Four Steps to Service Dog Certification

fOUR sTEPS

1. Basic Obedience & Socialization
2. Advanced Obedience & Continued Socialization
3. Disability Assistance Task Learning
4. Public Access Test Certification

Frequently Taught Disability Assistance Tasks by Service Orientation:

PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOGS (PSD)

Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) and PTS or PTSD Dogs:

• Assistance in a Medical Crisis, for example, backpacking medical related supplies, provide balance support to ambulatory partner, summon help, call 911 or Suicide Hotline on K9 Rescue phone  
• Treatment Related Assistance, for example, alert sedated partner to smoke alarm an assist to exit, alert sedated partner to doorbell, brings beverage to swallow pills/ combat dry mouth, dog gives medication reminders at certain times of day
• Assistance Coping with Emotional Overload, for example, providing a reality check "who's there?" or coping with fear of hidden intruders in the home, arouse from fear paralysis or disassociation spell by nudging handler/ licking handler, or pawing handler, crowd control/ panic prevention in public by circling the partner keeping other people at a distance, providing deep pressure for a calming effect, assist to leave the area by finding exit, tactile stimulation to prevent or combat emotional overload, wake up human partner for work or school
• Security Enhancement Tasks, for example, assist with escape strategies by opening the front door or lighting up a dark room by operating switches or devices like a floor pedal device
• Fear Management in Public, for example, keeping suspicious strangers away
• Reducing Hyper-vigilance through teamwork

mOBILITY dOGS

Mobility Dogs:

• Obstacle Avoidance, for example, avoiding fallen objects on the side walk
• Signal Changes in Evaluation, for example, signaling a sidewalk curb or steps
• Locate objects on command, for example, the t.v. remote, a bottle of water, a medication
• Assist moving wheelchair, avoiding obstacles
• Brace, counterbalance, assisting ambulatory partner to walk
• Transport items, for example,textbooks, business supplies, or other items up to 50 lbs in a wagon
• Backpacking, carrying necessary items in a backpack
• Bark for hep ​

hEARING dOGS

Hearing Dogs: 

• ​Alert to Specific Sounds at Home, for example, doorbell ringing
• Alert to Specific Sounds Away from Home, for example, fire drill 
• Carry Written Messages Between People in the Home 
• Warn of a Vehicle Approaching
• Bark for help ​

Emergency Medical Response/ Medical Alert Dogs

Emergency Medical Response/ Medical Alert Dogs: 

• Alert to an upcoming seizure
• Call 911 or any preprogrammed number by using K-9 Rescue Phone
• Summon Help
• Respond to Smoke Alarm if Partner Unresponsive
• Backpacking Medical Related Supplies
• Bring Medication to Alleviate Symptoms
• Bring a Beverage so Handler can Swallow Medication

Disability assistance tasks can be split into a few main categories

dISABILITY tASK cATEGORIES

Main categories:
​

• Retrieve Based Tasks - "Bringing" for example, medical bottles, beverages, required items
• Carrying Based Tasks (non retrieval) "Transporting items" for example, carry mail, transport items downstairs or upstairs
• Deposit Based Tasks- "Putting" for example, laundry in the washing machine, trash in the garbage can
• Tug Based Tasks- "Open" "Close" "Shut" "Drag" for example, using a strap to open drawers, shut door, assist to remove shoes, operate rope device that moves blankets, drag bedding to laundry machine
• Nose Nudge Based Tasks-(using the nose to nudge something shut or pushing floor pedal) for example, help put paralyzed arm back onto armrest, nudge shut dryer drawer, dishwasher door, refrigerator and freeze door, call 911 on K-9 rescue phone by pushing button
• Pawing Based Tasks- (similar to nudge) "Close" "Shut" "Press Button" "Paw Elevator Button"
• Bracing Based Tasks- for example, assist to walk, prevent fall by bracing on command, steady partner getting in or out of the bathtub
• Harness Based Tasks- for example, tow ambulatory partner up inclines, pull partner out of aisle seat on plane, then brace, transport textbooks, haul open heavy door, holding it ajar, 
• Alert Based Tasks- for example, alert to sounds, upcoming seizures
• Calming Based Tasks- for example, cuddling, using pressure to slow heart rate, prevent self-harm

Dogs Downtown Service Dog: Zara

Read our FAQs for more general information on Service Dogs.

Important Cost Considerations

An important consideration in moving forward is knowing how much training a service dog will cost from beginning to end. The following cost projections are only representative of averages. Throughout the training process, we will adjust the amount and types of weekly training to reflect need which may either raise or lower the cost of training. These cost projections do not include the cost of obtaining the dog, caring for the dog, vet bills, equipment costs, etc.