How to Train Your Dog to Call 9-1-1

Technology has made dialing 911 easier for our pets. Your dog can dial 911 from a touch screen TV or tablet. Introduce this responsibility to your dog in a similar way you would introduce a telephone with a speed dial button.

Let your dog explore the device by sniffing it, licking it, and touching it with his nose.

Teach your dog a command such as ‘call 911,’ and show him how to use the device by touching his nose to the screen to call for help. This is highly advanced, so it will take several tries to get him to make the connection.

Dogs are extremely sensitive to their owner’s body changes. For instance, your dog, without being a service trained dog, may notice changes in your blood sugar levels or your brainwave activity levels and predict something happening before it happens. Teach your dog when these changes occur to use the touchscreen on the device to call for help.

Practice these commands in real-time situations with a service training organization or within your own home by repeating the steps above in real life rehearsals.

Teach your dog a command first, so he understands what it means when he hears the command.

Review and perform any actions required with the command ‘call 911.’ As you say the command, have your dog follow you to the phone.

With your dog watching and you repeating the constant command ‘call 911,’ roll the handset off of the phone and push the speed dial button you will have programmed to dial 911 once training is complete.

Repeat this step several times with your dog, so he sees you performing the action and saying the command. Each time you are done performing the task, offer your dog a treat.

Continue to practice the action and commands together with your dog watching and participating. When your dog can go directly to the phone and begin to do it himself after watching you and hearing the command, move on to the next step.

Once your dog has associated the command ‘call 911’ with the actions of rolling the receiver off of the phone and pushing a button, position yourself away from the phone in a place where you may need help and repeat the command ‘call 911.’

If your dog rushes to your aid when you say ‘call 911,’ keep repeating the command. Your dog should recognize the command and relate it to the action of going to the phone, rolling the receiver off, and pushing a button.

Give your dog several minutes to connect the dots. If after several minutes he has not, repeat the command, walk over to the phone, repeat the actions, and practice those steps until you can do it independently again in hopes your dog will go to the phone on his own.

Keep practicing this. This is a highly advanced service dog command. Do not expect your dog to get this overnight. It may take several 5 to 10 minute sessions a couple of times a day for several months. Don't overwhelm your dog with too much training at a time, and be sure to reward him when he does well.

Without having 911 programmed on a speed dial button, your dog can be introduced a phone he would use to call 911.

Depending on your medical condition or your command such as ‘get help,’ prepare your dog to push that button when necessary.

If your dog is a trained service dog, he will be trained to detect specific fluctuations with your medical condition such as a drop in sugar levels or brain activity changes for someone who may have seizures. If you have conditions where you are alert, and you want to teach your dog the ‘get help’ command, use the command every time you take your dog near the phone and show him the button.

Using the command get help. Have your dog push the button with his nose over the course of several days as you train the command.

Once your dog is used to command ‘get help’ and he understands when you say those words he needs to push the button on the phone, program that speed dial button to call 911.

When you use your command words ‘get help,’ your dog should go directly to that particular phone and push the button with his nose.