The process of training a service dog is a significant commitment. Deciphering the necessitated time to equip a service dog fully with the needed skills varies based on various factors. In this article, we unveil the factors impacting the duration of service dog training and what the training entails.
What Is a Service Dog?
Before we jump into the duration, it’s crucial to comprehend what a service dog is. A service dog is primed to aid people with disabilities — they are trained to perform tasks that mitigate their handler’s disability.
Understanding the Training Process
To understand the time it takes in training a service dog, we must first comprehend what the training process involves. The objective is to create a bond between the handler and the dog such that the dog can understand and respond to the handler’s needs and commands effortlessly.
Components of Service Dog Training
Service dog training can be categorized into two key parts:
Basic Training
The initial phase of training, where the dog is taught basic obedience commands like sitting, staying, coming when called, and not pulling on a leash. This part also involves socialization with humans and other animals.
Specialized Training
This is where a service dog starts to learn the unique skills necessary to assist with their handler’s specific disability. For example, a guide dog for the blind will be taught to navigate obstacles, while a dog for someone with diabetes will learn to detect changes in blood sugar levels.
Factors Determining the Duration of Training
Several factors come into play when determining the duration of service dog training:
The Dog’s Age
Training a puppy to become a service dog would naturally take longer than training an adult dog that already has some basic command understanding.
Type of Disability
The type of disability the dog is being trained to assist can also drastically alter the duration of training. For instance, dogs trained to assist people with physical disabilities may take less time than dogs trained to detect seizures or lower high anxiety levels.
The Dog’s Breed and Personality
Every dog is different, and their breed and personality traits can influence how quickly they pick up new skills and commands during training.
How Long Does It Take?
In general, the process of training a service dog from puppyhood to being fully trained can take from 1.5 years to 2 years. But remember, each dog’s journey will be different based on the factors outlined above.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although the time duration for service dog training is a vital aspect of consideration, equally substantial is the quality of training. A well-trained service dog is an invaluable companion and helper, making the time and effort invested into the training well worth it.
