Date of Award

5-2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

What makes a service dog successful? Whether it is genetics or the environment they are raised in, the definition of a successful service dog is complicated. Organizations that set out to train service dogs depend on successful outcomes to continue operating. That makes it particularly important to determine and understand the primary factors that impact the success or failure of dogs bred and/or trained for service dog programs. Given the complexity of the requirements for effective service dogs, it can be costly for an individual or an organization to neglect any factors that contribute to success. Individual components of what makes effective service dogs have been studied, but these have not been fully integrated into effective training programs. This literature review analyzes current scientific literature and suggests best practices for optimizing success in service dog training programs.

Share

COinS
 

Faculty Mentor

Laura Gelfand

Departmental Honors Advisor

Kara Thornton-Kurth