cover for Minimum Standards

The Minimum Standards for Service Dogs documents the recommended characteristics and minimum set of skills required of all service dogs. The Minimum Standards also address the health and safety of the public, handler, and dog.

  • Price: $25.00.
  • Type: Book.
  • Physical Description: 8.5" x 11"; Softcover; 32 pages; 2002.

Detailed Description

Note:

You may also download and print the document in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

The Minimum Standards for Service Dogs were developed by a team of service dog trainers, animal behaviorists, people with disabilities, and veterinarians to guide the development of the Service Dog Education System.

The Minimum Standards includes only those recommended characteristics and minimum behaviors required of all service dogs. The characteristics and specialized behaviors required of individual dogs should vary, based on the individual requirements of the person for whom the dog is trained.

Included for each behavior is:

  • a description of the behavior.
  • the conditions under which the behavior is performed.
  • suggested uses or applications for the behavior.
  • popular cues used to elicit the behavior.

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgements.
  • Acknowledgements continued.
  • Table of Contents.
  • Introduction.
    • Purpose.
    • Background.
      • Development.
      • Service Dog Behaviors vs. Tasks.
    • Scope.
  • Service Dog Characteristics.
    • General Characteristics.
    • Health, Aptitude, and Physical Requirements.
  • Component Behaviors.
    • Common Conditions.
      • Surfaces.
      • Equipment.
      • Environments.
      • Command/Cues by Handler.
    • Common Standards.
      • Standards for the Dog.
      • Standards for the Handler.
    • Summary List of Minimum Behaviors.
    • Information Included for Each Behavior.
    • Basic Behaviors.
      • Static Positions, Postures, or Behaviors.
        • Behavior Name: Sitting.
        • Behavior Name: Lying Down.
        • Behavior Name: Standing.
        • Behavior Name: Staying.
      • Basic Movements.
        • Behavior Name: Halting/Stopping.
      • Movements Relative to Handler.
        • Behavior Name: Focus on Handler.
        • Behavior Name: Moving with Handler.
        • Behavior Name: Going to Specified Position.
        • Behavior Name: Moving Backward.
        • Behavior Name: Coming to the Handler.
      • General Positioning.
        • Behavior Name: Behind.
        • Behavior Name: In.
        • Behavior Name: On.
        • Behavior Name: Off.
        • Behavior Name: To.
      • Manipulation Movements.
        • Behavior Name: Dropping the Object.
    • Social Behaviors.
      • Behavior Name: Interrupt Current Behavior.
      • Behavior Name: Eliminate on Command.
      • Behavior Name: Accept Greeting by People.
      • Behavior Name: Allow Body Examination.
  • Appendix Glossary.

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