Although service animals are supposed to be carefully tested for their ability to handle stress (called a temperament test) and should have very steady nerves, ALL animals, no matter how well-behaved are capable of biting if pushed too hard.
Several organizations for the blind maintain lists of guide dog training schools. Here are a few:
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
American Foundation for the Blind
Guide Dog Users Incorporated (GDUI)
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)
In some cases, yes.
The Codes of Federal Regulation for the Americans with Disabilities Act defines "service animal" as "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items."
Under that definition, an animal that is not, or cannot be, trained to perform tasks that mitigate a person's disability, cannot be a service animal. Some animals simply aren't very trainable. These include snakes, lizards, and fish, among others.
The U.S. Department of Justice goes further in their technical assistance papers to explain that "[a]nimals whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, therapy, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or promote emotional well-being are not service animals.'' This is also related to training. Emotional support is something all pets give naturally. Teaching a pet to kiss or cuddle on command is not considered a task either. It's a bonus, something extra that is outside the scope of a service animal's job.
The Department further believes "that it is necessary to eliminate from coverage all wild animals, whether born or bred in captivity or the wild. Some animals, such as nonhuman primates, pose a direct threat to safety based on behavior that can be aggressive and violent without notice or provocation."
In an upcoming re-issuance of the Codes of Federal Regulation pertaining to service animals, the Department has announced its intention to add to the existing definition of service animal that "'service animal'' does not include wild animals (including nonhuman primates born in captivity), reptiles, rabbits, farm animals (including any breed of horse, pony, miniature horse, pig, and goat), ferrets, amphibians, and rodents."
When a dog disobeys a command it means he refuses to do it. Intelligent disobedience means he has a valid reason for refusing to do it. For example, if a blind person gives a guide dog a command to "forward" and there is an obstacle in the path that could injure the handler, the dog refuses the forward command. When a guide refuses a command, it is then up to the handler to determine why and work out what to do about it.
Dogs nap frequently throughout the day. This is true of service dogs as well. Though they are service dogs, they are still dogs and have the same needs as any other dog. A large portion of a service dog's work involves down stays at the owner's side while the owner works at a desk, attends a movie, sits in a waiting room, or eats in a restaurant. This is boring work and service dogs often nap through it. Fortunately, dogs sleep very lightly and are able to quickly rouse themselves and spring into action when needed.
According to a study by Paws With a Cause, fewer than one shelter dog in a hundred is capable of becoming a service dog. In their study they found that only one shelter dog in four was even adoptable to start with. Some were reclaimed by owners, while some were ill or temperamentally unsuited to be pets. Only 6.5% of the shelter animals they temperament tested were considered acceptable for service work and were taken for further screening. This 6.5% of shelter dogs had improved chances of adoption even if they did not make it through training to become service dogs because of the work done by the program in evaluating them. That 6.5% weren't necessarily saved but were definitely helped.
Seventy-five percent of the dogs taken for further testing wash out due to hip or elbow dysplasia which wouldn't put them out of the running for a good pet home but would make it cruel to the dog to place them in a working home.
Of the 1.5% of dogs who meet both temperament and health requirements, only 1 in 8 is actually able to complete the training. Those that wash out during the training phase can easily be rehomed into pet homes because the training they do receive makes them excellent well-mannered companions. The waiting list for these dogs is usually years long.
One in 500 makes it from shelter to a job as a service dog, but for each dog that makes it as a service dog seven more are also saved. Animals who make it part way through the program are better trained and more adoptable because of participating in the program. The program also takes an active role in finding the dog a forever home.
In most countries, Assistance Animals are broken down into three sub-categories: Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, and Service Animals (everything other than guide or hearing dogs). In the United States, the term Service Animal is used generically to mean any kind of assistance animal, including both guide and hearing dogs.
The Codes of Federal Regulation for the Americans with Disabilities Act defines "service animal" as "any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items."
Some retired service animals continue to live with their disabled owners or are rehomed with family members as pets.
Some programs have a policy of offering first option to adopt a retired service animal (assuming the disabled hander cannot keep it) to the person who raised it as a puppy.
Other service animals are adopted to loving homes where they live out their final years as beloved pets.
Do not speak to the dog. Speak to the person instead.
First and foremost, do not distract the dog by petting it, calling to it, meowing or barking at it, or offering it food. The person's health and safety may depend on the dog's ability to concentrate so distracting the dog may result in injury to the person.
You may ASK to pet the dog, but be respectful if the owner says "no." Some service dog owner's will permit petting after they have removed the dog's gear. Others will not. It depends on how the dog was trained, whether the owner has time, and whether the dog is needed to remain on task at the time you ask.
It is natural to be curious about the service dog. It is okay to ask about the dog, but be respectful if the owner appears busy or in a hurry or simply doesn't feel comfortable talking with strangers. Some owners will enjoy talking about their special helper and educating the public about service dogs, but not all will.
It is kind to offer a bowl of water if the dog appears thirsty. However, most service dog owners will not permit their dog to accept treats or food. This is partly due to not wanting to break down the dog's training, and partly because there are, unfortunately, people in this world who will attempt to poison working dogs like service dogs by feeding them poisoned treats.
This is a very complex question. Traditional breeds for service dogs have been German Shepherds (GSD), Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. But nowadays the use of unusual breeds has exploded. Mastiffs are used for mobility work. Chihuahuas are used for diabetic or seizure alert dogs. If the dog has the temperment, skills, and willingness to work; almost any breed could do certain jobs. A corgi wouldn't work out for pulling a wheelchair but but could work as a hearing dog. Breeds like pugs and bulldogs don't always make the best of service dogs due to the pushed in noses--this leads to difficult breathing while walking and a shorter working life. While toy breeds can do some service dog jobs, they are not often taken seriously by store employees and the public, especially if dressed up like someone's child.
Smaller breeds are being used by more disabled people on a fixed income as they eat less and can live happier in a smaller home. A cocker spaniel can alert to a sound just as well as a labrador.
Bully breeds, dobermans, and rottweilers are used as service dogs. This can caused access problems in areas with breed specific legisislation (BSL) aka breed bans. Some cities require service dogs of a banned breed to be muzzled in public. Or you may not be able to purchase a banned breed if you live within city limits.
First establish you are disabled. Only persons who are legally disabled qualify for a service dog.
Next, contact an organization that trains service dogs. Service Dog Central has an article with links to several lists of service dog trainers around the world, or simply contact Assistance Dogs International for the name of a member organization nearest you.
Though some in the U.S. choose to train their own service dogs or to have a dog trained privately, few have the skills to train such an advanced dog. Therefore most service dogs are from programs that specialize in training service dogs. In most countries other than the U.S. service animals are required to come from ADI accredited programs.
There is some confusion about what constitutes a "service animal." In the United States, the term "service animal" is legally defined as an animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks that mitigate the disability of a disabled handler.
The term "service animal" or "service dog" is also sometimes used in reference to police dogs.
There are many other animals that perform services for humans that are not "service animals," including horses and other beasts of burden, carrier pigeons, sleddogs, hunting dogs, and racing animals.
In the past, the U.S. Department of Justice, which administers the ADA as it applies to the use of service animals in public accommodations, has left open the choice of species. However, this is currently under review and expected to change in January of 2009.
When there is no restriction on species, unfortunately, too many are encouraged to push the boundary or to use disability law to keep exotic pets that would not ordinarily be permitted. We've seen instances of pigs, goats, snakes, birds, hamsters, and fish claimed as service animals. Despite the fact that most of these animals cannot be trained to actually perform any useful tasks. In short, they are comfort animals that cause people to feel better just by their presence.
The U.S. Department of Justice has long had a policy that animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support are not service animals, and now is planning to explicitly include that in the definition of "service animal" as it applies to the ADA. They are also considering restricting the species that can be used either to "common domestic animal" excluding "wild animals (including nonhuman primates born in captivity), reptiles, rabbits, farm animals (including any breed of horse, miniature horse, pony, pig, or goat), ferrets, amphibians, and rodents," OR only dogs.
The definition of "service animal" under the ADA is under review and a final rule is expected to be published before Barack Obama takes office.
Assistance or service dogs help the disabled. They are generally broken down into three categories, guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs (which are for disabilities other than blindness or deafness). There are many kinds of service dogs, almost as many as there are kinds of disabilities.
Some service dogs are mobility dogs for the physically disabled who pick up dropped items, open and close doors, and turn on lights among other things.
There are also dogs that assist with medical-related disabilities, such as neurological, developmental, psychiatric, and diabetic disabilities.
Service dogs are about any breed you can imagine, depending on what job they perform. Larger dogs are used to pull wheel chairs, while smaller dogs might be more convenient for medical alert purposes. It all depends on the specific needs of the person with a disability.
Just about any type of disability might be mitigated by an appropriately trained service dog.
Dogs are highly biddable (enjoy working for people) and trainable. They are readily available and easily cared for. Dogs are capable of performing many useful tasks to help their disabled owners. They are more socially accepted than most other domesticated animals.
They don't mean to offend, they're just curious. They aren't really interested in your personal condition as much as they are in service dogs and what they can do. They want to hear Lassie stories. They want to tell you their stories about dogs they've loved.
Dealing with curiosity from members of the public is part of using a service dog. Write up some answer that you feel comfortable with and memorize it so you can just spill it out as needed without having to think. If I'm in a hurry I just give a couple of sentences explaining the sorts of things service dogs do and then explain that I appreciate their interest but am in a hurry and don't have time to chat. I don't give any personal information of my own, and people have always been satisfied with that answer.
If I have time and feel like it, especially when I am approached by children, I'll do some educating about service dogs. Things like "ask before petting," "don't distract," and so on.
You can also avoid conversations by not making eye contact with strangers. If you walk into a store with your eyes held up looking at the back wall of the store and move purposefully, you are less likely to be approached because your body language is saying, "I'm busy."
You can also print off brochures, such as the one available from the Delta Society, and just hand that to them to answer their questions.
http://www.deltasociety.org/Document.Doc?id=239 (This is a two-color, three-fold brochure in PDF format)
Please note that businesses are permitted to ask about your service dog, whether you require one because of a disability and what the dog is trained to do for you. They can refuse access if you don't answer, but you certainly don't have to answer a casual bystander who is simply curious.
Some countries, such as the UK and Australia require service dogs to come from programs recognized by ADI.
In the U.S., there is no national mechanism in place for certifying or licensing service dogs. Some programs certify the dogs they train, but very few will certify dogs trained by others for liability reasons. Certification is not necessary so long as the handler is legally disabled and the dog is legally trained as a service dog (which includes task training).
While a business cannot require certification as a condition of allowing a team to enter their facilities, they may ask what the dog has been trained to do and whether it is required because of a disability. Refusal to answer can result in access denial. If the owner does not answer "the task question" or the dog does not behave appropriately, regardless of whether it has a certificate, the business may have the dog removed.
There are some fly-by-night agencies that will sell "certification" to anyone for a fee: they are a waste of money. Unless the team are examined in person by a qualified evaluator the certificate might just as well be printed on a home computer and laminated, which is exactly what is done by the agencies that sell certification for $40-$250. If you've got to have such a certificate, make your own and save $39 or more.
Remember: certification doesn't make a dog a real service dog any more than a fake ID makes a minor over 21. What makes a dog a real service dog is being trained to perform tasks that mitigate his disabled handler's disability.
Then it's time to start looking for a training program. There are several lists of service dog providers on the internet. That's a good place to start, but remember that just because they appear on one of these lists doesn't mean they are qualified or even legitimate. It is still up to you, as the consumer, to do your research and make sure they are what they appear to be.
Some resources for finding service dog trainers:
Assistance Dogs International
The Delta Society
American Dog Trainers Network
Wolfpacks
Resources for finding other dog trainers who might have experience with service dogs:
Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers
National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors
Karen Pryor Academy
Association of Pet Dog Trainers
Please note that the above organizations do not screen the programs that they list. You'll have to do that for yourself. I am aware of rip-off organizations in the database, so be careful.
You can screen a potential trainer or program by:
1. Asking them lots of questions.
2. Observing their classes/training sessions. Do you like their methods? Do the dogs like the methods?
3. Observing one or more working teams they've trained. Do the handler and dog know what they are doing? Is the dog consistent and reliable? Is the dog calm and workmanlike? Does the dog perform recognizable tasks?
4. Visiting their facilities to see if the dogs appear healthy, happy, and well cared for. Facilities should be clean and in good repair.
5. Interviewing past clients. Are they satisfied with the services they received? Is their experience in line with what you are looking for in a trainer/program?
Get additional tips from Delta's National Service Dog Center under Consumer Information for People Considering a Service Dog.
Lists of Guide Dog Schools:
American Foundation for the Blind
National Federation of the Blind
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
American Council of the blind
International Guide Dog Federation
No. A Muslim person is required to carefully wash and change clothes before praying after contacting a dog's saliva, but a taxi driver should not be exposed to such contact from a service animal, which is highly trained and well-behaved. It is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act for a taxi driver to refuse to carry a passenger because they have a service animal.
In some countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, yes. In those countries requiring certification, Assistance Dogs International is usually the recognized certifying entity.
In other countries, including the United States, no.
In any case, certification should be done by someone qualified to evaluate service animals (not a regular dog trainer), and it should be based on an evaluation performed in person and in a wide variety of situations.
"Registration" over the internet, accomplished by filling out a form and paying a fee (usually $40-$50), does not qualify a dog as a service dog. It doesn't hold up as proof a dog is a service dog. It's just another rip-off. Save your money and get a real evaluation.
Note: A CGC (Canine Good Citizen certificate), CGN (Canine Good Neighbor certificate), or any of the Good Citizen Dog Schemes certificates do not make a dog a service dog. While any service dog should easily pass a citizenship test, not all dogs who pass the citizenship test will have sufficient training or an appropriate temperament for service work.
Discuss this first with your medical caregivers. Do they agree that you are legally disabled (under the ADA) and you need a service dog? You will probably need their support to get the medical documentation a training program would require of you.
Do you have the facilities and financial resources to care for a service dog? Do a budget. Are you able to care for the dog yourself? These are important considerations.
Make a list of the things you cannot do for yourself and write up a paragraph or two describing your lifestyle (are you active or sedentary, for example). Do this before approaching an agency so you'll be prepared to answer their questions and ask some of your own.
Start thinking about what it is that you want this service dog to do to mitigate your disability. In order to be a service dog, the animal must be "individually trained" to "perform one or more tasks which mitigate the disability."
The following do NOT count as trained tasks:
-protection
-emotional support
-companionship (even for agoraphobia or anxiety)
The dog has to actively do something, that you cannot do for yourself,
that also lessens the effects of your disability on your ability to function in the area of major life activities.
A service dog is only a service dog when it is partnered with a person with a disability. If you are not disabled, then your pet cannot become a service dog unless you donate him for training as a service dog for someone who is disabled.
Yes. When they are home and their gear is removed they can act like regular dogs. Because service dogs work so hard and have such stressful jobs, it is very important for them to have "down time" and exercise.