All you need to know about Service Dogs, ESA's and Therapy Dogs!

What is a service dog?

A service dog is a dog that is individually trained to help someone mitigate their disability, these include but are not limited to : Physical, Psychiatric, Medical/Chronic, Visual (guide), and much more! Service dogs can be trained for anything, such as mobility, guide (for the blind) neurological disorders such as autism, ADHD, SH (self harm) behaviors, extreme anxiety (panic disorders, and medical alert (heart rate, chronic migraines, seizures). Controversial FACT: The "go find help" task is not protected under ADA law and is absolutely no ones fault but yours if you tell your dog to "go get help" and it gets stolen, injured, or lost. Service dogs are still dogs, and it is 100% YOUR responsibility to keep them safe and especially if they cant do it themselves. Service dogs have full legal public access because they need to assist their handler to help them through their day. These laws can vary based on what area you live in (state/county). Service dogs have to remained focused on their handler for safety reasons and because of that it is both illegal and not safe/okay for someone to distract or try to pet one without permission. Some patches or vests or label's will say "NO EYE CONTACT" this is because many dogs find it threatening when someone or something stares directly at them. Even if a service dog is sitting, heeling, laying down, sleeping, they are still working and it is crucial that you leave them and their handler alone for safety. I get it, it sounds like bs and you believe you can do whatever you want, newsflash, you can't. It is a federal crime to distract a service dog and you can end up getting sued, fined, or even sent to jail. Staring and purposefully making loud noises can distract and scare the dog. There is no "official" service dog vest and service dogs do not legally have to be vested or even labeled as a service dog. Remember!! Service dogs are service dogs because of their TRAINING not because of their label. That is the main reason why online certificates and registrations are illegal, because it is so easy to get them so people can bring pets into stores. Service dogs can also be ANY breed and cannot be denied access because of a fear, allergy, breed type, color, vest, gear, collar, ANYTHING!Remember: SERVICE DOGS CAN BE ANY BREED!! Therefore you CANNOT immediately assume a service dog is fake just because of their breed, it is easy to tell when a service dog is fake vs a real one, its all in the training and behavior of the dog. Also, many people with service dogs do not have any outside signs of being disabled, ex. wheel chair, walker, stroller type walker, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THEYRE FAKING IT OR USING A FAKE SERVICE DOG. NOT ALL DISABILITIES ARE VISIBLE!! PLEASE BE RESEPECTFUL TO THOSE YOU SEE WITH TRAINED AND WELL BEHAVED SERVICE DOGS, THEY ARE NOT A CIRUS SHOW FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT, GIVE THEM SPACE!

Below is a picture of Henry the English Springer Spaniel Service dog in training!

Service dogs should be and are:

• Service dog ADA laws
• Service dog ACAA laws
• Service dog gear (NO PETS!)

So how do you know if you could benefit from a service dog?
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Well the best way is when you have tried many non living treatments and none of them works OR you could be in the middle of the treatments and you would like to have a that can help predict when a medical/psychiatric episode could occur.
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What should you think about when you have made the decision of getting a service dog? + a word of advice to those thinking of bringing their untrained pet into public/needing a service dog but not having time to train or socialize and just label a comforting and friendly pet as a service dog.
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I HIGHLY suggest that when looking for a SDC (Service dog candidate) or SDP (service dog prospect) that you look for a reputable breeder that is nearby or out of state (not out of country), a lot of breeders breed or have bred dogs who have been adopted out to be service dogs and meet all the health requirements and are in stable enough condition and will be able to temperament test to be able to see if the dog will have enough confidence to work and be in public in the future. If it is an off breed it is very important that you mainly focus on working and show, mostly show, to make sure they have plenty of confidence and a good health record. Remember: just because they are from a good breeder does not mean they will always make it. Many things can happen in a short amount of time and it is your responsibility to make sure you are giving your dog everything it needs to remain stimulated, exercised, and in good enough condition to work. Some places are easier to obtain service dogs, and some are harder. The best thing is to be matched with a puppy, which i will do, and have the breeder train them for basic service dog obedience and manners, and then train them yourself the rest of the way. There is no shame in being matched with an organization dog, shelter dog, or purebred dog as long as you take extra precaution to make sure what you are purchasing or adopting is right for you and that you are committed. Just a heads up to the newbies out there, shelter dogs as SDC can be tricky and hard to find since a lot of them come from abusive situations and can flunk out anytime, a lot more than others, but the same thing can happen to purebreds and organization dogs, so it is possible and there are many AMAZING shelter service dogs!! ESA and Therapy dogs DO NOT have public access. Check the ADA law :). Pets portrayed as service dogs, ESA (in public), and therapy dogs can be: Taken away, sent to shelters, Euthanized, and just have flat out bad publicity. Although it is pretty rare for places to take fake service dogs seriously, it can endanger your pet if you take it out in public when it has not been desensitized properly. It can be extremely dangerous especially if the pet is way too young (4 months or younger) and has not had shots yet. Yes, bringing your un vaccinated puppy in public CAN endanger people, the dog itself, and other real service dogs in the area, not to mention other pets. It can also give REAL WORKING service dogs a bad rep, which is one of the main causes of real service dogs being denied access. Faking a service dog is NO JOKE and is NOT WORTH IT. Only those suffering from illnesses, disease, and mental or physical problems that are considered disabling and prevent a person from living a happy normal life qualify for service dogs. No Karen, anxiety does not qualify you for a service dog. Only if it is disabling. Service dogs are TASK TRAINED professional working dogs and even though some people have cute and fun vests, they do not get them for your entertainment, service dogs are not pets, they are as serious working dogs as Police K9s are and should be taken seriously on the same level. You wouldn't mess with a Police dog, why mess with a dog trained to prevent seizers, anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and even cardiac alert? Don't worry, service dogs can be trained to do anything and owner training is suggested if you need a service dog to fit your specific needs. Please do a ton of research before applying or looking for a dog/pup, disabled or not, service dogs are NOT for everyone. Service dogs are not and will never been identified as pets. Even while being home and unvested, they are still working!! They just have more freedom and are not required to have as much attention on their handler unless their disability is life threatening. Service dogs are not for your entertainment and are not for everyone, they are replacements and a second option to use a living breathing animal with more accurate results than to use medical equipment and meds. For example, someone with seizures may not be able to predict when a seizure is coming on even with meds or medical equipment, so switching to a service dog can be more accurate and limit the chance of having a seizure, and if one does occur, the service dog can help reduce the rick of being injured. That goes for ALL service dogs. Yes that includes psychiatrics. ESAs and Therapy animals are for bringing comfort and joy to those who need it, service dogs are there to help enable those who suffer from disabling illnesses be able to be more independent and have more accurate help. Please do not bring your pet into public and say it is a service dog. Allowing those to pet your dog with a service dog vest misinforms others that petting service dogs is okay when it is not. POLICY IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW.
Some tips on finding the right breeder:
#1 DO NOT USE A BREEDER IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A WEBSITE, this further indicates that they do not breed for love but for money, not giving information about the dogs they breed and themselves is a HUGE red flag. This doesn't mean that ALL are bad, and if you trust the breeder make sure to contact them and keep track of the green and red flags, ask lots of questions EDUCATE YOURSELF ON FINDING GREEN AND RED FLAGS IN BREEDERS!!
#2 If they say their dogs ONLY qualify for clear hip dysplasia or ONE illness, they are not reputable. A breeder should have their dogs clear of ANY disease or illnesses that can be caught during older ages.#3 OFA is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - if they do not list their ofa or any testing do not use them.#4 please stay away from mixed breed breeders, yes doodles included.
Enjoy:)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9cpD6VFhTU - Teaching a puppy to heelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y13Psb7Ia9w - teaching a 1+ yr old dog to heelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0-JyRI6iM - teaching a dog to alert to oncoming Medical Episodeshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEiACncIkVg - How to know if your dog is ready for PA, PA training tipshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws3I0h8_-Vk - training a dog to alert to anxietyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77khXvkNrWo - Seizure alert training, TIPShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRBRBMvlmhU - Training a dog Medicine Reminderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN6E3KBpmX8 - more training anxiety alert, with a German shepherd example, this one is much better tbhhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxoowfDl8Po - behavior interruption, PTSD, anxiety response/alert, with a Rottweiler, LOVE this one toohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vOXWCewEYM - Potty training a puppy, THE CORRECT WAYHope this helps <3

What is a Therapy dog? What eliminates them from having full public access like a Service dog would have?

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Therapy dogs are support dogs who provide endless love and affection to multiple people. Therapy dogs do not have specific tasks like a service dog would have and they also work for more than one person, therefore their importance and public access is hindered. HOWEVER, this does not mean that therapy dogs are not important, as many therapy dogs can help people in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Therapy dogs can be any breed and should not be discriminated because of it :D.
Below is a picture of Oscar the therapy dog! Be sure to follow their socials and keep up with the trips they go on helping people one paw at a time :D.

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Therapy dogs should be:

• Trained with basic obedience; heel, come, down, under (under tables, this is optional) leave it, go see (go see people, also optional)

• Only used in places they got permission to visit such as: Public malls, hospitals, nursing homes, schools.

• Not to be confused with a service dog since service dogs work for one person and are task trained whereas therapy dogs only have obedience training and work for many people

What is an ESA? Why are they no longer allowed on flights? Why are they not considered "working" dogs?

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An emotional support animal is an animal that provides relief to individuals with “psychiatric disability through companionship.” Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an emotional support animal encompasses animals from all species. Emotional support animals are NOT protected under ADA law therefore if you were to bring your emotional support animal or dog into a non pet friendly place you are illegally stating that it is a service animal (automatically) and by law are not protected by the ADA law, so if you were to be sued for property damage or danger to the general public you would not be protected and everything can be held against you. It is also illegal to state that emotional support animals/dogs are required by law because of an "official" registration or ADA law because ITS NOT TRUE.
Airlines that no longer recognize ESAs will treat your animal companion as a normal pet. Pets are subject to fees and the airline's restrictions regarding the size, weight, and breed. Some pets are not allowed to fly in the cabin and can only travel in cargo. Airlines are required to permit trained service dogs to fly, unless the pets create a dangerous or disruptive environment. Unlike service dogs, airlines are not required to permit emotional support dogs, or any type of emotional support animal, to fly. Some breeds of dogs (like English bulldogs) may be prohibited from flying due to breathing problems they may encounter during the trip. Other breeds are allowed to fly, but only during certain months, in certain carriers and at certain ages. These restrictions are for your pet's safety. The few airlines that DO allow ESA's to fly only allow dogs who are permitted to fly as emotional support animals on international flights. Dogs must be at least 4 months of age. ESA Dogs must be trained to obey commands, behave appropriately, and must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other customers.

ESAs should be:

• Trained to have basic obedience; heel, down, come, wait/stay, leash trained, potty trained, leave it

• Only used in houses/pet friendly places such as stores or hotels

• Well behaved, no barking, no accidents, no aggression

ESAs have no protection under the ADA law and are NOT the same thing as a service dog, so "Emotional Support Service Dogs" ARE NOT REAL AND IS NOT A REAL LABEL". The only thing you get out of it was if you were to have your pet labeled as an ESA you could bring them into Hotels or apartments and you would legally not have to pay the pet fee. ESA's are not considered working service animals because that's what they are, "Emotional Support" they are only there to help bring comfort and confidence to their owners and other people. Legally they are allowed to be in any housing, so if your landlord does not allow pets, they are not legally allowed to ask ESA's to leave. The same goes for any pet-friendly restaurants, bars, parks or beaches! ESA owners can always state their case (politely) to a hotel with a no pets policy, and ask whether they may bring their furry friend along! It will of course help if you present them with a (legitimate) emotional support animal letter/doctors note (FROM AN ACTUAL DOCTOR!!!) Sadly many people have been misled to believe that Emotional Support is the same as a service dog, THIS IS NOT TRUE!! Emotional Support is NOT a service dog task and if you truly believe that you cannot go in public without your dog, ask your doctor if a service dog or emotionally support animal for severe anxiety (whatever it is that disables you/ panic attacks/ agoraphobia) would be right for you. Bringing a dog in public is not always a good idea or fun. Emotional support animals can also be a different animal other than a dog. This is another factor that eliminates them from having public access.

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