Assistance Dogs FAQs

The Assistance Dog Training Process

The first step is to fill out an intake form, and exchange basic information to determine whether the program will be a good fit. 

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Once the intake form is reviewed, we can schedule a 90 minute virtual appointment. This is when we will answer your questions, gather information about your dog and your needs, give you important information about service dog training as well as training recommendations to get started.

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We conduct an 60-90 minute evaluation of your dog. This is when we look at how your dog responds to some minor stressors in a new situation to see if it is appropriate to begin training him or her for assistance work.

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Training for service work if your dog is suitable. This process usually takes 1 – 2 years but can take

longer. The process can include virtual and in person training appointments, group classes, day training, private training, and board and train.

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Follow-up support helps to maintain your dog’s training throughout your assistance dog’s working career.

What is the Difference Between a Service Dog, an Emotional Support Animal, and a Therapy Dog?

Service Dogs

• Function: Trained to perform specific tasks to assist an individual with a disability. 

• Legal Status: Protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), granting them access to public places like restaurants, stores, and hotels. 

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)

• Function: 

  Provide comfort and companionship to a person with a disability. They do not need specific task training, but they must have a pleasant temperament and be under control if they will be accompanying their handler to pet friendly locations. Passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is a good goal for an emotional support dog.

• Legal Status: 

  Not covered by the ADA for public access, but the Fair Housing Act covers housing protections for trained ESA's. ESA's do not need to be service dogs. 

• Requirements: 

  Requires a letter from a licensed health professional to document a qualifying disability. The dog must have some training to support their disabled handler.

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Therapy Dogs

• Function: 

  Volunteer companions trained to provide comfort and affection to many people in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. 

• Legal Status: 

  Not granted special access rights under the ADA or any federal law.They are only permitted where they are providing their volunteer service. 

• Training: 

  Must have a pleasant temperament and typically pass an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test or a similar evaluation. 

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Service dogs, and emotional support dogs that are not under control, bark excessively, or show any form of aggression, do not have any legal protections.

What Questions Can a Business Ask About my Service Dog?

If it's not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff can only ask these two questions: 

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? 

2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? 

What a Business Cannot Ask or Require: 

• Information about the Disability: They cannot ask about the nature or severity of the person's disability.

• Documentation: They cannot demand any documentation, such as a certification or registration for the dog.

• Demonstration: They cannot ask that the dog demonstrate its trained tasks.

Examples of Prohibited Questions and Actions "What is your disability?, "Show me your dog's papers., "Can your dog perform its task?, and "Is your dog an emotional support animal?

Does an Assistance Dog Need Continued Training After their Initial Training?

Your assistance dog will continue to need training during their working career.

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Why Lifetime Training is Necessary

• Skill Maintenance: 

  Just like any other skill, service dog tasks require consistent practice to avoid being "forgotten" or becoming less reliable. 

• Adaptation to New Environments: 

  Service dogs need to learn to perform their tasks in various and sometimes unfamiliar settings, from quiet libraries to noisy crowds. 

• Handler-Dog Teamwork: 

  Ongoing training strengthens the bond between the handler and the dog, improving communication and the dog's ability to respond to the handler's needs. 

• Behavioral Reinforcement: 

  Regular training reinforces good manners and ensures the dog remains well-behaved and under control in public. 

Assistance Dog Requirements for the Dog (Service, Therapy or ESA)

• No history of aggression towards dogs, people or other animals

• Easily trained. A breed or mix likely to have characteristics suitable for service work such as Labradors and Golden retrievers. Each dog is assessed as an individual but some breeds are more likely to exhibit

characteristics suitable for service work than others.

• No history of any serious behavior problems like fear or separation anxiety.

• Under age 4, physically healthy.

Service Dog Training Requirements for the Handler

• Have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act

• Any age requirement for the owner (i.e. 18 and older)

• Able to participate in training lessons over an extended period of time. The initial training can take a year, two, or even longer.

• Able to commit time to practicing with your dog regularly between appointments.

• Aware that you may end up with a dog that can only help at home or in places pets are allowed. Up to 50% of service dog candidates in programs are not able to complete training and work in places pets

are not permitted.

• Willing to wait until we evaluate your dog’s suitability and help you train your dog foundation

skills before putting service dog identification on your dog and before taking your dog to places pets are not permitted.

• Have support from your licensed healthcare provider for use of a service dog.

What are Some Examples of Service Dog Tasks?

Unlike an ESA, or Emotional Support Animal, a service dogs primary benefit is not emotional comfort or social support.

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Some of the tasks they are trained to do:

• Retrieve and deliver dropped items.

• Tug to open a door or drawer.

• Pull a laundry basket, or help with a sock or jacket.

• Push with their nose to shut a drawer.

• Open a door with an automatic push plate.

• Hearing dogs have a different skill set, primarily involving alerting and orienting recipients to sounds.

• Service dogs for veterans with PTSD are trained in nightmare and anxiety interruption, among other skills.

Do Service Dogs in Training or SDiTs Have the Same Protections Under the ADA Law?

Service dog in training (SDiT) laws vary by state, with most states having laws that protect SDiTs from criminal interference, though Hawaii is the only state without a public accommodation law for them under their state law. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not cover SDiTs under its definition of service animals.While many states extend protections to SDiTs, especially for protection from theft and assault, access to public accommodations for them is not guaranteed in every state. 

Federal Law (ADA)

• The ADA defines a service animal as a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. 

• This definition does not include service dogs in training, so trainers do not have automatic public access under federal law. 

State Laws 

• Public Access: 

  Many states have laws that grant public access to service dogs in training, but these rules differ significantly from state to state. Hawaii is the only state whose public accommodation law doesn't cover service animals in training.

• Protection from Harm: 

  Almost all states have laws that protect service dogs (and often SDiTs) from interference, theft, and assault.

• Varied Penalties: 

  Penalties for violating these laws vary, from a misdemeanor in New Hampshire to a felony in California for causing intentional injury to a service animal.

Key Considerations 

• Variations: 

  State laws can differ in their requirements and the specific types of animals they cover.

• Focus: 

  While federal law focuses on the functional service animal, state laws often extend protections and rights to the animals during their training period.

• Consult Local Laws: 

  Because the laws vary so much, it is crucial to check your specific state's regulations regarding service dogs in training to understand the rights and protections available.