Dog Health Questions: I got a puppy and am training her to be a Service dog...?

I was talking to my psychiatrist who said I would benefit from a psychiatric service dog and asked me if I would like one. I said yes and he told me I could train my own or go to a service dog training facility and be on a wait list for a professionally trained one. I told him I'd rather train my own for my specific needs and he agreed. I now have a 4 month old Border Collie mix recommended by a Service dog training facility in my area. I was wondering where I should start and how I should go about training her. She is very Intelligent and has already learned; sit, stay, lay down, come, leave it, drop it, take it, pick up (to pick up things I drop because I'm also physical handicapped), Light (to turn the light on or off), and heel. I just really want to do this right so if you can possibly help me as of how to go about doing this I'd be greatly appreciative. I am very set on training her myself so please don't tell me to seek Professional help, though I have very supportive friends and family helping my with this too since some days I can deal with training better then others.

House Dog Training Secrets and Dog Food Secrets Revealed

Recommended Answer:
eelak, please give it a break.

You cannot learn how to train a service dog over the internet, and especially not from Yahoo Answers. Getting a new account and posting the same questions is going to get the same answers.

Friends and family who don't know squat about dog training are not going to be a help. If you do not already have extensive experience training dogs, then you really do have to hire a professional. Like it or not, that's the way it is.

Hon, you very very clearly do not have the skill needed. You should get a dog from a program. You say that's an option. TAKE IT. But choose some other agency than the one that recommended a border collie husky cross with separation anxiety as a service dog candidate because that's way too much anxiety in a dog meant to work with someone who is mentally ill.

Your story changes, just slightly, but incessantly every few hours. It's very tiring. Mental disability, physical. Have a professional trainer, don't have a pro trainer. Pro trainer won't answer questions. Local facility that takes months to place a dog it takes 2 years to train. Dog that comes when called but won't stay by you outside your yard. Now dog doesn't come when called (see other recent question). Dog that retrieves, but doesn't actually bring what you want (translation: a thieving puppy--very common behavior in puppies).

She doesn't know come if you have to ask how to train a recall. That's what a recall is:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…

Take it and "pick up" are the same thing and she doesn't know it because she doesn't pick up what you want. She doesn't know "leave it" either, or she wouldn't be picking up things you don't want. She doesn't know how to heel or you wouldn't have trouble with her getting distracted and trying to run off.

And you can't study for the CPDT online. You have to work with an experienced trainer in person to build up the recommendation and the number of hours of experience needed to qualify to take the written exam, which is not based on YahooAnswers and is not open book. You have to actually read the reading list, and those are all real books, books you won't find at the public library and will need to purchase.

If you need attention because you are lonely, there are far better (healthier) ways to get it. If you need a service dog, again, there is a better way (from a program).

Cooperative Tips on Dog Training

• Hello eelak, new account? I see something here that I also see on your profile:
  http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao0Fc9pK_Gmh13HXBLdP23UjzKIX;_ylv=3?qid=20101008170819AAER6vr
  
  Amazing that nothing you've already been told has sunk in yet. Keep asking, no one is going to change their answers to indulge you. Keep an eye on your details too... parts of your story are starting to fall apart. ;)


• i would contact a service dog trainer and ask what all i should train to be certified
  then i would train what else helps me.


• Hon, I've been following your postings and notice you switch identity and then ask the same questions over and over. You're going to have to stand on your own 2 feet here, and begin seeking your information you claim you want from real people in your community.
  
  You aren't in a position to begin training a dog for anything. You don't listen to your elders, you don't listen to professionals' suggestions, you aren't willing to accept your limitations of refusing to listen to reason!
  
  I know you love your dogs dearly! But until you find the attention you are seeking in your community rather than on-line, you just aren't ready for the level of responsibility training a working dog requires!