Service Dog Tasks for Anxiety: Teaching an 'Interruption'

[@AuntLALA]

Thank goodness there is no background music drowning you out and setting off my anxiety 😂❤

[@KnottyNerd]

Perfect timing, thank you!😊

[@LisaGallegos]

I’m glad!

[@desireerivera4453]

This video was so helpful! I have a question. Do you teach dogs more than one thing at a time? For example, if you are cueing nailbiting, do you just stick to that for several weeks until your dog gets it? What about fidgeting or pacing? Do you teach each individual behavior separately?

[@LisaGallegos]

Great question! If you're talking about one cue at a time, I start with one cue like nailbiting, then once my dog 'gets it' I add another -- but making sure I'm still reinforcing the original cue of nail biting. If you're talking about the dog's behavior (like teaching deep pressure therapy, interruption, loose leash walking, etc.) I do more than one at a time because the dog will typically get bored! That being said, a lot of training is actually incorporated throughout my day. For example, every time I take a dog out for a walk, I am working on 'stay' at the doorway. Every time I'm on a walk and see a dog across the street, I'll work on having my dog look at the dog then focus on me (i go over this in my focus training games video). I hope that answers your question!

[@Kirangidogs-68]

Thank you for sharing this. I am an Occupational therapist in Kenya and a dog trainer. I have been trying to learn on training service dogs and this is very helpful.

[@commissionhunter]

I'm hoping my Dr recommends a service dog, but I just got assigned a entirely new Dr... about to just try teaching my own pup some of the basics to help me out, atm I'm not leaving the house much anyways lol..... thanks for the videos though some of the better training videos I have came across.

[@LisaGallegos]

Aww thanks! I appreciate it

[@dgdgdgdgws]

I'm. Not a professional By any mean. When I did some dog treating session, I was training for him to bump my hand I used some blue tape on my hand at first so I could be easily seen by my dog. I hope I could help someone like it did for me

[@EpsilonAD]

A helpful clip. Thank you.

[@LisaGallegos]

of course!

[@LisaGallegos]

Need additional help? You can apply to work with me in *manners mastery* here: collabdogtraining.com/manners-mastery

[@_R0TTING_C0rPsE]

My dad won’t listen to me needing a service dog :(

[@3n_Dy]

My daughter's border collìe seems to automatically pick up on her anxiety

[@LisaGallegos]

It’s always the best when they pick up on their own! Some dogs do - just make sure you’re reinforcing when your dog does alert/respond your daughter’s anxiety!

[@adventurousdoglover]

At what age do you typically start this type of training? Is 10 months old too late? I like to spend that long on basics/advance obedience as well as socializing and PA work. I just started this with my year old program dog and she’s doing well so far!

[@sheds]

I'm curious about teaching my dog some of this, but the queue would be pacing a lot and "wandering aimlessly" around the house. How would you train that queue?

[@LisaGallegos]

Hey! Any cue transfer will always be the same - New Cue (pause) then Old Cue (verbal cue for interrupt) then reinforce. After enough pairings, your dog should catch on. You always want to teach the cue using a verbal cue first to refine the actual behavior you want (interrupt....aka, nose bump). Once you get that 'interrupt' to where you want it, you can start adding in the environmental cue (the new cue, which is pacing). So in your case that will be to start pacing, pause, then say "Interrupt" and then reinforce (with praise and a yummy treat). I always recommend using food first just to really solidify it. Then you would start pacing randomly throughout the day (give your dog a moment to think about it) then say "interrupt" and reinforce. This will start integrating the behavior into real life. You can then give lots of praise as you go to the kitchen to grab a treat. Once your dog does it without you having to use the verbal cue, give LOTS of praise and a really yummy treat. When the behavior is solidified and your dog can reliably do it, then you can start switching to other reinforcers (like pets/praise). If you'd like additional support, I do offer 1 on 1 help with a training plan here: collabdogtraining.com/manners-mastery

[@Hualiana]

I’m trying to train my pup to become a service dog but I’m having a bit of trouble on him focusing on me out in public places.. how do I fix this?

[@LisaGallegos]

Look up Leslie McDevitt's pattern games :) You want to start at the very very basics. If you'd like more support you can always work with me for 1 on 1 support here: collabdogtraining.com/manners-mastery

[@debbieanthony9376]

What kind of treats are you using?

[@LisaGallegos]

My own trail mix/blend of a bunch of small tiny treats lol