Clik here to view.
Is My Service Dog Ruined? How to Recover from a Negative Event
It’s the situation we all dread: Our service-dog-in-training (SDiT) or working service dog has a negative experience. Maybe she’s attacked by another dog or we go to an event that turns out to be...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Service Dog Access Challenges: How to Prevent & Respond to Them
The worst part of being a service dog partner is usually the specter of access challenges. In this article, we discuss why access challenges seem to be on the rise in the U.S., how to respond when...
View ArticleClik here to view.
5 Important Tips for Parents Raising a Service Dog Puppy
Are you raising a puppy to train as a service dog, while also raising a family? Dogs and kids bring so much love and joy to life, but combining them can be challenging. When you add a disability to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Train Your Service Dog in a Reliable Behavior Interruption Task (e.g.,...
Content Advisory: This article references self-harm, disordered eating, and other mental health struggles. Recently, I was asked whether a service dog can be trained to help with bulimia or other...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should I Train My Service Dog in Agility or Other Dog Sports?
Dog sports are hugely popular and look great in a reel on TikTok or Instagram. Periodically a client will ask me, “Should I train my service dog prospect in agility (or another dog sport)?” There is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Should I Title my Service Dog?
Service dogs do not need to acquire titles in order to be effective or valid working dogs. Titles for service dogs are entirely elective. But there are some great reasons to title your service dog in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Celebrating Service Dog Successes! (What makes for a successful owner-trained...
In the past month, we’ve had two service dog teams pass their public access evaluation (PAE) and two teams pass their Bronze DISC practical assessment. These are big accomplishments! We wanted to take...
View ArticleClik here to view.
My Service Dog is Distracted by Other Dogs! What should I do?
Other dogs are the most difficult distraction for most service dogs. In fact, overexcitement or even reactivity around other dogs is such a common public-access struggle that our online service dog...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Socialize Your Service Dog Puppy
What is puppy socialization? How should future service dogs be socialized? Find out what it is (and isn’t!), why it’s important to do it right, and get some helpful tips. Plus, find resources for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
4 Important Tips to Choose the Right Service Dog Candidate (SDiT)
I was faced with a disheartening reality when I compiled statistics after my first three years of coaching owners to train their own service dogs. Over 85% of the dogs who walked through my door were...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Workshop: How to Find Your Future Service Dog
Are you looking for a service dog? Learn how to find the right service-dog-in-training (SDiT) or trained service dog in our upcoming online, 2-session workshop — presented by owner-training service...
View ArticleClik here to view.
10 Useful Hacks for Fitting Service Dog Training into Your Day
It’s back to school season, the dog days of autumn. Have you let your service dog training slide in the heat of the summer? Or has your training schedule fallen to the wayside due to symptom flares,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“It’s the cat’s meow!”— Scholarship recipient Cindi Gazda & service dog Zoe
Did you know that At Your Service Dog Training has a scholarship program? It was established earlier this year by donations from the friends and family of one of our past clients who tragically died...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Prepare Your Dog for Your Return to Work: Preventing Separation Distress in...
By Sharon Wachsler CPDT-KA, KPACTP If you have been doing stay-at-home due to the pandemic, now is the time to make sure your dog is able to cope with you returning to work. Make sure your dog is not...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Great Gifts for Dog Lovers
It’s the time of year when many of us are thinking of what to get for family, friends, and coworkers. If those people happen to have dogs, we’ve got some great ideas for you! Here are some of our...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Here to Help, Not Judge” –Trainer Alex Wise
At Your Service was thrilled to introduce you to our new staff trainer, Alex Wise. Alex brings a wealth of experience as both a client and trainer, with group classes and private lessons. As you’ll...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dog lovers in MA – Support this bill!
Did you know that anyone in Massachusetts can charge you to train or handle your dog, whether or not they know anything about dog training or have ever trained a dog before? It’s shocking but true:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The “Safe Place” Protocol (for dogs that are fearful, reactive, or hyper with...
The arrival of strangers in the home often leads to undesirable behavior — jumping up to greet, excited barking, or general mild chaos. In most cases, this is easily trained by rewarding the dog for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Help for service dog owner-trainers! (Or those considering it)
There is a lot of conflicting, misleading, and downright bad information online (and even in books) about service dog training. Now service dog owner-trainers who are on a budget or are outside my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Is your dog’s “car anxiety” really motion sickness?
When my dog Barnum was about two years old, he started to become impossible to drive with. About twenty minutes into any car trip, he would pace, drool, and shriek continuously. It was horrible for...
View Article
