When you sign up for a package or course with DADTC, you will quickly find that learning to train your dog might involve a lot of words you've never heard before or never really understood. I've created a lists that covers the words you will hear me use most often when talking about dog training in general or specific service dog subjects. You can download either and refer back to it more easily for your convenience. You don't have to read either, but I wanted to offer this to anyone wanting to get a jump on this new type of education. Everything you need to know will be taught and explained along the way, and if I don't explain something in a way that you understand, please ask me!
General Dog Training Lingo
Service Dog Life Lingo
Service Dog Specific Terminology
Complex Regional pain syndrome (CRPS/RSD)
This is a severe nerve pain condition where the brain tells the body that everything it encounters and experiences is a pain signal, thus causing the person to live in a constant state of unyielding pain. The use of service dogs to help those with CRPS manage their lives is still a relatively new concept, one that DADTC hopes to change. We work with other conditions that impact mobility, as well, but specialize in CPRS because it is incredibly rare to find a dog trainer who has experience with it.
Service Dog/Assistance Dog
A fully trained dog who has been trained to assist his disabled handler with a variety of tasks both at home and in public, in order to help their handler manage their condition. You'll find I use these terms interchangeably.
mobility dog/mobility service dog
A type of service dog that helps their handler do physical activities that are difficult or impossible for the person to do, such as open/close doors, retrieve items, turn on/off lights, brace, move heavy objects like laundry baskets, stabilize while in motion, and more.
service dog team
The primary people or person involved with the service dog's operation. This might just be the disabled person and the dog, or it could be the disabled person, the dog, and a spouse, friend, or family member.
handler
A person that works with a service dog; might be the disabled person who needs the dog's assistance or another person in the service dog team who handles the dog for the disabled person.
service dog prospect
A young dog being considered as a potential service dog candidate
service dog candidate
A young dog who has begun basic obedience and socialization training with the intent of being a service dog in training, should they prove to have the right drive & temperament.
service dog in-training (SDiT)
A dog who has successfully passed obedience and socialization training and is beginning advanced socialization skills, public access training, and task training. This dog has continued to show they have the right mindset for being a working dog.
public access (PA)
Periods of time when the dog-handler team is working out in public. The handler might be running errands or going to their job.
brace
A task where the dog is taught to stand a specific way so that their handler may rest a hand on their shoulders for assistance in standing up, getting dressed, getting in/out of the shower, and more
counter-balance assistance
The dog wears a special harness that their handler holds onto while in motion. The handler uses to harness to lean on lightly for support & stability, or holds onto the harness while the dog pulls forward gently to assist the handler in rising from a chair or going up stairs. The harness for Counter-Balance (CB) work is different from a Guide Dog Harness.
draft work
A task that involves the dog pulling a weight behind them; handler may choose to use a wheeled cart, some type of sled, or basket.
alert vs response/interruption task
An alert is when the dog lets their handler know in advance that something related to their condition is about to happen. This may be a seizure, pain flare, blood sugar drop, or other. A dog who can alert comes by it naturally. A response/interruption is when the dog intervenes during a flare up of their handler's condition in order to help their handler make it through. This can be trained, and might present in different ways. A handler screaming in pain & falling down could trigger the dog to race to their side and try to get them to safety. A handler beginning to pace agitatedly or self-harm could trigger the dog to come and interrupt the handler's behavior by pawing, nose nudging, or lying on them until the episode is over.