Service Dog Assistance
Service dogs generally receive six months to a year of schooling on tasks, obedience and public access manners. Service Dogs can master up to 50 tasks or more with the right handler/team! The list of tasks presented here are a broad sampling of what has been developed over the past quarter century to address daily living needs and safety issues.
A number of the traditional tasks listed below are proving useful to individuals with hidden disabilities such as a seizure disorder, a psychiatric disorder, a potentially life threatening medical problem or conditions which cause chronic pain. A myth that ought to be challenged is the belief on the part of some that service dogs are only for the most severely impaired or end stage of a degenerative disease like MS. Someone who is considered much more moderately disabled, struggling with the difficulties of living alone, maintaining a job or raising a family could find teamwork with a highly trained service dog to be of enormous benefit in achieving the goal of remaining as self sufficient as possible. A number of tasks enumerated in this section could empower such individuals to conserve energy, reduce or avoid pain, minimize dependency on loved ones, prevent injuries or get help in a crisis.
Retrieving Tasks
Carrying Based Tasks (non-retrieval)
Deposit Based Tasks
Tug Based Tasks
Nose Nudge Based Tasks
PAWING BASED TASKS (some dogs prefer it to nose nudge)
BRACING BASED TASKS (no harness)
HARNESS BASED TASKS - Mobility Assistance
(Only appropriate for large sturdy adult dogs with sound joints, proper training)
OTHER KINDS OF ASSISTANCE IN CRISIS
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TASKS (Sample)
Working With Open Range
Open Range offers different services and service levels (we call them phases) dependent on the needs of the client and their household.
The first 2 phases of Open Ranges service training is structured to develop and maintain strong foundation skills and behaviors. These phases cannot be altered or changed. Please read the pages associated with those training phases to get a complete idea of what we cover during that training:
Phase 3 Service Dog Training (w/ Open Range Pups)
Open Range will develop custom criteria for customers who use Open Range through Phase 3 of their Service Dog training.
- During Phase 3 Open Range will build a program that fits the needs of the client
- Open Range will achieve as many tasks, obedience, or behavioral skills as possible while the pup is in our care
- Open Range will provide a minimum accomplishment list for each client that we expect the pup to be proficient in by the end of Phase 3 (if we don't accomplish the minimum in time we will continue to work with the pup until each goal is accomplished)
- If the pup in training exceeds expectations we will continue the training to advance the pup with as many new and practical skills that are applicable to the clients needs