Service dogs are wonderful companions; these working pups are highly trained to help their owners with specific tasks. With the help of a service dog, many individuals have a higher quality of life and are able to complete daily tasks more easily. If you are reading this, then you are probably wondering how to adopt one of these helpful pups so you can start benefiting from the services they provide.
Our guide to service dogs gives you all the information you need to know before you adopt a service dog as well as details on how to add one of these working dogs to your life.
What Are Service Dogs?
Service dogs are dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks that help relieve the symptoms of an individual’s disability. Many people are familiar with service dogs that are trained to guide the visually and hearing impaired, however, service dogs may also be trained to perform medical alert or allergy detection services, relieve anxiety or symptoms associated with psychiatric conditions, or help individuals with sensory disorders.
The tasks that service dogs are taught vary; they are typically trained to perform tasks based on their owner’s exact needs to ensure that the service dog and their owner are a team. Among other helpful tasks, you may see service dogs retrieving items, opening and closing doors, turning lights off and on, and protecting their owner’s back when they are out in public.
Who Qualifies for a Service Dog?
Any individual with a disability or mental health condition that impacts their life may benefit from a service dog. These dogs help ensure that individuals with disabilities or mental health conditions are able to access public areas and services the same way that other fully abled individuals are. This allows individuals with disabilities a higher quality of life and relief from certain symptoms that may otherwise prevent them from completing their daily tasks or going out in public.
If you think you may benefit from the presence of a service dog in your life, your first step is to speak to your doctor or a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state. They will be able to discuss your needs with you and develop a treatment plan that may involve the adoption of a service dog.
Are Service Dogs the Same as Emotional Support Animals?
Service dogs are not the same as emotional support animals, though many individuals tend to confuse these two helpful companions. Service dogs are trained to help specifically with an individual’s disability, and they complete tasks daily while working alongside their owner. Service dogs are allowed out in public spaces that may not typically permit animals, and they have extensive federal protections to ensure that individuals with disabilities have similar access to public services and businesses.
On the other hand, emotional support animals are companion animals, that can be any animal that provides the individual comfort. This may include cats, dogs, rabbits, or reptiles, and they are not required to have any training. These animals provide symptom relief for certain mental health conditions or disabilities with their companionship and the routine that their care provides, and they don’t have the same extensive federally protected rights that service dogs have.
What Rights Does My Service Dog Have?
Before you adopt a service dog, it’s important to learn about the federal and state-protected rights that your dog will have. This will help you understand where you can take your service dog and what other people are allowed to ask of you and your service dog.
It’s important to note that all states are required to uphold federal protections for service dogs, but some states may develop additional protections. We list federal service dog rights below, but you should check your state laws as well to learn if there are further details about service dog rights in your specific location.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the foremost pieces of federal legislation when it comes to disability rights and service dogs. This Act ensures that individuals who need a service animal at their side are allowed to enter most public and private spaces with their dog, even if these spaces don’t typically allow dogs. Under the ADA, service dogs are permitted to enter businesses, malls, retail stores, restaurants, and other areas alongside their owner.
The only spaces that may legally be allowed to turn away your service dog are religious establishments. You should always check ahead of time that your service dog is permitted in one of these spaces before you show up with your companion.
Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act is a federal regulation that protects your right to housing with your service animal. Under this legislation, individuals who require service animals or an emotional support animal are permitted to live alongside their animal in any house or apartment. Reasonable accommodations for service animals and emotional support animals must be made, and individuals are not required to pay extra pet fees, deposits, or monthly pet rent to live with their companion.
Air Carrier Access Act
The Air Carrier Access Act protects the right of individuals with service dogs to travel alongside their service dog in the passenger cabin of an airplane. Many airlines don’t allow animals in the cabin and require them to travel as cargo under the plane, but individuals with disabilities cannot be separated from their service animals.
It’s important to check with your chosen airline directly when it comes to bringing your service animal on the plane with you, as many airlines have certain requirements and paperwork you need to fill out to ensure your dog travels in the cabin. You may also need to check the animal requirements for your destination, as some countries and states require additional information before your service dog is admitted.
How to Make a Dog a Service Dog
While many individuals choose to adopt fully trained service dogs, you might be wondering if it is possible to train your dog to be a service dog. Many people opt for this method, as it can often be more cost-effective than adopting a trained dog from an organization. However, training your own service dog can be an incredible time commitment, and it takes lots of consistency and effort to make it work.
Below, we give you a brief overview of the steps it takes to make a dog a service dog:
- Speak with your doctor or mental healthcare provider about adding a service dog to your treatment plan and ensure that this is the right choice for your specific situation and needs.
- Take the time to evaluate the kind of service dog you need or the tasks that you will need your service dog to complete. Once this information is collected, you will have an idea of how to train your dog and which tasks are the most important for them to learn.
- If you don’t already have a dog, adopt one. You can do this by visiting local shelters or rescues and adopting a dog that is both large enough to complete the tasks you need help with and has the right temperament.
- Once you and your dog are settled in your home, start training your dog. You can find courses for service dog training online, and these courses will allow you to work at your own pace while you train your dog to perform the tasks you need their assistance with.
The process of training a dog to be a service dog can be lengthy, and you may need to consult with a professional to ensure that your dog is learning the proper tasks. You can adopt any breed or size of dog to act as your service dog, just make sure that they are physically and mentally up to the task of acting as your assistant.
Does My Dog Need an Official Training Program?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, your dog will not need to complete any specific training program. In order to be qualified as a service dog, your dog will simply need to learn to complete certain tasks that relieve symptoms of your disability or support you as you go about your daily life. Even if your dog only helps you with a handful of tasks, they can still be classified as a service dog and granted the protected permissions a service animal has.
How Much Does a Trained Service Dog Cost?
Service dogs can be fairly expensive. They begin their training with the basics at a very young age and gradually move on to more complex service dog tasks. There are numerous organizations across the United States that provide service dogs to individuals in need, and if you are paying full price for one, you can expect a price tag anywhere between $15,000 and $30,000 depending on the type of service dog you need and the organization you are adopting from.
It’s important to note that many foundations and scholarship organizations work to provide fully trained service dogs to individuals in need who may not be able to pay for a service dog outright. These organizations can be found all across the country, and you can search the internet for an organization that fits your needs.
You should keep in mind that your health insurance might not cover the cost of a service dog, and you will need to check with your plan directly to learn more about potential service dog coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Service Dogs
Service dogs are complex, and if you are still left with questions about these helpful companions, you can review our answers to frequently asked questions below.
How Can I Make My Dog a Service Dog?
If you want to make your own dog into a service dog, you will need to train them. This may require a significant time commitment and lots of patience depending on the tasks you need your dog to complete and your dog’s willingness to learn. However, training your own dog as a service dog can save you lots of money. You may also find that working alongside a dog you already have a bond with is more rewarding for both you and your service dog.
Can I Get a Service Dog for Free?
It may be possible to get a service dog for free, depending on your disability and the organizations available in your area. Some foundations provide service dogs free of charge to individuals in need, though there might be a waitlist in some cases. If you cannot purchase a service dog outright and you don’t want to wait for a fully trained service dog, you may be able to start training your own dog for low or no cost at home.
Is Training a Service Dog Hard?
Training your own dog as a service dog might not be the most difficult thing, but it does require consistency and patience. High-value rewards and a positive attitude are essential for training your dog to be a service dog, and you should make sure that you start with basic skills and work your way up to more advanced or complex service dog tasks.
Do I Need to Identify My Service Dog?
You are not required to identify your dog as a service dog while out in public, though many individuals choose to do this. Marked leashes and harnesses, ID papers, and certifications are not required under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and any individual asking for these items before they grant you entrance into any space is in violation of the ADA.
Individuals in public are only allowed to ask two questions of you and your service dog:
- Is this animal a service dog?
- What work or task has this dog been trained to perform?
Any other requests, questions, or insistence that you demonstrate your service dog’s tasks are unlawful. Being denied entry for failing to complete any of these tasks is also against the ADA.
Can My Service Dog Be Turned Away?
Your service dog can only be turned away from an establishment under limited circumstances. If your service dog is out of control, dangerous, or destructive, they may be denied entrance. Landlords and rental agencies are also not required to provide accommodations for animals that are presenting a danger to others or those that are an extreme risk for property destruction.
Does My Service Dog Need to Be a Specific Breed?
Your service dog doesn’t need to be a specific breed, age, or size, though you should ensure that your service dog is physically and mentally up to the task of completing tasks for you. This means that you shouldn’t adopt a small dog if you need help with guidance or mobility support, and you should adopt a dog with the right temperament for service dog work.
The best types of dogs that are suited for service dog work, regardless of breed, are intelligent, well-socialized, focused on their owner, eager to learn, and enjoy working or completing tasks each day. Certain breeds are more known for this temperament than others, which is why you typically see certain dogs acting as service dogs more than others.
Obtaining the Service Dog You Need
Service dogs are incredibly helpful companions, and you may find that adding one of these pups into your life helps you deal with certain symptoms of a physical, mental, or medical disability. If you are wondering how to get a service dog, your first step should be meeting with your doctor or licensed mental healthcare provider for updates on your treatment plan and an evaluation of whether or not a service dog is right for you.