(The information provided is the author’s interpretation of Federal and Florida laws and does not constitute legal advice)
The American’s with Disabilities Act permits the use of ‘owner trained’ service dogs. This has sparked some controversy over the years because of abuse that has become so rampant.
IT IS A CRIME TO MISREPRESENT A SERVICE DOG!
There are many perfectly trained and well-behaved owner trained service dogs, and then there is ‘Fifi in a vest’ that makes life for everyone with a legitimate need increasingly difficult. A service dog should be nearly invisible to everyone around them. If your dog is barking, lunging, pulling, growling, or relieving themselves; you do NOT have a service dog and should not be in the establishment! If you encounter a team that is doing this, you should report them to management.
A dog from a service dog organization is expensive, generally starting around $10,000 and skyrocketing from there, and there are long waiting lists. Some people wait years before finally getting their service dog. It is no wonder so many people attempt to train their dogs on their own. If you are planning to undertake the task of training your dog, understand that training a service dog is hard. I have been involved in dog training to some degree since I was a pre-teen. My sister was a professional dog trainer for many years and worked for a service dog organization. Despite all my available resources, I still pay for a trainer. For one, having money on the line and scheduled classes forces me to get the work done and not procrastinate. Also, the perspective of a trainer, or multiple, with experience with multiple dogs and different problems can be invaluable. Group classes are an excellent way to socialize a young dog with new people and other dogs.
If you have little knowledge of how to train basic dog obedience, you will never be able to train a functional service dog. In addition to basic obedience and public access behavior, you still need to train the ‘job’.
A note on organizations:
If a service dog organization does not have a waiting list, that is a massive red flag. If they attempt to “guarantee” that any dog can be trained to do what you need, RUN! Some dogs will never be cut out for service dog work, and some dogs would be great as one kind of service dog but not another.
The AKC Canine
Good Citizen Test
This test has many flaws when it comes to service dogs, it is designed for pets in ‘pet-friendly’ environments. Despite the flaws, it is still one of the best starting points to validate basic training for a potential service dog. It is readily available, relatively inexpensive, and generally recognized and understood across the US. At a minimum, any service dog should be able to easily pass this test.
One of the biggest questions I hear regarding this test and a service dog is the separation section. Because of the connection between a service dog and their handler, dogs tend to ‘velcro’ easily and this should even be encouraged to an extent. However, there will still be occasions when you will need to be separated from your service dog. Do a favor for the person caring for your dog during these already stressful times and ensure that your dog will not end up neurotic and possibly destructive.
Service Dogs “In Training”
The ADA does not grant public access rights to service dogs in training. Many states, including Florida, have rectified this on their own. However, you need to know the laws as they pertain to you, your state, and any states you may visit during this time. Some states do not recognize them at all, in which case any public access will need to be done with the permission of an establishment’s management. Some states will only grant public access rights to dogs being trained through organizations that they have specifically accredited.
In these states, owner trained teams may still run into push back even when considered a ‘full’ service dog.
Service dog training is a long and arduous process, a service dog never really stops training. If you still want to accomplish this task as an individual, some of my posts may help. If you plan to use an organization, I may still be able to offer tidbits of knowledge from a different perspective. Please, subscribe to my blog and we can go through this together.
For additional information on service dogs, please visit the ADA site about service dogs, or their FAQ section.
Please subscribe to my blog for more information about service dogs and central Florida.
Also, please check out my shop, Mouse’s Dog Gear, for handmade collars and leashes!
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