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Where to start Mobility Dog Training

Training a Mobility Dog?

Prerequisites for success: training skills, age, and health screenings

MDRG recommends all service dogs have a good foundation of training and meet specific prerequisites before advanced disability skills for mobility-specific task training. Training the physical support assistance tasks is the final phase of training.

On this page you’ll find prerequisite foundation and intermediate skills,  that help prepare a mobility dog candidate for their job, plus the minimum age and health screening requirements to assure the dog is healthy and well-suited for this physically demanding job.

Solid Foundation Skills Prerequisite 

  • Good general obedience and manners
  • Loose leash walking – no pulling on leash
  • Come, sit, down, stay, leave it, etc.
  • Can respond reliably with distractions: dogs, people, environment
  • General public access experience
  • Walk on different surfaces – shiny, smooth, grates, gravel, etc.
  • Comfort with things on wheels – grocery cart, dolly/hand truck, wheelchair, etc.
  • Various modes of transportation – elevator, car, van, bus, train, etc.
  • Walk on different surfaces – shiny, smooth, grates, gravel, etc.

Ability to pass AKC’s Canine Good Citizens (CGC) test is a reasonable and objective minimum requirement. This standardized test is widely available in the US. Learn more about CGC requirements and how to find an evaluator.

Intermediate Prerequisite Skills

Teaching these skills sets the foundation for advanced harness work. We want the dog to learn spatial awareness, how to Maneuver into specific positions, and to automatically counterbalance or lean into physical contact. 

  • Body awareness – lift feet over objects, navigate obstacles      
  • Back up – straight, over obstacles, up a step, around a corner
  • Step (one step at a time) – stairs, curbs, positioning
  • Maneuver and tuck into tight spaces, go under a table or chair
  • Position at handler’s side – different positions for different situations
  • Work on both left and right sides
  • Pivot or swing into position at handler’s side, face front, go behind, etc.
  • Stand on cue, hold position square and balanced
  • Remain standing at halt
  • Counter-lean into pressure – the dog pushes into a hand firmly pressing on their side, or leans onto the handler’s legs (we want the dog to counteract pressure, not yield to it)
  • Hold firm and steady when a hand is lightly pressed on the dog’s back (later evolves into a “brace” cue)
  • Forward – dog steps out first (versus following handler’s movements)
  • Get Dressed – willingly put on a vest/harness
  • Can reliably ignore distractions, such as other dogs, critters, food on the ground, people, etc. 

 

Other Advanced and Disability Skills

Low or no-contact advanced mobility assistance skills or tasks can be taught anytime and are not subject to the minimum age or health screening guidelines 

  • Opening doors
  • Turning off lights
  • Retrieving objects
  • Picking up dropped items
  • Working next to a wheelchair or walker
  • Medical alerts
  • Other disability skills that do not involve pressure or impact

Advanced Mobility Assistance Tasks Include

Guide, counterbalance, momentum pull, pull-up, and brace. These physically demanding skills should only be trained after the age and health screening prerequisites have been met.

Article on safer options for downward pressure with bracing

Pitfalls to Avoid 

Some commonly trained habits are undesirable in service dogs and may make training some advanced skills more difficult.

Consider avoiding: 

  • A formal obedience HEEL (dog’s body is too far back); some heel so well they struggle to learn a different position cue
  • Automatic sit at halt (mobility dogs should remain standing so they’re able to assist)
  • No-pull training harnesses – avoid making the dog reluctant to pull (we may want mobility dogs to pull into their working harness); it is unknown if walking harnesses affects a dog’s willingness to accept pressure on a working harness
  • Protection and bite sports (service dogs should have non-violent, passive behaviors) 

 Is a “training harness” necessary?

  • A service dog candidate can – and should – wear a basic vest or harness for training. But nothing more.
  • General-purpose fabric puppy vests are ideal to identify the dog’s in-training status.
  • Vests have an added benefit of teaching the dog when they are “dressed” in their vest they are expected to be on their best behavior – this skill easily transfers to a working harness when they are ready.
  • A leash can be attached to a flat collar, martingale/limited-slip collar, head halter, or on a basic harness throughout the dog’s training.
  • If a harness is used, it shall be a well designed, non-restrictive, general-purpose harness such as
  • HOWEVER it is very important to avoid working harnesses until the dog is ready and meets all prerequisites for training, age and health clearances.
  • DO NOT use any type of working harness on underage dogs. Applying pressure or force to a growing dog’s body puts them at risk for injury and may impact their development
  • NO HANDLES—far too tempting to use! If it’s there, people will grab it.
  • MDRG’s position is that there is no need for a young dog to “get used to” a working harness. A dog well-suited to harness work will quickly adapt to the grown-up harness when they are ready.
  • For those who insist on “letting the dog get used to” a working harness, and the dog is at least 18 months of age, consider a doggie backpack (as it’s more substantial than a cloth vest) – but please do not load the pack up with stuff, only use it empty for the tactile sensation. Additionally, some backpacks are actually heavier than many good working harnesses.