Playing the clicker game

In order to begin teaching Bello some of the basic tasks of a service dog (SD) we first need to establish how we are going to train. For this we implement “the clicker game”. Since I don’t use a clicker during basic obedience he doesn’t know what the clicker is for. In order for him to understand what the clicker means we first begin by having our clicker, a bag of Bello’s favorite training treats, and him sitting in front of me.  Bello and I like playing the clicker game on our front steps in the evening hours especially now that Spring temps are beginning and evenings are a time we can sit and enjoy the flowers beginning to break through the ground, the new trees I planted last year budding and the sound of the birds in the evening. Monkey (our cat) often joins us and chases the evening bugs while we play.

•     Hold the clicker in one hand and the treats in the other.
•     Give Bello his cue for the clicker game: “Do you want to play a game?”
•        Click the clicker then put a treat in Bello’s mouth. This helps Bello to understand that when he hears the clicker he receives a treat.
•        Repeat 10 times during each session. Bello and I practiced about 5 times a day throughout our work day during work breaks.  
•      When clicker game is over I signal Bello that we are done by saying “All done”.

Once Bello had the “clicker game” down we moved on to Achtung/attention. Many people use the word focus or watch but I have always tried to stick with words I use naturally in my life. 

As you go throughout your normal routine you can pick up the clicker and make the click and reward him when he responds. 

• .       Hold the clicker in one hand and the treats in the other hand.
•       Give Bello the cue for attention and click when he makes eye contact.
•     Treat the eye contact
•      Repeat 10 times during each session. Bello and I practice this about 5 times a day throughout our work day during work breaks.
•       When done signal Bello that we are done by saying “All Done”

 As Bello and I go throughout our day I randomly pick up the clicker and say Achtung and when he makes eye contact with me I reward him. Also the next step is that I also reward him any time through out the day when he makes eye contact with me on his own (his job is to focus on me).

Remember many of these commands we also used in his basic obedience course and now by reviewing them we are just cementing that he understands each one of them in the preparation to be adding on to everything he has already learned. Many of these will later be a building block to performing a tasks to help mitigate my needs.  

Every working dog deserves adventure too!

Just as it is important to our mental health to have downtime it is the same for a hard working service dog (SD)! While a SD is dedicated to their job they relish their playtime!

I try to make sure that Bello has playtime every day as well as enjoy big adventures with me! This is something I always did in the past with my previous SDs

and plan to continue with Bello!

A couple of weekends ago Bello and I loaded up our hiking gear and headed North to Palo Duro Canyon for the weekend!

This was going to be Bello's first time to stay in a hotel and I have to admit I was a little worried what his reaction would be to noises, an elevator, staying in an unfamiliar environment but I am happy to say Bello did extremely well! 

Bello went into the hotel room and made himself right at home! 

Our first night we just walked around the downtown Canyon Tx area and enjoyed not being in the truck any longer (5.5 hr drive)! While Bello was energetic and excited he still was on his best behavior as we went into some local shops. 

Saturday morning though we were ready! So we headed to Palo Duro Canyon State Park to spend the day just hiking and exploring the trails! 

The view was breath taking from the moment we arrived at the top of the canyon! It's amazing to see something like this. It really makes the mind wonder about our own place in this beautiful world! The natural beauty of a place like this also makes me wonder why humans are so intent in making a concrete jungle spread out like tendrils of a vine choking the magnificent natural creations of our world. 

Bello truly seemed to be enjoying the walk. It was peaceful and beautiful and for the most part it was just me and Bello enjoying the majestic scenery of God's creation! It truly made me thankful for being there. 

One thing is for sure, Bello is definitely my climber! 

Without Bello's enjoyment of climbing the rocks I am not sure I would have made it all the way to thee caves or lighthouse tower! 

Lighthouse formation

Words really cannot describe how majestic the scenery was so I will just let the pictures speak for themselves!


Needless to say by the time we returned to the hotel Saturday evening Bello was exhausted!

I am so glad we made the trip when we did for multiple reasons! As you can see, other than the lighthouse trail (which is the most popular trail in the park) Bello and I were pretty much by ourselves the entire day allowing us to take our time and truly enjoy our adventure. 

The other reason I am glad we went when we did is upon returning to our home we learned that fires were ravaging the area we had just left causing much damage in it's wake. We will pray for those effected in the area as well as all the animals who are being injured or dying. 

What do you mean.. "what does a service dog (SD) do?"

In 2017 it amazes me how often people ask me “what does a service dog (SD) do?”, when Bello an I are out and about.  Basically, a service dog works. They have a job and he has learned enough skills and bonded with his handler in order to work on his own initiative without being given commands. In addition to particular working skills a SD also has many tasks he/she may perform throughout their day to help mitigate their handler’s illness/condition.

There are many different types of SD. Seizure Alert dogs can tell ahead of time when his handler is going to have a seizure. This type of SD gives a signal so his/her handler can call someone, take medications, or lie down to prevent injury. 

PTSD/Psychiatric dogs work in much the same way; indicating in advance of a panic attack, waking his/her handler from a nightmare or placing his/her weight across their handlers body.

Diabetes Alert Dogs use scent detection to identify a blood sugar drop or increase.

Mobility Assistance dogs help to steady their handlers, pick up dropped objects, bring objects to their handler, assist with dressing and undressing, carrying items, etc.

Hearing Assistance Dogs alert their handlers to sounds such as a person calling the handlers name, doorbells, phones ringing, knocking, smoke alarms, timers, babies crying, children calling handler, alarm clocks, etc. etc. They also help the handler move around in public by alerting to sirens, cars coming towards intersections, trains, etc.

Allergen Detection dogs do exactly what it sounds like. They alert their handlers to the presence of any allergen that may be in their food, or environment.

Seeing Eye dogs do just what it sounds like too. They help their handler in the world by being their eyes.

All SD’s must have appropriate public behavior. Like Bello, they must be able to execute the basic commands of sit, lie down, stay, come and heel.  In addition to the basic commands a SD should also learn commands that may be a stepping stone in the tasks/behaviors they perform to assist their handlers such as touch, stand, get______, take____, find_____, give_____, pull _____, open ____, shut ____, go, up, down, Paws up, that _____, leave it, excuse me/move, rug/blanket/square, wait, flip light, potty, phone, greet/say hello, leash, tuck tail, packs, shake, and eat to name a few common ones.  Some SD will learn many more commands than this and many will take initiative and begin performing behaviors they have reasoned on their own that help their handlers. These are just some of the common basics. 

As a dog develops reasoning abilities they will be more able to effectively carry out their jobs. For example my previous SD NaKoda learned that I disliked driving in heavy traffic and during trips would often sleep or at least lie in the seat next to me but the moment we were in heavy traffic NaKoda would sit up and move closer to me and put her paw on my leg and press her body against mine. I did not train her to do this but as our bond developed she added on to the things I had taught her and reasoned that this was a good task to keep us moving forward. 

Also, a SD stays with its handler 24/7. If the dog is not with the handler then the dog cannot perform its job.  A SD’s life is dedicated to and centers around his/her handler. For most person’s this is not an issue. Most of our families and friends understand and permit a handlers SD in their private homes but on occasions such as with me someone doesn’t allow animals in their homes such as my sister and my step dad.  These two persons do not understand the need or function of my SD and one of them do not believe SD are needed for particular situations.  In these situations I don’t visit or I only stay outside in short visits. On the rare occasion I have to go without my SD they don’t understand the stress this puts on me; often times creating episodes that could have been avoided with a little compassion but we don’t all come from perfect families and this is not a perfect world. 

Bello's Public Behavior

You would think that public behavior is just common sense, right? According to the behaviors I have observed from dog owners and their dogs common sense or maybe it's just common courtesy doesn't exist. A SD must be well house trained, execute a reasonable heel, be non aggressive to people and other dogs/animals, and stay focused on their job. 

Over the last month or so Bello and I have been working on his public access training at several of the "Pet Friendly" businesses in our local community such as Home Depot, AgMart, Tractor Supply and have even visited a local grocery store in the evening hours, Stanley Dodge, our insurance office and my Dr's office, Bello has been practicing moving around the businesses without smelling objects on the shelves, sniffing people, moving around isles with objects in our path, walking by carts, not reacting to people who approach us and greeting when given permission. I am happy to announce that Bello is doing wonderful! 

The hardest part of the training is other people. People often try to approach and pet him without permission which interferes with the work we are doing and can obstruct training. Also, another irritating occurrence is people who get in Bello's face. I will never understand why people think it is ok to get down in a strange dog's face. When talking to them about doing this I always equate to "would it be ok if I walked up to you and got within an inch of your face and kissed you?" of course they all say "No!" and I tell them "you just did that exact same thing to my dog and he doesn't like it either!"!!! Just because you know dogs that let you do it does not mean all dogs enjoy this behavior, especially from strangers! 

Now, that Bello has a good understanding of my expectations in public situations we will be moving towards businesses such as restaurants, libraries, offices with waiting rooms, etc. where Bello will be learning to sit at my feet or under my chair. Of course while we are working on him settling into a calm seated/lay down position at my feet or under my chair we will continue to work on his distraction work, and heeling as well!