever changing field of study and it is my goal to always stay at the forefront of knowledge in the field. Lastly, I am affiliated with many professional dog training organizations. I am a member of the American Kennel Club evaluators, The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), and The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). If you have any additional questions about my professional education or experience related to dog training, I am always happy to discuss this.
  • What is your training methodology?
    A good dog trainer should be willing to be as open about this question as possible. There are 1,001 ways to train something. So how did I come to the method that I did when choosing how I would go about training the dogs in our program? Before I dive into my personal methodology, I want to make sure we are on the same page about the varying types of methodologies in dog training. The following chart shows the different quadrants of dog training. Many trainers utilize the above four quadrants in various ways, which leads to many different names for training methods. You may have heard of terms like "positive reinforcement", "force free", "L.I.M.A.", "balanced", "dominance training", or compulsion. So which of these do I ascribe to and why? Personally, I consider my training style to be Force Free, Fear Free, and Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (L.I.M.A.) based. These three have several common traits that I identify with. While they do have many similarities, I go by all three labels to avoid confusion regarding my methods. Force free and Fear Free methods rely strictly on Positive Reinforcement (R+) and Negative Punishment (P-) to train and avoid using negative reinforcement and positive punishment. Instead, we will utilize alternative measures to decrease unwanted behaviors or increase wanted behaviors. If that is the case, why do I also identify with the L.I.M.A. training style? I still go under this name because, personally, I feel the guidelines for L.I.M.A. are more cut and dry. I appreciate the steps laid out for the order that I should undertake when training a dog to do a certain behavior. L.I.M.A. lays these steps out in the "Humane Hierarchy". As someone who is a Fear Free Certified Professional, which is a certification which encourages me to reduce fear in my client's dogs and partner with their vet team, I really appreciate the first step of the Humane Hierarchy. This step encourages us to ensure the pet is healthy and there is no medical reason that a certain behavior is occurring. Additionally, it suggests consulting with a vet to ensure that we can't improve the situation with medical care. This is an often forgotten step when dealing with behavior issues that can make a very large difference in the success of training. Additionally, the Humane Hierarchy ensures we set our dog's up for success, which is they key to succeeding in dog training with positive reinforcement. Knowing all of this, why do I go by all three labels? Some people may still use method that involve positive punishment while considering themselves L.I.M.A. Up until a few years ago, this was considered acceptable by APDT and IAABC, the creators of this training protocol. I want to distinguish myself from these trainers so my clients know what to expect in my lessons. Additionally, I go by all three labels because I am a certified Fear Free Trainer. With this being a specialty that not many people can claim to be apart of, I want others to know how this certification impacts my training style.
  • If you don't add punishment, how do stop "bad" behavior?
    The first step for me to discourage "bad" behavior is to figure out the reason why (the "goal") the dog has when performing this behavior. Example: Many puppies and dogs jump on their human counterparts to get attention. The first step in this process is to figure out why the dog currently finds this situation rewarding? Example: Yelling "no!" at them still is rewarding them with the attention the dog is seeking out. Next, I need to figure out how I can manage my environment to set my dog up for success. Example: my dog jumps on my family and myself when we first get home. So, I might consider having my dog behind a gate inside my home. This way, he no longer can jump up on me. If he jumps up on the gate, I can disengage by turning my back or leaving the room. Once I know the goal and how to set my dog up for success, I will try to find a preferable behavior that will achieve the same goal but be incompatible with the current "bad" behavior. The key is to reward the good, alternative behavior while avoiding reinforcing the "bad" behavior. Example: I taught my dog to lay down inside the gated area before I come fully inside and give him attention. If he were to get up and try to jump, I would once again exit and start over. To ensure my dog truly finds this more valuable than jumping, I give him both food and praise. Over time, you will see the dog vastly prefers to do the preferable action rather than the "bad" behavior we were struggling with before. This was all without using any form of punishment to correct the behavior and instead redirect it to a preferable action.
  • Other than service dogs, what else do you train dogs for?
    While training service dogs is my passion, there are many other training goals I frequently help others achieve. I train a lot of non-service dogs in obedience. I train therapy dogs intended to help the general public. I use behavior modification to teach a dog alternative behaviors we'd prefer instead of the ones we consider "bad". I train with reactive dogs to help them become less reactive towards certain situations. I also work a lot with cooperative care to help dogs lend a hand in taking care of their own health and wellbeing. Do you want to train for a goal not listed here? Reach out and see if it is something we can accommodate. If not, I am happy to help refer you to a trainer that may be better equipped to train with you.
  • Do you certify service dogs? Do you provide IDs? Do you suggest registering my service dog?
    In the USA, service dogs are not required to be certified, have any identification, or be registered. Some independent organizations may provide these options to fully trained dogs. These options are not legitimate unless coming from an organization who has trained your dog and administered a public access test. While some organizations may provide an ID card, register your dog, or provide a certification - please note that these items are not what qualifies a dog as a service dog. Our organization will verify your dog is qualified to work as a service dog, but we avoid language like this regarding how we do so. This language can be misleading and promote things like scam registries or the mistruth that identification is required for a service dog in the United States.
  • How long does it take to train a service dog?
    This answer fluctuates depending on several variables, like (but not limited to) the following: the age of the dog when they starting training what socialization/desensitization the dog has had previously If the dog may have any forms of trauma or displays any fears/anxieties the needs of the disabled person (what tasks, whether the dog will need public access, etc) the experience of the owner as a handler The average training time is roughly two years. While it may not take two full years, the big thing is to not focus on rushing this timeline. Rushing our dogs can easily lead to the "washing" (career change) of a prospect, early retirement, or major setbacks in training. It is very important to work at your dog's pace and not train full tasks before they are emotionally and physically mature.
  • What breeds do you suggest for service work?
    While any breed can be a service dog, there are certain breeds that excel more at this work than others. Our number one suggestion will always be a well-bred Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever. These dogs are most versatile and excel at most types of service work. While not all prospects will succeed at service dog training, these breeds tend to have the higher success rates. While not as successful as the aforementioned breeds, well-bred Poodles can also be a good choice, particularly for those who are looking for a low-shedding breed. If you ever need assistance determining a breed or a breeder to work with for a service dog prospect, please reach out to Rachell via the Contact Us button. We would be happy to figure out the best breed that fits your needs, regardless of if it is a "popular" service dog breed choice.
  • Where do you suggest getting a good service dog prospect from?
    The best place to source a good service dog prospect is from an ethical breeder. Learning how to identify an ethical breeder can be a challenge. The following are a few of the things I look for in an excellent and ethical breeder: The parent dogs all have the appropriate testing done (according to veterinarians and official kennel clubs for the breed). The parent dogs display excellent temperament by competing in sports and titles. Preferably these titles align with service dog work. Titles I love to see are related to Obedience, Rally, Agility, Hunting, Tricks, etc. Titles I may avoid are dogs with protection work titles as these dogs may have traits I don't want in a service dog. The dogs are bred with health and temperament as their main goals. This may mean going above what the breed standard requires to ensure a physically and mentally healthy puppy. I prefer a breeder who offers an extensive health guarantee. This guarantee should not be limited to what food you feed. Keep in mind, this guarantee only applies if it is a health related concern for most breeders. Personally, I want a dog who has a guarantee at least until they are fully grown. This is because dog's projected health may change during different stages of puppyhood. I want to ensure the puppy I work with is going to be healthy when I have their final OFAs performed at 2 years old. The breeder will be just as strict with their evaluation of you and your home as you may be of their dogs and their breeding program. They won't just give a puppy to anyone. They will want to ensure your home is the perfect home for a puppy from their lines and your goals for your puppy are in alignment. Keep in mind, many breeders may be wary of service dog homes. I do not suggest evading or lying about this as the breeder may be denying your puppy application because she knows her dogs wouldn't make a good prospect. You will find the perfect breeder if you have patience and are as ethical as you aim for your future breeder to be. This list is not exhaustive. Feel free to contact me with help looking for a good breeder for you. I love to help my clients find a breeder that is perfect for their needs and is able to provide a great prospect for service dog training!
  • What do you look for in a good service dog candidate?
    There are a lot of qualities I love to see in a good service dog prospect. Here are five qualities I find to be most important to see: Sociability When discussing the sociability scale for dogs, this applies to all sorts of stimulus a dog might come into contact with like humans, other dogs, wildlife, and other animals. This scale goes from "social" to "selective" to tolerant" to "aggressive". See the visual below from Dog Mad that describes a dog's sociability to other dogs. While it may seem counter-intuitive since a service dog should be focused on you and not on making friends, I would much prefer working with a social dog than any other option. It is much easier to teach them boundaries, to be a "neutral dog", and to focus on you, than to teach a dog to love other stimuli that they have a preconceived notion on why they "should" not like it. Unfortunately, while most puppies are social, most full grown dogs are not. They may be selective or tolerant, but not fully social. While it is not impossible to work with a dog who is selective or tolerant, it does increase the difficulty and decrease the likelihood of graduating as a service dog. Confidence Many people may equate confident dogs with those who they also describe as "dominant" or territorial. This is incorrect. Confident dogs have few fears and recover easily when under stress. These dogs are calm and focused in new environments. While they may make mistakes while learning something new, they do not hesitate to learn when the circumstances increase in intensity and difficulty. Motivation to Learn While there are many ways to train a dog while remaining in force-free methods, the easiest, by far, is with treats. A dog may demonstrate their own willingness to eat specific types of food, but as long as they are willing to work utilizing food and food lures, this is a food-motivated learner. While we can train with toys, praise, and affection, it can be much harder to be successful with this method when doing service dog training. That all being said, we don't want a dog so motivated for food that they resource guard. Energy and Drive Just like in many aspects of training, the answer on how much energy a service dog prospect should have or what kind of breeding lines they should have varies among different trainers. Typically, there are two different goals in mind for breeding that can present two different subsets of temperaments within one breed: show and field. Generally, show dogs will have a lower energy and drive, while field will have a higher drive and energy. The amount this varies depends on the specific breed, kennel, and dogs being bred. This all being said, I have found the most successful service dog prospects are those that are "dual purpose" bred. They can get up and go on your busy day. They are eager to learn and please. Meanwhile, they don't mind taking a day off when the time calls for it. They also can have an easier time settling, both at home and in unfamiliar areas in public. Loyalty When it comes to your relationship with your service dog prospect, you want a velcro dog. This is to say that we want a dog who loves to stick by your side no matter what is going on. Velcro dogs love to follow their owners throughout the house and may even check in with their owner intermittently during fun play sessions with their friends. This is especially important if you need a service dog who can perform medical alerts. That being said, we don't want a dog that is so glued to your side that they lose their confidence when alone or suffer from separation anxiety. Are you unsure if your prospect is a good fit? Do you need help finding a good prospect? I offer free evaluations of a service dog prospect. Please contact me today to schedule an evaluation!
  • Can my dog be a service dog?
    Possibly, only an evaluation could give us a hint to that answer. This is impossible to guarantee, but we can evaluate to see what the advantages and disadvantages may exist when beginning training with a particular candidate. Keep in mind that even the best service dog organizations worldwide will have a 30-50% success rate when it comes to training service dogs. This rate even includes prospects who have generations of successful service dogs and were hand picked for the work. There are many uncontrollable variables that can play apart in the likeliness that a dog will succeed in this work. I will always aim to be honest and thorough about your dog's trajectory during my initial evaluation, every training lesson, every checkpoint evaluation, and our final public access test. For any dogs that are a 'wash', or career change (aka they will not make it as a traditional service dog), I will lay out any possible alternatives and next steps. For example, many 'washes' may occur due to a dog being unable to succeed as a service dog in public. In these cases, we may train a dog to assist you at home, at least until a new service dog prospect can be located and trained.
  • What can disqualify a dog from service dog work?
    There are many reasons that a dog might be disqualified from being a service dog, but lets talk about the two major categories of reasons and some examples of those. This list will not be exhaustive. Health Reasons If your dog is significantly impacted by a chronic health impairment, this may be a reason to wash. A phrase I typically utilize is " if your service dog would qualify for their own service dog, it is unethical to work them." Examples may include but are in no way limited to: Cancer Heart Disease Kidney Disease Diabetes Hip or Elbow Dysplasia Luxating Patella Arthritis Diabetes Inflammatory Bowel Disease Seizures Epilepsy Hypothyroidism Cushing's Disease Temperament Similar to Health Reasons, there are also many reasons a service dog will 'wash'. The only temperament issues that are legally required to be a wash would be: Aggression Not potty trained Not able to remain under control (example: reactivity when they see men with big beards) A nuisance for the general public (example: demand barking for attention) Additionally, the following are examples of a wash that might occur for ethical reasons: not enjoying work not tasking successfully, regardless of reinforcement (for example: medical alerts are currently considered a natural talent that is reinforced with training. Some dogs can be trained to alert during training sessions but may not apply this training in real life.) burnout If you are concerned about if your dog is qualified to work, the best way thing to do would be to schedule an evaluation to get input on your specific situation.
  • Who qualifies for a service dog?
    In the USA, if you are considered to have been diagnosed with a disability, then you would qualify, regardless of the exact diagnosis. A diagnosis itself does not mean you are disabled. Theoretically, I could have what is deemed a very serious diagnosis, but not be impacted by it 'enough' for it to be considered a disability. Meanwhile, you could have a diagnosis that the general public doesn't view as 'serious' but easily meet the definition of disabled due to your condition's severity. Lastly, keep in mind that the definition of disability in this case, is much different than the one where you may receive social security payments from the government in the form of SSI or SSDI. Determining if you meet the definition is one area of having a service dog that I cannot directly help with, as I cannot determine for you if you are disabled, only the doctor treating your condition may. I can however tell you the legal definition as it pertains to service dogs and work with you and your doctor to learn how to proceed. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines this as "An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment". Let's break this quote down to truly understand it. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) will break these terms in the ADA down further in 28 CFR § 35.108 - Definition of “disability.” "Physical or Mental Impairment" (b) Physical or Mental Impairment (1) Physical or mental impairment means: (i) Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more body systems, such as: neurological, musculoskeletal, special sense organs, respiratory (including speech organs), cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, genitourinary, immune, circulatory, hemic, lymphatic, skin, and endocrine; or (ii) Any mental or psychological disorder such as intellectual disability, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disability. (2) Physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, contagious and noncontagious diseases and conditions such as the following: orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments, and cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, intellectual disability, emotional illness, dyslexia and other specific learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic), tuberculosis, drug addiction, and alcoholism. "Substantially Limits" (d) Substantially limits (1) Rules of construction. The following rules of construction apply when determining whether an impairment substantially limits an individual in a major life activity. (i) The term “substantially limits” shall be construed broadly in favor of expansive coverage, to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA. “Substantially limits” is not meant to be a demanding standard. (ii) The primary object of attention in cases brought under title II of the ADA should be whether public entities have complied with their obligations and whether discrimination has occurred, not the extent to which an individual's impairment substantially limits a major life activity. Accordingly, the threshold issue of whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity should not demand extensive analysis. (iii) An impairment that substantially limits one major life activity does not need to limit other major life activities in order to be considered a substantially limiting impairment. (iv) An impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active. (v) An impairment is a disability within the meaning of this part if it substantially limits the ability of an individual to perform a major life activity as compared to most people in the general population. An impairment does not need to prevent, or significantly or severely restrict, the individual from performing a major life activity in order to be considered substantially limiting. Nonetheless, not every impairment will constitute a disability within the meaning of this section. "Major Life Activities" (c) Major Life Activities (1) Major life activities include, but are not limited to: (i) Caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, sitting, reaching, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, writing, communicating, interacting with others, and working; and (ii) The operation of a major bodily function, such as the functions of the immune system, special sense organs and skin, normal cell growth, and digestive, genitourinary, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, cardiovascular, endocrine, hemic, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems. The operation of a major bodily function includes the operation of an individual organ within a body system. (2) Rules of construction. (i) In determining whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity, the term major shall not be interpreted strictly to create a demanding standard. (ii) Whether an activity is a major life activity is not determined by reference to whether it is of central importance to daily life.
  • What type of service dogs do you train?
    I have experience training the following types of service dogs: Allergen Detection Service Dogs Autism Support Service Dogs Guide Dogs Hearing Alert Service Dogs Medical Alert Service Dogs Medical Response Service Dogs Non-Weight Bearing Mobility Service Dogs Psychiatric Service Dogs
  • What rights does my service dog have in the USA?
    A fully trained service dog has several rights in the USA, depending on the circumstances of your situation and the location this takes place in. As I am not a lawyer, it is inappropriate of me to provide legal advice, but I will provide several sources to specific laws for your viewing below. Public Access Americans with Disabilities Act Americans with Disabilities Act Frequently Asked Questions Employment AskJAN - Accommodation and Compliance: Service Animals as Workplace Accommodations AskJAN - Dogs in the Workplace: A Paw-sible Solution AskJAN - A Guide for Coworker Interaction with Service Animals in the Workplace: Consultants' Corner on service animal etiquette AskJAN - Taking a Service Dog to a Job interview - Public Access or Reasonable Accommodation?: Learn more about how service animals are treated under different titles of the ADA AskJAN - Service Dog Breed Exclusions and the ADA: Learn more about service dogs as an accommodation AskJAN - Emotional Support Animals in the Workplace: A Practical Approach, Volume 12, Issue 04 Housing Fair Housing Act Notice FHEO-2020-01: Assessing a Person’s Request to Have an Animal as a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Fair Housing Act (January 28, 2020) Joint Statement of HUD and DOJ on Reasonable Accommodations Under the Fair Housing Act Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications Air Travel American Carrier Access Act U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form - Sample U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form - Sample U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Final Rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals Amendments to Federal Laws Code of Federal Regulations. Title 28. Chapter I. Part 35. Subpart B. § 35.136. A Table of State Laws Table of State Service Dog Laws by Michigan University's Animal Legal and Historical Center
  • What rights does my service dog have in my specific state?
    A fully trained service dog and service dogs in training have several rights in the USA, depending on the circumstances of your situation and the location this takes place in. As I am not a lawyer, it is inappropriate of me to provide legal advice, but I will provide the Table of State Service Dog Laws by Michigan University's Animal Legal and Historical Center.
  • Does my service dog in training have equal public access like a fully trained service dog?
    No, at least not federally. However, some service dogs in training may have extra rights depending on the location and circumstances of your situation. As I am not a lawyer, it is inappropriate of me to provide legal advice, but I will provide the Table of State Service Dog Laws by Michigan University's Animal Legal and Historical Center.
  • What do I do if my service dog is denied access somewhere?
    The most important thing to remember is to remain calm during this process. It is the hardest part but most important. Start with education. Pull up the appropriate source of law and offer to go over this with the employee. If they feel more comfortable with it and have access to the internet at their work, suggest they look it up on their own device to ensure it is the government website. If it is legal where you are located, record your situation. Do not make a big show of recording this. Even an audio recording here will be helpful. If asked, let them know it is only to protect the both of you and you are willing to share a copy of the recording with them. Ask to speak to a manager or a person in charge. If you are only speaking to an employee, let them know you appreciate their help but would like to ensure the policy with a person of management. Ensure you continue recording. This is because management will be considered a voice of the business, whereas an employee isn't necessarily. They may also be mistaken on the policy. Once they confirm the policy, ask if they will read over this government website with you. Once again, try to educate, but do not force the issue. You can only lead a horse to water. You cannot make the horse drink. Leave and report the situation to the appropriate department of government. After management has confirmed their stance both before and after attempting education, submit a report to the appropriate government department. There may be several reports you can and should make. For the ADA, this would be the Department of Justice. Here is the link to report a violation. For the FHA, this would be the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Here is the link to report a violation. For the ACAA, this would be the Department of Transportation. Here is the link to report a violation. For a State's Service Dog rights violation, this is typically by reporting it to your Attorney General but review your state's laws and website to ensure that is the appropriate way to proceed.
  • Can a service dog be trained in protection work? Can they participate in bitesports like Schutzhund?
    No. Training a dog in either bite sports or in protection work legally removes your rights to use that dog as a service dog and goes against ethical requirements set forth by the industry. Legal Aspect: This portion is not in the ADA itself but it was written by the DOJ (who enforce the ADA) as an amendment to the ADA. It's discussed in an Appendix of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Department basically discusses the loose wording of the term "protection" in the ADA. This is found under “Service Animal” - "Minimal Protection" in the released discussion for 28 CPR in Part 35 Appendix A to Part 35, Guidance to Revisions of ADA: PART 35 — NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES. Subpart B — General Requirements. § 35.136 — Service animals. "The phrase can be interpreted to allow any untrained pet dog to qualify as a service animal, since many consider the mere presence of a dog to be a crime deterrent, and thus sufficient to meet the minimal protection standard. These commenters argued, and the Department agrees, that these interpretations were not contemplated under the original title III regulation, and, for the purposes of the final title II regulations, the meaning of “minimal protection” must be made clear." "While many commenters stated that they believe that the 'minimal protection' language should be eliminated, other commenters recommended that the language be clarified, but retained. Commenters favoring clarification of the term suggested that the Department explicitly exclude the function of attack or exclude those animals that are trained solely to be aggressive or protective. Other commenters identified non-violent behavioral tasks that could be construed as minimally protective, such as interrupting self-mutilation, providing safety checks and room searches, reminding the individual to take medications, and protecting the individual from injury resulting from seizures or unconsciousness." "Several commenters noted that the existing direct threat defense, which allows the exclusion of a service animal if the animal exhibits unwarranted or unprovoked violent behavior or poses a direct threat, prevents the use of 'attack dogs' as service animals. One commenter noted that the use of a service animal trained to provide 'minimal protection' may impede access to care in an emergency, for example, where the first responder, usually a title II entity, is unable or reluctant to approach a person with a disability because the individual's service animal is in a protective posture suggestive of aggression." "Many organizations and individuals stated that in the general dog training community, 'protection' is code for attack or aggression training and should be removed from the definition. Commenters stated that there appears to be a broadly held misconception that aggression-trained animals are appropriate service animals for persons with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While many individuals with PTSD may benefit by using a service animal, the work or tasks performed appropriately by such an animal would not involve unprovoked aggression but could include actively cuing the individual by nudging or pawing the individual to alert to the onset of an episode and removing the individual from the anxiety-provoking environment." "The Department recognizes that despite its best efforts to provide clarification, the 'minimal protection' language appears to have been misinterpreted. While the Department maintains that protection from danger is one of the key functions that service animals perform for the benefit of persons with disabilities, the Department recognizes that an animal individually trained to provide aggressive protection, such as an attack dog, is not appropriately considered a service animal. Therefore, the Department has decided to modify the 'minimal protection' language to read 'non-violent protection,' thereby excluding so-called 'attack dogs' or dogs with traditional 'protection training' as service animals. The Department believes that this modification to the service animal definition will eliminate confusion, without restricting unnecessarily the type of work or tasks that service animals may perform. The Department's modification also clarifies that the crime-deterrent effect of a dog's presence, by itself, does not qualify as work or tasks for purposes of the service animal definition." Ethics: There are many people who work dogs with disabilities or tasks that can be dangerous to a dog, that doesn't make it an ethical decision. Most educated and experienced trainers will never suggest the cross training of a SD and Personal Protection Dog or a service dog cross-trained in bitesports like Schutzhund. This is because most trainers realize that dogs are just that: dogs, not robots. This means a dog can misread a situation and react incorrectly. A dog who has been encouraged to protect or react in certain instances is way more likely to do so incorrectly than a do who has never been trained to do so. I am a certified trainer who originally got my start into professional dog training mentoring under a trainer for Schutzhund and PPD work. This trainer previously worked at a Service Dog organization, which is where we met. However, I followed her to her new job when she worked with bite sports/protection work so I could understand that world better. Even though she transitioned from one industry to another, we had repeatedly discussed with clients all of the information in this message. Additionally, here is what the IAADP says about it: "Prohibited Training: Any training that arouses a dog’s prey drive or fear to elicit a display of aggression for guard or defense purposes is strictly prohibited. Non aggressive barking as a trained behavior is permitted in a very few, select situations, when no other trained behavior can accomplish the task in appropriate situations." Source to this direct quote is from IAADP's Public Access Test. This also goes against the industry standard according to Assistance Dogs International. As a reminder, "Assistance Dog" is the term adopted internationally for a "Service Dog". Assistance Dog: a generic term for a guide, hearing, or service dog specifically trained to do three or more tasks to mitigate the effects of an individual’s disability. The presence of a dog for protection, personal defense, or comfort does not qualify that dog as an assistance dog. Assistance dogs are covered under many legislative access laws for public access rights when working with their disabled handler Why is this a concern regarding legal and ethical standpoints?: Here are reports of Schutzhund dogs attacking without cause. This website reports several cases of service dogs who were cross trained as Personal Protection Dogs or service dogs cross-trained in bitesports like Schutzhund attacking unprovoked (many times it was involving children and/or fatal). The concern of ours, the industry, and those that wrote the law is that dogs do mess up. Even if not trained on live bites - they are trained to increase that drive which can increase the likelihood of a reaction.

© Paws With Perception, 2023.

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