Labrador Retriever Puppy Gives Cutest Sneak Peek Into His Service Dog Training
While every dog has an important role to play in its owners' lives, some special pups qualify to fulfill an especially vital role in their owners' health, happiness, and independence. I'm talking about service dogs, of course! These specially trained canines have aced hours of lessons and practice, but not many people know what the ins and outs of service dog training actually include.
Many helpful service dog owners share their journeys on TikTok, just like @marietrainsdogs. They talk about everything from basic pet care to service dog laws, but one recent video gets down to the nitty-gritty of it all.
On May 3, Simon, a six-month-old Yellow Lab, helped his owner and trainer demonstrate what skills he practices as a service dog in training. He may only be half a year old, but it seems like he's catching on so well!
Good boy, Simon! This is one smart dog who clearly enjoys having a job to do, even when that puppy energy can make focusing a little bit difficult. He takes instructions from Marie without any fuss, and he seems so eager to do a good job. These qualities are essential in a well-trained service dog!
Related: Day in the Life of Labrador Puppy Training To Be a Service Dog Is Too Cute to Miss
As Marie demonstrated, Simon is mostly working on medical alert at this age. Fortunately, Labrador Retrievers have excellent senses of smell, and he's already doing great. This means that he can practice other skills, such as picking up items for Marie and keeping strangers a safe distance away.
At six months old, this yellow Lab puppy is showing so much potential. His training is far from over, but Marie is helping him get off to a successful start. Before long, he'll be a pro service dog who has all of his skills mastered!
How Long Do Service Dogs Train For?
While every service dog will have their own, individual journey, the length of their training can depend on several factors, including their specific tasks. But before a dog can begin learning tasks related to specific disabilities and needs, they need to master basic training.
There are many service dog organizations that match handlers with dogs after basic training, but dog owners can potentially train their own dogs to be service animals, too. Essentially--it doesn't matter who trained the dog as long as they can pass all of the tests to earn accreditation! Once they pass basic training, many service dogs move on to mastering specific skills to help their owners thrive.
While Simon, the Labrador Retriever puppy, is still working on the basics, Marie is making great progress with him! He's already proving himself to be such a helpful boy, and it won't be long until he can drop 'in training' from his name.
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.
Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
