Does Professional Training Make the Difference—or Does the Trainer?

BettyB is a service dog. When Boudicca was diagnosed in renal failure BettyB took her place. Boudicca lived approximately 1.5 years. It was difficult disease to experience for both of us. She had been a constant companion. She didn’t start dog service training. This came later and coincided with high degrees of work, time and training. I didn’t expose her, at this time, to the level of public access BettyB has been introduced. However, this is still limited depending on the situation/environment.

BettyB is a dependable training partner. She enjoys our activities. We avoid situations and venues she would not enjoy. We differ in thinking and motivations BUT working, training, and exercise partners aren’t always easy to find 😁 In this relationship we can’t be equal. There are differences in species and like us temperament and personalities.

When working IF we don’t meet the types of untrained, irresponsible, inattentive dog owners she and I experienced during early months training (learning) and on-going years of unpredictable dogs and their owners, it’s possible BettyB might be less proactively self-protective.

An interesting observation occurred during this morning’s walk and train. We started before 5:30am. I didn’t notice anyone coming up behind us. We passed row of palmettos right before reaching bridge. We were walking up; she turned to look behind. Whoa! Where’d that lady come from? And so fast! BettyB heard her. I did not. To keep BettyB focused I asked her to do R-180 turns and L-180 turns. She’s incredibly good at this. This alerts the person approaching. We’re aware of your approach. The lighting conditions were dark, apparently the traffic lights were out. A person can evaluate the situation themselves. BettyB is doing as asked and under my direction provides predictable situation.

It was dark this morning in places where streetlights are normally on. It was also, likely, the hottest weather conditions. At 8am “feels like” was 99! We were finished and home shortly after 7am!

Does Professional Training Make the Difference—or Does the Trainer?

Recently I read, with some concern, posts about training service dogs. Specifically targeted was “owner trained service dogs”. Certainly, service dogs should be sufficiently taught to work in situations and conditions they will be expected to work within. However, suggesting owners would be less capable fails to appreciate those who can.

Let’s first acknowledge dogs who are bred specifically within the service dog industry do not guarantee fail safe endeavors. Many dogs fail and require finding replacement homes, generally companion dog homes (Puppy Kindergarten, 2024) & (Dogs, 2001). This is important to acknowledge because purpose-bred service dogs have been exposed to strict puppy training programs, socialization and approximately at 15 -18 months old “professional trainers” take over. They focus on detailed tasks including public access. Even highly selective, purpose-bred service-dog programs have substantial attrition. This is a critical point when one focuses on this population of dogs and their futures.

The issue is failure to acknowledge individuals’ commitment to learning and teaching dog’s skills sufficiently to perform tasks that meet one’s individual needs as service dogs. All specialized dog training requires high commitment from the human end of the lead while learning necessary skills that train dogs behavior unnatural to their species.

Imo, dogs would better be served and more adaptive to living within our environments IF companion and working dogs were all taught using same and/or similar models used in professional working dog situations. The foundation is where the most critical learning takes place and occurs during puppy and adolescent periods of development. When this is neglected in any dog situation the chance of failure increases.

Anyone who has a disability should not feel unable or discouraged. It is possible to teach your own “service dog”. It is, however, responsible to understand what might be expected before undertaking this process. It’s up to individuals to evaluate their specific situations, abilities and needs. There are independent service dogs and emotional support professionals who can help you evaluate, teach and guide you through this process.

No one should feel they can’t do something if they’re willing to put forth the work and effort to try.