[OneMoreTime]

I will do a later thread about just how many right federal law gives the owners of Emotional Support Dogs. While there is a FEW places you can't legally go, if you have a Well-Trained dog that Behaves like a Service Dog in pubic places and around people, and your dog wears an identifying vest while working in public, you will have a great deal assistance.

This, of course, is very important for those of us who have difficulties leaving our homes and apartments, but who can handle going places with the emotional support of a dog.

SOME PEOPLE may already own a dog who gives you tons of love and affection, who makes life worth living, but IF you want a dog that can accompany you in public, that dog needs to meet certain behavioral standards.

Even in the selection and training of Professionally Trained SERVICE Dogs, it is very difficult to take a tiny puppy and predict which ones will eventually become successful Service Dogs and which ones will flunk out and have to become "just family pets".

Some training agencies are beginning to search for candidate dogs among younger adult dogs found in dog shelters. If you are looking for an EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG that you will be able to vest-up and take out in public to accompany you virtually everwhere, then this can help you SELECT an appropriate dog to be your companion.

This way of testing dogs was discovered via a professionally conducted study and produced high percentages of appropriate dogs who could be trained to the high level of a Service Dog. A dog passing this test will make a superior Emotional Support Dog for you.

Next Post will be the test with the PASS/FAIL criteria.

Teri

[OneMoreTime]

[SIZE=1]Selection Criteria Items That Were Tested for Effectiveness in Predicting Future Behavior and Training Aptitude

Many (not all) dog shelters (as opposed dog pounds) have employees or volunteers who have been trained to administer this test. If they have no such person, then it is best to pay for an hour of a qualified dog trainer's time to come to the shelter and thoroughly test a dog who seems to you and the attendants to be a potential good client to pass this test. Having a professional do this keeps YOU from possibly being bitten on the pain, pinch and the settle down test (where the dog is held in a submissive position).

If you decide to do this test yourself with a shelter employee nearby and helping with the test (don't forget the halloween or party mask), then print out these test procedures so you do them correctly and grade them exactly as directed.

for more please follow this link http://www.animalsandsociety.org/***...jaawsweiss.pdf

[OneMoreTime]

SO, How Successful Was The Above Screening Process In Selecting Trainable Dogs??

The dog was first given a couple or so weeks to get used to living in the new environment. During this time, it is important for the new owner to not begin instilling bad habits by rough play (by owner or children), encouraging the dog to develop bad habits and do limit the number of new people and situations. Work on calmness and normal behavior, and no exciting play, just calm petting and lots of loving praising talk. Lots of GOOD dogs.

If the dog is not yet crate-trained, this is the ideal time to initiate this and to house train the dog with the crate (and if needed) by keeping the dog contained to a small area with tiled easy-to-clean floor surfaces. Some people close off a kitchen with toddler or dog gates. This gives the dog a view and a sense of being part of the family. Don't close the dog up in a bathroom or utility room, or shut him up in the garage.

Use wee-wee pads if necessary and they are made in a variety of sizes and inexpensive in discount stores. There are instructions on how to transition your dog from indoor wee wee pads to going only outside. For dogs who continue to have training problems, this can save a relationship.

But how did the Training go in this study?

Forty of the 75 dogs learned BOTH the obedience and the retrieval tasks in the allotted 5 weeks of training.
And Thirty-three dogs had learned all the obedience tasks in those 5 weeks and had entered the retrieval portion of training but had not reached the success criterion those 5-weeks.

Only two dogs did not complete training because it was later determined that the trainers were at risk of injury because of their aggressive behavior. These were dogs who passed the prior tests, but who apparently had some prior problems or who had problems with the particular training.

73 Dogs out of 75 is PHENOMENAL. WIth carefully screened and selected puppies, you are still lucky to get 50% to grow up and achieve this success in such a short time.

Some dogs completed their obedience traing very quickly, and some a bit slower, but all of these carefully tested and selected dogs trained in a reasonable period of time.

None of these shelter dogs had any prior retrieval training, but again the rates of success were tremendous. Dogs trained to do such things as retrive a critical medication or bring a cellphone or paw at an emergency alert button, or wake their owner or a number of other tasks can be certified as full-fledged Service Dog.

Regardless, any of these dogs that were rescued from shelters on the basis of BEHAVIOR rather than cuteness were universally qualified to become successful "out in public" Emotional Support Dogs.

[OneMoreTime]

Post Training

In the category of good service (good service dog potential), 5 dogs of the 73 were given the highest rating and 15 the lowest. Dogs also were rated on the degree of reinforcement needed to produce a consistent response when learning a new command.

What did the study prove? That dogs that respond well to human contact are likely to be more pleasant to train.



So realize that a properly thoroughly trained Emotional Support Dog can be available to anyone who can afford the adoption fee of an adult animal at any number of shelters in your area. You get the chance to spend more and better time, and get the testing done at a shelter than you do in buying a dog privately or going thru most breed-speciality rescue organizations.

The idea of a puppy can be very appealing, but if what you want and truly need is an emotional support dog, then a puppy is a very risky bet. Even if he is professionally screened for you, the odds still against the puppy growing up into the dog your need.

On the other hand, with an adult dog, you know EXACTLY who and what you are getting. Plus you are gaining a valuable assistant to make your life better for you and go places with you within two months.

I am already planning to secure my own Emotional Support Animal. Living in an apartment, I will have to get print-outs of all the needed federal law details to provide the manager along with the prescription from my doctor (the prescription can ALSO come from your therapist).

I was looking at getting a tiny toy dog, but decided to get a medium sized dog who can jump on the bed and off without risking a broken leg. Also, I need the exercise and a toy dog can get all the exercise they need in a very short distance -- and I need a couple of miles a day.

Teri

my resource for information about that study - found in an earlier given study...

Selecting Shelter Dogs for Service Dog Training
Emily Weiss

Department of Psychology
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

published in the
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE,

5(1), 43–62
Copyright © 2002, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

http://www.animalsandsociety.org/***...jaawsweiss.pdf

[OneMoreTime]

This is the MOST terrific thread on the "Our Pets" Forum
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6245

This is about the famous trainer, Cesar Millan, who works WITH ADULT DOGS by using the pack theory... that dogs simply need to know who the alpha pack member is so the dog can be happy and relaxed in knowing his place in the pack. He teaches Dog Psychology based on a dog's reality.

This theory did certainly not start with this trainer, but he is the first to use it (and use it so well) as the very core of Cesar's training. It is so exciting and impressive to see him "walking" an entire crowd, a PACK of dogs --and not a leash in sight-- but all of them are focused on him and all of them are under his control rather than running wild, sniffing and peeing on things every step of the way.

It was pointed out that you can find these used, sometimes discounted, and at many librries in their DVD lending library. Cesar Millan has a book, too, but they say you truly need to see Cesar's show (on the National Georgraphic channel on Cable and satellite) and watch the DVDs of his shows to really let him train YOU how to interact with your dog.

I know from (second hand) experience (and it is talked about on this thread above) that some "dog training classes" teach you a great deal of very bad, even counter-productive techniques and advice.

So PLEASE read this thread http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=6245 and take the advice to heart.

Teri

[dogodlvr]

Is there a resource book or class to help with training an emotional support dog. I know how to train basic dog obedience. Can the dog be trained to respond to sadness and anxiety and provide nudges and licks and then be considered a service dog by responding to a need?
I have depression and sometimes it is difficult for me to leave my house. I do not want to do anything anymore. I also have been diagnosed with ADD.

[OneMoreTime]

Originally Posted by dogodlvr

I know how to train basic dog obedience. Can the dog be trained to respond to sadness and anxiety and provide nudges and licks and then be considered a service dog by responding to a need?

Hello there ..... The fact that you know how to do basic training is the best first step. While I know of no book (or instructions online), it really isn't needed, per se, because what we are talking about is the kind of reinforcement training done by movie dog trainers to have dogs do this behavior on command. Buy or make specially desirable treats. Perhaps cut up (can use kitchen shears) a pound of raw liver into small pieces, then pan fry until "dry". Put small numbers into ziplock sandwich baggies (can refrigerate another, freeze the rest). Keep this baggie next to you where you stay during the time you are during your awake times. Start by calling your dog to you, then reward him with ONE piece. Knowing that you have MORE goodies will make the dog hang around, hoping for more. Keep the baggy cradled within the curve of your arm (perhaps the one near, possibly, the edge of your pillow). With EACH "treat-seeking behavior", give another tiny piece with whatever other reward response your dog responds to best - depending on your dog, this may be verbal bragging or it may be a head rub, et al. Do NOT reward whining or other begging behavior at any time from this point on - nor give treats for any other training or "just because" during the training. NONE. When unwanted behavior is shown, do NOT make eye contact. When doing a training session, LOOK sad, SOUND sad - as mournful as you feel. CRY if you feel like it, let the sorrow out. But even during "reward time", maintain the mood. If you have ever trained the dog to NOT lick your hands or face, you will have to untrain this - and it is possible, even if you have to start by rubbing a bit of cooked liver where you want the "kisses". " Bumping for attention" training can be done by holding the treat within a loosely closed fist, then rewarding. At first, the desired behavior may (probably) need the treat reinforcement, plus the talking/rubbing/et al rewards. This is OKAY if it occurs in public. If you want, by a service/emotional support "dog in-training" tag or emblem for any cape you might want your dog to wear. They now make a variety of capes for even tiny dogs now. If your dog wears a harness rather than collar during outings, then you can clip any identifying tags to the leash ring on top. REMEMBER, IF you have a letter prescribing an emotional support animal, go to Kinko's and have them reduce the letter and laminate it so it can be carried in wallet or purse. If you request a letter prescribing an Psychiatric SERVICE dog, be certain that the psychiatrist understands the precise federal definition of a DISABILITY which can help him determine if your disorder qualifies to the level of interference with your life. (I copied out that part of the law). Sometimes someone wanders by and announces that Psych Service Dogs do not exist and are not protected by law, but remember this: Only your psychiatrist can determine whether your mental condition persistently enough qualifies you for a condition of disability (whether or not it is related to or co-existent with any "official" disability you qualify for under the law). BEWARE!! IF someone lies (pretends) that they are emotionally/mentally DISABLED under the federal definition, they can be arrested, tried in a federal court and fined up to $10,000 for breaking the law. Someone can file a complaint with federal authorities (and it could possibly happen, for sure), so I urge people to not try to pretend your "I wish I could take him/her with me" into situations limited strictly to SERVICE animals is true and protected, gawd have mercy on your savings account or income. I wish you luck.... I think you can do it if you have already managed to do good training with your present dog up to the present. OMT

[OneMoreTime]

irritated I am

[JettAustin]

Thanks for the helpful information!
Would you happen to know if there are any books or at least instructional material that could me motivate or train my dog?

Thanks in advance!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. -Bill Gates

[OneMoreTime]

Originally Posted by JettAustin

Would you happen to know if there are any books or at least instructional material that could me motivate or train my dog?
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. -Bill Gates

Hi, Jett .....

There are three different kinds of dogs when it comes to knowing what kind of reinforcement is most effective... here is a google page to a number of pages that may provide help &/or links to the help you need. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...AAAKoEBU_QrX77
(you use "dog training" treats praise touch as the search terms)

The three kinds of reinforcement are PRAISE, TREATS and TOUCH...

If your dog is small (tiny stomach), then if treats are what most motivates, then break the treat into the tiniest possible pieces - high aroma (like in Pupperoni or tiny morsels of cooked liver) means more than what does it taste like - try tasting Pupperoni to get the idea - they are sweet, not the least bacony or meaty.

My dog adores treats, but alone they are NOT enough to make her interested in behavioral changes. And she is NOT a cuddler at all and does not like to be touched much at all, actually, so patting her and giving her head rubs are not very effective alone...

But she ADORES verbal praise - nothing else brightens up her eyes and makes her tail wag.. When she hears my voice, she always turns to give me attention, especially when she knows I'm talking to her. Verbal praise alone has been fantastic since I do distance training - like a command of "Ho" tells her to stop dead in her tracks and not move...

So you have to know your dog --- I can't mix treats and praise with mine as the treats totally distract her, make her want to come to me, and just simply bring training to a screeching halt. Maybe another trainer might have success with her using treats, but it will never be me!

So you have to know your dog... There are a number of different famous trainers (and retrainers) who have written books or appeared on television (even years ago with "No Bad Dogs"), and I suggest rather than sign up for a course or buy a book, to first check out your library. They are no longer constrained to what is on their shelves since libraries can now borrow from other libraries at minimal to no cost to you at all. You can borrow DVDs and VCR cassettes, too.

And if you want, go watch training classes going on somewhere nearby (some big pet shop chains sponsor them). You can bring your dog along if he needs socialization (in terms of comfort and being relaxed, ignoring people and dogs around him/her). But first, if you have access to Animal Planet, watch the "it's me or the dog" show (think that is the name) with the thin Englishwoman who often helps people with EXACTLY the problems most difficult if they appear in Service Dogs of any ilk.

Maybe you can find an online website where you can make goals, track progress, etc ... I would be surprised if someone hasn't created one yet.

Good luck - and tune in Animal Planet (check online if you don't get this channel). Remember that dog-training is dog training, but that excellent socialization and obedience are key - the rest is all the age and personality of the dog you choose. Puppies aren't it ... and neither is your average Jack Russell Terrier.

Theresa