Archive for the ‘Service Dog Tips’ Category
Wondering how you can certify a service dog? You should first be aware that “certifying” a service dog may not mean what you think.
What the law says: Under U.S. service dog laws, you cannot qualify for a service dog just by obtaining a certification. Certifications are obtained by service dog owners as an optional step for personal convenience, but they are not mandatory. Thus, while service dog certifications can be beneficial, a third party cannot insist on seeing a certificate in lieu of proper verification procedures.
Requirements for being a service dog handler:
The handler must have a physical or psychiatric disability. The service dog must be trained to perform a job or task relating to that disability. The service dog must be able to work in public places without causing a disruption. The handler must be able to confirm they own a service dog by answering two permitted questions under the ADA.Keep reading: We will cover some frequently asked questions regarding service dogs and clarify some common misconceptions.
Q1 – What is a service dog?A service dog is a highly trained canine that provides assistance to people who suffer from disabilities. These disabilities can include physical and/or psychiatric conditions. Some of the most common psychiatric conditions qualifying for assistance from service dogs are severe depression and PTSD – the service dogs that help handlers with these conditions are known as psychiatric service dogs (PSDs).
Service dog owners are protected under various US laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act.
Service dogs are allowed to accompany their handlers in places open to the public and on airplanes. Service dog owners can also live with their dogs free of charge, even in residential buildings that ban all pets.
Q2 – What tasks do service dogs provide?A service dog can be trained to perform an incredible variety of tasks. Here are just a few examples of the amazing jobs that service dogs are trained for:
Tasks for Psychiatric Conditions – Reminding the handler to take medications, interrupting repetitive or self-destructive behaviors, room searching, bringing an emergency phone during a crisis, providing pressure therapy to calm Tasks for the Vision Impairment – Guiding the handler, retrieving objects, obstacle avoidance, finding an exit from a room Tasks for Hearing Impairment – Alerting to alarms, doorbells, and distant sounds, alerting to people approaching from behind and visitors at the door, alerting to the ring of a telephone Tasks for Hypoglycemia/Diabetes – Alerting the person to a drop in blood sugar, seeking out another human in case of the handler’s collapse, retrieving medications Q3 – How can you train a service dog?Performing tasks and public access: To be recognized as a service dog, a dog must be fully trained to perform a job or task that helps the handler’s disability. The service dog should also be capable of passing a public access test.
Who can train dogs: There are professional trainers and organizations that train service dogs for their owners. Often, this is too expensive for many service dog owners. Fortunately, the ADA allows owners capable of training their service dogs on their own to do so without requiring assistance from third-party trainers.
The following are some basic steps aspiring service dog owners take on the path toward handling a qualified service dog:
Adopt a dog with the appropriate temperament and abilitiesIf you have the means, you can adopt a service dog that has been specifically trained for your condition. This can be cost-prohibitive for many disabled people in need – a trained service dog can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.
It is possible to adopt and train your service dog. If you are considering this route, you should be honest about your training abilities. It may help to consult a professional trainer and your medical professional to see how feasible it is.
Starting may be difficult, but you should certainly not be discouraged. Countless service dog owners successfully train their service dogs on their own.
Temperament: When adopting a potential service dog, it’s important to ensure the dog has the right temperament and will be capable of providing the service you need. Ideally, a potential service dog should be eager to learn and please, have a calm nature, and never exhibit aggressive behaviors toward others.
Size: The size of the dog can also matter. Larger dogs may be more suited to helping people with mobility issues who need a dog that can pull weight, while smaller dogs may be more appropriate for someone who lives in a confined living space and requires an alert dog for their condition.
Train your dog to perform a task to aid with your disabilityTraining your dog to perform the tasks you need takes practice and patience. Be sure always to use positive reinforcement when training your canine and seek out professional help periodically if needed. There are also many excellent dog-training tutorials online.
Part of your dog’s training will be practicing learned skills in public. Start with areas that allow all dogs so you can focus on training your dog in public. Public parks or outdoor shopping centers are great places for your dog to be comfortable around people and new locations.
Register your certified service dogOnce your assistance dog is fully trained and qualified, you can consider obtaining service dog paraphernalia.
Although registering your service dog is not required by law, many service dog handlers find registration certificates and ID cards convenient when traveling with their service dog. This is especially true if your disability is not visible and readily apparent.
You have probably seen service dog owners utilize vests and tags in public to signal that their dog is a service animal. Service dog owners obtain these items even though it is not mandated because these tools can make their lives easier. By having clear indicators, they can avoid unfortunate and unwanted encounters with people who attempt to interact with their service dog.
Q4 – Where can my service dog go?Service dogs are allowed anywhere members of the public are allowed; this includes restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores, and markets. Service dogs are also allowed on flights and can live with their owners in residential buildings, even if the building bans all pets.
However, areas where your Service Dog may be denied access for health or safety reasons include:
Treatment area of an ambulance Hospital ICU or other sites where special clothing is required Food preparation areas Worship services in a church Military bases Private clubsThe right to be somewhere with a service dog is not absolute – if your service dog misbehaves, it can be denied entry.
For example, service dogs should not growl at people, lunge, bark excessively, or exhibit any type of aggressive behavior towards other humans or animals. Service dogs can also be asked to leave if they are unclean and not sanitary.
Q5 – What do I do if my service dog is wrongfully denied access?Unfortunately, service dog owners are sometimes denied entry because venue staff are misinformed about service dog laws. If this happens to you, consider these tips:
First, remain calm and explain that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you have the right to your service dog in public areas.
Second, inform the staff that you can verify your service dog by answering two questions that are permitted under the ADA:
1. Is the service dog required due to a disability?2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
You can also, at your option, display tags, ID cards, certificates, or other service dog paraphernalia as further indications that you own a service dog.
Third, ask to see a manager or owner of the establishment. For a larger business, you may want to do a quick search on your phone for a customer service department. Explain the situation to whomever you decide to discuss this matter with.
Fourth, if you are still denied access, you can consider filing an official ADA complaint with the US Department of Justice. It is good to exhaust all options for an amicable resolution of a dispute with a venue regarding service dog accessibility before resorting to this option.
Fifth, before you leave the establishment, it may be helpful to ask for any witnesses who may want to give a statement regarding your denial.
Service dogs are there for you!Owning a service dog is a significant responsibility. Service dogs must be appropriately trained, and service dog owners should be up to date on the latest service dog laws.
No one can require you to register or certify a service dog, ever. These tools, like other service dog paraphernalia, are here to help you as a service dog owner, but you should never feel pressured to carry them around. They only exist to make your life easier, especially in public areas.
For this reason, many service dog owners voluntarily utilize service dog accessories like ID cards, vests, tags, and certificates.
Taking the step to adopt and train a service dog is tough work. The bond a handler and a service dog develops is one of the deepest and most meaningful relationships that exist.
A challenge many service dog handlers face is how to travel and enter public spaces with their service dog. Especially at places with a no-pet policy. Restaurants, hotels, and airports are typically better informed about service dog laws. However, places like the beach, movie theaters, and schools are less informed about service dog rights. It also brings up specific questions that may be hard to answer.
Is my service dog required to wear a vest? What if my service dog is denied access?The most important step is to understand service dog laws clearly. We have included a few tips on how to handle and work with hostile employees who are aggressive or ignorant about your service dog.
Service Dog Question #1- What should I say when an employee asks me about my service dog?The first step is to assess if the person is aware of service dog rules and regulations.
If they are aware of service dog rights, simply inform them that you are traveling with a certified service dog, and confirm the task your service dog provides. Thank them for asking politely and proceed with your day. If they are not aware, show them your service dog certification or license. Inform them that your dog is a trained service dog and has public access rights. Let them know that your dog will not interrupt business practices and will remain by your side, as permitted by federal law. If they remain hostile towards your service dog and deny you access, refer them to Service Dog Certifications for more information on service dog laws. Let them know that they are violating your rights and are openly discriminating against your disability by preventing you access. Ask them to speak to their manager and stay firm but calm and polite. By staying firm and helping them understand service dog rights, you are helping other service dog handlers avoid negative confrontations in the future. Service Dog Question #2- Do I need a Service Dog vest? A convenient way to avoid this issue is to order a service dog vest for your service dog. This will help communicate visually that your dog is not a pet and is a trained service dog. This may help eliminate some verbal confrontations as there is a visual indicator that your dog is a service dog. This is particularly helpful for people suffering from PTSD, social anxiety, or any invisible disabilities. If you choose not to have your service dog wear a service dog vest, that is your legal right. Some people choose not to have their service dog wear a vest because it is uncomfortable for the dog and distracts them from performing their task. Others choose not to have their service dog wear a vest because they are not comfortable with broadcasting that they have a disability. Remember, not all disabilities are visible and no one should be judged for trying to improve their lives. If the person you are speaking to demands that your dog wears a service dog vest, inform them that you choose not to have your service dog wear a vest but that you have your service dog certification or identification to share with them. If they continue to insist that your service dog wear a vest, inform them that the ADA does not require your service dog wear a vest and even specifically prevents companies from requiring this. Ask the person to speak with their manager or refer to service dog rights on Service Dog Certifications. Service Dog Question #3- People are provoking my Service Dog, can the property ask us to leave?Your service dog needs to be in your control at all times and cannot bark or cause a disturbance in public. However, the ADA also specifically states that a service dog may respond by barking if provoked and is not deemed a disturbance if the barking was provoked. If this is happening to you, inform a store employee that your service dog is being harassed and request they assist you. Examples of provoking include:
Aggressively staring at your dog Touching your service dog without permission Whistling and talking at your dog in a menacing way Service Dog Question #4- Can a person ask me why I need a service dog if I am not blind or in a wheel chair?No one is ever allowed to ask you specifically about your disability. They may only ask you two questions regarding your Service Dog.
Is that a service dog (if you choose not to have your SD wear a vest)? What service(s) does your service dog provide? (They may not ask you to demonstrate your dog’s service) Service Dog Question #5- Should I carry a service dog license?You are not legally required to have a Service Dog Licensed, Registered, or Certified. Many handlers prefer to carry one to avoid harassment while out in public. Unfortunately, service dog rights are not common knowledge and people often assume your dog is NOT a service dog unless you carry a Service Dog identification card. You may choose to order one and register your service dog to avoid confrontations with ignorant store employees.
Jul 24
Service Animal Laws
Did you know that only dogs and miniature horses are recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? This Federal law has been put into place to protect the rights of those individuals with a disability and their need for a service dog. These specially trained animals are not pets, but are there to help the person with specific tasks that they cannot do for themselves. For this reason, service dogs are allowed into all public areas without exception.
Service Animal Laws By StateService Animals are federally protected and have full access rights in all 50 states. A California Service Dog has the same rights as a Texas Service Dog or even a Florida Service Dog.
Each state may also has several different laws put into place to protect both the service dog and the handler. These laws include;
1). Animal Accommodation Laws – this law prevents the discrimination towards the service dog in all public areas, including housing and public transportation. This law also states that no additional fees can be charged to the disabled individual for having a service dog. 2). Criminal Interference Laws – most of the states protect the service animal from criminal interference, theft, and assault. Some states like California charge up to a $10,000 fine and/or a one-year imprisonment for intentionally causing harm to a service dog. Other states view any willful interference with a service dog as a misdemeanor offense. The only states that do not appear to have this law in place are Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, and West Virginia. 3). Licensing Laws – approximately half the states have waived the licensing fee when it comes to service animals. However, some states may require proof that the service dog is needed or even an affidavit before this law will be in effect. 4). Disabled Pedestrian Laws – also known as the “White Cane Law,” this is put into place to protect the service dog and individual when crossing streets and intersections. This law requires all drivers to use reasonable precautions before proceeding as may be necessary to avoid injury to a person and the service dog. 5). Service Animal Misrepresentation Laws – 18 states consider it a misdemeanor crime to fraudulently represent the need for a service dog. This includes those individuals using a service dog vest, orange leash or harness on an animal other than one that has been defined as a service dog in that state.Because laws may vary from state-to-state, it’s always best to look into your city’s requirements concerning a service dog.
Service Dog TrainingSince a service dog is a working animal, the training it has is extensive. In fact, it can take up to 2 years to fully train a dog for service. However, there are no federal guidelines on how long it takes to train a service dog and training time will vary depending on the dog’s temperament, intelligence, and age.
Two important areas the service dog is trained in are public access and the disability-related task(s).
1). Public access training ensures the dog is well behaved and always under its handler’s control. Examples of public access training the canine has are; – No barking – No lunging – No begging for food – No jumping on strangers – A service dog’s attention and focus must always be on its handler and not its surroundings or the activities going on in the area. 2). The second part of the service dog’s job is to be trained in the specific disability-related task. This can include; – Getting medication from medical bag – Picking up dropped items for handler such as wallet or keys – Alerting the handler to a drop in blood sugar or of an oncoming seizure – Calling emergency services – Opening doors or drawers Should My Service Dog Wear a Vest?Although it is not required by law for your service dog to wear a vest, it’s is recommended. Service dog vests alert the public to your need for this animal. This reduces the hassle you may encounter with owners/managers of public places, such as restaurants and movie theaters.
The service dog vest also tells the general public to not interact with your dog because its focus needs to be on you. This is especially important if your disability is not obvious such as those who suffer from seizures, to migraines, or anxiety/depression.
Does My Service Dog Need a Letter of Certification?As long as your disability falls under the ADA list, and your dog is performing a task for yourself, you do not need a letter of certification for your service dog. However, you may want to register your dog with Service Dog Certifications for convenience and security. Service dogs are not required to be registered or certified under the ADA.
Service dog agencies provide the handler with a custom identification card and certificate that will comes with a number of benefits. In addition, your dog will also be listed in the national databank of service dogs for third party verification.
Do I need a Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal?As we defined earlier, a service dog must be able to perform a task that the individual cannot do for themselves and that individual must have a disability that is listed by the ADA. Some people may not fall within these parameters. In these cases, an emotional support animal may be recommended.
The emotional support animal does not require any specialized training but is purely there to offer unconditional support, love, and companionship to those that suffer from an emotional or mental disability.
The ESA can be of any species and are still allowed some rights under Federal law. Emotional support animals now have to be accepted into “no pets” policy rental homes/apartments and also into the cabin of an aircraft at no additional cost to the handler.
Unlike a service dog, emotional support animals are required to have an ESA letter from a licensed therapist.
Service Dog BenefitsService dogs serve those individuals that need them the most. If you have a disability ask your healthcare professional if a service dog may be a benefit to you. Don’t stop living a normal, active life if a service dog can be that extra helping paw you need.
TESTIMONIALS
My landlord use to bully me about my emotional support animal. Service Dog Certifications informed me about rules associated with emotional support animals. Now I live with my ESA, Biscuit, without any worry.
Service Dog Certifications promptly responded to all my questions and was extremely helpful during the whole process. Thanks for everything!
I have been able to travel with my service animal stress free after getting help from Service Dog Certifications.
I have a disability that is not “obvious”. The service dog ID card helps me show people that I need my service dog without having to explain my disability to them.
We can take our Buford everywhere we go without being harassed anymore. The identification cards help us resolve any issues before it becomes an issue. Thanks!!!
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