TRAINING
WHEN DOES TRAINING BEGIN?
In most cases, service dogs are either bred by the organization itself, or they are generously donated by breeders. There are few organizations that are willing to let people obtain the dogs themselves and then train them. What happens in most cases is that the puppies are born and then soon after (usually at around 8 weeks of age) are given to foster families. These foster families are responsible for socializing the dogs; this will also include basic tasks like house training and obedience (5). These dogs usually stay with the families until they are between ten and sixteen months of age (6). During this period of time the families would be expected to perform tasks like taking the dogs to the mall, so that they can become accustomed to technology like elevators and escalators. Most importantly, the dogs need to interact with as many people and other dogs as possible in the early stages; because they need to maintain composure later on, and without this early exposure they will not be able to. After living with foster families for twelve to eighteen months the dogs then go back to the organization's training school for a few months of specialized training. They will then meet their future owners- this is where the responsibility for the owner begins.
TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR SERVICE DOG OWNERS
As stated above, a seizure dog is a huge responsibility from the start. Before the dog moves in with you, you will have to attend intensive training sessions with it. The two of you will need to become comfortable with one another. The length of these training sessions varies, depending on which organization you will be using. Some take two weeks, and some take three, or perhaps even more. Even after the formal training you will have to continue training the dog within your own home. You will need to understand how much work goes into training a service dog. Before you receive the dog it has already received an extensive amount of training. After you receive it you will still have to train it to tailor it to your needs. For instance, you may need to train it to be able to flick on and off all of the light switches in your house; this will not take a day or two, it will most likely take weeks of reinforcement. Most organizations that help to train service dogs will have regular follow ups for a period of time after the dog enters your home. They will always be willing to help you with problems that you and your dog are experiencing. Voice your concerns.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DOG
DAY-TO-DAY LIVING
In order to care for a dog you must be willing to give up a lot of your time, as it will require quite a lot of attention. The same basic needs apply to the seizure dog as would to any regular dog. These include: feeding, bathing, walking and so on. You will need to create a list of any issues that you have, before you see the veterinarian, so that no questions are left unanswered. Remember that even though you may not have paid for the dog or training, you will have to pay for the upkeep of the dog; this is not inexpensive.
First of all, where will your service dog live? Although the dog will be living with you, you must designate a location for the dog to sleep. For instance, if the dog will be sleeping on the main floor outside of the living room, that is where you should place his/her bed. If you are purchasing the bed for your dog, make sure that there is ample room for the dog to move around in it. You do not want the dog to be uncomfortable, because then it won't sleep well, reducing its efficacy as a service dog.
EQUIPMENT
You must also make sure that you have a collar for your dog, with an attachment that has your name, address and phone number, in case somehow your dog gets lost. Your backyard should be fenced to prevent your dog from running away or being stolen. Also, keep the harness (or equivalent) and leash on your dog when outside of the house. You must make sure that the equipment you use for your dog, whether it be a harness or something else, is functioning properly and is never inflicting any pain upon your dog. A necessary grooming procedure is brushing your dog's fur. During certain times of the year, you will notice that your dog appears to be shedding more frequently. Do not worry, this is natural. In fact, throughout the entire year, most dogs do shed quite a lot. In order to minimize the amount of fur being shed inside your house, you should brush your dog as often as possible, i.e. once a day, or once a week. Last, but not least, you may want to sometimes play with your dog. A fun way to play with your dog is to buy dog toys that you can throw and then have him or her fetch for you.
FEEDING AND GROOMING
In order to determine which type of dog food would be best suited for your dog, you should consult with the veterinarian and speak with the trainer about what they had already been feeding the dog. You must also determine the amount of food that you will be feeding your dog. Along with regular dog food, you may want to sometimes purchase treats for your dog. Ask the trainer whether this would be appropriate for your dog or not. One must always remember to ensure that the dog's water dish is always full- a dog must never be dehydrated.
Along with feeding comes brushing of the teeth. Some veterinarians recommend feeding the dog certain aliments that aid in cleaning the teeth, while others suggest using special tools to clean the dog's teeth regularly. People do, occasionally, object to cleaning their dog's teeth, claiming that it is an unnatural process. These feelings arise from the fact that in the wild, while the dogs are biting into the meats that they eat (and chewing them), the mouth is cleansing itself. Consult your veterinarian about what the best decision is for your dog. Love your dog, and treat it kindly. Dogs need companionship as much as humans. Some other requirements for your dog include getting your dog the necessary shots, heartworm checks and treatment, as well as other basic veterinarian's bills.
HOW TO OBTAIN A SERVICE DOG
PROCESS AND PROCEDURE
Many agencies exist to provide people with service dogs. If you wish to apply for a service dog, all of these organizations require the same basic information and then have varying application forms. Although the process can seem tedious, it is absolutely necessary to ensure that the applicant does, in fact, require a service dog and does not have ulterior motives. Some of the questions asked deal with the applicant's lifestyle choices, living conditions, and medical disability. Aside from the written application, most organizations require at least one interview, and a medical report (among other things).
BE CERTAIN
However, the first step is to determine whether or not a service dog is appropriate for your wants and needs. You should be certain that a service dog is what you want, when you apply. Once you have decided to apply for a service dog, you must now shop around. It is best to look around a bit, instead of deciding on the first organization that you come into contact with. Be sure that you are comfortable with the organization that you choose. If possible, try to consult with other people with service dogs to find out who provided them with their service dog. Remember, there are alternatives to service dogs, and you also have more options when it comes to obtaining a service dog. If you do not wish to wait for a dog to be provided (some waiting lists require that the applicant wait years), there is the possibility of training a dog yourself. However, you should be warned that when obtaining a service dog it is always best to do this professionally, either with a professional trainer or through an organization. Trying to train a dog by yourself can be dangerous and frustrating.
INFORMATION ON SERVICE DOG PROVIDERS
One of the Canadian organizations which has a voting membership with ADI is National Service Dogs (NSD). They started operations in 1996 and were the only known provider of service dogs for children with autism in the world. At present they are still just as focused on helping people with autism, as is reflected by the fact that over 90% of the people they help are children with autism. However, they do help people with other disabilities as well (5). One of the most renowned organizations to provide assistance dogs is the Lions Foundation. They have been actively involved in providing assistance dogs to people since 1983, and have helped over 640 people over the years (6). In Canada, one of the foundations accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS). PADS serves people in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (7). Another very well known provider for service dogs is Key Companions. It is very focused on creating a bond between the service dog and the person with epilepsy; they encourage people to foster their future service dogs and raise them from puppy hood. Their contact information, as well as that of the other service dog providers is listed at the end of this document.
