Originally published 2016-05-24. Reviewed and updated by Anything Pawsable on October 4, 2026.
Use this checklist as planning ideas, not a requirement to experience everything. Choose safe locations where the puppy is permitted and adjust exposure to its health and comfort. Keep distance, reward voluntary engagement and stop when it is overwhelmed. Repeated pleasant exposure does not guarantee future confidence, and federal ADA access does not cover dogs still in training.
Use this checklist with preparation for the human handler, too. Service Dog Standards works alongside the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), providing training and behavior standards and education about each partner’s responsibilities. Trainers use that foundation to help clients understand the work ahead. Choose experiences that build your individual team’s skills and confidence, with the dog’s welfare and safe handling guiding the plan.
Surfaces
- Dirt
- Grass
- Gravel, Loose and Packed
- Sand
- Tile
- Concrete
- Granite/Marble
- Slippery Surfaces
- Puddles/Water/Fountains
- Carpet
- Metal
- Grates (where the dog can see through and may be fearful of falling)
Animals
- Small animals
- Birds
- Cats
- Farm animals
- Cows
- Horses
- Reptiles
- Massive dogs
- Large dogs
- Little dogs
Equipment
- Collar
- Leash
- Crate (Wire, Metal, Plastic)
- Harness
- Vest
- Boots
- Cooling Coat
- Sweater
- Head Halter
- Basket Muzzle
Smells
- Pizza
- BBQ/Grilling
- Food Courts
- Dog Food Besides Your Own
- Scents Commonly Encountered at Job
Things
- Bouncy Houses/Blow-Up Displays
- Full-Wall Mirrors
- Nerf/Water Guns
- Vacuum
- Stairs
- Balloons
- Umbrellas
- Hula Hoops
- PT/Gym Equipment
- Soda/Vending Machine (money in, heavy thing falling)
People
- Babies
- Toddlers
- Pre-Teens
- Teens
- Young Adults
- Men of All Sizes
- Women of All Sizes
- People of all Races
- People Wearing Hats/Coats/Hoodies
- Police Officers
- EMTs
- Firemen
- People With Odd Gait
- People in Wheelchair
- People with Medical Equipment
- People with Varying Disabilities
- People of Varying Ages
- People with Varying Hair Lengths
- People with Head Scarfs/Face Covering
- People in Costumes
Events
- Sporting Events
- Birthday Parties
- Holiday Celebrations
- Church Get-Togethers
- School Events
- Seminars
- Street Fairs
- County Fairs/Rodeo
- Grooming
- Physical Exams
- Car Rides
Places
- Dog Shows
- Vet Office
- Zoo
- Bowling Alley
- Skating Rink
- Movie Theater
- Farms
- Woods
- Boats
- Buses
Sounds
- Thunder
- Fireworks
- Gun Shots
- Barking Dogs
- Diesel Engines
- Music
- Burning Wood
- Crying Babies
- Engines Starting
- Hunting Calls
- Banging on Pots/Pans
Final Considerations
Sound practice needs care. Low-volume recordings can help introduce some sounds, but they do not reproduce every real-world situation or guarantee confidence. Keep sessions brief, watch the dog’s comfort and allow it to leave. Ask a qualified trainer for help with persistent fear rather than increasing exposure.
You can find noise desensitization CDs for dog shows, agility trial, and performance events, for babies, city sounds, natural sounds and hunting sounds, for thunder, storms, rain and fireworks, and pretty much anything else you could hope to expose your working dog or future Service Dog to. For downloading to your computer or phone, online sound effect libraries like Sounddogs allow you to download files individually.
Do not expose a dog to toxic fumes, hazardous surfaces, wildlife or live fireworks/gunfire for this checklist. Use low-volume recordings cautiously for sound practice and keep the dog able to move away. A recording is not the same as a real event.