Service Dog Education System

The Service Dog Education System (SDES) will be a formal, comprehensive training curriculum for people who want to learn how to train service dogs for people with disabilities. The overall goal of the project is to increase the number of well-trained service dogs available to people with disabilities. To achieve this goal, SDES will increase the number of qualified service dog trainers available as independent trainers or as trainers employed by training programs.

The following materials that have produced to date as part of SDES are currently available:

  • Professional Standards for Dog Trainers: Effective, Humane Principles - guidelines for the professional dog trainer. It includes information on dog behavior, trainer skills and ethics, tools and equipment, and more. Available for free on this web site or purchase bound copy from Delta Online Store.
  • Minimum Standards for Service Dogs - documents the recommended characteristics and minimum set of skills required of all service dogs. Also addresses the health and safety of the public, handler, and dog. Free download or purchase bound copy from Delta Online Store.
  • Opening Doors to New Worlds Video - watch a video, available from Delta Society, showing what service dogs can do for people with disabilities. Purchase from Delta Online Store.

Note: The Delta Society® Board of Directors has voted to place the principal focus of Delta Society on improving its Pet Partners® and Animal-Assisted Therapy programs and to discontinue its Service Dog Education System (SDES) subject to financial constraints. The Board has also voted to form an Assessment Task Force to explore securing third-party reimbursement and funding for service dogs. Further development of SDES courses will occur when financial constraints permit.