It is impossible to make an exact calculation of how many hours of training it takes to train a service dog, but the unique training of a service dog lasts approx. 1½ years and begins when the puppy is carefully selected approx. around the age of eight weeks. The puppy is then posted with an also specially selected family with whom the puppy will be spending the next approx. 12 months.

The assignments of the puppy host family are, among others, to make sure the puppy is influenced and socialised well on children as well as adults, to keep the puppy in good health, to teach the puppy good habits, to give the puppy versatile environment training, and many positive experiences in the cooperation with people.

Mental and physical health are prioritised highly when the selection of future social and service dogs takes place. All dogs undertake thorough health examination and hips and elbows are x-rayed. Furthermore, all dogs are mentally tested before initiating the advanced training. It is greatly emphasised that the dog seeks contact, is cooperative and playful and has good hunting qualities. The dog is to react appropriately in situations when it is surprised by sound and motion. It is also to behave in a focused and targeted manner as well as work off independently without showing recurring discomfort. These qualities are fundamental when a future social or service dog is selected.

At the age of approx. 1½ years, the dog is ready to initiate the next part of the training for service dog – the advanced training. This training takes place with STH´s instructors and takes approx. eight months. Here, the dogs learn approx. 50 signs which have many combinations. It is emphasised that the dogs are trained in varying environments, such as at home, at shopping centres/shops and other public places. The versatile training results in the dogs being confident with working in many different situations.

When a team of service dogs has gone through the advanced training, they are to be matched with approved candidates from STH’s waiting list. Future service dog users are invited to participate in ”Team training”. Team training is an exciting, but intensive three week period in which the users and the service dogs get to know each other, learn to cooperate and to use the approx. 50 signs. During the three weeks, they are taught and trained for approx. 100 hours. As such, team training consists of theory about the dog’s behaviour, learning psychology, etc. as well as of practical training, care, exercise and play with the dogs.

After completed team training, the service dog team may take a public access test. When this test has been passed with  a satisfactory result, it will provide access to the user to bringing service dogs to public places where dogs under normal circumstances are not allowed access – for instance, convenience stores, restaurants, shopping centres, busses, trains, airplanes, etc. Service dogs wear a special STH ID vest that signals that the ”service dog is at work”.

The Association is characterised by keeping in contact with all service dogs and users – to ensure the continued success for the relevant teams. Furthermore, follow-up training is offered several times a year, where the service dog users are gathered, train and share experience.

STH has many inquiries about the possibility of training, education and/or employment in the Association. We are happy about the interest, but presently, STH is not able to educate others to train or assist in training service dogs. When offering to train a dog for another person, you take on a great responsibility, and this responsibility is especially great and heavy-weighing when this person has a physical disability.

STH takes this work very seriously, and we would like to take this occasion to explain why you should not endeavour into training a ”service dog” for another person (not even if you have experience in training family dogs).

It is a long and demanding process to take on this type of special training of dogs. And actually, the special training of the dog, i.e. teaching the dog the practical assistance functions, is merely a small part of the overall project. Being a service dog instructor, it is also important that you have great knowledge of miscellaneous diseases and physical disabilities, what their characteristics are, what possibilities the person has as well as which abilities you can utilise, what remedies you can use, etc. Of course, the instructor also needs to have great knowledge about the dog’s behaviour and needs. You must be able to mediate knowledge about learning, training and the dog’s behaviour. You need great insight into the relations that apply with respect to ”matching” the disabled person with the ”right” service dog. Secondly, you must be able to transfer the dog’s trained skills as well as adapt it to the needs of the candidate. The service dog instructor also needs comprehensive experience in ”problem solving”. The follow-up training of service dog and service dog user is also necessary to ensure the success of the team.

Several persons offer to train ”service dogs” (against payment), but unfortunately not all have thought the process through and live up to the great responsibility they assume. STH has had several inquiries which are caused by shattered dreams about service dog and therefore choose to make this very clear but honest statement.

A service dog must be happy and well-adapted to provide joy and benefit!

STH follows the International standards for selection, health inspection and aptitude testing, training, co-training, perhaps public access testing and follow-up on placed social and service dogs, according to ADI (Assistance Dogs International).

STH’s Chief Instructor Lise Lotte Christensen is a member of Delta Society whose mission is to optimise people’s health and wellbeing through cooperation with service og therapy dogs (and other animals).

STH is full member of Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu) and also member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI). ADI is an international coalition of accredited service dog associations the purpose of which is to establish and promote high standards in every aspect of service dog selection/acquisition, training and partnership. ADI enables communication and exchange of experiences between member organisations, and ADI works to inform the general public of the use of service dogs and ADI membership.

Read more about Delta Society and ADI here:
http://www.deltasociety.org  -  http://www.adionline.org