#iaadp

[the-disreputable-service-dog]

anyways i’m here to bitch about Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and why I would probably never become a member esp as a trainer.

what i’m pissed about right now

- Dog must know at least 3 tasks. 

listen. not everyone needs 3 tasks. a medical alert dog might only need to know one task, which is to alert. what other tasks is a guide dog gonna do? or a hearing dog? even so, we know what their primary purpose is. SOOOO. 

-Dogs must wear capes/backpacks/harnesses/vests/etc or otherwise be identified as service dogs.

WHY. they don’t always deter people from interfering. also, just anyone can buy a stupid vest. what does it accomplish? A vest doesn’t make a service dog, it’s behavior & training does. 

-Training standards must be humane

so i can’t find exactly what the ADI considers humane? is it intentionally vague? plenty of people think prongs, chain martingales, e-collars and just...correcting a dog in general is not humane but w/e. 

-Dogs must defecate/urinate on command 

like? 90% reliability must do? OR? ask them and they go if they need to. bc there is a difference here that needs to be clarified.

-Dogs must stay within 24in/60cm of handler

dude fuck this shit i leave my SD with my partners sometimes if its just too much god damn hassle. crowded restaurant? need to grab something from the car real quick? or go to the bathroom? i’m leaving Kibeth there while i go do what i wanna do.  -be willing to educate the public and be polite to them when out training (w/ a client? or in general?) 

like no. first of all, disrupting me and my client is R U D E. get away from me and them. and our dogs. i dont have time for this shit.

-Dogs must be spayed/neutered. 

first of all, what about breeding programs? or people who choose to keep their dogs intact for whatever reason? OR PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO BREED THEIR WORKING SERVICE DOGS, FOR LIKE, IDK, THE PURPOSE OF MAKING MORE SUITABLE SDs? OR YA KNOW WHAT, ITS PEOPLE’S CHOICE IF THEY KEEP THEIR DOGS IN TACT OR NOT. GET OVER IT.  anyways THAT’S MY RANT/OPINION FOR THE DAY 

[servicedogforum]

IAADP: International Association of Assistance Dog Partners FINDING A SUITABLE CANDIDATE FOR ASSISTANCE DOG WORK “After locating a dog that seems promising, programs, private trainers and experienced owner-trainers traditionally make use of three important tests. These tests reveal something about the dog's fundamental nature. If a dog scores well on all three, it is not a guarantee the dog will make it through training, but certainly the results will help the trainer decide if it is worthwhile or not to put a dog through a Thirty Day Evaluation (testing) Period for a much more extensive evaluation of his or her suitability for this career.” https://www.iaadp.org/temperament.html Learn more @servicedogforum #servicedogforum #iaadp #servicedogs #servicedog #servicedogintraining #servicedoglife #servicedogteam #assistanceanimal #guidedog #dogs #dogsofinsta #dogsofinstagram #dogtraining #dogtraining101 #dogtrainingtips #dogbehavior #dogbehaviour https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ1rpGbsmUi/?utm_medium=tumblr

[actuallyservicedogs]

one of my anxiety symptoms is constant paranoia. for example, i'm unable to use atms, handle money in public, etc. i heard you can train a dog to be a faux guard dog; to put on body language & expression that looks threatening, but really has no actual threat, just to drive off possible attackers. as sd's can be removed if they are misbehaving, if i did this in a store, would that be cause to remove me? or is it okay because there's no "real" threat.

You can teach your dog to perform certain behaviors that help your paranoia, but they cannot be disruptive or endanger anyone. IAADP explains this well in their list of tasks for psychiatric disabilities, in the “Fear Management in Public” section.

This segment describes four tasks which could assist a handler to keep suspicious strangers at bay. However, the tasks are only meant to create an illusion. The dog must be rigorously schooled NOT to be protective in these situations even if partner acts fearful. A service dog should only perform these tasks to please his handler and/or earn a treat.

         Actual protection training /attack training is ethically prohibited for legitimate service dogs. A service dog should never be allowed to bark AT strangers in public. The following tasks will provide much safer and much more useful kinds of behavior in the long run than having an over protective dog. These tasks offer a non-violent alternative to carrying a weapon for someone coping with the fear of another assault. Useful as a bluff strategy for other kinds of assistance dogs too. Won’t ruin the underlying good natured tolerance for strangers that is the appropriate temperament every assistance dog should exhibit and be tested for prior to any training.

Source: (x)

Keep in mind that some of the tasks listed there will not legally count as tasks, no matter how helpful the are.  Also, some of these bluffs, such as the “On Guard”, can be considered threatening and could potentially cause trouble for you, especially if done in a store and vested as a service dog. They might be better used while ‘incognito’, if at all. Laws have changed, and many people are much less tolerant of dogs that appear aggressive, and thus might file a complaint. In some states, you might face legal charges for threatening another person, even if there was no actual threat - they might have a real fear that they could be or are about to be hurt. Also, this kind of behavior is unprofessional and reflects poorly on the rest of the service dog community. You should not use behaviors that are intended to scare members of the public while your dog is performing its duties as a service dog. 

I would suggest getting large patches or a leash wrap with “STAY AWAY” on it, or even a shirt for yourself with that. I know that Etsy carries a variety of gear similar to that.

You are going to encounter people that will disregard it, and come up to you anyways - either to pet your service dog or to ask you questions. You need to be able to handle this or at least handle it enough to get them to leave or leave yourself. This post deals with asking people to stop interfering with your service dog - some of the ideas could be adapted to your situation.

Some of the other tasks, however, such as “Cover Me”, and “Watch My Back” are perfectly legitimate. I benefit from a similar task in public - blocking/covering, where the dog stands or sits behind me, physically preventing anyone from standing directly behind me (or wherever the dog is positioned). I find that more helpful for me because there is a physical barrier between me and others. However, illusion tasks also provide reassurance and grounding, and their value should not be underestimated.

Take care of yourself today, okay?

-Kai