I recently received an unusual academic degree: a Master of Science in Human-Canine Life Sciences. There is only one accredited university that offers such a degree: Bergin University of Canine Studies in Santa Rosa, California. The university also offers bachelor and associate of science degrees.
What does one learn in a dog-focused university?
Well, in the associate degree program on service dog education, students learn to train puppies starting when the puppies are only four weeks old. Students assist with the birth of litters of puppies, teach the dogs to enjoy being petted and handled, and teach them all the skills that a mobility assistance service dog needs to know. Students learn about creating a healthy and enriching environment for puppies. They learn that early experiences have a lasting impact on puppies and that socializing puppies to all kinds of people, places, sounds, and smells is important for any puppy but critical for a dog who will work as an assistance dog, accompanying his human partner to public places like malls, restaurants, and airports. Students train several dogs of various ages and take a dog everywhere they go. Students also learn about the clients who will ultimately partner with the service dogs they are training, studying the various disabilities that service dogs help mitigate.
This article appears in Aug 5-11, 2010.