Technology has become a part of everyday life for most people, and learning to use devices like smartphones and contactless payment systems is second nature to many. That said, what happens when someone relies on a service dog for assistance? Training these pups to handle modern tasks is a growing part of preparing them for real-life situations. In a recent TikTok video, a service dog in training shows off his impressive ability to complete a grocery payment using Apple Pay.
Service dog in training successfully completes ‘Apple Pay task’ for owner
The clip begins with a yellow Labrador walking beside a trainer in a wheelchair. The trainer is demonstrating a payment scenario, with the dog holding a product in his mouth and handing it over to the cashier. Then, the trainer pulls a smartphone from her pocket and gives it to the dog. The pup holds the phone carefully in his mouth, rises up on his hind legs, and gently taps the phone on the payment terminal to complete the transaction. After making the payment, he calmly returns the phone to the trainer, completing the task flawlessly.
Viewers in the comments were both amazed and amused by the dog’s skills. One person wrote, “A modern doggo for modern times,” capturing the novelty of a dog using a tap-to-pay system. Another joked, “He’s now going to go shopping at PetSmart without her,” imagining the dog taking himself on a shopping spree. A third viewer added, “That dog understands tap pay better than half the middle-aged adults I work with.”
Teaching a service dog to perform this kind of task takes patience, consistency, and step-by-step training. Trainers begin by familiarizing the dog with the individual components, such as holding objects gently, responding to cues, and becoming comfortable with technology like smartphones and payment terminals. Positive reinforcement plays a big role, with dogs rewarded for successfully completing each step. Over time, these individual actions are combined into a fluid sequence so the dog can perform the entire task confidently.
Canine Companions, the organization that shared the video, specializes in raising and training dogs to perform dozens of such skills, all designed to promote greater independence for people with physical limitations.
