Service Dogs
The Right Dog
Service Dogs
What Service Dogs Do
Is a Service Dog for You
How to Get a Service Dog
The Right Dog
The Right Source
The Right Trainer
The Right Training
Your Goals
Your Resources
Getting Ready for a Service Dog
Equipment
Health Care
When You Get a Service Dog
Working in Public
Profile of an Ideal Dog for Service Dog Work
 
The Right Dog
+
The Right Match with a Human Partner=
A Successful Working Team
 
The Selection Process
Selecting the Right Dog is probably the most critical part of the equation.  There are specific criteria that have been developed over time which have been found to be necessary for success with a service dog.  There are specific guidelines which disqualify a dog from service dog work.
 
Realizing this, and understanding these criteria and guidelines will help you to be an educated consumer in the service dog arena.  A provider organization or private trainer who deviates from these industry standards probably will not be able to deliver the highest quality of service.
 
Making the Right Match
The second part of this equation is matching the Right Dog with a human partner.  Even if a dog meets all the criteria and does all the tasks and exercises, when placed with a human partner that is not a good personality match for that particular dog, can lead to failure as a team.  Dogs have separate unique personalities, just as people do, and this must be considered for both parts of the team.

Characteristics of the Right Dog: Selection Criteria

Disqualifying Factors: Release criteria

Matching Service Dog Personality to Human Partner Personality

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Education and Support for People and Service Dogs