Service dogs are highly trained working animals that assist people with disabilities, often after nearly two years of intensive preparation and at a cost that can exceed $30,000.
While they may appear naturally obedient, these dogs undergo years of rigorous training, beginning at birth, to perform life-changing tasks that support individuals with physician, psychiatric, or medical disabilities.
“My dog was in the Seeing Eye School. Although he didn’t complete the program, he is extremely well trained, and the experience showed me just how beneficial a service dog can be for a blind person,” said junior Morgan Sternthal.
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is defined as a dog that can perform a specific task for a person with a disability.
These important tasks can range from guiding someone visually impaired, alerting handlers to blood sugar changes or interrupting panic attacks and seizures.
The owner of a Psychiatric Service Dog trained to mitigate symptoms of PTSD, Shir Simon said, “My dog allows me to move through the world with confidence. His training, focus and gentle behavior are life-changing.”
One common misconception of service dogs is that they are therapy dogs or emotional support animals; however, service dogs are specifically trained for tasks relating to disabilities and are granted public access as a result of their training.
The journey for service dogs begins at birth, and not every dog qualifies. Puppies are evaluated at a young age for traits such as calm temperament, focus and adaptability.
Typically, puppies are tested at a young age to see whether they are suited for the job, and may be removed from training programs due to being anxious or distracted.
Although certain breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds, are commonly selected, breed alone does not determine a dog’s suitability for service work.
Service dog training is a long and structured process ranging from 18-24 months, if not longer. Early training emphasizes exposure to various environments, loud noises, crowds and food distractions to ensure dogs can remain calm and controlled.
This phase is followed by basic obedience training, such as leash walking and ignoring distractions.
During advanced training, dogs are taught to perform disability-specific tasks.
A medical dog may learn to detect certain small changes in blood sugar or respond to seizures.
“Sometimes the best medicine has four legs and a wet nose,” said the owners of Huff, a Warrior Canine Connection Service Dog trained for aiding wounded veterans.
Public training is also crucial so that every service dog can reliably perform their given duties in every environment.
However, training to become a service dog comes at a steep financial cost, averaging between $15,000 and $30,000 per dog. Expenses include all necessary equipment, housing, food, professional training and veterinary care.
As a result, many people choose to own-train their dogs, which still requires a professional trainer. Fortunately, some non-profit organizations fund service dog training as well.
Even though both money and time are very important for service dog training, so is human connection.
Junior Violet Berman said, “Service dogs are a partner to the person, and that relationship is what makes the training actually work in the real world.”
Successful service dogs require a handler who is willing to adapt their lifestyle and even reinforce daily training for their service dog. Therefore, training never really ends even after placement.
There is also a rise in “fake service dogs” who are untrained pets that are brought into public spaces.
These dogs endanger actual service dogs and can distract them from performing their necessary tasks for a person with a disability.
Proper training and public awareness are essential to protecting service dogs and their owners.
