Wheelchair Skills for Assistance Dogs

Here are some basic skills that an assistance dog needs when the handler uses a wheelchair;front position,swinging to right and left, around,following in aisles and through doorways, backing up, loose leash walking, tight spaces.
Note that adding training with the chair added a whole new dimension to the training and took awhile to get used to for both dog and handler.
Start with stationary skills & tasks, then as your dog becomes more comfortable with the chair, start with the skills and task that require movement.
Training began in a familiar environment, then as dog was successful, taken to other less familiar locations, then with increasing distractions.
The addition of the leash when working in public places took some time to learn how to coordinate it, the chair, the treats and clicker. An 8 foot leash that can be easily shortened may be need for going through some heavy doors.
If the person with the disability is unable to train the basic skills (due to physical disability), an assistant can train the dog first to verbal cue (or eye cue) before transitioning the dog to the handler.

Check out Sue Ailsbys Training levels for details on how to train foundation behaviors.
http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html

Thank you to Central Drugs, Nanaimo for lending us the wheelchair and allowing us to film in thier store. Wonderful community support!

This video brought to you by Vancouver Island Assistance Dogs. www.viassistancedogs.blogspot.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• training
• wheelchair
• skills
• service dog
• assistance
• nanaimo
• bc
• canada
• positive reinforcement
• clicker training
• operant conditioning
• self-trained
• owner-trained tricks
• learning tasks
• helper dog

[SullivanOlssen]

I am always on a look out for new training techniques. I especially liked your use of a swivel chair for teaching wheel chair positions. Thanks for all the tips.

[supernaturalbc2008]

Glad they are helpful!

[skouig]

Good dog!!

[issie49]

I am in a wheelchair and I use a scooter when going out for walks. I am so pleased to see at last training for people that can't walk and there for can't train like others do, but want to do many things with their dogs

issie49

[abirdslife]

Well done Donna :o)

[Zsofy06]

thanks, i am trying to teach my dog to do things like this because i have some relatives with problems and i tought my dog would be good to help sometimes, i will continue training him

[supernaturalbc2009]

Training every behavior is about breaking ti into tiny steps that you dog can succeed, but also setting up/choosing the environment or space so they he can succeed. Try blocking an area with a chair etc until he has mastered a controlled pull, for example. Then move thae chair a little.

[Zsofy06]

Wow, Jessie is really wel trained, i think service dogs are grate, i tried teaching my doberman to pull a chair but it ended bad, great videos

[ZandersStory]

Great video, this is so helpful for many I am sure! I wouldn't mind teaching Zander some of these things just to try it out! I would love to train service dogs someday, this is so wonderful. 5*s! -Zander and Brittany