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Assistance Dogs of the West instructor and trainer Mara Perrigo demonstrates Deep Pressure Therapy with 15-month-old Hemi. The dog applies pressure on the human body to reduce anxiety and lower the heart rate.

In my last column, I wrote about the high-level canine training at Assistance Dogs of the West, the nationally recognized service dog training agency based in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe. Before those elite students graduate, they must practice for the required Public Access Test.

It’s not uncommon to be seated next to an ADW dog in a restaurant and not know it, which is the point. ADW dogs are working — perhaps to detect a physiological change in their handler, alert them to take their meds or address another need not visible to you.

During training, the dogs join handlers as they dine in restaurants, tucked neatly under the table at their feet. They are trained not to misbehave or to pick up a piece of steak that falls within an inch of their nose. For their own safety, it’s imperative that they don’t nibble anything that falls to the floor (such as a pill).

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Marine Corps veteran Joseph “Lefty†Martinez teaches his service dog, Corporal, how to push the handicap door button at the DeVargas Center in ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe. Martinez temporarily relocated from Salt Lake City to attend the owner self-training program at Assistance Dogs of the West for six months. Corporal opens doors and picks items up, among other tasks.



Bizia Greene is an etiquette expert and owns the Etiquette School of ·è¿ÍÖ±²¥ Fe. Share your comments and conundrums at 505-988-2070 or hello@etiquettesantafe.com.