By Christine D. Calder,
DVM, DACVB
Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, www.caldervbs.com
Dogs are showing up in more places than ever. They visit libraries, schools, hospitals, and police stations. They help children learn to read, comfort people after hard days, and some even perform medical work that can save a life. This is wonderful news and helps all of us understand what goes into preparing a dog for this kind of work and what an appropriately trained working dog looks like.
Not All Working Dogs Have the Same Job
A service dog is trained to do specific tasks for one person with a disability, such as a diabetic alert dog who notices changes in blood sugar. Service dogs have legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A therapy dog visits places like schools and nursing homes to comfort many different people. A comfort dog or facility dog usually works for an organization, such as a police department or school. Therapy and comfort dogs do not have the same legal access as service dogs. They are invited guests.
These jobs do not come naturally to most dogs. Established programs often spend years preparing each dog, from careful selection to raising puppies in environments that ready them for their future work, to months of training for their specific jobs. Whatever the job, every working dog around the public, and especially around children, needs to be appropriately trained and comfortable in the places where it works.
A Quiet Dog and a Comfortable Dog Are Not Always the Same
A dog can look fine on the outside while feeling worried on the inside. An uneasy dog may lick its lips, yawn, turn its head away, show the whites of its eyes, or hold very still. These signals are a dog's way of saying, "I need some space." When people notice them and give the dog a break, everyone stays safe.
Problems start when dogs learn that showing these signals leads to something unpleasant. They may stop showing them and look quiet and controlled, but the worry remains. A dog who has learned to hide its discomfort is not a safer dog. It is simply harder to read.
Why the Tools Matter
Prong collars press metal points into the neck. Shock collars, sometimes called e-collars or remote collars, send an electric stimulus to the neck. Whatever they are called, these tools change behavior by adding something the dog wants to avoid.
Research shows that dogs trained with these tools are more likely to show signs of stress and fear. The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB), the board that certifies veterinary behavior specialists, advises dog owners to choose a different trainer if the trainer recommends prong, choke, or shock collars. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), a membership organization for veterinarians and others interested in animal behavior, recommends reward-based training methods. Many therapy animal organizations do not allow prong or shock collars during evaluations or visits. Shock collars are even against the law in several countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands. Some of these countries have also banned prong collars.
Now think about where a therapy or comfort dog is touched the most. Children pat the dog's head and hug its neck, the very places these tools affect. Dogs learn by connecting events that happen together. If a dog feels discomfort while a child leans in for a hug, that dog may begin to connect children with that unpleasant feeling. A dog whose job is to welcome touch should feel safe when people reach for it and should not be wearing aversive tools when they do.
Kids Are Watching
Children learn more from what adults do than from what adults say. When a child sees a working dog, the child also see the adults in charge of that dog. Police officers, teachers, librarians, and handlers are people children are taught to trust, and what those adults do with a dog sends a powerful message about what is okay.
If children see a dog who is given a choice, they learn that animals have feelings, that a dog's body language matters, and that we can teach without hurting. If they see trusted adults using tools that cause pain or fear, they may learn that causing discomfort is an acceptable way to get what you want. That lesson may influence how they treat their own pets someday, and the way we learn to treat animals often shapes how we treat people.
Every working dog in public is a teaching moment. We get to decide what that moment teaches.
What an Appropriately Trained Working Dog Looks Like
• Remains comfortable and settled despite noise and movement nearby
• Does not jump on, paw at, or mouth people unless doing so as part of a trained task
• Does not bark or whine to get attention
• Is house-trained and stays focused and engaged with its handler
• Chooses to approach people and invites them to touch
• Has a handler who monitors its body language and offers breaks when needed
Under the law, a service dog must be under control and house-trained and may be asked to leave if it is not. When working dogs jump, paw, or have trouble settling, they are not being "bad." They may be uncomfortable, may need more training, or may not be the right fit for the job.
How We Can Do Better Together
Most people who work with these dogs care deeply about them. Often, no one has shared what we now know about how dogs learn. That is where all of us come in.
If you run a program that includes a dog, ask what equipment the dog wears, how the dog was trained, and who watches for signs of stress. Simple written guidelines, such as allowing only flat collars or harnesses, can make a big difference.
If you are a parent or teacher, learn the basic signs of stress in dogs and teach children about them.
If you are looking for a trainer, ask about the trainer’s credentials and whether the trainer follows the Joint Standards of Practice, which require reward-based methods and rule out techniques that rely on fear, pain, or distress. Credentials help, but it is also wise to watch how a trainer works with dogs before hiring the trainer.
The Bottom Line
Working dogs give our communities so much. They deserve training that builds trust, not fear. When we choose kind, science-based methods, we get dogs who are not just well-behaved, but happy to do their jobs. And when children watch adults treat dogs with patience and respect, they grow up to do the same.
Want to Learn More?
• Veterinary Partner, Choosing the Right Trainer for Your Dog: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=254080&id=13352906
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, Position Statement on Humane Dog Training: avsab.org/resources/position-statements
• American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (find a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and How to Hire a Dog Trainer): DACVB.org
• Joint Standards of Practice for animal trainers and behavior professionals: iaabcfoundation.org/standards
• BC SPCA, Review of Dog Training Methods: spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/dog-training-methods-review.pdf
• Love on a Leash (therapy pet organization): loveonaleash.org
• Family Paws Parent Education (resources for families with dogs and children): familypaws.com
• The Family Dog, Stop the 77 (teaching children dog safety): thefamilydog.com
• Doggone Safe (dog bite prevention education for children and families): doggonesafe.com
• The Blue Dog Program (helping young children learn safe behavior around dogs): thebluedog.org