The stages of public access training and how to know when your SDiT is ready. 

I don't train in pet friendly outdoor places. My last SDiT was attacked by someones lose dogs and became dog reactive and had to wash. Hes now a family pet that can't be around other dogs. My current SDiT has been jumped in a parking lot by yet another person's LOOSE dog! Not going to keep risking it it seems to be common in my area. I'll stick to places like feed stores, let friendly shopping centers etc where there isn't as much a risk of loose dogs.

At certain points in this video I mentioned your dog must wear a vest during public access. This is not the law as per ADA in the United States, it is a policy of my program (for the fully trained dogs I place and the students who train with me in person) and so it is the language I fell back on in this video. However, please check your state laws as they pertain to service dogs and service dogs in training, as some states do require service dogs in training to be labeled.

Your videos are such a good resource for owner trainers, I hope you know how indispensable you are to the sd youtube community. Thank you so much for providing these videos at no cost, please don’t stop!

My dog has been in outdoor places and festivals with me before I started training him as a service dog. He has done great with each place. He has been in indoor locations as well and he does great for everything. I've been doing this for three years and just this week, he went to the doctor with me and he did great.

The only thing is that your service dog doesn’t need a vest lol but I love this video. SUPER helpful!!

My dog and I started at a Joanns and a blains because they’re both pet friendly and relatively slow/quiet and she did amazing!

This video and step 2 in particular was SO ENOURAGING TO ME!!. My boy is 10 months, he's not perfect, he's excited a lot. We are in stage 1 right now, but we are closer to stage 2 than i thought!

I've been doing my sidewalk, big empty lots and parks with my sdit. When I started training for advanced (group) I started in indoor areas. We are Just starting in Nonbusy non pet friendly. It has been helping me figure out if there is somewhere I need to fine tune.

Really glad she said outdoor pet-friendly places first because that's how we started.

I have a leash wrap that states Service Dog In Training for my current 9 week old sdit . I make sure weather is good, and he is all utd on shots etc. I might purchase a vest when the pup is going into non pet friendly places due to uneducated people. I only go to pet friendly places when I train when I start with each sd I have had. I train as young as 7 weeks old with my previous and current service dogs. Teaches potty training, socialization, basic training commands, leash training etc. It also teaches humans laws etc. due to people giving looks or asking. I also teach service dog tasks as little as 7 weeks old. Owner training is free. I have never paid for sd training. I only adopt from someone/shelter, or purchase a puppy from a pet breeder. Vest isn’t required, certification or id aren’t required because there isn’t such thing. Also, good info from your video. 💕

25:10 I wish that the ADA would have something the would make it so that there would be a mini standard that a service dog in training would have to meet before they could be protected under the ADA as a SDIT Service Dog In Training? Maybe this could be at the Walmart stage? I have seen people who have well-behaved SDIT at a store but they will be harassed which I believe can ruin and hurt their chances to get the proper in real-time training they need to step out of that point where they are a Service Dot In Training to a fully trained SD? The other reason I am saying this is because lets say that someone has to travel and they may be staying at a friends place and they don't want to stop the training for a few weeks but their friend lives in a different state where they don't consider a SDIT where the place they are from does consider it as protected? If there was a minimum standard this would make it so all 50 states would have to follow the same rules? The other thing that came to mind as well is that I wish that in order for a pet to even be allowed to enter "Pet-Friendly Places" they had to have a certain amount of obedience before they are allowed to be even in PFP? 26:10 One thing that I wish that the ADA law would change would be that before any business was allowed to get their business license they would have to go ever the ADA laws and understand them. They would have to promise to follow them and they would have to put signage that is visible at all main entrances and through the property. If they or their employees do not follow the ADA laws the business license would be pulled and they would be fined and could be jailed with the risk of losing their business? 29:25 Lets say that you use a power chair and you are legally blind? If you can't train your dog to get into a car but your only way of getting around is using Public Transit? How do you do something like that and when would you do something like that? Something else I thought of is if a SD is training at home when do you train them to start with your disability such as alerts etc? 32:56 Do you have any videos on how to pare yourself with the right dog? For example, let's say that you have certain disabilities but you don't know what size or breed of dog to get? How do you match your personality with the right personality of dog?

I love all these videos. Thank you so much for everything you do and helping set us up for success. ^^

Love this 👍

my dog loves her vest it’s one of the funniest things

17:30 I realized in a couple different times in this video that you said a service dog has to wear a vest to be allowed to go and I definitely am new to the service dog community but I know service dogs don't needs vests at all its only for their handlers convenience and for those who use service dogs for mobility you'll need to get a harness for that but in other words there is no requirement for vests and identification, Identification is actually illegal and does not exist so if you see an identification ad or something or a registry, that's a scam. its illegal for businesses to force a service dog to wear a vest or ask for any identification or proof that its a service dog or your disabled. 1) Is this an animal required because of a disability? Ex: Yes or no. 2) What tasks does it preform? Ex: Medical alert, Mobility, etc. These are the only questions allowed to be ask and you do not have to demonstrate your tasks or ask for proof of training as well, it is also private information and they cannot ask that either yes you could demonstrate your tasks but you don't have to and you shouldn't because they might expect other teams to demonstrate as well. Also do as much research as you can because some service dogs in training might not be allowed public access in certain states so be aware of state laws and if you get into any public access issues just because they don't want a dog there if you or your dog weren't being disruptive you can explain to them the laws and if they won't listen you can call the police which is the best option. The only way a business can kick your service dog out is if it is being unruly such as running around or using the bathroom on the floor and you can't get its attention back, then they have a valid reason to kick you out otherwise they legally can't (unless you are being unruly lol). Also for those who don't know federal law trumps state law. So if a store has a policy that a service dog must have a vest or identification then they are breaking federal law because you don't need proof of that, also if a business is open to the public it is open to service dogs. A store cannot ask you to leave because of your service dog if you or your service dog is doing nothing wrong but a house owner could, because their house is not open to the public, people can't just come and go but a business like Walmart or McDonald's so even if your service dog is doing nothing wrong they can ask you to leave. Sorry for the rant and thank you to those who read the whole thing, stay beautiful!!!

I am so glad I found you channel. I just got a dog that I am training. I have as much to learn as my dog does. I see you giving tons of treats. I can't find a treat my dog loves. When I try chicken I think it's too rich cause she get diarrhea.

Thank you! First time owner trainer, the pandemic isn’t helping but Finn makes everything a little easier :)

I'm going to be owner training (hopefully with some local trainer guidance as well), but the state I live in does not recognize SDit's. So we will be limited in where we can train, as the state leaves it up to the business owner to allow SDit's. I'm just really hoping I will be able to manage.

My SDit does fantastic in non-pet-friendly stores, but he is awful in pet stores. He's going to take a CGC test soon but I don't know if he will pass since it takes place in a pet store. I have no doubt he would pass if it was in a regular store. His biggest issue in pet stores is sniffing everything and pulling toward other dogs (except the dogs in the CGC class).

In states where SDiTs don’t have the same rights and protections as fully trained SDs, can we still do trips like this (third stage) in Walmart, or do you recommend practicing vested trips in pet-friendly places? I’ll of course talk to my trainer about it when we get to that point, but at least having an idea of what to do will be helpful!

This is very helpful and a very good set of guidance instructions to help go through public access training although I would like to point out that legally, service dogs do not need to be vested in order to be service dogs, they just have to be PA and task trained. Loved the video

As a CPTSD Survivor Civilian Woman With Also Hypokalemia/Hypoglycemia Condition....Its discouraging the ignorance and stereotyping of Veterans over Civilians who need a Service Dog, and who can get one right off the bat aka first come first served for veterans over civilians in many facilities I looked at. Being told you have a case for a CPTSD and Medical Hypoglycemia condition just to try and find Service Dog Facility. And each says your condition is not worth their time, that its nothing compared to a Veteran even though you have had it 38 years and that includes inability to retain a job, going out places, out to Restaurants or doctors. The places want to try to find anyway to dismiss your case for a needed Service Dog and if they can't, they'll use we take only Veterans and 1st responders you'll have to wait 3 years. Of course lets say you deteriorate because of the condition, start a family then they will try to find other excuses and interrogate you to say "your not someone they can help despite their boosting and bragging that they can, yet only want to cater" to those that'll boost their image and ratings nothing more despite what's on their sites. I am trying to raise the money for a Service Dog and both my EMDR and Psychologists said at this point better off training your own then waiting on a list for 3+ years with little to no chance. Also they love to pit a civilian with CPTSD/PTSD over a Veteran think only Veterans have worse case is a load of bs, especially when it comes to civilian women that I realized during 3 interrogating interviews "How long are you in your CPTSD?", "how long do you disassociate?" These questions never put them off from helping a Veteran candidate if they can't remember and Veterans disassociate like a Civilian. Yet they are worried about a Civilian disassociation and not a Veteran when each persons reactions and case are different...total discrimination against civilian women with CPTSD/PTSD . My fiance has gone with me places in case it happens and I'm never alone when it does so their asking how long as if a PTSD Survivor blanks out should remember is a garbage tactic to discredit you and your CPTSD/PTSD so they don't have to help you. Tried so far for 3 years to look into getting a needed Service Dog this year started raising funds and yet not a facility will accept me. I'm not gonna wait on a list for 5+ nor 10+ years don't waist civilians time if these so called Service Dog Facilities never had any interest in helping us Women with CPTSD/PTSD for 30+ years is all I can say. At this point we are 75% sure we will probably use funds to get a private Service Dog coach to help me train my own Service Dog privately. These facilities will of course scare tactic, threaten and try to discourage you fron training your own Service Dog because they make no profit from not helping you, yet won't give you the time of day or help you through them as a candidate...... So what then other choice is there? They'll say "if you choose to do it yourself then the dog will never be acknowledged as a Service Dog , or its a felony to train your own Service Dog, even We will report you as that's a Scam against Real Service Dogs From Service Dog Facilities" Again its all to scare you into their waiting game and deter you from training your OWN Service Dog, which nothing wrong with that, they just don't like civilians not willing to wait around with no hope then deciding to train their own Service Dog meaning again those facilities won't get a dime of the training money no profit because they didn't care enough to accept you as a candidate and didn't want to help or turned you away....that's on them. I believe we women civilians being not taken seriously by Service Dog facilities if its in best interest. If you have the money and connections to train your own Service Dog after facilities claiming they can help you turn you away.....I say go for it, it might be best investment over being stuck on a waiting list at a facility for 3+ years.

My dog has great engagement when we stop and she looks at me. But she won't look at me when we're walking. Her alerts are also pretty good. Any advice on this? Thanks!!

Joanns is pet friendly!

A vest is not required for non pet friendly public access Per the ADA but some states laws require a SDIT to be labeled as “in training”

Hi Kate, I've been with you from the beginning. I signed up for the academy. I've had an Australian Labradoodle thats 40 pounds and now 2 years old. Bentley has had problems with eating since I got him at 10 weeks old. He was free fed from the breeder and another trainer. We got that fixed starting day 1. Youve mentioned a few ways to train dogs WithOut Food, but you've only been showing (for the most part) clicker and food training. The problem is, my boy Won't Take Treats. Ever. Nada. Nill. He barely used to eat his food (we tried about Everything on the market) he would just eat enough to stay alive. He could Care Less about food. I've used praise A Lot because he blows off his favorite toys And my praise and attention when he sees another dog or happy enthusiastuc child (he Loves Both). He Does offer these behaviors, But It's Only at those times when he wanted it. He Loves getting into his vest and getting into the car. He knows hes on the clock. I've captured his behaviors as hes offered them, but it's slowed our progress Way down. By (barely) age 2 he is que trained, task trained, Loves being in public body radiates Joy and offeres sit and down stays on demand. His heeling is Great, even when he sees a child, he stays by my side in a tight heel, even around delightfully screaming children, but clicker training has Not worked. No human food has worked (weve tried teeny tiny bits of steak even!). He's still Very Much mentally a teenager. But when he sees another dog in a location, he Loses His Mind (he Just Knows the other dog wants to play and tries to engage it) and we have to leave. He can't seem to reingage and focus again. Many if not ALL of these encounters happen when we round a corner and BAM! There's someones Pet trying to get to us both and kill us (or just him, and leave me with a Nasty bite). Am I expecting just Way too much from him given his training limitations without treats? Or is this the 1 faw that after 2 Years of hard work mean the end? Everyone in dog training is using clicker/treats, clicker/treats, clicker/treats. No one has Ever Focused on a dog that needs public access training in pet friendly areas WithOut Treats and I'm exasperated! He doesn't get that there are PETS who want to eat him, maul me and walk away. I have been through the videos and the lessons. We've worked in public pet friendly venues, but I Just Cant Get Him To Focus Without Treats and I'm Extremely Frustrated. I've Never seen him engage with me like these dogs do with you! He checks in a lot, but we just look like hopeless frauds at Home Depot and the feed store and idk How I'll Ever get him to engage with me like these dogs do with you. Am I missing something listed in the classes we signed up for in the academy? Everyone says use his Favorite toys. Be enthusiatic. But he Just Isn't Getting focusing on his toys, Me and positive reunfircement and encouragement. Just other pets/teams. Please Help! I'm Desperate. Thanks, Sharece.

There is a woman in Alabama making videos on here while taking her service dog in training into multiple public access areas. If she sees small dogs, she gets all defensive and bent out of shape. You can see her getting into fights with people in most all of her videos. She is constantly going into places without a mask on and even lets her five year old boy walk her dog around so he can learn to walk a SD around Tractor Supply Company (a pet friendly place). This is the same dog in training that she got all upset over because she was so concerned the dog would miss an alert due to a woman with her two dogs inside of a zipped up stroller that made a slight sound as she walked past. The same dog she later used to demonstrate a direct challenge AT the dogs in a stroller in order to show the manager they were aggressive. What part of normal SD training involves challenging the dog by walking it straight AT aggressive dogs?!

I have been training in Pet friendly locations. My dog does well but i have a real problem with people wanting to talk to, give treats, and before they even ask they look intently at and even talk to the dog. This is causing her to start to assume anybody close is wanting to interact with her and so whe is starting to pull toward people. How can we get people to leave us alone without being rude, or should we be rude. I feel like getting a t-shirt that says don't look at or talk to my dog. Also while traveling and training at places like rest areas I found that it can be tricky to manuvere double doors and the air hand driers are very loud and the restrooms echo badly. DO you have any videos on the mechanics of getting through doors, going to a table in a restaurant and how to choose a table? I think the mechanics of manuvering obsiticles in public is just as important as the mechanics of delivering treats.

My Aunt needs to sign up for the classes how does she do it

Question lovely, CAN we use the vest in the first 2 locations? My puppy is still being desensitized to clothes/ vests (I try to put on a shirt of some sort every time we leave the house to prep him for the vest) but people really like my puppy and everyone enjoys to stop and pet him, with my anxiety it’s hard for me to say no to strangers (safe right) and don’t want to come across as rude since my SDiT isn’t wearing a vest (note in Alberta they SD’s HAVE to wear a vest)

Hi! I loved your video but when I followed the link to get the checklist it didn't work :( Is there anyway you can attach the link here? Ill check back to my comment if you could paste it in your response here that would be amazing. THANK YOU so much!!!

Your website doesn’t allow me to leave my email for notice of open registration

How often a week do you do training outings, and at what age (once they are capable of everything on the checklist) do you start pet friendly outdoor places? is 11 weeks too young, even if said puppy has all the checklist qualifications?

how do you train if you are in a motorized wheelchair

My SDiT is turning 2 and I want to start public access (in stores). He's been ready for about a year now, but got attacked by a dog so we had to work on his PTSD. Then Covid hit, so now I have to COMPLETELY restart his service dog training 😑

This might be why I have problems because I've always made pet friendly trips for at least an hour at a time just to make the location boring.

Im working on getting a service dog, these videos are super helpful but i'm afraid i live 2 hrs from the city.. how do i get my service dog ready for the big city if im so far away?

How many training sessions in pet friendly stores do you usually take, and how frequently do you take them?

What breed of dog is Kenzie?

What do you do if your dog can’t wear a vest because of the way the vest is made? I have a Yorkie that can suffer from trachea collapse if something is around her neck, which the vest’s front strap is.

It's so hard right now. I wasn't expecting to be training during a pandemic. Usually stage 2 of my training is going to dog friendly businesses but right now nothing is open

Oh, sorry I forgot about the mechanics of handling the dog and shopping carts while going through doors etc.

Hello, I dont have a car so I'll need to catch a bus for any public training. At what age should I start training the puppy to comfortably ride the bus?

I dont have a service dog I just want to train my dog to behave when we go on walks or dog friendly places and so I can go hiking with her

What’s important to do when a sdit gets nervous around something in public? What do I do?

I filled out my email twice but haven't received the check list :(

Where are some indoor and outdoor pet-friendly places?

Cgc is good before knowing if your dog is ready

Would the workplace be considered a "Stage 4" place? You know, working with the dog to work with you while you're on the job? I work at a secondhand store as a cashier, but sometimes I'm sent back to help out in the warehouse to sort clothes, roll racks of product out onto the sales floor, or help with unloading vehicles that are dropping off donations.

Is it normal for a one and a half year old dog to make mistakes with heel and focus often? The only way I can get her to heel and focus are with really good treats. How can I get to the point where I don't need fresh chicken to dog out on a walk with her? lol

Petco good distraction

Would love to see you be a speaker at the service dog for Vets conference! Many of us self trainers and org trainers utilize your knowledge and your personality seems perfect for being a speaker there!! servicedogs4vets.org/become-a-speaker/

What if you're dog is just too picky with food where they don't accept it. She's completely comfortable with new places just doesn't accept food.

Her hyper and jumping up must be controlled i was told this by petsmart and petco trainers and petco does the cgc

Can I do this without the clicker? I really hate that sound.

Oops, I took my puppy to both Petco and to an outdoor restaurant

To be honest i kinda disagree with the first statement you made. You need to socialize you pup so the6 need to be in public while they are still under the impressionable age. This means they don’t have all of their shots yet, so I would not take my puppy to a place like the park because I know dogs have eliminated there and that is a sure way to get your in vaxed puppy sick. Instead I take my pup to places I know that other dogs have not relived themselves in.

Asbury park Nj family dollar the cashier asked a lady for service dog certification paper work and neptune township housing authority secretary mellissa gario in nj asked for service dog paper work and the ececutive director of neptune township housing authority needs service dog exucation

So sick and tired of folks who have "service dogs" that can't even perform the easiest of commands. They interfere with my dog who is a mobility dog and pulls my chair. We have been attacked, yelled at, and all sorts of distractions from aggressive dogs. It makes me not want to use my dog.

I don’t put a vest on my dog to identify him,but it lets people know not to bother him.🥴