What are the goals of PSD training?
First, a PSD should be trained in basic obedience (e.g., sit, stay, come, down, go, leave it, etc.). Basic obedience instruction should employ verbal commands and hand signals. Training should be conducted, both, on and off-leash, first in low distraction environments moving gradually to higher distraction environments. Cap basic obedience with passage of the Canine Good Citizen test (see www.akc.org for details on this test). Second, train for public access skills (i.e., behavior in public places such as restaurants, theaters, library, buses, subway, etc.). You should engage in at least six months of public access training with your dog. When you feel your dog is ready, put yourself and your dog through our public access test (see: http://www.psychdog.org/attach/Public_Access_Standard_Test_Sheet.pdf). You will need a professional dog trainer to administer the test. This person does not need to know anything about service dogs because of the way the test is written. Third, teach the do
