Questions we often get asked. If you don't see an answer to your question please feel free to send it in to us and we will address it as soon as possible and include it on the site to help future visitors!
Questions are answered by Rhonda Langille herself. This page will always be adding new questions as they arise so please keep checking back. :)
Question:
What is the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog?
Answer:
A Therapy Dog is a pet dog with training in at least basic obedience and having a calm patient temperament that visits patients in the hospitals and nursing homes. These dogs are used to bring smiles to patients and to give love.
A Service Dog undergoes 1000’s of hours of training, specialized socialization, and trained to do tasks to help enable an individual suffering from a physical challenge or living with a mental illness to be able to live with more independence.
Some people say my pet dog helps me get through the day, yes a pet dog is great, but a pet dog is not trained to do 10 to over 120 physical tasks to help an individual.
A Service Dog also has to be certified (In Canada), and has to wear a jacket/ vest/ back pack/ I.D. clearly identifying him/her as a Service Dog. It is illegal for a pet owner to put a vest on their animal that claims the pet dog is a Service Dog. It is a federal offense.
Question:
Are Service Dogs pets?
Answer:
No a Service Dog is not a pet. Absolutely NOT! A Service Dog is a living partner that works with “their Partner” to help enable an individual to be independent. They are a medical tool akin to a wheel chair or other medical equipment/medicine that require regular training and challenge to enable them to keep working at peak efficiency to help their human partner.
A pet dog gives love, warmth, and happiness that we all enjoy from having a pet, a Service Dog gives independence, as well a love, warmth and happiness.
Question:
Do Service Dogs ever get the chance to just 'be a dog' and have fun and relax?
Answer:
A Service Dog when working is extremely happy as they enjoy their life, as they go with their owners 24/7 and in most cases find their work as fun and challenging to them as regular play. Dogs love to learn and are extremely happy doing the various tasks that they are trained or educated to do. (Also read this part on the site.)
When a Service Dog does not have his vest on he will still do his “work” but he also knows that he can play with other dogs, which they do. (Think of a doctor who is having a day off and relaxing at home. That doesn't make them any less the trained medical person that they are. If something happens however, that requires them to go back into 'doctor mode' they don't hesitate, 'off duty' of not. Same as a Service Dog.)
I don’t recommend having a Service Dog play in a dog park however, in case an aggressive dog starts a dog fight, but all the Service Dogs that I train and place all have dog friends, they love to swim, go boating, hiking in the woods with their owners, rolling in the grass, playing ball, finding mud holes and being covered in mud, sliding and rolling in the snow.
Service dogs can also interact with people and receive pats and hugs, and I know some individuals with dogs in their service gear that always let children “pet” the dog and take the time to educate the children about their Service Dog and what he does for him. Yes, Service Dogs do have fun, and yes Service Dogs get ample opportunity to be just a dog. Even if a dog doesn’t have the opportunity to get out in play for a day, he has to have scheduled rest times where he can just relax and sleep.
Question:
Can any type of dog be a Service Dog?
Answer:
Yes, and no. Size and temperament are very important.
For instance a small breed of dog cannot do the work that a larger dog can do such as opening doors, pulling wheel chairs, etc. but a smaller breed of dog can be a educated to be a be a signal dog for someone who has hearing loss or is deaf, etc. They can also be trained to alert for seizures, etc.
I don’t use breeds that are toy size as they are just too frail. If someone accidentally steps on a dog I don’t want a leg to be broken. I also enjoy larger sizes for if an emergency happened and a dog had to pull his owner a smaller dog would not have the physical power to be able to do that.
As for breed specific I don’t believe that one breed is better than another what is important is temperament. My dogs go through at least 15 to 20 tests before they are 8 weeks of age to determine if they have the temperament that is suitable to go into the Service Dog-training program. Than they go through many more tests on a regular basis and can be pulled at any time if they do not meet the qualifications of the set standards.
I prefer large breeds such as the Standard Poodle, Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever. I will also use (giant) breeds such as Great Danes, and Bernese Mountain Dogs, or even small breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; as it is important to have a dog that is suited to the size of the individual and their living conditions especially for mobility purposes.
I also sometimes use rescues as I believe in second changes. However rescues always take longer to train, and I am a great believer in breeding dogs for specific traits. With these traits hopefully the pup will eventually become a working Service Dog. A pup that has been breed to be a Service Dog, and has the specialized socialization starting from day one, and at 3 weeks of age the pups start with a specialized behavior handling that will help a pup start the learning process to be a magnificent working dog. The specialized handling and socialization that Service Dog puppies receive makes an enormous difference to if the pup becomes a Service Dog.
Question:
Can you go up and say hi to/pet a service dog?
Answer:
When a Service Dog is in his “working uniform” (vest/jacket/etc) you should never pet a Service Dog.
When a Service Dog is working, the individual that the dog is being an aid to, the dog has their life in their paws. So what may appear to be a harmless little pat, or talking to the dog saying something like what a cute dog, or trying to give the Service Dog a treat will actually take the attention away from the owner and distract the dog.
This can cause momentarily distraction, and can cause a dog not to “alert” the owner to perhaps an oncoming seizure, or others tasks that may not be apparent to the individual trying to pet the Service Dog. Also when a Service Dog is distracted many times over, the dog will than keep looking for “strangers” to pet him, give him a treat, etc. When this happens re-training must be done, or if too much damage has been done by the kindness of strangers the dog will be pulled and placed in a pet home. Than the individual will loose their independence as they will have to wait for another dog to be trained for them.
It is extremely important to remember that the dog is working so it is not to be distracted as someone life is depending on the dog. That cute sweet dog is keeping someone safe, secure and giving that individual independence. I often explain that to people that a Service Dog can be compared to a breathing machine, a wheelchair, etc. as a Service Dog is an aid helping a person to be able to live their life to the fullest.
Service Puppies In Training however, are learning about life, and are being exposed to many sites; sounds and learning that people are wonderful! So it is actually important for people to interact and pet one. I am sure that a Service Puppy in training thinks that people are put on this earth to make a fuss over him/her. It is important to have as many people as possible pet the pup even with his “Working Uniform” on to ensure that the pup learns to experience as many “personalities” that we humans process. If a young pup is taught to behave 100% of the time, yes the pup has to have manners but he is learning about life, but has to learn that people are very happy to have him give affection. One of the reasons is when a pup turns into an adult and the dog has to go to a stranger to ask for help, he/she will not be nervous to go to a stranger. Also it is a part of socialization so teach puppies about the world around them.
Question:
Is there anything I should know before I go up to pet a Service Puppy in Training?
Answer:
Yes. Understand that Service Puppies are not pets, and therefore must adhere to special rules and manners. For example, it is not permissible to allow a SP jump up on you at any time during the petting process, as this tells him/her that the behavior is acceptable when it is not.
Before petting a Service Puppy in Training, you should do what you should do in any situation involving petting an unknown animal. Make eye contact with the Handler/Puppy Raiser and ASK if it is ok to pet the dog. Please do not automatically bend down to pet the animal until the Handler/Puppy Raiser says it is ok.
The Puppy Raiser will then say yes (or no depending on whatever the situation is, they might be pressed for time etc.) and then give you some guidelines to follow. (Each puppy is different so one set of guidelines for one puppy may be different for another.) We ask that you please pay attention to the guidelines as it is very important.
The moment you stop and ask to pet the puppy you are becoming part of their very important training process and all that happens in the following minutes will help them become a wonderful working Service Dog when they grow up. It is most important when they are little that we do not foster any bad habits.
Question:
What is a Puppy Raiser?
Answer:
A Puppy Raiser is a person who takes a puppy into his/her home, teaches the pup house manners, life manners such as driving in a car, going shopping training the pup some simple future skills that will enhance the skill level of the pup for when he goes into full time service training with a certified Service Dog trainer who is a member of Therapeutic Medical Alert Service Dogs team. We have full time Puppy Raisers, as well as part time Puppy Raisers. We have people who only wish to take a pup on the weekends, etc.
Question:
Can I become a Puppy Raiser?
Answer:
To become a Puppy Raiser you must first fill in an application, have a criminal clearance and an animal cruelty clearance, than we have an interview to discuss what responsibilities and what are what expectations are projected. There are a lot of different rules/guidelines for raising a Service Puppy that are very different in many cases then just how you would raise a pet. Also you will have to do weekly training sessions with a member of TMA Service Dog team.
Q:uestion:
How long does it take to train a Service Animal?
Answer:
Depending on what tasks the dog is required to do. A dog that has to work pulling a wheel chair will not be ready until at least 2-1/2- 3 years of age as the dogs bones has to develop so that he is strong enough to do his job without injuring himself or his partner. It can take 1000’s of hours to train, usually about 2 years to train a dog to do multiple tasks.
Question:
At what age do you start training them?
Answer:
All my puppies go into training programs at 8 weeks of age. I will take a pup that is as old as six months if he/she has the temperament that I require.
Question:
What do you look for when choosing puppies to become a future Service Dog?
Answer:
I could write a book on this subject alone, so I will keep my reply short. I look for a happy carefree, puppy, one that is sensitive to me, and full of mischief, wants to follow and play with me, as well as the pups. Each pup that I choose goes through puppy testing as well as 15 to 20 tests before the pup will go into a Service Dog puppy-training program.
Question:
Once a puppy is chosen for training can they turn out to not be ideal later on? If so what happens to them then?
Answer:
This can and does happen and the pup than will be placed into a pet home. You can do all the testing, and preparations and still have a dog that does not meet the qualifications and standards. Perhaps a dog takes a dislike to a child, perhaps a dog will become too focused on birds flying above him, there are many motivational flaws that will disqualify a Service Puppy to become a certified Service Dog.
Question:
Where do you get your puppies?
Answer:
There are many kind breeders that donate puppies, we have our own breeding program, and we also bring pups and young dogs from animal shelters.
Question:
Do you only train dogs for veterans with disabilities?
Answer:
I train dogs for many people with various challenges. Anyone who has a need I will do what ever I can to help them. I discuss Service Dogs for our Veterans as they have given so much and deserve to have happiness and an aid that can give them back their independence. I have a soft spot in my heart for Veterans for they give their all and have walked a road that I would not want to want, and I am thankful and very respectful for what they have given.
Question: H
ow long do Service Dogs work for (before they retire?)
Answer:
Usually between 8 to 10 years.
Question:
What happens to a retired Service Dog?
Answer:
A retired dog can stay with his owner, but often family member may take the dog as he is already knows and loves them. We have a list of individuals who have requested the opportunity to give a forever home to a retired Service Dog or for a dog that does not make the graduation and will be re-homed into a pet home.
Question:
I was wondering where a Service Puppy or a Service Dog sleeps do they sleep with their handler or on the floor near their handler?
Answer:
A Service Puppy sleeps in their crate, a Service Dog sleeps with their Handler.
When a Service Dog Puppy is in training the reason the pup does not sleep in the bed, first when they are young, is because they have to learn house breaking rules, and then if the pup was to sleep in the family bed, they would think they were on equal footing with their owners, taking ownership of the bed, and anything else they please.
Having the pup sleep in their kennel also teaches respect, and teaches the pup that it is OK to be alone. Which, when one has to leave them behind, the pup is learning not to have separation anxiety which can be a real challenge to pet dogs that have not leaned to be alone.
A Service Dog also learns when to get into bed, and when not to, as when a dog is an adult there are reasons to be sleeping with their Person and that is usually to alert to movement, such as turning a person over at a specific time or to be aware of person's breathing, or to be able to alert to an anxiety moment.
Even though the dog is on the "job" they still sleep and love to be so close to their Person.
More questions and answers to come!!
What is the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog?
Answer:
A Therapy Dog is a pet dog with training in at least basic obedience and having a calm patient temperament that visits patients in the hospitals and nursing homes. These dogs are used to bring smiles to patients and to give love.
A Service Dog undergoes 1000’s of hours of training, specialized socialization, and trained to do tasks to help enable an individual suffering from a physical challenge or living with a mental illness to be able to live with more independence.
Some people say my pet dog helps me get through the day, yes a pet dog is great, but a pet dog is not trained to do 10 to over 120 physical tasks to help an individual.
A Service Dog also has to be certified (In Canada), and has to wear a jacket/ vest/ back pack/ I.D. clearly identifying him/her as a Service Dog. It is illegal for a pet owner to put a vest on their animal that claims the pet dog is a Service Dog. It is a federal offense.
Question:
Are Service Dogs pets?
Answer:
No a Service Dog is not a pet. Absolutely NOT! A Service Dog is a living partner that works with “their Partner” to help enable an individual to be independent. They are a medical tool akin to a wheel chair or other medical equipment/medicine that require regular training and challenge to enable them to keep working at peak efficiency to help their human partner.
A pet dog gives love, warmth, and happiness that we all enjoy from having a pet, a Service Dog gives independence, as well a love, warmth and happiness.
Question:
Do Service Dogs ever get the chance to just 'be a dog' and have fun and relax?
Answer:
A Service Dog when working is extremely happy as they enjoy their life, as they go with their owners 24/7 and in most cases find their work as fun and challenging to them as regular play. Dogs love to learn and are extremely happy doing the various tasks that they are trained or educated to do. (Also read this part on the site.)
When a Service Dog does not have his vest on he will still do his “work” but he also knows that he can play with other dogs, which they do. (Think of a doctor who is having a day off and relaxing at home. That doesn't make them any less the trained medical person that they are. If something happens however, that requires them to go back into 'doctor mode' they don't hesitate, 'off duty' of not. Same as a Service Dog.)
I don’t recommend having a Service Dog play in a dog park however, in case an aggressive dog starts a dog fight, but all the Service Dogs that I train and place all have dog friends, they love to swim, go boating, hiking in the woods with their owners, rolling in the grass, playing ball, finding mud holes and being covered in mud, sliding and rolling in the snow.
Service dogs can also interact with people and receive pats and hugs, and I know some individuals with dogs in their service gear that always let children “pet” the dog and take the time to educate the children about their Service Dog and what he does for him. Yes, Service Dogs do have fun, and yes Service Dogs get ample opportunity to be just a dog. Even if a dog doesn’t have the opportunity to get out in play for a day, he has to have scheduled rest times where he can just relax and sleep.
Question:
Can any type of dog be a Service Dog?
Answer:
Yes, and no. Size and temperament are very important.
For instance a small breed of dog cannot do the work that a larger dog can do such as opening doors, pulling wheel chairs, etc. but a smaller breed of dog can be a educated to be a be a signal dog for someone who has hearing loss or is deaf, etc. They can also be trained to alert for seizures, etc.
I don’t use breeds that are toy size as they are just too frail. If someone accidentally steps on a dog I don’t want a leg to be broken. I also enjoy larger sizes for if an emergency happened and a dog had to pull his owner a smaller dog would not have the physical power to be able to do that.
As for breed specific I don’t believe that one breed is better than another what is important is temperament. My dogs go through at least 15 to 20 tests before they are 8 weeks of age to determine if they have the temperament that is suitable to go into the Service Dog-training program. Than they go through many more tests on a regular basis and can be pulled at any time if they do not meet the qualifications of the set standards.
I prefer large breeds such as the Standard Poodle, Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever. I will also use (giant) breeds such as Great Danes, and Bernese Mountain Dogs, or even small breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; as it is important to have a dog that is suited to the size of the individual and their living conditions especially for mobility purposes.
I also sometimes use rescues as I believe in second changes. However rescues always take longer to train, and I am a great believer in breeding dogs for specific traits. With these traits hopefully the pup will eventually become a working Service Dog. A pup that has been breed to be a Service Dog, and has the specialized socialization starting from day one, and at 3 weeks of age the pups start with a specialized behavior handling that will help a pup start the learning process to be a magnificent working dog. The specialized handling and socialization that Service Dog puppies receive makes an enormous difference to if the pup becomes a Service Dog.
Question:
Can you go up and say hi to/pet a service dog?
Answer:
When a Service Dog is in his “working uniform” (vest/jacket/etc) you should never pet a Service Dog.
When a Service Dog is working, the individual that the dog is being an aid to, the dog has their life in their paws. So what may appear to be a harmless little pat, or talking to the dog saying something like what a cute dog, or trying to give the Service Dog a treat will actually take the attention away from the owner and distract the dog.
This can cause momentarily distraction, and can cause a dog not to “alert” the owner to perhaps an oncoming seizure, or others tasks that may not be apparent to the individual trying to pet the Service Dog. Also when a Service Dog is distracted many times over, the dog will than keep looking for “strangers” to pet him, give him a treat, etc. When this happens re-training must be done, or if too much damage has been done by the kindness of strangers the dog will be pulled and placed in a pet home. Than the individual will loose their independence as they will have to wait for another dog to be trained for them.
It is extremely important to remember that the dog is working so it is not to be distracted as someone life is depending on the dog. That cute sweet dog is keeping someone safe, secure and giving that individual independence. I often explain that to people that a Service Dog can be compared to a breathing machine, a wheelchair, etc. as a Service Dog is an aid helping a person to be able to live their life to the fullest.
Service Puppies In Training however, are learning about life, and are being exposed to many sites; sounds and learning that people are wonderful! So it is actually important for people to interact and pet one. I am sure that a Service Puppy in training thinks that people are put on this earth to make a fuss over him/her. It is important to have as many people as possible pet the pup even with his “Working Uniform” on to ensure that the pup learns to experience as many “personalities” that we humans process. If a young pup is taught to behave 100% of the time, yes the pup has to have manners but he is learning about life, but has to learn that people are very happy to have him give affection. One of the reasons is when a pup turns into an adult and the dog has to go to a stranger to ask for help, he/she will not be nervous to go to a stranger. Also it is a part of socialization so teach puppies about the world around them.
Question:
Is there anything I should know before I go up to pet a Service Puppy in Training?
Answer:
Yes. Understand that Service Puppies are not pets, and therefore must adhere to special rules and manners. For example, it is not permissible to allow a SP jump up on you at any time during the petting process, as this tells him/her that the behavior is acceptable when it is not.
Before petting a Service Puppy in Training, you should do what you should do in any situation involving petting an unknown animal. Make eye contact with the Handler/Puppy Raiser and ASK if it is ok to pet the dog. Please do not automatically bend down to pet the animal until the Handler/Puppy Raiser says it is ok.
The Puppy Raiser will then say yes (or no depending on whatever the situation is, they might be pressed for time etc.) and then give you some guidelines to follow. (Each puppy is different so one set of guidelines for one puppy may be different for another.) We ask that you please pay attention to the guidelines as it is very important.
The moment you stop and ask to pet the puppy you are becoming part of their very important training process and all that happens in the following minutes will help them become a wonderful working Service Dog when they grow up. It is most important when they are little that we do not foster any bad habits.
Question:
What is a Puppy Raiser?
Answer:
A Puppy Raiser is a person who takes a puppy into his/her home, teaches the pup house manners, life manners such as driving in a car, going shopping training the pup some simple future skills that will enhance the skill level of the pup for when he goes into full time service training with a certified Service Dog trainer who is a member of Therapeutic Medical Alert Service Dogs team. We have full time Puppy Raisers, as well as part time Puppy Raisers. We have people who only wish to take a pup on the weekends, etc.
Question:
Can I become a Puppy Raiser?
Answer:
To become a Puppy Raiser you must first fill in an application, have a criminal clearance and an animal cruelty clearance, than we have an interview to discuss what responsibilities and what are what expectations are projected. There are a lot of different rules/guidelines for raising a Service Puppy that are very different in many cases then just how you would raise a pet. Also you will have to do weekly training sessions with a member of TMA Service Dog team.
Q:uestion:
How long does it take to train a Service Animal?
Answer:
Depending on what tasks the dog is required to do. A dog that has to work pulling a wheel chair will not be ready until at least 2-1/2- 3 years of age as the dogs bones has to develop so that he is strong enough to do his job without injuring himself or his partner. It can take 1000’s of hours to train, usually about 2 years to train a dog to do multiple tasks.
Question:
At what age do you start training them?
Answer:
All my puppies go into training programs at 8 weeks of age. I will take a pup that is as old as six months if he/she has the temperament that I require.
Question:
What do you look for when choosing puppies to become a future Service Dog?
Answer:
I could write a book on this subject alone, so I will keep my reply short. I look for a happy carefree, puppy, one that is sensitive to me, and full of mischief, wants to follow and play with me, as well as the pups. Each pup that I choose goes through puppy testing as well as 15 to 20 tests before the pup will go into a Service Dog puppy-training program.
Question:
Once a puppy is chosen for training can they turn out to not be ideal later on? If so what happens to them then?
Answer:
This can and does happen and the pup than will be placed into a pet home. You can do all the testing, and preparations and still have a dog that does not meet the qualifications and standards. Perhaps a dog takes a dislike to a child, perhaps a dog will become too focused on birds flying above him, there are many motivational flaws that will disqualify a Service Puppy to become a certified Service Dog.
Question:
Where do you get your puppies?
Answer:
There are many kind breeders that donate puppies, we have our own breeding program, and we also bring pups and young dogs from animal shelters.
Question:
Do you only train dogs for veterans with disabilities?
Answer:
I train dogs for many people with various challenges. Anyone who has a need I will do what ever I can to help them. I discuss Service Dogs for our Veterans as they have given so much and deserve to have happiness and an aid that can give them back their independence. I have a soft spot in my heart for Veterans for they give their all and have walked a road that I would not want to want, and I am thankful and very respectful for what they have given.
Question: H
ow long do Service Dogs work for (before they retire?)
Answer:
Usually between 8 to 10 years.
Question:
What happens to a retired Service Dog?
Answer:
A retired dog can stay with his owner, but often family member may take the dog as he is already knows and loves them. We have a list of individuals who have requested the opportunity to give a forever home to a retired Service Dog or for a dog that does not make the graduation and will be re-homed into a pet home.
Question:
I was wondering where a Service Puppy or a Service Dog sleeps do they sleep with their handler or on the floor near their handler?
Answer:
A Service Puppy sleeps in their crate, a Service Dog sleeps with their Handler.
When a Service Dog Puppy is in training the reason the pup does not sleep in the bed, first when they are young, is because they have to learn house breaking rules, and then if the pup was to sleep in the family bed, they would think they were on equal footing with their owners, taking ownership of the bed, and anything else they please.
Having the pup sleep in their kennel also teaches respect, and teaches the pup that it is OK to be alone. Which, when one has to leave them behind, the pup is learning not to have separation anxiety which can be a real challenge to pet dogs that have not leaned to be alone.
A Service Dog also learns when to get into bed, and when not to, as when a dog is an adult there are reasons to be sleeping with their Person and that is usually to alert to movement, such as turning a person over at a specific time or to be aware of person's breathing, or to be able to alert to an anxiety moment.
Even though the dog is on the "job" they still sleep and love to be so close to their Person.
More questions and answers to come!!