Whether your child is struggling with health problems, mobility issues, sensory disabilities, cognitive or learning delays, or psychological distress, you will do whatever it takes to improve their life and give them the best shot at a great future. You’ve heard about service dogs helping children or young adults with disabilities. Is a service dog the right intervention for your child?

Do you envision a service dog helping your child to…

• be calmer, happier, and more regulated?
• live on her own and return to school?
• be safer and more independent?
• be able to reach his full potential?

These goals are within reach. As the stories below will show you, training a service dog for your child has the potential for a big payoff. But achieving success takes careful planning and a significant investment in both time and money. Whether you have a pet that has a special connection to your son or daughter, or you’re adopting a puppy to train for your child, this article will help you get started.

Training a service dog for your child will require the right fit between…

• Your child
• Your dog
• Your trainer
• You (the parent/trainer and possible tertiary handler)

The most likely recipe for success involves all of the following:

1. A child who LOVES dogs, feels safe, relaxed, and comfortable with dogs, and is able to control their behavior with and around their dog. There should also be reason to believe that a dog would have a therapeutic impact on your child. It’s also beneficial to start with realistic ideas of specific tasks that would help your child.
2. A dog that loves children (if your child is still young) and that has the physical and behavioral traits of an ideal service dog candidate (described below and in the video on the homepage of our website).
3. A trainer you and your child feel comfortable with, who has extensive service dog experience (including with selection and assessment), and who uses only positive (reward-based) methods.
4. A parent/guardian (you) who will commit the necessary time and attention to raising and training the dog, and ensure that the dog is trained in high-level skills. In some cases, you may do all the training, with coaching from a service dog trainer. In other cases, you and your child will share the task (see below for how this works). And in many cases, you and/or your child will share the work with a trainer who does much of the training for you in a board-and-train or day training program. (We typically see the fastest and best results with parents who use a combination of classes, private lessons, and board-and-train.)

Your Child

For an intervention to help a child with special needs, the tool must match the situation. A teen who struggles with ADHD will not benefit from a wheelchair. Anti-anxiety medication will not help a girl who needs hearing aids. Likewise, for a service animal to help your child, your child has to be a good fit for the type of support a trained assistance dog provides.

Love of Dogs

The first, and very important question is, how does your child feel about dogs? For a service dog to help your child, your child must bond deeply to their dog. Your child must also feel safe, relaxed, and happy to be around their dog — all the time (with limited exceptions).

Think honestly about these questions:

• Does your child LOVE dogs? Really, really love them?
• Do they love all dogs, or are there particular dogs or types of dogs (ages, sizes, energy levels)? If it’s some dogs and not others, it’s important to get the type of dog your child resonates with. Can you predict which dogs your child loves?
• Do dogs ever make your child fearful, tense, or anxious? If so, what situations or types of dogs? It will be critical to prevent these situations — with the help of your trainer.
• How much interaction with dogs does your child have now? How does your child act around dogs? If your child is not around dogs very much, setting up appropriate dog interactions now, before you start the process, is important to gathering more information.
• How does your child feel about barking, drool, dog hair on their clothes, sticky or crumbly food or treats? Work with your trainer to find the dog and training method that your child will be able to participate in and enjoy.
• Is your child allergic to dogs? If so, see below for notes on dog allergies.

Most people — adults and children — enjoy dogs under some circumstances. Dogs are cute, fun to play with, and soft to pet. The same child may also experience dogs as scary or intimidating if they’re too jumpy or barky. Likewise, a child may be bored with walking the dog every day or annoyed when the dog is pestering for attention when they’re trying to play with toys or friends. Remember that the dog will be around all the time.

All dogs, like all people, are annoying sometimes. Even the best-trained dog will bring some combination of hair, slobber, accidents, barking, and occasional bad manners. The dog’s needs will take precedence sometimes over what the child wants. For instance, the dog will take your time and attention. Your child must have a very strong natural love and affinity for dogs to overcome all these annoyances. Your child has to feel safe with, be close to, and enjoy the dog (almost) all the time.

Also important is that you, the parent, will likely be entirely responsible for the dog’s care and training. (This may not be true in all cases, but it is true in most cases.) At the same time as you’re caring for and training the dog, your child will need to have positive experiences with the dog day in and out, AND the dog will need to have only positive experiences with your child! This will require a lot of careful management and “curating” of the relationship between your dog and child on a daily basis.

If your child seems to do well with particular dogs, it will be important to select a dog that meets these criteria. Beware of selecting a dog based on YOUR preferences or interest, if it is not also what your child is drawn to. Also, we often tend to focus on the look or feel of the dog (size, coat type, breed, etc.). These factors may be important to some degree, especially size. But of equal or greater importance is the personality and energy level of the dog. Dogs that are high energy, barky, or have “intense” personalities are usually more intimidating for children. Think about the dogs your child truly feels safe, happy, and relaxed with, and consider what similarities or differences you notice in size, energy level, personality, and other characteristics.

Is your child able to be physically and verbally safe and appropriate with a dog every day?

All children struggle with impulse control and moderating emotions. Young children are still developing motor skills and coordination. Teens have intense moods that swing wildly. Children and teens with certain disabilities have greater challenges in some of these areas. While no child — or dog — is perfect, these variables can have an outsized impact on a dog due to a dog’s…

• Emotional sensitivity
• Size and height (this is particularly true for a small dog, but even a large dog is more fragile and closer to the your child’s height than we are)
• Inability to understand the complexities of human behavior

In particular, if your child’s disability sometimes results in violent or out-of-control behavior (yelling, hitting, kicking, throwing things, uncontrollable sobbing), it is extremely important to consider whether your child might ever direct their distress or frustration at their dog. Or even if they do not direct it at the dog, if the dog might find your child’s behavior scary.

Likewise, does your child sometimes grab hard, hold onto, hit or kick out — even if these are involuntary motor movements or your child is not intentionally trying to hit a person or object?

Please think critically and objectively about how your child’s behavior might affect a dog. This is not about whether your child is “bad” or “deserves” a dog. Rather, it is a concern for your child’s physical and emotional safety and well-being. Dogs make emotional associations very easily, especially when they’re young (under two years of age). Dogs often feel unsafe in situations where no harm is meant by a person or another animal. Depending on the age and sensitivity level of the dog, as well as numerous other variables, one scary “blow-up” — or a series of small ones — at a puppy may change your pup’s relationship with your child. At the extreme end, the dog may start to avoid your child altogether. More common is for the dog to avoid your child when they are in distress (when you also may be most likely to want the dog to move toward your child), or your dog may display subtle stress signals or a “short fuse” around your child. For a child who has their heart set on a service animal, an emotional rift could be very painful.

If your child grabs the dog in a painful way due to muscle spasms, or accidentally rolls over or hits the dog with mobility equipment, the dog may be badly hurt or might bite your child in pain or fear, which can have life-altering consequences for both the dog and child.

Think about:

• When your child is dysregulated, do they have control over how they express it? Do they only direct their anger at particular people (such as their parents/caregivers)? Or does it come out at whomever/whatever is nearby?
• Have they ever directed frustration at animals or other children?
• Does your child have enough physical control over their body and/or their assistive equipment to not accidentally harm or scare a dog?

Your Child Really Wants a Dog

If your child loves and wants a dog, that’s a good first step! However, children’s interests are constantly changing. A child may plead with their parents to get a dog, but a few months later, the child who was dog-obsessed now can think only of Anime cards or horse figurines.

How old is the child, and how persistent is their fascination with dogs?

Young children, in particular, have fancies that change quickly. A 16-year-old who has been asking for a dog since they could talk is much more likely to be able to commit to their dog’s care than a five-year-old who has been saying they want a dog since their friend got one three months ago.

Allergies

Allergies complicate the picture but are not necessarily a deal-breaker. The key elements are how severe your child’s (or your) allergy is, how able you are to mitigate the allergies, and whether a low-shedding dog would be well-tolerated. If you or your child is allergic to dogs, but you are convinced that in all other respects, training a service dog would be ideal for your family, your first step should be an appointment with the allergist. Discuss in detail with your allergist whether they advise moving forward with a service dog, and what treatment options and management would be required on a daily basis to live with a dog. Implement the recommendations now, before you get a dog, to make sure they work for your family.

After medical recommendations are in place, work with a trainer experienced in helping people select service dog candidates. Simply finding a hypoallergenic puppy is NOT usually a recipe for training success because coat type is just one small component of your dog. While finding a hypoallergenic dog complicates the search process, with patience, care, and the support of expert support, it is possible.

The Dog

Whether you already have the dog you want to train, or you’re searching for the right dog, it’s important to understand which dogs flourish as service dogs. For a public access service dog (a dog that will accompany your child to work, school, activities, shops, restaurants, or on the family vacation), the bar is much higher than for a dog who is only expected to provide support in the home.

Traits of a Public-Access Service Dog

An ideal public access service animal candidate has these traits:

• Healthy – no chronic pain or health conditions (e.g., allergies, epilepsy, IBS)
• Confident happy-go-lucky (surfer dude) personality – fine with everything and everyone!
• Relaxed (not fearful or nervous or super interested) of novelty – people, places, things, sounds, sights, smells
• Enjoys being around strangers — friendly and relaxed around all people
• Uninterested or friendly with other dogs
• Moderate energy level – on/off switch
• No signs of reactivity or aggression (lunging, growling barking, biting) when stressed, will try everything else before resorting to aggressive displays
• Not sound-sensitive
• Low prey drive
• Quiet (not barky)
• Biddable (likes to do things for the people it loves)

For a service dog for a child, we also want a dog who is

• naturally drawn to children
• has a tolerant/easy-going personality (not sensitive)
• very comfortable with handling/loves to be touched (not too body-sensitive)

For more on the traits of a successful public-access service animal, please watch the video on the home page of our website.

Finding the Right Dog

Finding the right dog to train as a service dog is a process unto itself. Objectivity and experience with this process are key. We have had great success with helping people to select the right service dog prospect. If you don’t yet have your dog, please work with a professional service dog trainer who has expertise in the search and selection process. Even if you are sure you know the breed or age you want, it is worth working with a service dog trainer who can guide you. Sometimes the size, age, or breed you have in mind is not ideal for your situation.

I obviously wouldn’t change adopting Bode as a puppy, but looking back, those first few months were really hard. When the puppy is causing dysregulation by biting, instead of helping with it, there were times I wished we had started with a one- or two-year-old dog. –Katy

Start on the Right Paw

If you have a dog who fits the description of an ideal candidate, congratulations! Get started with a purely positive trainer who can help you to raise your puppy to be confident, relaxed, and happy around strangers, new situations, sounds, all manner of handling and touching, and more. An all-rewards-based trainer can also help you to promote a strong, trusting bond between your dog and child, which is critical for your goals. Remember that your dog must adore your child as much as your child adores their dog! If your child is young (not an older teen or adult), this takes careful planning, as it involves the dog’s daily experiences around your child as well as the dog’s temperament. The best way to start your puppy right is a local, all-rewards-based puppy kindergarten, combined with our online PEARL DISC class. (We can usually help our clients find the right puppy trainer in their area.)

You (the Parent/Trainer)

Training a service dog takes a huge investment of time. Training time may be mostly with the trainer (through board-and-train or day training) or with the owner (you and/or your child). Either scenario will require a significant investment of both time and money. If finances are tight, but you have a fair amount of free/flexible time, you may be able to do the training with only classes and private lessons from a trainer. (It is also a good idea to start a fundraiser now, before funds are needed, so you have them when unexpected training issues arise.)

If time is more limited, but you have financial means, you can have the dog trained more quickly and easily with board-and-train with a purely positive trainer.

Is everyone on-board with training?

It is essential that everyone in the family is in agreement about training a service dog. Dogs learn from everyone they live with, all the time. Therefore, at a minimum, all adults and children must be able to agree to abide by basic rules that do not undermine the dog’s training. Additionally, it’s important for everyone to understand that your dog is in your care 24/7 (unless it’s at board-and-train), which is a commitment for everyone in the household. While not all adult family members need to participate in all of the training, all adults should be willing to support the goals of the primary trainer(s) and to pitch in and help out when needed.

It’s important, if there are two parents, that both parents participate to some extent in training. I went into this naively thinking that I could just do everything. If I had been more upfront with my husband about the commitment that I needed from him, I could have gotten him involved sooner, which would have helped Bode’s overall training and prevented some of his separation issues. –Katy

Can your child participate in training?

Parents often wonder if their child can participate in their dog’s training. How much care and training falls to the parent/guardian versus the child depends on a variety of factors, including your child’s age, maturity, time/availability, and physical and mental abilities. Here are some examples:

• Rachel* and her daughter, April*, worked with me to find the right puppy. Rachel flew the puppy (Minnie) home just as April was leaving for the start of her Sophomore year of college. For Minnie’s first three months at home, Rachel raised and trained Minnie using our online classes and lessons. After winter break, April took over all of Minnie’s care and training. Back at college, April and Minnie used our day training service before transitioning to private lessons. April trained Minnie conscientiously every day, along with excelling at college, and completed training in time for April’s graduation from college! “We did it!” Rachel said, with tears in her eyes, when she picked up Minnie’s letter of attestation and embroidered patch from me.

• After meeting with her son’s allergist, Katy worked with me for several months to find and select the right hypoallergenic puppy for her 7-year-old son, Ty, who is allergic to dogs. Katy raised and trained Bode for two years, carefully nurturing the relationship between Ty and Bode. To complete Bode’s training, Katy used a combination of our online classes and private lessons, private lessons with a local rewards based puppy trainer, and our service dog board-and-train. Katy coached Ty extensively in dog body language and other particulars that enhanced the bond, trust, and safety between her son and his dog. Ty also participated, as he was able, in occasional short training sessions. Currently, Ty is doing occasional lessons with a local trainer to transfer Bode’s tasks skills to him. Bode is now close to finishing training in tasks and public access and is helping Ty to regulate his emotions and behavior. Bode flies with the family on vacations and accompanies Ty to therapy. Katy and Ty are co-handlers, with Katy managing and directing Bode, since Ty is not old enough for this responsibility. Ty and Bode love each other deeply. Ty refers to Bode as his “brother.”

• Tere raised Labroodle puppy, Heidi, for her 22-year-old daughter, Kati. Kati lives in a group home during the week and at home on weekends. Tere used a combination of our online classes and lessons, private lessons, and board-and-train to complete Heidi’s training, along with getting day training for additional training and enrichment from a local rewards-based pet trainer. Kati has not been involved in Heidi’s training but the two have a very loving relationship. Kati loves her service dog very much, and Heidi loves her young handler! Because of Heidi, Kati can now go to medical appointments and travel without the need for additional paid staff. Due to Kati’s disabilities, Tere and Kati are co-handlers, with Tere managing and directing Heidi.

• Sara* and Josh* obtained their puppy, Loki, for their 12-year-old son, Michael*, on the recommendation of his school’s occupational therapist. Sara and Josh started training Loki with a local puppy trainer, then switched to our online classes and private lessons. Training has been slow because raising and training a service dog with three children (ages 5, 12, and 14) is very challenging! The dog and children often feed off each other’s excitement. Loki is greatly helping with dysregulation episodes by lying on Michael, but has not yet completed task or public access training. Michael is only able to participate in Loki’s training in a limited way during task training, but he has a good relationship with Loki. Loki has been making progress in his training, but to speed up the process, Josh and Sara have recently decided to also include our specialized service dog board-and-train program.

Michael was having a hard time at a family function and crying. He was dysregulated. We had Loki do deep pressure therapy (DPT). It really helped. In the picture below, Michael is also able to intermittently treat Loki to train on duration. Loki also does DPT in the lap, but Michael prefers lying down. –Josh

Sara described some of the benefits and challenges of training a service dog for their son:

Pros

1. When Michael gets dysregulated, it is very hard to get him to calm down. Despite all of the other techniques he has learned, they tend to not work when really needed. However, Michael has without fail fallen to the floor when dysregulated and let Loki lay on him. It is remarkable how much Loki helps Michael, in a way that nothing else has.  

2. Training Loki has united our family in a common goal. All of us do some amount of training, even our 5-year-old child. Training Loki to be a service dog has helped him to be a better family dog as well as he is much more obedient and better behaved altogether.  

3. I feel that training your own service dog not only helps you learn about your dog and dog training techniques, but also really makes the dog a whole family dog. Getting a pre-trained service dog seems to me like it would make the dog more for one person, as opposed to the whole family.

Cons

1.  It is hard to train a service dog when Michael inadvertently undermines our training. He wants Loki to be a service dog too, but doesn’t follow the training protocols — leading to inconsistency and occasional setbacks in Loki’s behavior.

2.  It is very time consuming and it is a big financial and emotional commitment to train your own service dog. There are always dog training skills to work on in addition to normal family life. This can be overwhelming in a family with three kids, one of whom has significant special needs. Whether or not Loki actually achieves full service dog status, he already helps Michael and gives our whole family tremendous joy. We are so thankful to have him.

Your Trainer

Having the right trainer is essential! Don’t settle for a trainer who doesn’t meet these criteria because they’re nearby or your neighbor recommended them. (Unless your neighbor was training a service dog!) This is not a time to cut corners with someone who only dabbles in service dog training.

Your trainer, at minimum, should…

• Have expertise with service dog training. Make sure this trainer has worked with many other people to train service dogs, ideally including service dogs for your child’s type of disability. Ask for references and speak to other clients.
• Have meaningful credentials. Credentials should show an understanding of science-based methodology, ongoing continuing education credits, and experience with coaching people, as well as training dogs.
• Use ONLY reward-based training methods. It is counter-productive to use leash corrections, e-collars, scolding, or other punishment-based methods with a service dog. If the trainer talks about “pack leader mentality” or says they use “balanced” methods, this is not the right trainer for your child’s service dog.
• Make you comfortable and confident. You will be working with this professional for at least a couple of years. You want this to be someone who treats you, your child, and your dog respectfully and kindly, listens to you, and makes good sense.

For more information on finding the right trainer — including what to look for and red flags to avoid — please read our post on How to Find the Best Service Dog Trainer.

Get Started!

If training a service dog is right for your family, get help finding the right dog to train, or enroll your dog in our foundation PEARL DISC class to get started.

*The names of some parents and children in this article have been changed to protect their privacy. We are very grateful to all the owner-trainers who shared their experiences to help other families.

https://atyourservicedogtraining.com/how-to-train-a-service-dog-for-child/