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Florida Service Dog Requirements
The Sunshine State allows service dogs to travel, reside with, and perform daily living activities with their owners. The State of Florida aligns with the federal American Disabilities Act (ADA), which provides service dog owners the rights and privacy with their service dogs. These rights cannot be denied, regardless of the local jurisdiction laws or […]
Complete Checklist of Stress Signs for Service Dogs
Service dogs are always working to ensure and protect the welfare of their human handler. Therefore, these dogs can experience and accumulate a lot of stress each day. It’s essential for handlers to recognize signs of stress for their service dogs, and to understand ways of preventing and lowering stress for these animals. This allows […]
Mobility Service Dogs Guide
Service dogs are more than a man’s best friend; they can be a man’s lifesaver. Mobility service dogs or mobility assistance dogs, in particular, save lives and improve a disabled person’s quality of life. Whether it is preventing their handler from falling or carrying objects to their handler, mobility service dogs open up a world […]
I have a 3 year old German Shepard I would like to have her trained for depression, anxiety. Thanks
Depression and anxiety may qualify for a psychiatric service dog. However, a service dog must be trained to perform tasks relating to a disability. If your Shepherd merely provides comfort for depression and anxiety just through its presence, an emotional support animal may be more appropriate for you. You may find this article on the difference between service dogs and emotional support dogs interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/is-an-emotional-support-animal-same-as-a-service-dog/
My name is Darlene, for for 3o years I was diagnosed with depression, 2015 I was informed I was misdiagnosed, I have major depression and PTSD and anxiety. I don’t like being out in public, I neglect my health and grooming, (except when I’m at work, I’m a pediatric homecare nurse (I’m opened about myself to the parents and I’ve been with my agency for 12 years), my primary Nurse Practitioner agrees that I should have a support dog, but which one? I don’t need Anya (my husky) for work, work is only place I feel normal (I actually thought I had slit personality but found out that’s normal to feel different at work) can you please help me, I don’t want to “abuse” the system but want to make sure my needs are met.
Thank you Darlene Coldwell
Hi Darlene,
If you feel an animal (a dog, cat, rabbit, or any other pet) can give you enough emotional support at home, you can apply for an Emotional Support Animal. There’s no training involved as the pet simply helps you overcome your dark times with their presence and love. But an ESA only has limited access rights, meaning they are not allowed out in public where other pets are not allowed.
If you need 24/7 support, you may need a Service Animal (only dogs). Your SA needs to be fully trained, under control at all times, focused, and most of all, needs to fulfill a particular task that you cannot do yourself in times of need (like give you a deep-pressure massage or fetch medicine). The Service Dog can go anywhere you go but also needs to stay in your presence at all times.
You may discuss more with your primary what assistance animal would fulfill your needs best. And you may find this article on the difference between an Emotional Support Animal and a Psychiatric Service Dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/the-difference-between-a-psychiatric-service-dog-and-an-emotional-support-animal/
Good luck to you and take care.
I have a dog I want to be certified for me. I am training her to be my service dog.
I have a 41/2lb chiwawa as an emotional support dog and for depression and bipolar. I’m of Social Security Disability for: Axienty Insomina, Depression BiPolar. And as well being treated today’s for these issues by medications to this day. Also medications for COOD, restless leg syndrome and Gerd. I believe all these impairments follow under the guidelines for a service dog. Please inform me where I go from here the dog has been taken for shit seen by a vet has its rabbies tag and is certified and named. There is a file for him at Lieghow Vetinarian Clinc.
I just lost my husband 3 mists ago this little baby doggie gives me comfort and a sense of not being alone. He is very loving and protective. He stays by my side all the time. I need that feeling of feeling needed my son is wonderful but all grown up with a son of his own. Now I must move after 10 years all by myself. They will only take my little baby doggies if he is a service dog if not we’ll I can’t take him anywhere but we’ll I don’t want to say. All I can say is I need him more now then ever. Can you please help me get this little 41/2 lb. emtional support dog for all my traumas become my service dog. Please
Hey, can I know how you are getting your dog certified as a service dog? I want to get my too but don’t know where or who to contact. Best wishes, Caroline
I have disabilities and am scared to be around people unless I have my emotional support dog with me. I have human rights and these so called people have rights to.
Pretend they are people that are not wearing masks in public and you want to avoid them like the plague. just steer clear and look at something else you might be missing.
Depends on the tasks that are needed.
My OPINION is that a service dog should be professional trained.
I have a shitzu dog an she remind me of thing that i for get. That save my life .can she get certified.she is two yrs old.
Your dog is awesome, sounds like she’s a natural-born service dog. If she went through all the necessary training, then indeed she can get registered as a service dog. You may find this article on the basics of service dog training interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-training-guide-the-basics/
Also agree that if Tina is scared of a working service dog, maybe she should stay home instead. The animal is not harming but but helping people to have a better life.
Is this legit
Hi i have an adopted well profefesionally trained loow energy dog. I desperatly need cert as ptsd and trauma had been upped great recently
who can certify my dog to be a service dog?
Tina,
Not everyone loves being around people either especially people like yourself. People have service dogs for a reason, their right does not stop because you are scared of a dog. You missed the entire point of this article and comments, service dogs are not pets.
Well stated, Tamra.
I have severe panic attacks and have servere depression which i am medically treated for with medication and consulting my dog is registered as an emotional support animal but will love to get her bettet trained so she can be classified as service dog
Same I just don’t know where to go to get her were she will be a true and real service dog on paper like she is if you find answers please comment
hey do huys ahve a husky
I also wanted to mention I am originally from Miami Beach Fl moved after 43 years to Northumberland,PA to be with my son n husband have always has support dogs all my life since childhood. Now I’m literally on my own. No one to help me. I need all the help I can get from you all and my little doggie. With my condition can you please show me the way. How long is this process and how much remember I’m on disability a fixed income. But I still need to take care of this immediately. Thank you so look forward to hearing from you soon
I think it’s great for me, I need support and my dog does that for me.
I have a fear towards dogs and i feel like I shouldn’t have to be put in uncomfortable situations just to appease the people who want to disrupt public places like restaurants and grocery stores, malls etc. by bringing along your furry pets. Whatever happened to human rights? Keep your animals at home please. There’s a time and a place for them. Food establishments should not be one. Not everyone is an animal lover.
I didn’t ask you to “Love my PET”, I ask you to allow me and my “MEDICALLY NEEDED” assistance who happens to be a dog go about our lives as best we can. I prefer you NOT reach out to him, he is WORKING, he may be cute to you but that isn’t his fault! If you wish you may ASK to pet him. I MAY release him from work mode and allow you to pet him, but I may not. Believe me, I would rather be able to go everywhere without my service animal. There’s a lot of extra effort required to bring him with me. I also have to ensure his needs are also met in addition to mine. This can be disruptive to any intended activities, I have to graciously accept that. I am not sitting at your table, my animal is under control. If you don’t like animals that’s fine, If you would please stay at your table and leave us alone, will do you the same favor.
Tina It is sad to hear a non-dog (or animal ) person show such disdain towards a creature that is only here to serve. Socialized pets are better behaved than people (especially children) and your “issue” is with service dogs ?? Certainly by now you have experienced that dogs in public spaces are not attaching you. Perhaps if you become a caring pet owner, you will overcome your fear of furry pets. Good Luck with your fears of furry pets.
I pray you never become disabled, I was an officer and on my way to work was hit head on by drunk driver.
My dog is not interested in you are anyone else when we are out. And in a lot of cases he is cleaner and better behaved than a lot of people.
Oh Tina, there’s more people in this world, you know? People who needs assistance of a trained animal. Just keep your distance and problem solved. We ALL have rights, right? But we all have different needs.
Keep your Karens at home, Karen. There’s never a time or place for Karens. No one is a Karen lover.
Where do I go in gainesville to get a dog certified
Please see the ADA (Americans with disabilities act) for more information
I would like to register my shepherd as a service dog
A service dog does not need to be registered in order to qualify as a service dog. A service dog must be trained to perform tasks related to a disability. Thus, if your Shepherd is trained to perform a task that assists you in times of need then he is by definition a service dog. You can register your service dog to receive an ID that can help with confrontations. You may find this article on service dog registration requirements interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/registration-requirements-service-dog-certification/
Interesting
I have a 200 pound service dog that I trained, I am physically disabled after head on car crash caused by drunk driver. I work with my dog daily on his commands, he assists me to walk, he helps me get up when I fall, and because of his size he gives me security to go places like grocery shopping without my husband having to go. We do get looks because of his size, but this boy does not react to anything, he does not sniff any items in stores. He is cleaner and better behaved than a lot of people. These dogs if well trained provides us with some degree of independence which means a lot.
I would like to certify my dog as a service dog for me.she is with me24/7 l would like to have her certify so she can go with i am73.
What is the cost to certified a dog and how long does it take.
Do service dogs fly for free ?
Having a card of letter that certifies you need a service dog does not grant you the legal right to take your dog into a restaurant or on a plane.
Your inability to enter a restaurant
or fly in a plane without assistance that a dog can provide may qualify you.
Your doctor or other medical treatment provider can assist you in determining if having a service dog will be a help to you.
All the certification is the things you buy on eBay like a vest like a tag like a symbol the certification is actually for alert dogs and seeing eye dogs which obviously the blind person is walking around with a dog it’s probably pretty well trained so the certification is sort of a myth. If you buy a alert dog you’re spending 20000 plus dollars and the last thing you worry about is whether or not it comes with a certificate. Can the dog do the job that is the question. That is why even in federal buildings they will ask what service your dog provides. If it is an emotional support dog can be denied access to a lot of different places. There are several catch all things that you can say my dog carries my information because if IA rapid heart rate high enough my heart will just explode and I’ll be dead therefore it can have the information to alert my next of kin as well as someone to take care of my dog After I’m Gone.
How can I buy a physically disabled person who is better get my dog more training to meet my needs?
Is it possible to adopt a service dog to meet my needs quickly. I am in a very urgent situation and require help.
How can i get my dog to be a service dog for my anxiety?
do the dogs have to be big i have a small dog
There is no size stated in the federal mandate as long as the dog is task trained to mitigate your disability.
Is there an age limit for the dog? My dog is 6 yrs old now. She already seems to know when I need her for my conditions and she responds to them/me. I want to train her but can’t afford to pay tons of money to do so.
There is a thing called owner training, it is where you train your dog yourself and so that way she learns her task and you dont have to pay all that money. Anyone who feels that they need to oay all that money to train there service dog has probably not done research so i feel that you didnt know. Anyways, just search up the task you want to train her with on youtuber and training by professionals videos show up.
I wish to register my companion dog, for entry, to everywhere I go
A companion or emotional support animal is not recognized by Americans with disabilities organization
I have my dog that I will be registering as as a service dog soon. I trained her myself. I watched YouTube videos on how to train a dog to pick up on diabetes. She alerts me quicker than my Dexcom does now. Some of the training techniques are a little weird but they worked for my dog.
No age too old as long as they can still perform every act necessary for your needs. Keep in mind that also means no accidental potty’s inside stores. And is healthy enough to perform all activities. I have a self trained service dog. It took us SIX MONTHS of daily training for him to finally be acceptable for a service dog. It’s also a good idea to get his canine citizen classes. These are relatively cheap and allows him to not make mistakes. They have to be desensitized to the public. Can’t beg for food. Can’t freak out and bark when another dog comes near them, etc etc. it sounds like a lot of work but it really isn’t. Good luck!
Very informative. I am 70 now and suffering from hearing problems an x also panic attacks when i go out. So would love to know more. My dog us 9 months old poiske x with Cavashon very intelligent.
I was stop abruptly in the entryway of the Social security office in St. Cloud Mn. By the Security guard for Social Security office. This msn ran up on me startled both of my service dogs they volted and hit the floor behind me. while this man interrogated, degraded me with his 50 questions ,humiliated me in front of 30 people or more. I hate being disabled noless noless having phyical and mental disabilities from a malfunctioning medical device leaveing me with these 2 small dogs for a someone of an independent life. Then i reported him for harrassment which only escalated the issue and supervisor refuse to give a reference number to the issue or even get back to me letting me know weather the problem had ben resolve or not. She said she didn’t have to do anything about the matter cause they are run by the federal government and the rules and laws do not apply to them.
I didn’t ask to to be disabled and my heart goes out to anyone who has had to deal with rude, disrespectful and Arrogant renta a cop who has little man syndrome.
I was also interrogated at the social security office but he only asked the legal questions is she trained and what is she trained for – it was still off putting that social security is not familiar with the ADA laws
What he did was illegal regardless. Legally there are only a few specific questions they are allowed to ask you. Mainly ” what service does your dog provide” you are required to answer with a specific task. If you don’t provide that then they can assume the dog is not a service animal. If you answer properly then they can not continue to question and must assume you are legit unless dog starts acting a fool then your dog can be made to be removed.
My chihuahua knows when my anxiety gets to high before I actually realize what is wrong. She will love on me until I forget about whatever problem was. Can she be a service dog and how do I go about getting her certified!? Panic attacks in Walmart are not fun!
Please check out the ADA website for more information
It seems like when you try and find a service dog or say that is what you are looking for that is when the price goes up.. wish insurance would help.
I would like to know if you can point me in the right direction of having my 2 dogs listed as emotional support. They are all that keeps me going when I become upset and everything after my husband passed away and my children are no longer with me I am on a fixed income can I just don’t know what to do I don’t want to have to get rid of my dogs because they are the only thing that’s keeping me motivated and and going they’re my shoulders to cry on my teddy bear is a hug if there’s any way you can help me please let me know
I’m very sorry to hear about your loss. Under HUD guidelines, multiple ESAs are allowed, as long as the tenant has a recommendation covering each ESA from a licensed healthcare professional. Airlines however will generally only allow you to fly with one ESA. You may find this article on how to qualify for an ESA interesting.
https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-qualify-for-an-emotional-support-animal/
My highly trained service dog would NEVER bolt. She is impervious to people running, shouting or waving their arms about. She ignores other animals, noises or distractions and focuses entirely on her job…to keep me safe. I am sorry that the person’s dogs were startled, but a properly trained dog would never bolt.
So very sorry u had this experience Perhaps having a copy of the ADA
FEDERAL laws on hand mite avoid it re occurring in the future.
In addition, having a letter from your doctor confirming ur diagnosis qualifies u for having a service dog accompany you & if there’s other types of accommodations that ADA laws make it illegal for staff not 2 observe. There is a short list of places that R legally allowed 2 refuse use of service dogs. One is military bases. U deserve 2 hav an ADA lawyer follow this up 4 u if u think it’s worth the time & energy.
Otherwise, chalk it up as a lemon & make lemonade & move fw in ur life w the addition knowledge you’ve gained. Sincere best wishes.
That
Is there a website or a book that can help you train your own dog to be a service dog
Does it cost to get my dog certified
It is important the the dog has excellent public manners, is potty trained and under control with a calm temperament as well as in good health. The next aspect is to have the dog task trained to perform a task that mitigates your disability. An example of a task to perform for hearing loss, you could train or have the dog trained to let you know (though some kind of signal…like a nose butt to your thigh, etc.) that someone is at the door or the phone is ringing. There are many more tasks that can be taught. After you have done those things you can have the dog tested with legalk9.com. They also back you up with the necessary qualifying information to any court if needed.