Successful Working Dogs: Select, Train, and Use Service and Therapy Dogs

The last twenty years have seen an explosion of uses for working dogs. Service dogs are now asked to perform a variety of tasks for people with disabilities. And therapy dogs-once largely seen only at nursing homes-are now used for emotional support and motivation in schools, libraries, courts, universities, hospitals, churches and employee lounges. This book provides positive-motivation training techniques for basic manners and specific tasks expected of working dogs. Beyond training these animals, the reader can learn to evaluate both the suitability of a working dog and the suitability of the dog's client. A final goal of this book is to help working dog owners, clients, and trainers-and dog owners in general-to understand the capabilities, needs and limitations of these dedicated animals.