Are service dogs evolving? Yes. Here’s why

A service dog trainer went viral on TikTok after sharing five things she allegedly did wrong as a novice handler and owner.

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“You live, you learn,” user @papitheservicepug, who trains a pug, said in her clip. By Thursday afternoon, her clip had already been viewed more than 3,380 times.

Where did the service trainer go wrong?

User @papitheservicepug was blunt in her self-assessment of her work as a novice dog trainer and owner. She was even able to name five things she allegedly did wrong in her early years.

“We all start somewhere,” she wrote in the accompanying video caption of her TikTok. But to ensure other service dog trainers avoid her mistakes, she shared her mistakes with viewers.

The first mistake, she said, was not “doing proper research” and taking her dog to non-pet friendly placesincluding certain restaurants.

“A lady at one of the restaurants who trained service dogs for vets came up to me and called me while her friend in the background gave me the stink eye,” the content creator admitted.

Other mistakes, she said, included rby undergoing significant obedience training and comparing his progress with that of other guide dogs. The content creator said she regretted it too using certain training aids “without knowing how and when to use them properly,” including a prong collar, which is designed to prevent dogs from pulling during walks.

The content creator added that she had purchased an expensive service dog course and expected registration and ID. But she said she could learn from this particular mistake.

“I’m actually not that upset about it because it actually taught me step by step where to start with basic obedience,” she explained.

And the last mistake, she said, was not prioritizing fun or play.

“You live, you learn,” she concluded. “I did more research. I educated myself and I will never forget the lady who called me into the restaurant.”

Science says dogs evolve

This is what researchers from Linköping University in Sweden say, quoted in a recent article by the Daily Postdogs are entering a new phase of evolution. They said this is driven by the human desire for pets that are calm, friendly and domesticated.

Considering that companionship is a high priority for pet owners, the article said, scientists have found that “an increased level of a hormone responsible for social bonding.” They noted that this mainly occurred with service dogs.

Other media have also cited this study. They noted that while dogs have historically worked as herders and protectors, their roles have shifted over time. The shift in human expectations has led to dogs becoming more socially attuned to their owners.

According to the researchers, who conducted a study of sixty Golden Retrievers, dogs were tested for their ability to ask for help opening a sealed jar. It noted that dogs given an oxytocin nasal spray were more likely to turn to their owners for help. However, service dogs, which are bred and trained to help people, provide the clearest example of this evolutionary shift.

“Increasing friendliness appears to have changed the biology of these dogs, just as it did thousands of years ago,” two Duke University researchers wrote in a recent paper for The Atlantic Ocean.

Viewers respond

In response to @papitheservicepug’s TikTok, many users applauded her openness to sharing her mistakes.

“I had to teach myself as a first time handler in 2017 and now in 2024 I have definitely changed my mind,” one user admitted.

@papitheservicepug You live, you learn, and we all start somewhere 🤷🏻‍♀️😭 But those first three months were filled with embarrassing and educational moments from which we have recovered very well and are proud of how far we have come 🐾🖤🐕‍🦺 # psychiatricservicedog #pugsoftiktok #trainingfails #embarassingmoments #fypシ #fy #pug #servicedogintraining #educational #youliveyoulearn #proud #fyp #servicedogsoftiktok #servicedogteam #bestfriend ♬ Quiet background music with acoustic guitar and saxophone (1288148) – ame

“The fact that you are open to learning is amazing,” another viewer marveled. “I always try to look at things from the aspect that I learn something new every time. And you’re doing great now.”

“We are always learning! Thank you for sharing this, and others will learn from it too,” a third commenter added.

The Daily Dot reached out to @papitheservicepug via TikTok comments.

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