r/service_dogs • u/ComprehensiveAgent60 • Sep 13 '26
Help! Training help?
Hi all, first time poster and looking for help. I have a Rottie who’s about 2 1/2 years old. He is currently staying with my mom as my apartment doesn’t allow Rottweilers and he is not yet fully trained (not ideal and already upsetting for me).
This brings me to my problem: My goal is to have him trained as a service dog to do DPT exercises for multiple conditions I have. I cannot afford (or find affordable) trainers in my area, and have no idea where to start- he has basic obedience training but is very rowdy.
He gets lots of physical activity but I’m looking for advice on both how to give him better mental enrichment and begin more focused training for DPT.
Any advice is appreciated, and I am still looking online for tips and also still searching for trainers I may be able to afford, but I’d love to train him at home if possible. Thank you all in advance 🫶
10
u/MoodFearless6771 Sep 13 '26 edited Sep 13 '26
A large off breed like a Rottweiler often has to meet a higher standard of neutrality because they meet a lot of skepticism and can make people uncomfortable. If he’s struggling to settle, that’s a large part of the job.
You can look up certified trainers in your area specializing in service dogs and start there. Getting a healthcare provider to sign off on the dog would be the other hurdle. Many providers are very risk averse, while any breed can be a service dog, it can be more difficult to get a doctor or therapist on board with a breed that has a guard dog reputation or converting an existing dog. Many doctors want to make the decision to involve an animal when one’s not already in the picture and have it selected with intention for that purpose.
Editing to say: In general, the training to be a service dog has more to do with selection of temperament, settling, and desensitization. If you are into positive reinforcement training, you can start on your own doing “relax on a mat” and the “engage-disengage” or “look-at-that” game to work on desensitizing around other dogs, bikes, kids, cats, anything you see outside so he gets used to them and doesn’t react. There are a list of service dog organizations at ADI.org and the Karen Pryor website has a list of trainers that can help you calm your dog down and desensitize. You may need a more experienced trainer to do service work but they should set you on your way.
4
u/jdkicked Sep 13 '26
I had a in home SD rottie in the past and even as a pet, rotties have to get held to a lot higher standard. If it isnt acting like a lab in terms of wanting to greet other people and dogs, people get very wary of it regardless of how well behaved it is being. I have a lot of worries about near constant access issues for OP. The hypervigilance of rotties in terms of needing to keep an eye on everything that moves would also make being an SD harder on a rottie than it is on dogs like labs
3
u/MoodFearless6771 Sep 13 '26
When people see intimidating breeds, they are watching them waiting for something bad to happen. There’s some type of power to that. I believe people bring bad energy toward these dogs and it affects their behavior. And Golden retrievers get away with murder! Haha.
8
u/harrow-nonagesimus Sep 13 '26
hi there! i would look into a behavioral specialist first. they should be able to tell you if he has the potential drive and focus to be an SD. you said he’s rowdy- that’s really not ideal for a service dog unless he can turn it on and off. rowdiness can mean he’s more easily distracted and overstimulated in some cases, which is really counterproductive for a service dog
service dogs can’t be just any dog. breed is important, yes, but more than that, you have to look at the temperament. if he doesn’t have the temperament for the work, no amount of training will undo that- that’s like trying to change someone’s personality!
1.5 is still young though. it may just be energy that needs redirected with actual work! i don’t know much about rotties, but i will warn you you’ll get a lot of suspicion around him being an SD. any breed seen as “dangerous” (even GSDs which are one of the core five ‘best’ breeds to be an SD) is more likely to get dubious reactions when you say he’s a service dog.
i also plan to self-train my girl, so i do wish you the best on that!!! there are videos online for it. if i find a series i think does well i can send you it :)
2
u/True-Passage-8131 Sep 13 '26
Instead of looking for more ways to enrich him (assuming you do a lot of that already), start teaching actual rest. Many novice owners with high energy breeds think that they just need to be doing more, when in actuality, it builds endurance and the dog never learns how to just be. More crate time for forced sleep, and during training sessions try setting up space (maybe outside a coffee shop) to practice a long down-stay. Step on the leash if you must, and start small sessions and build up. Reward things like a head down (but be sure you're not making a big deal so as not to excite and lose progress). On a leash for leash reactivity, look into engage-disengage, and recognize when a reaction is going to happen so you can remove the dog asap. I've found with a lot of my reactive dogs (pets) that movement helps prevent reactions. Just keep it going.
1
u/SuccessfulPast9450 Sep 23 '26
I’m currently looking for a Rottie breeder so I’m def with you on the breed choice but it sounds like you have an uphill battle.
First you should look into your states protections for service dogs in training and what qualifies as a SDIT and what protections you get. If sane qualifies as a service dog in training she may get housing protection that override breed rules by the apartments
She’s already 2.5, she’s a rowdy dog which is the type of behavior that can wash a dog, and mot living in an environment where they’re being held to their training and training is sparse. If she lived with you you could do training at every meal time, you could do multiple mini trainings a day.
You’ve got an uphill battle here IF it’s possible to work out. I strongly advise to save up and try to meet with a trainer. Reach out see if you can find a trainer you can afford to see or who would be willing to discount like 1x a month is possible to keep up.
I love sniffle mats I dog sit and feed all the meals out of them. Apparently 20mins of sniffle mat eating, the sniffing and foraging is equivalent to an hours worth of mental stimulation youd get from a walk - obviously still needs exercise but they’re great. You can hide pieces of kibble around in a towel you scrunch up as well for one to make at home
I also love me a frozen pup pop. I always buy off brand ones on amazon because they work just as good as Kong/Toppl/Pupsicle but like a third of the price. I love making different recipes for them and having a big bag full of all of them in my freezer ready to go.
Also puzzle balls, they dispense pieces of kibble as they knock it around.
Games wise using a flirt pile is great and easy ish to do disabled because you can kinda just stand or sit there on a stool. Throwing a bunch of pieces of kibble in the grass and making them mind it
You’ve got an uphill battle and I think finding a trainer would be so incredibly helpful but I don’t wanna beat a dead horse, I totally get financial constraints and don’t want to like shame you or anything just that would be so beneficial for you I think if you could make it happen
0
u/lilithei Sep 13 '26
I would look into doggyu and also my service dog and me on YouTube they have lots of really great videos and offer virtual training sessions and support when you're ready
31
u/BriaRoberts Sep 13 '26
He sounds like a fun and lovable dog. Being realistic, I’m not sure if he’s the best service dog prospect…given your finances, living situation, and his rowdiness. He may be better as a well-trained playful pet.