From start to finish, it can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months of training for a service dog to learn how to perform their tasks (the exact timescales will depend on the precise nature of the tasks the dog is being trained for).
The training time starts at a very early age, where a puppy is taught its basic obedience and learns how to interact with the world around them. They will learn how to sit, lay down, come, wait, in addition to discovering how to behave around humans and other animals.
It is also imperative that the dog is able to perform these tasks in a variety of different environments. Socialization helps to promote environmental stability, which will be critical for the dog – and their eventual handler – once they are delivered to their forever family.
Finally, after obedience and sufficient socialization, the dog is trained to perform its designated tasks. This takes constant practice – trainers work with the service dog candidate on a daily basis to help perfect the tasks. Depending on the number of tasks, and their complexity, this can take several months to complete.
For a service dog to perform its tasks reliably, there needs to be time invested by a proficient service dog trainer. With 12-24 months of continuous training, there is obviously an associated cost of the trainer’s time, whether they operate as a sole proprietor or are part of a larger organization.
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