Make My Dog a “Real” Service Dog? Service Dog Testing and Training Path Explained

Make My Dog a “Real” Service Dog? Service Dog Testing and Training Path Explained

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
🎥 START HERE – Service Dog Training Myths & Misconceptions: https://youtu.be/WDNsxhIwQN0
🎥 Dog-Friendly Stores and Public Access Tips: https://youtu.be/B82J-lRvS0w
🎥 Service Dog Etiquette Video: https://youtu.be/LtulQetmrb4
📓 Service Dog Breeder Blog Post: https://www.doggyu.com/post/2022/05/19/how-to-choose-a-service-dog-breeder/

Does my dog need to pass a test to be a “real” service dog? In this video I talk about the American’s with Disabilities Act requirements for service dogs as well as the testing structure I use to ensure that my service dog is up to industry standards, and how you can use this testing structure to create a training plan for your dog as well as feel confident that your dog is meeting service dog standards (and get ribbons for all your hard work!).

AKC Testing: https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/
Psychiatric Service Dog Partners: https://www.psychdogpartners.org/resources/public-access

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50 Comments

  1. @pittymama4500 on October 3, 2024 at 9:40 pm

    It can be trying and irritating to have a service dog right now in this world. People are all the time just watching for your dog to fail so that they can call your dog a fake and call you out. Or at least that’s how you all the time, like you’re being looked at because of all the internet videos of that exact thing. When you add that to owner training your dog you have imposter syndrome times 100! Some days it is really hard to deal with.

  2. @BorgallisandWac on October 3, 2024 at 9:41 pm

    How do i get a legal service dog

  3. @nadinabbott3991 on October 3, 2024 at 9:44 pm

    Started training lobo in public access at the humane society. They have an outside cafe…coffee is not good, but we can train lobo in a restaurant setting. He “failed” some public access the other day..so, we know what we need to work towards. And distractions are great for the dog.

  4. @Who-sq4hi on October 3, 2024 at 9:44 pm

    I love you videos! Is there anything that I need to have or have some sort of proof for public access? Or do I just go when my dog passed everything on the list? Sometimes things can get confusing for me 😅

  5. @pinkkittynova484 on October 3, 2024 at 9:45 pm

    Hi I plan on moving to an apartment do I need to provide a housing letter he doesn’t meet breed restriction and I’m training him for both my physical disability and emotionally. I’m worried they won’t accept him

  6. @rebeccawoolman3267 on October 3, 2024 at 9:48 pm

    Wish I knew this before I just paid for registration 😣

  7. @Error403HRD on October 3, 2024 at 9:48 pm

    I’m training my own dog because getting him professionally trained is too expensive, and I always feel like I’ll get laughed out of the room bc i’m not blind or anything. I’m training him to help me get up from sitting down safely, as a support so i walk straight/don’t fall over, and as someone capable of keeping my head safe and safely lowering me to the ground if i faint. Thank you for this!

  8. @SharonElizabethWhitfield on October 3, 2024 at 9:48 pm

    I recently acquired a Goldendoodle. I’ve been training her to be my service dog. Right now I’ve mainly been concentrating on taking her everywhere I go. I’ve been teaching her to sit right next to me whenever I stop walking. She has been doing a lot of things on her own. Without me even teaching her. When she does, I reward her by giving her lots of praise and petting her. (She’s not into treats) For example: we were at the grocery store and a door in the back opened. A very large cart full of food to put on shelves came out. Well of course, she didn’t understand what it was. To her it looked very dangerous. So she pulled me out of the way by tugging on her leash. Also, if she thinks a pathway is too dangerous, she will refuse to go, and will direct me to another path. And she never barks.

  9. @traceyaru on October 3, 2024 at 9:48 pm

    I have a guide dog I am also epileptic with top, two diabetes insulin dependent. I want to add to her training to help me with my seizures is that possible?

  10. @Horsey16 on October 3, 2024 at 9:49 pm

    Yes I am training mine now I’m still pretty young and my mom says she won’t be an REAL service dog❤😢

  11. @UndercoverTundra on October 3, 2024 at 9:50 pm

    Hi , good morning
    Great vid here ,,,,,,, I have a 3 year old labradoodle that I want to train to become a service dog, I’m not a handicapped person and I want to know what is the key process for this specially I want her to fly with me in the plain on a seat next to me , DELTA only allows service dogs and NOT emotional ,,,,,,, my partner and my self are going to do some travel to Costa Rica , Spain next year and we want to take her with us,,,,,, I have never lefter at the vet while I’m gone and she has a little of separation anxiety ,,,,,, I also have almost 13 year old labradoodle but I have a good friend who takes care her whenever I’m gone somewhere ,,,,,, I hope this is not much of the question , lol ,,,, thank you 🙏🏻

  12. @KB-tg7pf on October 3, 2024 at 9:50 pm

    0:36 Is that a Berger Blanc Suisse?? I have one I am training for myself too!

  13. @JerryGarcia-u2p on October 3, 2024 at 9:52 pm

    STOP lying to the people. Folks all you have to do to verify what im about to tell you is actually read the "Americans with Disability Act" for yourself. There is NO requirement or mandated testing for ANY service dog. She is mererly attempting to bullshit people into believeing there is a federally mandated standard of behavior for service dogs, THERES IS NOT ANY standard of behavior for ANY service dog beyond the dog must be under control.

  14. @sarahwoodyard6533 on October 3, 2024 at 9:53 pm

    I have a long list of conditions that come with being born with one specific fd up genetic condition…. I found a very smart dog dumped because she got pregnant on her first heat and already shows signs when my body is acting up (she looks at me funny and jumps at me naturally). I don’t like being jumped on because falling and hitting my chiari head is far more dangerous than a normal person. This video is a review about service dogs, not a training video.

  15. @michelleplummer5980 on October 3, 2024 at 9:54 pm

    Hello, so I just booked my flight across country from north carolina to San diego and back. I booked through American Airlines I was just now trying to fill out the service dog forms on line and it says….. You’re required to have either an
    American or Service Dog Pass-issued
    Service Animal ID before you travel.
    I do not have this ID or pass. Do you know what this is or means or what I need to do? I’m confused sorry lol 😆 🙈🙉

  16. @ceo4297 on October 3, 2024 at 9:55 pm

    I listened to this whole video but I dont see the point of a service dog? What is supposed to do exactly? Apart from acompany you around town.

  17. @Poisoned_.therian on October 3, 2024 at 9:55 pm

    Im actually doing a lot of research on service dogs and want to get a dog and train them to be a service dog in thw future! Your videos are helping me a lot with research lately! (Im hoping to train one after i get diagnosed with anxiety if i can)

  18. @BethanyJohnson-fz5pl on October 3, 2024 at 9:56 pm

    My dog is going to be my new service dog my old dog used to be a service dog because because because we got bit by I talked to everybody but her story about being bit by the pit my new dog is going to be my girlfriend song the and it’s a I mean he’s name is steps when fighting I only know that I’m going to sleep

  19. @AMilles1117 on October 3, 2024 at 9:57 pm

    When would you recommend starting to introduce training tasks for a service dog? Would you recommend focusing more on the public access preparation first and then introduce task training once they have a solid foundation, or would you introduce task training while training for public access?

  20. @Doberman_Pinscher_Lover on October 3, 2024 at 9:57 pm

    I have a doberman and my goal is to represent a non aggressive sociable companion so far so good doesn’t bark at non sociable dogs soon to start dog park distracted training. She’s 3 and half months so smart doesn’t potty indoors sits but need to work on stay She’s also people friendly I have to stop playing so much so she knows different of temperament. Thank you for the information I have much work to do.

  21. @BlackDim100 on October 3, 2024 at 9:59 pm

    I’m always amazed at the people who bring their "service dogs" into my training facility who couldn’t / can’t pass the basic CGC test. I have had 4-5 this year alone. I personally think the US needs a formal service dog test that could be administered by highly trained AKC evaluators. I agree that we should not make the bar so high that a person can not self-train, but I also think that abuses of the system are rampant.

  22. @reneemckinnon5731 on October 3, 2024 at 9:59 pm

    I live in Western Australia and most of the legislation around service dogs (they’re usually called assistance dogs in Australia) is very similar to the legislation around it in the USA.

    In 4 of our states and territories (Western Australia👌🏽, Australia Capital Territory, South Australia, and Queensland l) there is a government issued ID card that accredits your assistance dog and shows that you have trained your dog correctly and knows how to carry themselves in a non dog friendly environment.

    I know my ASiT isn’t ready to be in a grocery store and needs self regulation training (only found out that this is a thing yesterday 😮), but he is getting so much better with his self control and regulation that other people have made comments on how great he is and we’ve even gotten positive comments from people who have known him since the day I got him 😊

    I have had a lot of negative comments about him as well though.

    I live in the CBD so I took him for a walk around the main street to do distraction training, we crossed the street and since Hades loves kids and food he got really excited about it. The man who was carrying the kid actually said “that’s an assistance dog?” while giving Hades and I looks of disgust and disdain, I had my usual response ready: “yeah, he’s still in training though”, he then just said “clearly” and walked away.

    When I decided to get an assistance dog, I did a deep dive on what breeds are good at it and was totally looking at German shepherd dogs, and dobermans.

    The prices for an unvaccinated, backyard bred individual dog are staggering, literally $5000AUD +/- a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars.

    The registered breeders have been charging less than the backyard ones. 😢

    So instead I got a puppy from a local family who lives on a hobby farm and decided to get a bullmastiff/American staffy mix because I need a dog for mobility as well as feeling better about living in a single household with my PTSD.

    The fact that he’s roughly 45kg/99lbs doesn’t help with the discrimination we get because he’s not one of the traditional breeds associated with assistance/service dogs 😐

    I have just started an instagram account for him if anyone made it this far and wants to see the differences in his behaviour as we work towards him being a working service dog: @helperhoundhades

  23. @SagetheMutt on October 3, 2024 at 10:01 pm

    I’m training my own service dog . I just don’t know how to teach her the commands like Anxiety inturraption or DPT . She also doesn’t know leave it . I often get frustrated when training dogs which is a reason why I need a SD because I’m always Anxious , frustrated and stressed . (Psychiatric service dog ) I often feel anxious going into stores worrying about if someone’s gonna ask me if she’s a real service dog and what I would say or about the ID even tho they are fake . This helped me a lot ❤

  24. @user-po3mh4dy9r on October 3, 2024 at 10:03 pm

    If we don’t regulate ourselves, and take responsibility, the gov will have to step in and do something. If your dog can’t do the task, then the dog should not be presented as a service dog. I know I’m preaching to the choir here. A huge part of this is that few dogs actually have the temperament to ever be service dogs.

  25. @nadinabbott3991 on October 3, 2024 at 10:12 pm

    Local trainers suggested the good citizenship exam as well

  26. @Oakleaf700 on October 3, 2024 at 10:13 pm

    My dog is a ”Natural”Assistance dog – a wonderful gentle dog who ignores all other dogs , doesn’t jump up, doesn’t sniff produce {this was the most challenging thing- to not sniff the grilled chicken oven at the supermarket.

  27. @melissa777 on October 3, 2024 at 10:13 pm

    I am so grateful to have found you. Dog training while having a disability is so hard. Thank you so much for this ❤

  28. @samanthaamber5076 on October 3, 2024 at 10:14 pm

    Im in Alberta Canada and I’m wondering if all service dog training is pretty straight across the board even in other countries?

  29. @bellatheservicebean on October 3, 2024 at 10:15 pm

    i have a questshtin i register my sdit to the dog acadamey and in register to us cittsin regstashon is this a scam

  30. @joemomma707 on October 3, 2024 at 10:16 pm

    How do I legally make my dogs service dogs in California?

  31. @halotheangelHotdog on October 3, 2024 at 10:16 pm

    I am scared to if my service dog in training finally gets done, but then the school say’s certificate for service dogs. So I’m gonna try the best I can

  32. @6248cjl on October 3, 2024 at 10:16 pm

    I am a senior on a fixed income. I currently have a pair of small rescues who are about 13-15 now. I am diabetic but my biggest issue is with syncope. BP crashes, heart rate goes way up and I faint. Cardiology was normal. I would like to have one larger dog that could do compression therapy as well as alert when a spell is coming but I am at a loss on how to find the right pup or younger adult dog. Also, I would need a lot of help learning how to train one. I am watching videos and learning as much as I can.

  33. @kevintaylor99 on October 3, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    I just got my pup and starting traing now….i made my dog in the past a canine good citizen

  34. @kennethahl175 on October 3, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    Mine was a five year old cattle dog before I trained him for my service dog. We started with short walks downtown. Then we moved up to non food stores. I always took him when foot traffic was at a minimum for each change. My final stage of training was trips into our local casino. Training time was with a short leash and a standard collar. His leisure time is with a thirty foot lunge line. He knows the short leash means he’s on duty. I had no one to help me. We live in a small town. It was the amputation of my right foot that gave him a new job. Solid black shepherds are perfect for this work.

  35. @Victory_n_Jesus on October 3, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    Okay "boop" that button is what made me do it lol the term is used for my dog

  36. @aceaspiras3280 on October 3, 2024 at 10:19 pm

    I’m a frontline respiratory therapist who cared for the 1st Community spread COVID patient in the United States. I suffer from PTSD. Due to our state laws, I’m not categorized as a first responder, therefore do not have access to the financial resources that others receive. I have 3 young kids, and want to be around to see them grow up. Can somebody help me get a service dog please?

  37. @tondriasanders6306 on October 3, 2024 at 10:23 pm

    Thank you so much for this! I only knew about a few of these tests. Such great info!

  38. @jamesburgess731 on October 3, 2024 at 10:25 pm

    Good video… I didn’t hear if you said it or not, is people need to realize that not all Dogs are fit or capable of becoming service dogs. Some dos have faced trauma, or things that have happened in their past that makes it IMPOSSIBLE. Also, not all breeds are suitable for service dog responsibilities.

  39. @meagin_yahoocom on October 3, 2024 at 10:26 pm

    What if you are mentally and physically disabled, but it doesn’t show that you’re physically disabled and you don’t have much money to get them properly trained and you can’t do it at home by yourself how would you get them trained to do certain things?

  40. @nicoledelieto1735 on October 3, 2024 at 10:26 pm

    I always take Freja out for public access training. She has been to many different non-pet, friendly, and pet friendly stores. She has walked on sidewalks, crossways, does elevators really well, she has been on buses, she has been on many different cars and trucks, I still need to get her on a train. She has been to transit centers. I know it takes two years to train a service dog yourself. Is there a requirement for how long I need to have those test done? We are getting ready for the AKC canine good citizen group class, and test at Petco. I might put for it in a group class in July. I’ve had to train myself since I do not have the funds for the training. I do need to get the help of a trainer to help me train Freja in more complex public access situations. I have a great relationship with my Petco trainers that I worked with with. I do need the structure since it is hard for me to maintain structure. Part of the Asperger’s syndrome is the executive dysfunctioning. I need to have a routine. Freja needs a lot more training. I take her out for walks in the neighborhood and to the park by our house.

  41. @izmazix2148 on October 3, 2024 at 10:27 pm

    Watch2End&Comment

  42. @littlebit8304 on October 3, 2024 at 10:27 pm

    Just passed our cgc today. good information thank you

  43. @alifarnum on October 3, 2024 at 10:28 pm

    Im new to owner training my dog and i want to get him trained to be my sons autism assistance service dog cause hes already doing alerts. But we need to work on obedience training cause he gets excited when seeing new people

  44. @jenlam9128 on October 3, 2024 at 10:30 pm

    If traveling with my dog over seas does my dog need to pass any test in order to be considered a service dog? Can I still travel with her without passing an exam?

  45. @applecake6574 on October 3, 2024 at 10:32 pm

    Can I just say, I did not think I needed a psychiatric service dog when I bought my bully puppy, I realized how much I struggled to be in public alone or even with someone I knew. So I started service training later in her life, and I’ve struggled so much as a new handler. You have been helping me so much, and I really just want to say thank you.

  46. @missamber9518 on October 3, 2024 at 10:33 pm

    Im looking into getting a lab to train as my PSD and am looking into classes like the CGC but the public access test is so expensive 😞 While I am thankful the ADA doesn’t require documentation or training, I noticed the paperwork to fly with a service dog requires the name of a trainer or organization that trained the dog to perform tasks. Does that mean I do need to do a training course or would I list myself as the trainer? Granted I did get a dog trainer certificate online by taking a course but you can het just about anything online these days 😂 I want my PSD trained the right way and treated the right way, not just for my benefit but also to avoid being the cause of future problems I see with the allowance of service animals do to the fakers 😞

  47. @Heavens_Crafty_Corner on October 3, 2024 at 10:34 pm

    My new landlord said I have to have a certification to have my in-training service dog live with me. Is that legal? What do I do? I’m not going elsewhere, as I can’t afford anywhere else.

  48. @Bettyalford-h9l on October 3, 2024 at 10:35 pm

    I trained mine 8 yrs ago and have never had a problem with him, I don’t have a vest for him as I live in Arizona and he’s long haired so it’s too damn hot but I wear his ID badge with his photo on my lanyard. People give me rancid looks but I’m sorry if I fall or have any problems I need him close.

  49. @a_service_dog on October 3, 2024 at 10:37 pm

    Love how the ad on this video is one of those esa pet scam registry things and that’s the first thing you bring up on the video lol

  50. @Scarletlight525 on October 3, 2024 at 10:39 pm

    My dug is a certified assistance dog here in Sweden, but not through the ADI-affiluatee organization. Why? Nrvwuse the ADI-orhakuzatiok dobt train for my disability (VI) and the orgsnixatiik umI welt tjrough wasn’t approved by ADI ’cause the trainers are independent business owners which ADI felt welt aheibst tye non-prifit requirement…..

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