A Good Dog's Guide to Obedience

Here are some questions readers often ask about Service Dogs. 

Any breed of dog can become a service dog with the proper training. If you find yourself in need  of a specially trained service dog.

The Americans with Disabilities Act does not specify any breeds that should or should not  become service animals. Assistance animals come in all sizes, though their size should be  appropriate to the specific tasks they are being trained to perform.

Not all dogs are cut out to be service animals. In some cases, a dog may be too shy or reactive to  other dogs and people. In some cases where service dogs fail out of their training they are better  suited to becoming emotional support dogs. 

Training is not limited to professional trainers or Service Dog  organizations. Owners can train their own Service Dogs, but many seek the assistance  of a professional dog trainer. Balanced Obedience offers coaching and online courses  to pass the Public Access Test, teach obedience training and more.  

Psychiatric service dogs are specially trained to assist individuals with a recognized  psychiatric disability such as anxiety, depression, phobias, personality disorders and  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These dogs can perform a variety of “work” or  tasks to help their handlers manage their symptoms and lead more independent lives. 

Service dogs go through extensive training to perform their roles, but there is no such thing as  service dog registration, nor is there an official database of service animals. Unfortunately, fake  service dog registries do exist and many pet owners fall victim to the scam, believing they can  certify their pet as a service animal to skirt the rules.

https://www.servicedogpass.org/ 

In this episode, we will take a deep dive in the different requirements a service dog needs to follow.