Pidge and Grimm the Service Dog

  Things you will need for this drill  Treats  Clicker Place for dog to settle on(cot, bed, kennel, etc…)  A companion  Dog desensitization sounds  Click for my youtube playlist  Things that are very distracting to your dog A phrase to signal to your dog to go to the place to settle(Mine is “Go to bed so I will be using that through this guide)  This is the most useful drill I have run with all of my service dogs. It helps dogs work on their desire to run after things or startle. This drill can be started as soon as your dog is reliably doing your command for lying down.  First, start this drill in an indoor environment you and your dog are comfortable in. Set up the place your dog will settle in. I will refer to this place as “bed” but do what works for you. Honestly, you can use a blanket or towel. Command your dog to lie down on the bed several times. Walk them away then walk them back and have them lie down again. Keep this up until t...

  Things I did as an autistic child and why I did them (A Guide for parents)  Sensory regulation  spin in circles  Bob my head aggressively  Swinging while sobbing  these are examples of vestibular stimming* While it doesn’t always look good to others it is important to help autistic people regulate their feelings Refusing to communicate verbally  I am semi-verbal. This means that when I am distressed or tired I cannot communicate verbally I do this because I literally cannot speak. When this happens I need people to find alternative methods of communication with me to avoid straining myself further and risking meltdown Self-harm behavior  I would- - Hit myself in the head  - Kick things  - Bite myself These actions were also a form of sensory regulation but this regulation came from a place of distress. My world was bringing me overwhelming sensations or changes I couldn’t handle Self-harm cont…  I understand that the instinct as a...

  When owner training one of the biggest things you are going to need to know is how to choose a prospect. Now that could be its own post but right now I want to focus on something that makes choosing a prospect a lot easier.  All of this is assuming you also follow guidelines for a responsible breeder for the breed of dog you are looking into. I will not cover those guidelines but please make sure to look those up on your own.  Choosing a good breeder can make your dog training go way smoother. There are a few things to look out for when looking at breeders.  The first thing that can be really helpful is finding a breeder that specializes in breeding dogs for service work. This isn't always a possibility especially if you are going for a less common breed. Trainers who breed for service work should know what training/socialization/desensitization needs to be done in the early days of a puppy's life. My current service dog Grimm's breeder used desensitization sounds ...

  (Name),   I hope this email/letter finds you well! I am reaching out regarding my service dog accompanying me at work. My service animal does (x) tasks that keep me safe and make me a more productive member of the team.  While I know legally speaking my dog has every right to accompany me, I thought that as a courtesy I would reach out to discuss a few things as well as give you a heads-up.  First I wanted to check and see if any of my fellow employees have any allergies and or fears of dogs as we would need to ensure there are adequate measures in place to keep distance between them and me. Whether that be scheduling us at different times or simply having us work in different areas. I am happy to do my best to accommodate my coworkers as they accommodate me! Secondly, I wanted to check and see if there is a designated place that would be preferable to let my dog relieve himself(themself). I promise to clean up any of my dog's waste but I need a location th...

  Migraine alert is a useful task where a dog can be trained to give you a warning before you get a migraine. This is a task, not every dog will be able to do as it is scent based. Some dogs naturally alert, some will need specific training and some will never be able to pick it up. It can be harder for brachy breeds such as boxers as they may have lessened senses of smell.  You will first need to have a queue task down. This can be whatever indicator you want as long as it adequately gets your attention and your dog can do it consistently. I will refer to this command as touch from here on out for simplicity.  First, you will need to decide if you want this task to be based on sweat or saliva. Both work and your dog may respond better to one than the other. Also, masks can make it slightly more difficult for a dog to detect migraines. Grimm often alerts as soon as I get in the car and demask. This can make sweat a better option but I have always had more luck with saliva...

  I'd like to start out by listing things that are legally required of a service dog while in public then go from there. ( ADA PUBLIC ACCESS LAWS FOR SERVICE DOG TEAMS ) The dog should be under the control of the handler at all times(ex. not wandering off lunging at people, etc...)  The dog should not be disruptive(ex. barking excessively one bark to alert is acceptable, growling, breaking property or merchandise.)  The dog should be potty trained.  If a dog isn't following these guidelines they can be asked to leave your place of business.  HOWEVER, despite being highly trained these dogs are still dogs. They will do dog things.  So here are some things you CAN'T kick a service dog out for doing Sniffing things, dogs will sniff it's how they process the world. Unless the dog is trying to eat things or pressing its face on something it doesn't really matter.  Yelping if they get hurt. I have mobility issues and I have stepped on my dog's foot more than...