About Service Dogs
How Do I Qualify For A Service Dog?
You must have a disability that impacts everyday life. This disability can be mental or physical. While not required it is preferred to speak with your healthcare team and determine if a service dog is the right course of treatment for you.
How Do I Get A Service Dog?
Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 you may get a service dog either through a program or you can owner train.
How Do I Get My Dog Certified To Be A Service Dog?
Per the ADA there is no legal certification or registration. Any that are for sale online are fraudulent scams.
How Long Does It Take To Train A Service Dog?
It takes on average 2-3 years to fully train a service dog. The dog must be trained in advanced obedience, public access skills, task training, and be fully socialized.
Are Emotional Support Animals The Same As Service Animals?
No, per the ADA comfort is not a task so Emotional Support Animals (E.S.A's) are not considered service animals and do not have the same rights. For example, ESA's only have housing rights and cannot go into non-pet-friendly locations unlike service animals which have full access rights.
What Breeds Can Be Service Dogs?
Per the ADA any breed can be a service dog. However not every dog can be a service dog. Being a service dog requires a very specific temperament. The dog must be completely neutral to other animals, people, loud noises, jump scares (such as a child grabbing the dog from behind), etc. The most commons breeds for service work are known as the Fab 4. These breeds include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles, and Smooth Coated Collies.
Are Protection Dogs The Same Thing As Service Dogs?
No! Per the ADA service dogs cannot show any signs of aggression and deem personal protection dogs "weapons". This means they are not service dogs and cannot go into non-pet friendly locations.