You probably recognize the term "Service Dog." These task-trained pups can help disabled owners get around better. But for some reason there is a controversy surrounding Service Dogs. I'm tackling every service dog issue: their rights, what to do around them, what is and isn't a felony.
Service dogs are typically trained by companies, but some can be trained by their owners. There is no such thing as registration for your service dog (some states and companies do have Service Dog IDs and letters, but anybody can get those and they don't mean anything). Service dogs don't even need to be wearing a vest (which can be bought online and don't mean anything either). Service dogs typically rely on the honors system.
Some people like to bring their dogs into stores and pretend like they are one of two things: A service animal in training or an emotional support animal.
First I'll tackle a service animal in training. Service animals typically start training right after weaning. If your service animal in training is lunging and barking at people, it doesn't matter what the disability is or the situation. The dog is not ready for a store.
This is what a six month old dog in training would know: https://youtube.com/shorts/26Ko8i5luyk?si=N51DgqrXf2Us9l31
The dog in the video, Cider, knows basic commands, how to behave around food, people, and other distractions, and can properly alert to stress indicators such as leg shaking, hyperventilating, scratching, and even blood pressure spikes, although not demonstrated in the video.
If a dog double Cider's age is lunging, barking, and not paying attention to the owner, it is either not a service animal or not ready to be in a store, simple as that. The situation does not matter. Loud dogs are serious distractions to real service animals. If a dog is making noise in the store, it can distract the true service animals and they may miss an alert, putting the handler's life in danger.
Next I'll go over emotional support animals, or ESAs. ESAs do not need to be task trained in anything which makes them the perfect excuse for a person who just wants to bring their puppy to the store with them. What these owners do not understand is that ESAs do not have public access rights. Service animals can enter any restaurant or Walmart they please. ESAs cannot enter any place where dogs are not allowed. If you have stress and need an animal, psychiatric service dogs are an option, but ESAs are different.
It's typically very easy to identify which dogs are the reals vs the fakes. Real service dogs don't get distracted by things around them. They don't sniff the floor and they certainly don't lunge and bark. Service animals have 100% of their attention on the handler at all times.
Here's an example of a fake service dog: https://youtube.com/shorts/BgtCz5tESTY?si=mDsdTVObnEOAqtxs
The dog in the video is leaning towards other people to sniff their pockets. The dog does not look at their owner once, which is something that real service dogs are trained to do. The dog is looking at other people instead of focusing on their owner. It's very clear that the dog is a fake.
If you want to know whether a dog is allowed into the store, per law you can ask "is that a service dog" and "what tasks is it trained to perform." You cannot demand medical history or an example of the tasks the dog can do.
Barking dogs can distract service animals, but so can random hands reaching in, whistling/clicking, name calling, or petting. Never disturb or pet a service animal without permission. It endangers the owner. Plus, why would you randomly pet a dog? You don't know their temperament and bite history. Don't randomly pet any dogs, always ask if it's okay to. This also comes hand-in-hand with "don't let your dog randomly meet other dogs." That's a dog fight waiting to happen. The dog can be reactive, aggressive, not properly trained, or dominant. It doesn't matter if your dog is friendly, mine may not be.
Service dogs are legally considered medical equipment. Messing with one is like messing with somebody's prescription medication. You don't do it. Also, they are crazy expensive, ranging from $7,000 to even $60,000.
Some people "feel bad" for service dogs because they have to work all day, but they should feel the opposite. Dogs were bred for and still love working. Dogs thrive on having a purpose to fulfill, and they perform many activities such as scenting, hunting, hurdles, pulling, and even service dog tasks.
Service dogs do not need to wear vests, harnesses, or leashes, but they are helpful to show others not to distract the dog.
Lots of people who own service dogs have "invisible disabilities" or disabilities that aren't obvious. Not everybody who owns a service dog has to be in a wheelchair or fully blind, this is a stereotype that has to go away. There are plenty of service dog types that aid people who do not have visible disabilities including allergy detection, seizure alert, PTSD service, autism service, and diabetic alert dogs.
If you want to learn more about service dogs, visit the ADA. https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/
That's it for this post, I hope that clears up some of the stigma around service animals.
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