Service Dog
Service dogs must be specially trained to assist their handler and must be well behaved while on duty. These dogs have more access rights than emotional support animals.
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These trained canines are allowed into all public areas and transportation-modes, such as the cabin of an airplane, subways, trains, and on cruise ships.
The Service Dog must also be given the right under the Fair Housing Act to be permitted into “no pets” policy housing.
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Off-limits:
The Service Dog will not be allowed into the kitchen of a restaurant where food is being prepared or into the operating room of a hospital.
Focus on its handler at all times, unless doing trained task.
A Service Dog in Public SHOULD:
Walk nicely on a leash without pulling, lagging, straining, lunging, circling or forging, unless the dog’s task requires tension on the leash, and the pulling is a trained behavior with a purpose.
Remain quietly by its handler’s side when its handler stops without wandering or losing focus.
Lay quietly under the table or beside its handler’s chair without getting up or moving around excessively. However, changing positions is fine.
Ignore distractions. Outright breaking stays to responding or engaging with distractions or wandering off is not to be tolerated.
Be quiet at all times unless performing specific, trained task. While outside of trained and necessary task, there should be NO other vocalization, including, but not limited to, whining, grumbling, wooing, barking, growling, whimpering or other noise. Unless working, a Service Dog should be seen by the public and not heard.
Appear professional, well-groomed and well-taken care of. Your Service Dog is a representative of both you and the Service Dog community. It should always leave everyone it comes in contact with excellent impressions.
Keep its nose to itself at all times, even if there is food, products or other interesting things readily accessible. Sniffing people, objects or food is not only rude, it’s a possible health hazard. Exceptions to this rule include Allergen Alert Dogs or other Service Dogs who rely on their nose to perform their work. However, a Service Dog’s sniffing should be directly related to task and not random or merely “exploring.”
Respond quickly and readily to the handler’s commands, cues or directions. This dog should possess outstanding obedience skills and above-average manners and both should be readily apparent.
Be able to do pertinent task to mitigate its handler’s disability. In order to be considered a “Service Dog” under U.S. Federal Law, a dog must be partnered with an individual with a disability AND be able to perform specific, trained task to mitigate that disability.
A Service Dog in Public SHOULD NOT:
Whine, bark, grumble, growl or make other noises. An exception may be if the whining is an alert, such as notifying a handler who is experiencing a panic attack or a drop in blood sugar.
Urinate or defecate inappropriately.
Pick or steal (or even show much interest in) food or objects up off the floor that are sitting out. Exceptions to the “picking objects up off the floor” rule include dogs that retrieve dropped items for their handlers or who are otherwise doing trained task. In general, however, a Service Dog should not interact with distractions of any kind unless cued to.
Unnecessarily sniff staff members, patrons, floors, tables, counters, surfaces, products, shelving or anything else unless the Service Dog is performing specific, trained task, such as detecting allergens or other substances dangerous to its handler.
Drag or pull its handler for any reason, unless the dog is performing specific mobility-related task for its handler as evidenced by the presence of a brace mobility support harness, other task-related gear or wheelchair assistance harness. A Service Dog’s behavior should never appear “out of control,” and there’s a huge difference between a Service Dog providing counter-balance for its handler.
Wander or move widely out of heel position, unless cued to by its handler. A Service Dog should be responsive to their handler’s movements and focused enough to readily move with him/her without significant lags or delay. The dog should not be so engaged or engrossed with the surrounding environment or distractions that it gives the appearance of wandering, daydreaming, ignoring or just being generally untrained.
Break “stays,” “unders,” or other fixed-position behaviors to investigate distractions, explore or move around. Exceptions include a Service Dog that must perform a task that requires them to take the initiative to respond to its handler’s disability regardless of location or position or to retrieve assistance/medication/help. Again, there’s a huge difference between a dog who gets up because it’s bored or distracted and a Service Dog that’s obviously responding to its handler’s disability.
Be anxious, antsy, agitated or aggressive in any way, shape, form or fashion. A Service Dog should never make anyone interacting with her nervous or afraid because of her direct behavior.
Stink, smell or appear unkempt/ungroomed in any way.
Engage with other dogs, people, children or other distractions, unless allowed to do so by its handler. There’s nothing wrong with allowing a Service Dog to greet a friendly child or another dog if the handler is comfortable with it, but it should be the handler’s decision and choice, not the Service Dog’s. A Service Dog should not appear overly excited, unfocused, distracted, overstimulated or otherwise out of control. There’s no defined line in the sand on this one, but it’s easy to know once you see it.
Scrath ,Jump,mouth or exhibit other “out of control” behavior. A Service Dog should NEVER exhibit ill-mannered, untrained, or behaviors that are considered inappropriate or nuisances. They should NEVER infringe on other patron’s personal space in a way that appears untrained or impolite. This includes laying their head on stranger’s knees, licking hands while passing by, or leaning against the legs of the person standing next in line.A Service Dog should NEVER engage in any behavior or activity that could potentially be hurtful, harmful, leave a bad taste in someone’s mouth or cause the handler to have to apologize to the recipient.
10 Digit ID Code | Dog Image | Service Registration | Service Provided | Dog Name | Handler Name | Email Adress | Phone Number |
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