Pidge and Grimm the Service Dog

  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...