How Old Does My Service Dog Have to Be?

There is no technical minimum age for a service dog, but practical considerations limit how young a service animal can be. Due to training requirements and developmental concerns, a puppy is generally not eligible as a service dog. 

Under ADA rules, service dogs in training are not considered full-fledged service animals. A service dog must finish training before being granted public access rights.  

Under the ADA, the dog must already be trained before it can be taken into public places.

ServiceDogCertifications.org

Some states and localities may have their own laws that allow for service dogs in training to be given public access rights. However, even if your local laws grants rights to a service dog in training, a young puppy is still likely ineligible to qualify as a service dog.

Puppies generally can’t qualify as service dogs for two main reasons: 

In addition to disability-related task training, a service dog must also be trained for public access skills. That means the ability to be in public on best behavior, under full control, and without becoming distracted by the environment. It can take time for a puppy to learn and mature into these abilities.  

Once a service dog is fully trained, handlers can use accessories like ID cards, vests, certificates, and tags to easily identify their animal as a service animal. ServiceDogCertifications.org specializes in providing these tools to service dog owners for their convenience, safety, and privacy.