How to get a Service Dog…

You want a Service Dog but you don’t know how to go about it. First thing first. Are you disabled? If yes, what tasks (aka special tricks) can a dog do to help with your disability? If you are not disabled, or a dog will not aid your disability, then a Service Dog is not for you.

There are two ways you can go about getting a Service Dog:

• Applying for a dog through a private or non-profit program where they match you specifically with a dog that they have identified through their own breeders and have trained.

• Training your own puppy with the assistance of a professional trainer.

Any breed of dog can be a Service Dog as long as they have the correct temperament. The most common Service Dogs are labradors, golden retrievers, and standard poodles because they are known to have good temperaments, typically enjoy working, and are very people-oriented.

A Service Dog should be exceptional in these three categories:

• Basic Obedience

  • Potty training

  • Comfort in pet-friendly places and around people, dogs, and other animals

  • Commands: sit, stay, come, heel, down, etc.

• Public Access - the ability to be unobtrusive in all environments

  • Listen to handler in all environments

  • Not easily distracted by others

  • No lunging, biting, or aggressive behaviors

  • Ability to travel calmly in cars and on public transportation

  • Not fearful

• Task Trained - the dog needs to master at least one task, specific for your disability, and be able to perform it in public

A Service Dog will be going wherever you go and should be neutral (neither stressed or overly excited) in any environment.