The Incredible Journey

My Service Dog vest: I can't wait to try it on!

In just a week from today, I will officially be a Dartmouth under(dog)graduate—I’m so excited!  But I’ll actually be quite the underdog: did you know that owner-trained rescued service dogs in training (for future reference: SDiT) have the highest failure rate?   So Mom and I are undertaking quite an incredible journey together!

Without the help of the tested-to-success methods of an established Service Dog training program, owner-training can be difficult—how do you know what to do, when to do it, or how to teach it?  How do you know how to walk the walk, talk the talk, or bark the bark?  Mom is trying to sort through this quagmire of confusion and has come up with her own training plan that she plans to tweak for my individual nuances.  The training plan consists of three “Tiers,” each with different commands and tasks that I must learn before moving onto the next Tier.  Just like how Mom has to take exams to test her knowledge in her classes, I’ll be studying to take tests, too: I have to take tests before moving onto higher Tiers.  By the end of all my training, I should know over 40 commands!

TIER I – “The Basics”

Example commands: my new name (Kelsie Iris!), touch, sit, stay, down, here, heel, watch me, leave it, dress

These commands are the basics of the dog training world, so they should be the basis of any dog’s education—Mom says it’s possibly the equivalent of getting a high school education for people.  Before I graduate to Tier II, I have to pass the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test.  It is a test that can serve as a good goal for all pet dogs, because it encourages good training and behaviour—I highly recommend it for all dogs, not just SDiTs.

Mid-May: when I expect to be able to pass the CGC Test

Early/Mid-June: when I will actually be tested (since it will be easier to be tested once I’m in my second home in California)

TIER II – “The Abstract”

Example commands: stay close, paws up (place paws on a surface), settle, back (walk backwards), side (go to handler's side)

These commands are the next step up, and they involve more complex and/or abstract thinking.  Some of these commands have been taken or modified from upper-level obedience requirements, and all have a basis in creating an individual who will be ready for public life and service work.  Mom equates this to a college education for people, since not all dogs will or are expected to receive this level of education in order to live happy, productive lives.  To graduate to Tier III, I must pass the ADI’s Public Access Test, which many service dog agencies use to test their dogs.  While service dogs are not required by law to pass this test, it is highly recommended that they do take the test, especially owner-trained service dogs, should their legitimacy as service dogs ever be tried in court (helpful hint: recording all tests that a dog takes and/or passes can be helpful should a legal situation ever arise).

Mid-/Late July: when I expect to be able to pass the PAT

Late July/Early August: when I will actually be tested

TIER III – “The Specific”

Example commands: ground me (aka Deep Pressure Therapy), push (counteracts self-harm), distract me (for depression)

These commands are the specific disability-mitigating tasks that I will use to help Mom with her various complications in life (Mom calls them “problems,” but I don’t like that word—I don’t think they’re necessarily problems, because they’re part of her and I love her, so how can they possibly be “problems”?).  This is the final step in becoming a full Service Dog, because a Service Dog must know tasks that specifically mitigate her own disability/disabilities.  Once I master all of my tasks (up to 6, currently), she will take off my “In Training” bandana for good, and I will be a fully-fledged Service Dog, able to accompany her anywhere to protect and love her and to make her life easier!

Late August/Late December: when I expect to be a full Service Dog!

This is just a generic plan, and of course, since I’m a unique snowflake, it will be adjusted to fit my needs and personality.  It’s a good system because it’s fluid.  The Tiers might even shift around in importance for me, because I already have some personality traits and habits that will easily translate into the Tier III tasks, so I might be able to learn Tier III before I even master all of Tier II.  However, just as in chemistry, there can be many mechanisms for one reaction, but you want each variation to still produce the same reaction, and so no matter the Tier mechanism, this is the training reaction I want: CGC + SAT + Disability-Mitigating Tasks --> Service Dog.  I’m so excited to start my journey in just a week!

All my love,

Kelsie Iris