First Training Session

Olive is assigned to a college student for her service dog training. She will continue to train with her student until May when the students graduate. Here are a few photos of her very first training session.

Here she is being lured into a "sit".

Here she is learning "up". This command is useful for retrieving items on a shelf or paying cashiers.

This command is called "lap". This command is used for a person who is unable to bend down to pet the dog and would like some close contact. This is also useful for the dog to return retrieved items to a person who is in a power chair that is higher off the ground.

This command, "tug", is used to have the dog open a door, drawer or cabinet. We start out with doors with no resistance (like this little one).

Olive is coming along nicely in her training sessions. She is eager to learn and has a huge desire to please her trainer - both great traits for a service dog.