Do not forget to give positive reinforcement for good behavior.
Companion animal specialists train animals such as signal dogs for the deaf, and companions for physically or developmentally disabled persons. Animal specialists must be a combination of athletic coach, social worker, animal behaviorist, mobility specialist, public relations expert and more. Training service animals takes years of commitment and is a challenge that should not be entered into lightly.
Getting Started
Companion animal specialist organizations and schools have specific requirements for volunteering or becoming an apprentice. According to Assistance Dogs International, these very limited positions draw a high number of applicants willing to work with animals daily, clean up poop, fill out paperwork and do everything else it takes to produce a companion animal. Volunteering before getting an apprenticeship is a persuasive way to show your commitment.
Apprenticeship
Established service dog training providers typically require that people interested in becoming trainers first serve an apprenticeship. The Guide Dogs of America states that apprenticeship programs vary from school to school and average about 2.5 years, with up to four years required by some schools. Tasks range from teaching and reinforcing basic obedience and guiding concepts to walking and evaluating dogs trained by others. Be prepared to work hard, learn by observation and keep an open mind.
Compensation
Most companion animal training programs are non-profit businesses, with salaries that are very low for the time put into the job. The Puppy Place website, founded by six trainers who collectively have more than 65 years of experience with guide dogs, says a companion animal trainer's job does not end at 5 p.m. on Friday afternoon. You can expect to work all day, every day, year-round, and your experience and skill will drive your income. You will also have the reward of knowing you have improved the life of a disabled person.
Physical Requirements
The Puppy Place trainers also point out that you must do a great deal of walking and have upper body strength to mold the young dogs, some weighing as much as 100 pounds, into dependable workers. Trainers need to be strong enough to walk them down the street at a controlled pace, allowing the dog to be in front but not drag the trainer along. Other physically intense tasks include cleaning kennels, feeding and watering the dogs, running errands and shoveling snow.
Other Duties
The Guide Dogs for the Blind website says companion animal specialists will often represent the training program at public functions and take part in fundraising activities. Trainers also give lectures and field questions from the public, and train and match dogs with handlers, dog after dog, person after person. And in the end, you have to relinquish an animal with which you have developed a bond.
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