Get Familiar with Key Dog Training Terms

When you sign up for a package or course with DADTC, you’ll likely encounter many unfamiliar terms. To help you get started, I created a list of commonly used words and phrases in dog training and service dog work.

You can download the list anytime for easy reference. While you don’t need to read it beforehand, it gives you a helpful head start. Don’t worry—I’ll explain everything throughout the course. And if anything’s unclear, just ask!

Training Terms Lingo

Service Dog Specific Terminology

CRPS is a severe nerve pain condition where the brain sends pain signals to the body, causing constant, unrelenting pain. Using service dogs to help manage CRPS is a relatively new concept, but one that DADTC is working to change. While we also work with other mobility-impacting conditions, our focus is on CRPS, as it’s rare to find trainers with experience in this area.

A fully trained service dog assists its disabled handler with various tasks both at home and in public to help manage their condition. I often use these terms interchangeably.

A mobility service dog helps their handler with physical tasks that may be difficult or impossible to do alone. These tasks can include opening and closing doors, retrieving items, turning lights on and off, bracing, moving heavy objects like laundry baskets, providing stability while walking, and more.

A handler is the person who works with a service dog. This may be the disabled individual who needs the dog’s assistance or someone else in the team who handles the dog on their behalf.

A prospect is a young dog being evaluated as a potential service dog candidate.

A service dog candidate is a young dog who has started basic obedience and socialization training with the intent of becoming a service dog, provided they demonstrate the right drive and temperament.

A service dog in training (SDiT) is a dog who has successfully completed obedience and socialization training and is now beginning advanced socialization, public access work, and task training. This dog has consistently demonstrated the right mindset and suitability for working as a service dog.

Public Access Time refers to periods when the dog-handler team is working in public spaces. This may include running errands, going to appointments, or accompanying the handler to their job.

Bracing is a task where the dog is trained to stand in a specific position so their handler can rest a hand on their shoulders for support during activities like standing up, getting dressed, or getting in and out of the shower.

Counter-Balance (CB) is a task where the dog wears a specialized harness that the handler holds while walking. The handler may lean on it lightly for support and stability or use it for gentle forward momentum, such as rising from a chair or climbing stairs. A CB harness is specifically designed for this type of support and is different from a guide dog harness.

Drafting is a task where the dog pulls a weighted object behind them. This may include a wheeled cart, sled, or basket, depending on the handler’s needs and environment.

An alert is when a dog signals to their handler in advance that something related to their condition is about to happen—such as a seizure, pain flare, or blood sugar drop. Dogs who alert typically do so naturally, often without being formally trained.

A response or interruption happens during an episode, when the dog actively intervenes to help their handler manage or recover from it. These tasks are trainable and can vary in form—for example:

  • A dog may rush to their handler’s side if they fall and scream in pain, helping guide them to safety.
  • A dog might interrupt pacing, agitation, or self-harming behaviors by nudging, pawing, or applying deep pressure until the episode passes.