What does it take to be a Service Dog?

Being a Service Dog is so much more than signing up on one of those fake online registries.

Did you know that there are NO official registries, that these are just scams set up to rip you off, collect your money, and make it harder for legit teams?

3 things are needed for your dog to be a service dog:
1. You must have a disability
2. Your dog much be task trained to mitigate that disability
3. If working in public, your dog must be public access trained – rock solid in public – with absolutely NO behavior problems
4. The dog must love their job

Each of these must be met.

If you do not have a disability, no matter what your dog was trained for, your dog is not a service dog. So if I left Arrow (my service dog) with you, you cannot take him out with you. Because even though he is a service dog, he is trained to assist me.

If your dog has not been individually task trained to mitigate that disability, your dog is not a service dog. Just because you have a disability and a dog, your dog is not automatically a service dog.

Now for the public access part. Any behavior issues – fearful, nervous, anxious, jumping up, pulling on leash, aggressive, reactive, snarky – means your dog is not a service dog. Even if you have a disability. And your dog is task trained to mitigate it. If your dog snaps at people, you dog cannot go out in public as your service dog. There is a possibility that your dog can be an “in home service dog,” but can NEVER go out in public because of their behavior. A service dog is not a rehab project.

The dog must love their job. If they must be forced to work, they aren’t a good service dog for you because – when you need them the most – they won’t be there for you.

It is a long road on the path to Service Dog status, and some dogs will not make it. We are here for you and can guide you along along. For more information, check out our Service Dog Program.