Berns about the significance of olfactory and visual stimuli in a dog’s universe and what dogs may really be thinking

r e s c u e From Shelter Dog to Service Dog

Dr. Maria Karunungan sets out some guidelines to help with the selection of rescue dogs to set them up for success in training to be service dogs

The idea of two lives saving each other – one a homeless animal and the other a human being in need of the kind of help only an animal can provide – tugs at heartstrings and makes the work we do as animal training professionals feel extra worthwhile. The history of service dogs potentially dates back to medieval times in Western Europe, based on manuscripts that have survived from as early as the 13th century (Murchison, 2018). Indeed, many biologists agree that the domesticated dog began its companionship with people to varying degrees doing types of work that humans found useful (Coppinger & Coppinger, 2004).

In the United States, a service animal is defined as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities (United States Department of Justice, 2011). The words “service” and “task” are used here because they signify the legal basis on which dogs are granted access to enable their human partners to operate independently as they go about their day in public settings. There are many different types of service dogs – from dogs who pull wheelchairs and open doors, to dogs who alert their handlers to an oncoming seizure or to a dangerous obstacle in their path. Not all service dogs work in public en© Can Stock Photo/AntonioGravante It can be challenging to come up with onesizefitsall guidelines for selecting a service dog from rescue candidates because characteristics that may be dealbreakers in one area may be desired or required qualities for another situation Behavior evaluations conducted in many shelters and rescues usually don’t give the whole story needed for service dog selection. These evaluations provide a limited snapshot of behavior in one moment of time in a particular context (often the highly artificial context of an animal shelter).

© Can Stock Photo/Belish Much of the debate surrounding service animals in public spaces has to do with how wellbehaved the animal is and whether the animal is experiencing an undue level of stress

vironments, but for those who do, the United State Department of Justice (USDOJ) (2011) mandates the standard of required behavior as being “under the owner’s control.” Examples of being under control might include remaining calm on leash, not sniffing merchandise or jumping on passersby, and confidently tolerating “strange sights, sounds and odors in a wide variety of public settings.” (International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, 1997).

Working in public means the dog should be able to respond to a handler’s needs and move nimbly through spaces not designed for both a human and a dog, while remaining unfazed by the many distractions that may be present in public situations. Some of these requirements mean that not every dog will be naturally suited to service dog work.

Behavior and Welfare Much of the debate surrounding service animals in public spaces has to do with how wellbehaved the animal is and whether the animal is experiencing an undue level of stress. While many behaviors can be trained, some natural ability and inclination for the task expected of them is also required. For example, a 10lb Chihuahua would not be expected to pull a wheelchair; and a dog uninterested in environmental noises could find it challenging to rouse from a deep sleep to alert a hearingimpaired or deaf person when indicated. Forcing a square peg into a round hole is as much a welfare issue as it is a questionable investment of time, money and effort.

A fearful dog, as another example, might be immediately ruled out for most types of service dog work. Fear can result in a dog planting his feet and not being able to move across a threshold or up a flight of stairs, barking suddenly in a library or workplace when startled by

someone getting up after being otherwise quiet or still for a long time, or more serious aggression, which would be highly inappropriate for a dog given public access. It is also unfair to a dog to routinely put him into situations he is afraid of. Fear is one of the primary reasons that many dogs bred for service programs “wash out” and are not placed as part of working teams (Grunow, 1995).

For dogs who are confident and enjoy the tasks they perform for their handlers – indeed, thrive on them – their lives are wonderfully enriched by the quality of interactions with their person. The joy on a dog’s face as he earns a cookie for a job well done is precious – and for those humans who have had to face additional challenges in life and who now get help with these challenges, this joy goes both ways.

Finding the “Right Dog” How do we actually find the dogs who can provide this type of help to an individual, and how do we make the right matches? And can these dogs come from shelters and rescue organizations? This prospect is appealing. Contrary to popular belief, many shelter dogs are surrendered for reasons unrelated to poor behavior, such as moving homes, an owner’s illness, or other factors (Salman et. al, 1998; Weiss, Gramann, Spain & Slater, 2015). Even so, finding dogs who can train to a high level of performance and navigate public access with aplomb is still a tall order. Behavior evaluations conducted in many shelters and rescues usually don’t give the whole story needed for service dog selection. These evaluations provide a limited snapshot of behavior in one moment of time in a particular context (often the highly artificial context of an animal shelter). Responses to typical behavior evaluation test items may not reflect how well a dog would perform as part of a wellmatched team in the long term. A dog’s known history can help, but often that history is missing or lost in translation.

Many organizations or professionals that select service dogs from animal shelters have devised strategies for collecting multiple observations of the prospective service dog over time that will help give a more complete picture of the dog. For example, some organizations have volunteers who serve as the dog’s temporary caretakers. Another creative solution includes having prospective service dogs stay with prison inmates enrolled in a special program for this purpose. The most valuable information can come from observing the dog in reallife settings and in “at home” settings over time with different people and in different situations.

Having information about the dog in many different situations can, in tandem with the time invested in competent training, help the dog meet ideal minimum standards for public access (International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, 1997). The effort to find a solid dog who is unflappable in all the right ways, will prevent adding a heavier burden to an individual with a disability. At the end of the day, a service dog should make the individual’s life easier rather than harder – and so, in some ways, while all dogs are still dogs, we want the behavior of a service dog to be as impeccable as possible.

Coming up with onesizefitsall guidelines for selecting a service dog from among rescue candidates can be tough, bearing in mind that characteristics that may be dealbreakers in one area of disability may actually be desired or required qualities for another situation. For example, a high level of interest in sounds or the environment would be required for a hearing dog, but not ideal for a dog tasked with helping a person with a psychiatric disorder triggered by lively and overwhelming settings. The latter individual would benefit from a dog remaining calm and completely nonreactive to sounds in the environment. Keeping in mind that some matches are very individual, here are some basic guidelines: • Age and Health: Given the amount of time required for training, and the average “retirement” age of 10, a younger dog is preferred. How young varies from organization to organization. Starting with a young puppy can be riskier since some genetic

Working in public means the dog should be able to respond to a handler’s needs and move nimbly through spaces not designed for both a human and a dog, while remaining unfazed by the many distractions that may be present in public situations. Some of these requirements mean that not every dog will be naturally suited to service dog work.

• behavioral tendencies may express themselves later in their development. The overall health of the dog is important too, so, a veterinarian’s medical opinion is essential. As with behavioral issues, having medical issues to manage might prove cumbersome or prohibitive to the handler. Comfort with Being Petted and Having Body Parts Touched: Is the dog comfortable when hands reach toward him? Are there any trouble spots (paws, ears, tail, etc.) where the dog is sensitive? Sometimes the handler may need to be able to physically move the dog out of the way of a fastmoving vehicle or other danger. Having a dog who is comfortable with being touched will also help with routine care such as grooming, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and administering medication. Confidence in the Hustle and Bustle of an Urban Scene: Can the dog handle trains going by, people suddenly appearing around a corner, horns honking, carts wheeling by, people carrying bags or heavy objects? Can the dog handle a wide variety of unfamiliar people of all ages, sizes, and attire, and who walk and act in ways the dog might not have encountered before? Comfort Being Left Alone: Some may argue a service dog will get to accompany the handler everywhere, but in the event an individual is whisked to an emergency room or another unanticipated situation, a contingency plan should either be in place or the dog should be able to spend a few hours alone without panicking. Sociability with Children: Does the dog enjoy being petted by children, or at least seem relaxed in the event this happens? Service dogs in public are often approached by children running up in delight at the sight of a dog where they weren’t expecting to see one. More and more parents are managing this better as education about not distracting working dogs becomes more widespread, but being comfortable with children approaching, petting, running around, screaming, or jumping is important. Reactions to Other Dogs: A normal level of social interest in one’s own kind is to be expected, so when we look at a prospective service dog’s sociability with other dogs, we assume that the ability to handle being on leash and passing another dog can be trained. Aggressive behavior toward other dogs would not be appropriate, given that many businesses and hotels are petfriendly, and that in places that don’t allow pets, there may still be other service animals present. Reactions to Cats, Squirrels, Birds, and Other Small Animals: Curiosity about smaller creatures is not a

Organizations that select service dogs from animal shelters often implement strategies to observe the dog over time to provide a more complete picture of his suitability for the job

dealbreaker, but the dog should be capable of being redirected with “happy talk” or food enticement. While some dogs with an intractable focus on smaller creatures can perform well with a greater investment in training, others may be unable to function at all in the presence of an urban pigeon.

Exit Strategy In the interests of being efficient, some of these observations about rescue candidates can be collected while initial basic training is being started. A plan should be in place for what happens if the dog isn’t “perfect.” Take, for example, a dog who was initially observed around children and seemed fine with them, but over repeated exposures or after a negative experience suddenly seems sensitive and now exhibits discomfort. Can that dog still be placed with an individual whose disability doesn’t prevent them from managing the dog effectively in public, or should the organization counsel against the dog having public access (e.g., the dog works at home only)? Or should the dog be placed as a nonworking dog in a home the same way any rescued dog might be placed? Sometimes a dog may get placed as part of a working team and then an unforeseen behavior issue emerges that means the team either needs ongoing support from a local trainer or follows a predetermined exit strategy in the event the dog cannot continue to have public access. There is no right answer and different organizations and professionals have different ways of handling these situations. The hope is that this is a winwinwin proposition: A “perfect,” adoptable rescue dog is placed as a service dog helping an individual who has a disability. Or, a nice, adoptable rescue dog got some training and wasn’t perfect for every type of service dog work but was placed with a wellmatched individual who was able to manage the dog’s needs, and in return, received the gift of increased selfsufficiency. Or, a nice, adoptable rescue dog got some training and didn’t get placed as a service dog at all, but the dog did find a good home as a pet dog with wonderful manners to start his new life with his best paw forward! n

References Coppinger, R., & Coppinger, L. (2004). Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution. Romford, UK: Crosskeys Select Books. Grunow, S. (1995). Fearfulness and Failure in Training Working Dogs. Master’s Theses. 995. Available at: bit.ly/2tnZvbE International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. (1997). IAADP Minimum Training Standards for Public Access. Available at: bit.ly/2QXSUOh Murchison, K. (2018). Guide Dogs in Medieval Art and Writing. Available at: bit.ly/2QVbHJT Salman, M.D., New Jr., J.G., Scarlett, J.M., Kass, P.H., Ruch-Gallie, R., & Hetts, S. (1998). Human and Animal Factors Related to the Relinquishment of Dogs and Cats in 12 Selected Animal Shelters in the United States. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 1 207-226. Available at: bit.ly/2FUarAu United States Department of Justice (2011). DOJ Service Animals. Available at: bit.ly/2Rouqwu Weiss, E., Gramann, S., Spain, C.V., & Slater, M. (2015). Goodbye to a Good Friend: An Exploration of the Re-Homing of Cats and Dogs. Open Journal of Animal Sciences 5 435-456. Available at: bit.ly/2sthBc3

Maria Karunungan Ph.D CTC CSAT has been a professional dog trainer for 15 years. She has served on the behavior staff at several shelters in Northern California, running playgroups and focusing on helping dogs and cats find homes for more than eight years. She now specializes in service dog training and separation anxiety cases, and currently partners with Fetch the Leash (fetchtheleash.biz), a dog training program serving the community of Burlington, Vermont. She holds a Ph.D in educational research and received her certificate in teaching and counseling with honors from the Academy for Dog Trainers, as well as her certificate in separation anxiety training from Malena DeMartini's Separation Anxiety Certification Program.

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