Specialized Service Dog Training for Empowerment and Independence
What is a Service Dog?
According to the ADA, a service dog is a dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Service dogs must meet basic obedience standards, such as the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, and be able to perform the Public Access Test (PAT) to ensure they are suitable for public settings.
Characteristics of Service Dogs can be:
- Any breed and any size of dog
- Working animals, not pets
- Trained to perform tasks directly related to a person's disability
Examples of Service Dog Tasks is a specific action the dog performs to assist its handler. Examples include:
- Seizure Assistance: Alerting and protecting a person experiencing a seizure
- Medication Reminders: Reminding the handler to take medications
- Medication Retrieval: Bringing the handler's medication bag
- PTSD Support: Calming a person with PTSD during an anxiety attack
What Service Dogs Are Not
Service dogs are not required to be certified or wear a vest, but identification is recommended for public clarity. Service dogs also differ from emotional support, therapy, or comfort dogs, which provide companionship but are not trained to perform specific tasks and do not qualify as service dogs under ADA guidelines.
- Certification: Service dogs do not need accreditation but should meet basic obedience standards like CGC and PAT.
- Identification: Although not required, a vest or ID is recommended for easy public recognition.
- Not Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): ESAs, therapy, and companion dogs provide comfort but lack specific task training and do not have the same public access rights under the ADA.
Is a Service Dog Right for You?
To determine if a service dog suits your needs, consider the following questions:
Do you qualify for a service dog with a physical or mental disability?
Can you manage the care requirements of a dog (feeding, grooming, health maintenance, etc.)?
Can you demonstrate that you will benefit from the tasks your dog will be trained to perform?
Are you ready to lead your service dog effectively?
Does your household support this relationship and the guidelines for training?
Will you commit to staying in contact with BackRoads K9 for updates and training refreshers?
Program Disclaimers
- Owner-Trainers Only: This program assists disabled owner-trainers in task training and building public access confidence for service dogs. We can help assess a dog's temperament to see if it suits service training.
- Not for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): ESAs are not recognized under the ADA, lack public access rights, and are not task-trained. Therapy dogs follow their certification paths for patient visitation and lack public access rights.
Note: There is no official "service dog certification" in the United States. Websites offering such certifications or registrations are scams. For more details on the rights of Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs, visit the Department of Justice ADA website.