~ 8 weeks to 16 weeks 

The main focus here is on socialization and environmental enrichment, exposing the puppy to as many different stimuli as possible in a positive manner. Developing very good every day behaviours like toilet training, bite inhibition, crate training, the beginnings of impulse control, following the handler and coming
when called, will set the scene for your assistance puppy. Appropriate puppy classes are important during this stage too.

It is also important to note that imprinting occurs in this period of development. This means that everything learnt and experienced at this time will be somewhat permanent. This includes both good and bad experiences, habits and skills. Exposing the puppy to as many different stimuli as possible in a positive manner is of utmost importance for an assistance dog in the making in preparation for dog assistance tasks.

For Examples of stimuli for the puppy to experience include loud street noises, traffic sounds, car rides, men, women, children, different outfits, helmets, hats, motorbikes, wheelchairs, walking sticks, scooters, skateboards, bicycles etc… expose the puppy in short burst and make it really fun with lots of food reward and calm, confident reassurance.

~ 16 weeks 

The puppy and handler need to “learn how to learn”. Foundation behaviours such as nose and paw targeting, retrieving items, leave it, sit, drop, stay and “look” are the fundamentals of other skills to come.

It’s also important to work on teaching a relaxed loose lead walk, a reliable down stay and a recall. Practicing all the above behaviours while out and about and learning to ignore distractions will help prepare the dog for public access work.

Once the dog understands how to learn in the home, start to teach the dog tasks that will help to mitigate your disability, including while out in public. Ensure that when you train, you do it in short bursts without too much pressure placed on the dog and ensure it
is fun.

It is important to recognise the age limitations to dog training stages. Dogs are generally not mature enough or ready to implement these ‘tasks’ in public and with distractions until at least 18 months old. It’s unfair to expect your dog to be ‘working’ out in public for extended periods until they are mature enough to cope with the pressure.

Your young dog should be having regular, appropriate, consistent exposure to public access work after 16 weeks of age. As long as the foundations of loose lead walking and maintaining focus are reasonable you should be taking your young assistance dog to parks, outdoor malls, cafes and other appropriate places that suits the dog’s experience and training level.

Your dog is still learning to be part of a team and knowing when to focus on you, ignore high intensity distractions and check-in with you regularly. Slowly and safely introduce your dog as it becomes more mature with busier, more complex environments.

If you are beginning your training with an adult dog, your dog should have an excellent temperament around other dogs, children, people of all shapes and sizes and display no reactivity or aggression under any circumstances. Obedience should also be of a high level.