In this multi-part piece, I tackle using your dog as a service dog….from different perspectives.

There are a number of obvious and not-so-obvious things dogs need to do and be in order to be successful as a service dog – and therefore be allowed to stay by your side virtually 100% of the time. I believe one of the biggest defining factors is not their breed, their age, their size or even sometimes their disposition….instead, it’s whether or not they can focus on you and not the environment around them.

This is a HUGE factor and often one that fails dogs out of training programs. I would also argue it’s probably the number one reason so many ‘emotional support’ dogs have problems when they’re out and about.

In a typical walk down Main St recently, I tried to take note of the same thing the dogs I was walking were aware of. The items included;

• People! And lots of them; some oblivious to us walking side-by-side straight toward us, barely moving over and expecting us to walk through them?! (Uber scary for many dogs) Others would scream and run toward the dogs shouting “puppy!” apparently ready to devour the dogs faces in theirs?! (ditto on the scary part!)
• Cars, trucks, motorcycles, skateboards, bicyclists, diesel engines, horses and buggies and the train – everyone was out that night and each can affect dogs differently. The sounds alone can be intimidating but you throw in the smells, the sizes and the speeds and you (hopefully) can see why a dog (hovering around your knee height) would be nervous.
• The delicious sweet smell of Cinnabon’s! And a thousand other delicious…and not so delicious odors pulling dogs in so many directions. On the ground, against the garbage cans, on the bike tires, in the doorways to the restaurants, in the crosswalks, on the car tires….on the homeless person and their puppy. Smells can be one of the most difficult things to get a dog to ignore – but if he or she cannot, they cannot be a sound service dog.
• Dogs! So many dogs, dogs that wanted to play, dogs that were playing, dogs that wanted to fight, dogs that didn’t want to be seen. They were everywhere. Again, service dogs have to be able to ignore them all including cats, rats, birds, bunnies, etc. everything!

I don’t know about you, but I know plenty of people who cannot even ignore their phone when they’re in a conversation – how many dogs can really ignore all these things in the environment and solely concern themselves with you and your well-being? And consider that great service dogs are acutely aware of everything going on around them, they’re just able to avoid reacting to it.

So your dog cannot ignore all that’s happening in the environment…can you blame them? Very few dogs can. Very few dogs are actually trained, qualified service dogs. It’s not a slam against your dog or any dog. In fact it’s the opposite, it’s the rare disciplined dog and trainer/owner who can not only teach their dogs these crucial skills but find and take the time to repeat them so many times that they’ve become habit and routine.

Next time we’ll discuss those dogs who are nervous and totally focused on you…and their ability to be service dogs.