Book Review: Service Dog Coaching

Service Dog Coaching: A Guide for Pet Dog Trainers, by Veronica Sanchez of Cooperative Paws Service Dog Education (Dogwise, 2019,104 pages, $19.95)

Author Veronica Sanchez reminds me of a professor I had for Plant Genetics in graduate school: every sentence she writes is worthy of being highlighted! Perhaps it is her background in education that is revealed in her calm, positive-reinforcement nature and in the precise and natural organization of Service Dog Coaching.

Sanchez is the go-to person for pet dog trainers who want to become service dog trainers; she created the Service Dog Education programand has presented on the subject for APDT, lAABC, and PPG* as well as for Dog Bite Prevention Week.

Is April too Early to Select the Book of the Year for 2019?

About 10 years ago, the ‘sexy’ topic in dog behavior and training was aggression, followed in time by puppyhood, tricks and genetics, and now service dogs (with therapy dogs and emotional support dogs), perhaps as a result of the increasing need of veterans.

In more than 15 years of reviewing (mostly) dog books, only three times has DogEvals suggested a title be nominated for the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) annual writing competition: Puppy Culture (and all the wonderful Puppy Culture products) which won in 2015, The Teaching Dog (a finalist in 2018) and now, Service Dog Coaching.

From Start to Finish, The Steps

Sanchez compares and contrasts the owner-trained, trainer-coached service dog process to obtaining an SD from an organization (for-profit or non-profit) in terms of cost and time to train (some tasks can’t be hurried), waiting lists, tasks required, etc. She even includes a (two-year) training plan.

All in one easy-to-read book.

Written with the experienced dog trainer in mind, this coaching book is for trainers who use positive reinforcement for the strongest partnership bond and most reliable results. Sanchez includes the reasons for the trainer to fully understand the handler’s condition, and to know local, state, and federal laws, as well as contracts and other paperwork needed.

It is the rare dog, indeed, who has what it takes to become an SD but there are many varied ways in which a dog can assist people with different requirements. However, an SD is not the right solution for everyone. What does one look for in a prospective SD and what if the dog turns out to be “not a good candidate” for public access, for example? Chapter 6 can help.

Public Access

Basically a dog is socialized as a puppy (and the socialization is maintained), passes basic training courses and perhaps the CGC** levels, and is then trained in specific SD tasks and public access (perhaps the most challenging part) as part of a team – all in about a two-year period. Finally, this training is reviewed and maintained as often as needed to keep the team sharp and working in unison.

Generally an SD may be taught targeting, retrieving/fetching,

Ready to go Shopping

pushing/pulling

Pulling Open the Fridge

and dropping (releasing), and alerting and responding behaviors. Author Sanchez provides very detailed steps for teaching these skills.

Part of a Team, A Partnership

Perfect Partnership

The person and SD trainer are a team: therefore, the trainer must have extensive knowledge of the person’s condition and must work with the other members of the team – from medical personnel to family to employer.

Sanchez has written a delightfully inspiring yet detailed book about the rewarding process of coaching an owner-trainer and their service dog. If such training is not right for you right now, Service Dog Coaching will be ready when you are. In the meantime, reading it will make you a more well-rounded dog trainer – and a better person!

*The Association of Professional Dog Trainers, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, the Pet Professional Guild

**The AKC’s CGC: American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen levels

That's All, Folks!