What Is a Service Dog?

If you’ve been in a public place like a grocery store, restaurant, or doctor’s office, you might have seen a service dog. These animals are specially trained to assist people with disabilities in their daily life. Despite the presence of service dogs, there are many misconceptions about service animals, including training requirements, basic laws, and even the types of breeds that can become service dogs.

Definition of a Service Dog

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. Although this definition seems straightforward, it can often lead to misunderstandings due to a lack of education on service dog laws and the rights of service dog handlers.

Types of Service Dogs

There are many different types of service dogs, including:

• Guide Dogs
• Hearing Dogs
• Mobility Support Dogs
• Medical Alert Dogs
• Psychiatric Service Dogs
• Allergen Detection Dogs
• Autism Service Dogs

Generally, any breed can be a service dog. Larger breeds are typically chosen for tasks like guide work and mobility support, where strength and size are essential. However, for tasks that do not require large dogs, any breed can be trained to be a service dog.

Roles and Tasks of Service Dogs

Tasks of service dogs can vary depending on the type of service the dog provides. Some roles and tasks of service dogs include:

• Guide Dogs: These dogs are trained to find specific locations like chairs, street crossings, and checkout counters. They understand directional commands such as right, left, and forward, and can find alternate routes when necessary. They’re also trained to keep their handler safe. For example, if a blind or visually impaired handler wants to cross the street at an unsafe time, a guide dog will refuse to move.
• Hearing Dogs: Hearing dogs support deaf and hard of hearing individuals by alerting them to sounds like doorbells, alarm clocks, a phone ringing, or a fire alarm. Some can be trained to alert the handler when their name is called, or even alert deaf or hard of hearing parents to a crying child.
• Mobility Support Dogs: Mobility support dogs can be trained to retrieve items, push automatic door buttons, open drawers, and even help handlers take off their socks and shoes. These dogs often wear specialized harnesses that can be used to provide mobility support for standing handlers, or even wheelchair pulling.
• Medical Alert Dogs: These dogs can be trained to alert their handlers to various medical episodes before they happen, such as changes in blood sugar, heart rate, seizure activity, or fainting. This allows the handler to get to a safe space to manage their condition. They can also respond during medical episodes by blocking the handler's head from hitting the floor during a seizure or utilizing the animal's body weight to help handlers regulate blood flow.
• Psychiatric Service Dogs: These dogs are often utilized by veterans and individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other significant mental health disorders. They can interrupt panic attacks, nightmares, and self-injurious or harmful behaviors caused by mental distress. Additionally, they can guide a disoriented handler to a safe space, act as a physical barrier between the handler and others and respond to emotional distress.
• Allergen Detection Dogs: These specially trained dogs assist individuals with severe allergies by detecting allergens such as gluten, peanuts, or shellfish. They can alert their handler to the presence of allergens in food, on surfaces, or in the environment.
• Autism Service Dogs: These dogs can help with transitions, reduce anxiety, and help foster social interaction for people with autism. Autism service dogs may also prevent wandering by staying close to their handler and assisting with calming sensory overload.

Service Dog Training and Certification

While service dogs are highly trained to assist individuals with disabilities, there is no official certification process for service dogs in the United States. Unfortunately, some people attempt to pass off their pets as service animals using online certifications. This is sometimes referred to as service dog fraud and is not compliant with service dog laws under the ADA.

Training a service dog generally takes one to two years, depending on the tasks the service dog will perform. While basic skills are gained during the initial training process, it's important to continue working with the dog to maintain and reinforce these skills. Like all dogs, service dogs can make mistakes, so ongoing training is crucial.

Professional service dog training organizations often breed dogs specifically suited for service work. These dogs typically start by learning basic skills with trainers and then spend time with volunteer puppy raisers. During this period, the puppy raisers maintain and expand on the skills of the service dog in training until the dog is ready to be paired with a person with a disability. It's also possible for individuals to train their own service dogs, provided they have the resources and knowledge to properly task-train the dog.

Service Dogs in Public Places

By law, service dogs are allowed in almost any place open to the public. This includes grocery stores, hospitals, movie theaters, malls, public transit, and more. There are some exceptions where health and safety regulations apply. For example, service dogs are allowed in hospitals but not in sterile environments. Similarly, they are permitted in restaurant dining areas but not in kitchens.

Businesses have the right to ask a handler and their service dog to leave if the dog is not well-behaved or under control. However, a business cannot ask a service dog and handler to leave simply because of other people's allergies or fear of dogs.

Obtaining a Service Dog

Obtaining a service dog requires both time and financial commitment. Whether you plan to train your own service dog or get one through an organization, each option has pros and cons.

Owner-Trained vs. Program Service Dogs

When deciding between owner-trained and program-provided service dogs, there are several factors to consider. Program-provided service dogs are often available at little to no cost to the handler and come with much of their training already completed. Service dog training organizations often have long waiting lists due to the time required for training and the number of dogs available. On the other hand, owner-trained service dogs can start training as soon as a suitable dog is found, but the cost of obtaining the dog is often higher, and a significant amount of time is needed from the owner to train the dog.

Service Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal

Unlike service animals, emotional support animals and therapy animals are not protected under the ADA. Some dogs do not meet the rigorous training requirements of service dogs and become emotional support animals or therapy dogs.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Any type of animal that provides emotional comfort to a person. ESAs are distinct from psychiatric service animals, which are trained to perform specific tasks. Unlike service dogs, ESAs should not be brought into public places.

Therapy Dogs: You’ll often find therapy animals in places like nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and libraries. These dogs provide comfort to large numbers of people but are not protected under the ADA, therefore, they should not be brought into public places without express permission.

For more information about service dog laws, be sure to read our article on service dog fraud. Additionally, check out our customer stories, which highlight some individuals who not only own a BraunAbility vehicle but also have service dogs of their own.