the 1st is minimum training guides for ADA compliance. The second & third are tasks Scout needs to learn.

 

 

 

 

psychiatric service dog

www.answers.com/topic/psychiatric-service-dog

Psychiatric Service Dogs, also called "medical alert dogs" or "medical response dogs," are a type of service dog that help their handler with a psychiatric disability such as Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, Anxiety Disorders, and Schizophrenia.

Like all assistance dogs, a psychiatric service dog helps its handler mitigate his disability by doing work or performing tasks, including, but not limited to:

• Picking up or retrieving objects
• Aiding with mobility when the handler is dizzy from medication or has psychosomatic (physical) symptoms
• Waking the handler if they sleep through alarms or cannot get themselves out of bed
• Alerting to and/or responding to episodes such as mood changes, panic attacks, and oncoming anxiety
• Distracting the handler from repetitive or obsessive behaviors
• Activating a medical alert device or pre-programmed phone for assistance
• Carrying information regarding the dog and their handler's disability in their jacket or backpack
• Providing companionship, affection, or a source of "reality-check."

Psychiatric service dogs may be of any breed suited for public work. Many are trained by the person who will become the dog's handler with or without the help of a professional trainer. However, assistance dog organizations are increasingly recognizing the need for dogs to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

In the United States, federal and state laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, allow handlers of psychiatric service dogs the same rights and protections afforded to those with other types of assistance dogs.

External links

• Legal information regarding assistance dogs in the U.S.
• Bazelon's List of Limitations on Major Life Activities for Psychiatric Disabilities
• Psychiatric Service Dog Society
• About Psychiatric Service Dogs
• Service Dog Tasks for Psychiatric Disabilities
• Delta Society

Re: Your Service Dog Scout...

Part Two:
I know that there are a few that I've probably left out. Scout has been in training since he was a pup and is now 23 months old. Some of the commands that he knows is still being refined, and we are continuing adding new ones. If you are wanting to get your Scout to service dog level so that he has public access, the most important part of training will be the basic commands. One of our trainers commented that while service dogs can do a lot of cool things, 90% of the time we are really just asking them to be boring - to lay in the same position and wait for us, to walk unobtrusively beside us, etc.

The hard work has been definitely worth it for us. We are now able to sit through an entire church service with DS. Before if we did make it through, it would be so stressful just trying to manage his behavior from being overstimulated. We've been able to go to a movie as a family, go shopping, and even attended a funeral dinner for an entire two hours! Our dog has been everything we have dreamed of, but were afraid to hope for.

Here are some thoughts on some of your commands:
For searching the room....You would teach a behavior chain using the command 'is it safe' of turning on the light and finding a particular toy that you hide in the room that is only used for this command. You can teach your dd that when Scout finds the toy then that means yes, the room is safe.

As far as search and rescue, that is a lot more complicated. We are working with Scout to 'find Michael' during some hide and seek games. We tell Scout find and then he leads us to Michael. We haven't had the chance to practice outside the house yet.

Anyway, let me know if you have any questions.

Kristine

Dog Food Rating Scale

 

"Best" varies from dog to dog... here is some information to help select a good food for your pooch.

Start with a grade of 100:

For every listing of by-product subtract 10 points

For every non-specific animal source("meat" or "poultry" "meat meal" or "fat") reference subtract 10 points

If the food contains BHA or BHT or ethoxyquin subtract 10 points

For every grain labeled "mill run" or every non-specific grain source subtract 5 points

If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five ingredients subtract 5 points. i.e. ground brown rice, brewers rice, rice flour are all the same ingredient.

If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in the top 3 ingredients subtract 3 points

If it contains any artificial colorants subtract 3 points

If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn subtract 3 points

If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients subtract 2 more points

If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil subtract 2 points

If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your pooch is allergic to other protein sources or has any other medical reason) subtract 2 points

If it contains soy or soybeans subtract 2 points

If it contains wheat (unless you know that your pooch is not allergic to wheat) subtract 2 points

If it contains beef (unless you know that your pooch is not allergic to beef) subtract 1 point

If it contains salt subtract 1 point

EXTRA CREDIT:

If any of the meat sources are organic add 5 points

If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or animal nutritionist add 5 points

If the food is baked not extruded add 5 points

If the food contains proiotics add 3 points

If the food contains fruit add 3 points

If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains) add 3 points

If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free add 2 points

If the food contains barley add 2 points

If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds) add 2 points

If the food contains oats or oatmeal add 1 point

If the food contains sunflower oil add 1 point

For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source but "chicken" and " " as 2 different sources) add 1 point each

If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin add 1 point

If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free add 1 point

94-100+ A, A+
86-93: B
78-85: C
70-77: D
less than 70: F

Here are some that have already been scored:

Authority Harvest Baked 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select 68 F
Canidae 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal and Rice 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60lb + 99 A
Dick Van Pattens Natural Balance Ultra Premium 122 A+
Dick Van Pattens Duck and Potato 106 A+
Foundations 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken by Solid Gols 93 B
Iams Lamb Meal and Rice Formula Premium 73 D
Innova Dog 114 A+
Innova Evo 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice and Vegetables 110 A+
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb and Rice 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey and Barley 103 A+
Purina Beniful 17 F
Purina Dog 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7 yrs + 63 F
Science Diet for Large Breed Puppies 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold 97 A