Free and Low-Cost Enrichment Ideas for Your Dog in Training
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
1w ago
“Enrichment” means making something more meaningful, substantial, or rewarding. When dog trainers refer to adding enrichment to your dogs’ life, we usually mean optimizing their mental or physical exercise. Giving your dog more challenges they can succeed at every day makes them happier and more fulfilled, leaving them smarter, calmer, more content, and less destructive.  For a dog in training as a service animal, enrichment is an especially important component of maximizing their training and working potential, while also helping them to lead long, happy, healthy lives. There are many ty ..read more
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Is My Service Dog Tax-Deductible?
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
2w ago
Did you know that the costs associated with a service animal are tax-deductible if you are itemizing your medical expenses? And that service animal expenses may also be counted when getting public benefits such as food stamps (SNAP), Section 8, or other low-income programs?  It’s tax season again. Because we help disabled people to train their own service dogs, we want to make sure the process of raising, training, and partnering with a service dog is as affordable as possible. This post has some tips that you can check with your certified public accountant (CPA) or benefits counselor. 14 ..read more
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Focus Around Distractions! 5 Tips for Service Dog Training around Dogs & People
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
3M ago
Does your service dog lose all focus around other dogs, friendly strangers, moving things, new environments, or interesting smells? Does she suddenly act like she doesn’t know what “sit” means — even though she does it perfectly at home? Does he stop paying attention to you at all, even though he knows you have lots of great treats? Never fear! There’s nothing wrong with your dog. Training your service-dog-in-training (SDiT) to focus around distraction is the hardest part of public access service dog training. But it CAN be done! Here are five quick tips to help you defeat distractions with yo ..read more
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Attention, Please! Service Dog Workshop January 27 & 28, Northborough, MA
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
3M ago
If you find your service-dog-in-training (SDiT) doesn’t listen to you in public, on walks, or around strangers or other dogs, you are not alone! Fortunately, help is here. Our upcoming workshop will help you and your dog succeed. (Not able to make it to this one? Check with us about future service dog training classes near you.) Little dogs can have big focus! Engagement and focus around distraction is key to success with public access training. Training a service dog to focus around distractions is often the hardest part in the training process. But it is not out-of-reach. When your dog is en ..read more
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How to Train a Mobility Service Dog from a Wheelchair (& Other Tips for Dog Owners with Mobility Impairments)
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
6M ago
Are you training your own mobility service dog and wondering how to train a dog from a wheelchair or with an unsteady gait? Or are you a professional trainer working with a client who uses a cane, crutches, or mobility scooter? In its essence, dog training always involves setting up the dog for success with easy first steps, rewarding the dog when it does the right thing, and then slowly increasing the challenge level. However, for trainers with mobility impairments, sometimes the methods for how to do this look a little different than for someone with full or easy ambulation. This is a huge t ..read more
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How to Train Service Dog Leash Manners
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
7M ago
How to Train Service Dog Leash Manners (and are there differences from training loose leash walking with a pet dog?) Are you training a service dog – as an owner-trainer or as a professional dog trainer working with a service dog client? If so, loose leash walking is probably a top priority. Training a puppy or service-dog-in-training (SDiT) to walk nicely by the handler’s side is a critical skill for public access.  Many service dog owner-trainers take their puppies to an obedience class, thinking that leash manners can be trained in any manners class. To some extent, this is true. Good ..read more
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One Obedience Behavior NOT to Train a Service Dog
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
7M ago
Are you a pet dog trainer who sometimes has service-dogs-in-training (SDiTs) in your classes? Or are you owner-training your own service dog? This post is for you! It is about one simple change to make in basic manners training for SDiT teams. Differences between Pet and Service Dog Manners Training Many people believe that manners training and obedience classes can be the same for service dogs and pet dogs. But is this always true? To a certain extent, yes, all SDiTs need to know basics like sit, down, come, walk on a loose leash, leave it, eye contact, hand targeting (“touch”), etc. These ca ..read more
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Four Essential Tips for Taking Your Service Dog in Training Puppy (SDiT) into Public
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
7M ago
If you’re raising a puppy as a future service dog, you may be nervous or excited (or both) about bringing your puppy to new places. We specialize in helping disabled people train their own service dog, starting with our service dog puppy class, PEARL DISC, and training up through tasks and public access. These four tips will set your puppy up for success. Learn WHERE to go, WHAT to bring, HOW to train, and WHEN to leave! Dutch the SDiT puppy is ready to go have fun and train in public!1. Location Is Key for Unvaccinated Puppies There is a lot of confusion on the topic of where and when it’s sa ..read more
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Service Dog Training Gear Essentials
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
7M ago
Read on to see Service Dog Training Gear recommendations from Sharon Wachlser, CPDT-KA, KPACTP. Most are available for purchase with our At Your Service Dog Training logo! Rapid Rewards Treat Pouch PRICE: $33.50 (with belt)  $30.00 (no belt) Bag Attaches with a clip, includes loops if you prefer to thread a belt through (Optional Add on)  Bag Size 6″ W x 6.75″ H x 2.75″ D Features include: Magnetic closure with pull tab for easy open/close Roomy main compartment, ergonomically shaped, with gray interior lining for better visibility Inside jackpot pocket with Velcro closure to store ..read more
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In-Home Task Training for Service Dogs – January 2023 Newsletter
At Your Service Dog Training
by Sharon Wachsler
7M ago
Service Dog Training Tips: In-Home Tasks for Service or Therapy Dogs I recently had an intensely visceral reminder of the power of a dog performing deep pressure. It’s the service task we train the most. I have seen numerous clients benefit from deep pressure over the years (such as Natan, pictured here with his poodle, Travel), but this was not for a client. It was for me. I suffered a concussion and needed a lot of sleep, but symptoms like vertigo, nausea, and anxiety often prevented it. At these times, my standard poodle, Kismet climbed into my lap and laid across my body. He could tell tha ..read more
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