Chapters

Chapter Overviews

Chapter 1: Pragmatic Standards
Why do we need another book about dogs and training issues? What makes this book
different from others? Read about why service dogs are evaluated by a different standard than
other types of performance. Assess your own starting point for what you want to learn about
service dogs and develop your own particular filtering criteria for what will work--for YOU.

Chapter 2: Basic Concepts
Any potentially valuable discussion needs to define terms. Here the specifics are addressed
about exactly what is meant by various references to the dogs, the people, the settings, and
different varieties thereof. When does a dog become an official service dog and what exactly
does that involve?

Chapter 3: Dogs Are Not Furry People
Too many fundraising efforts and other fun stories present all the positives without considering
what the potential problem areas might turn out to be. Anyone considering a service dog
needs to think through a lot of practical issues before making any commitment. This chapter
contains a working checklist of issues and questions that should be addressed....first!

Chapter 4: Certification
Learn what constitutes a legal service animal in the United States. This chapter contains many
referrals to specific informational sources for additional study. Learn what the term
"certification" means--and what it doesn't mean. What differences does it make if a service dog
has it or not? Whose responsibility is the certification?

Chapter 5: Understanding & Evaluating Training Methods
Before we move into the specifics of what kind of training works for service dogs, let's make
some sense out of all the different methods--all of which claim to be the best! If you start out
looking for someone to train a service dog for you, how do you decide? What is the criteria?
What are the differences between training dogs to be service dogs or training for other kinds of
jobs? This chapter ends with a question and task checklist that will give you a format for
interviewing prospective trainers.

Chapter 6: The Corrections Controversy
"Positive" training is a big buzzword these days. Before you make any choices about a service
dog, this is a concept you need to understand and evaluate. Is it possible to train a dog without
ever using a physical correction? And just what kind of physical correction would ever be
appropriate, anyway? Learn what is mean by the term "motivation" and how it applies to a
service dog a little differently than to some other dogs. For successful teamwork, this is a
decision that requires careful consideration of several options, including what the training
process is for teaching a correction...and no we don't mean teaching a behavior, we mean
teaching a correction! (As opposed to "applying" or "using" a correction.) What is the process
for ensuring a correction is fair and understood--not abusive?

Chapter 7: The Job Description
Everyone's situation is at least a little different from any other's, and each person needs
somewhat different things from their dog. Before you start spending money, how can you
evaluate whether or not your expectations are realistic? How do you consider a task you need
done and decide whether or not a dog can be trained to perform it? Learn about chain-of-task
building, and how to analyze and sort your goals into those you can definitely plan on and those
that might be a little more "iffy."

Chapter 8: Service Dogs and Children
Service dogs can be a wonderful idea--or a truly terrible idea--for children! What does it depend
on and what is the basis for evaluating this for your own child? Is it ever a good idea for a
service dog to attend school with a child? If so, when? What is the difference between a service
dog and a companion dog, and why is the latter probably very under-utilized with children?

Chapter 9: Breeds
Does it make any difference which breed of dog you choose? Yes! Different qualities and
personalities make different categories of dogs better or worse prospects for certain kinds of
work. It doesn't make that dog a "good" or "bad" dog...just wrong for a particular job. Why? The
answers have a lot to do with the history and development of each breed. Save yourself a lot of
time and a lot of frustration and analyze this question of breed preference before you start.

Chapter 10: Obtaining Dogs
Once you've decided the question of breeds, if you're now looking for an actual training
prospect, where do you start? Put that newspaper away! Classified ads are not the answer.
You need to give yourself a crash course in Canine Acquisition; this chapter will guide you
through the options and give you some references to start looking.

Chapter 11: Evaluating Temperament
While you're out there looking for your candidate, what is your screening criteria? Assuming the
dog is healthy, you need a very specific checklist of behaviors that will be either plus points in
the dog's favor or big red flags that should immediately make you wary. This goes far beyond
"is he friendly?" You need to know how to watch a dog in a somewhat stressful and/or startling
situation and understand what his reaction means. At the very least, this chapter will talk you
through the process of watching a trainer do an evaluation and help you understand what he's
looking for.

Chapter 12: Legal Considerations
In today's liability-driven society, you absolutely must address certain concerns before you start
out into public with a service dog. You need to know your own rights, you need to consider what
the rights of other people are in the presence of your dog, and how this might factor into your
employment situation. Insurance needs to be a major consideration, both liability and "product"
insurance. Another item of paramount importance is that of a training contract. If you are
working through either a program or a private trainer, a thorough, written contract is an absolute
must. This chapter provides an extensive checklist of questions that should be considered in
the contract.

Chapter 13: Resident Therapy Dogs
Somewhat less common than service dogs are dogs who live in different types of
facilities--usually medical facilities--for the combined benefit of the residents. If you are
considering such a project, you need to understand the differences, practical and legal,
between a service dog and a resident therapy dog. The considerations for both selection and
training are entirely different. If you are going to hire a trainer for such a task, you'll need quite a
bit of different information with which to start....so start with the checklist at the end of this
chapter.

Chapter 14: ASA Dogs
Assistive Search Alert dogs are a relatively new concept. Learn what they are and how they
work as a team member--responding to a caregiver for the benefit of another person with a
disability. ASA dogs have thus far been used primarily to work with children who have autism.
This type of training is intense, complicated, and fascinating. This chapter provides the
first-released overview.

Chapter 15: Programs and Opinions
Based on many years experience in non-profit programs, the author delves into some opinions
about why service dog training faces credibility shortages, funding shortages....and dog
shortages! Read a few suggestions for a combined method of addressing both problems at
once based on a concept of independent assessments.

Appendix A: When Personality Meets Character
This appendix is an extension of the chapter on temperament testing. Particularly if your service
dog slot calls for a dog from a breed with protective or guarding tendencies, there is a
time-tested way of getting a lot more information about what's going on in a dog's head. While
definitely not for the novice, the classic method of three-phase canine character testing is a
powerful tool that is yet unequaled by any other means. Learn what it is, why it started, and why
it has become so controversial in today's society.

Index
The index gives a handy page reference to terms and concepts.