Why is it important for a service dog to acquire skills quickly?

Because it is one thing to intend to have a service dog and another thing altogether for a dog to acquire skills that are service dog oriented. Much like it is one thing to intend to rob a bank and another thing altogether to actually put on a mask, holster a gun and walk into the bank demanding money.

Paws & Effect is the first service dog agency in Des Moines, Iowa. With that, there has been a great deal of time invested in educating the community about service dogs and service dog access. The thing that distinguishes a service dog from a pet dog is that they have acquired three distinct skills which can offset a person's disability.

One of the easier skills to teach a dog is to open a door. First, the dog must learn to back up. Here is Kurth at eight weeks and one day.

Here is Tag, another dog in our program, with his puppy raiser, Todd, opening doors and utilizing the skill backing up.