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How to Certify a Service Dog
Wondering how you can certify a service dog? You should first be aware that “certifying” a service dog may not mean what you think.
What the law says: Under U.S. service dog laws, you cannot qualify for a service dog just by obtaining a certification. Certifications are obtained by service dog owners as an optional step for personal convenience, but they are not mandatory. Thus, while service dog certifications can be beneficial, a third party cannot insist on seeing a certificate in lieu of proper verification procedures.
Requirements for being a service dog handler:
- The handler must have a physical or psychiatric disability.
- The service dog must be trained to perform a job or task relating to that disability.
- The service dog must be able to work in public places without causing a disruption.
- The handler must be able to confirm they own a service dog by answering two permitted questions under the ADA.
Keep reading: We will cover some frequently asked questions regarding service dogs and clarify some common misconceptions.
Q1 – What is a service dog?
A service dog is a highly trained canine that provides assistance to people who suffer from disabilities. These disabilities can include physical and/or psychiatric conditions. Some of the most common psychiatric conditions qualifying for assistance from service dogs are severe depression and PTSD – the service dogs that help handlers with these conditions are known as psychiatric service dogs (PSDs).
Service dog owners are protected under various US laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act.
Service dogs are allowed to accompany their handlers in places open to the public and on airplanes. Service dog owners can also live with their dogs free of charge, even in residential buildings that ban all pets.
Q2 – What tasks do service dogs provide?
A service dog can be trained to perform an incredible variety of tasks. Here are just a few examples of the amazing jobs that service dogs are trained for:
- Tasks for Psychiatric Conditions – Reminding the handler to take medications, interrupting repetitive or self-destructive behaviors, room searching, bringing an emergency phone during a crisis, providing pressure therapy to calm
- Tasks for the Vision Impairment – Guiding the handler, retrieving objects, obstacle avoidance, finding an exit from a room
- Tasks for Hearing Impairment – Alerting to alarms, doorbells, and distant sounds, alerting to people approaching from behind and visitors at the door, alerting to the ring of a telephone
- Tasks for Hypoglycemia/Diabetes – Alerting the person to a drop in blood sugar, seeking out another human in case of the handler’s collapse, retrieving medications
Q3 – How can you train a service dog?
Performing tasks and public access: To be recognized as a service dog, a dog must be fully trained to perform a job or task that helps the handler’s disability. The service dog should also be capable of passing a public access test.
Who can train dogs: There are professional trainers and organizations that train service dogs for their owners. Often, this is too expensive for many service dog owners. Fortunately, the ADA allows owners capable of training their service dogs on their own to do so without requiring assistance from third-party trainers.
The following are some basic steps aspiring service dog owners take on the path toward handling a qualified service dog:
- Adopt a dog with the appropriate temperament and abilities
If you have the means, you can adopt a service dog that has been specifically trained for your condition. This can be cost-prohibitive for many disabled people in need – a trained service dog can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.
It is possible to adopt and train your service dog. If you are considering this route, you should be honest about your training abilities. It may help to consult a professional trainer and your medical professional to see how feasible it is.
Starting may be difficult, but you should certainly not be discouraged. Countless service dog owners successfully train their service dogs on their own.
Temperament: When adopting a potential service dog, it’s important to ensure the dog has the right temperament and will be capable of providing the service you need. Ideally, a potential service dog should be eager to learn and please, have a calm nature, and never exhibit aggressive behaviors toward others.
Size: The size of the dog can also matter. Larger dogs may be more suited to helping people with mobility issues who need a dog that can pull weight, while smaller dogs may be more appropriate for someone who lives in a confined living space and requires an alert dog for their condition.
- Train your dog to perform a task to aid with your disability
Training your dog to perform the tasks you need takes practice and patience. Be sure always to use positive reinforcement when training your canine and seek out professional help periodically if needed. There are also many excellent dog-training tutorials online.
Part of your dog’s training will be practicing learned skills in public. Start with areas that allow all dogs so you can focus on training your dog in public. Public parks or outdoor shopping centers are great places for your dog to be comfortable around people and new locations.
- Register your certified service dog
Once your assistance dog is fully trained and qualified, you can consider obtaining service dog paraphernalia.
Although registering your service dog is not required by law, many service dog handlers find registration certificates and ID cards convenient when traveling with their service dog. This is especially true if your disability is not visible and readily apparent.
You have probably seen service dog owners utilize vests and tags in public to signal that their dog is a service animal. Service dog owners obtain these items even though it is not mandated because these tools can make their lives easier. By having clear indicators, they can avoid unfortunate and unwanted encounters with people who attempt to interact with their service dog.
Q4 – Where can my service dog go?
Service dogs are allowed anywhere members of the public are allowed; this includes restaurants, movie theaters, retail stores, and markets. Service dogs are also allowed on flights and can live with their owners in residential buildings, even if the building bans all pets.
However, areas where your Service Dog may be denied access for health or safety reasons include:
- Treatment area of an ambulance
- Hospital ICU or other sites where special clothing is required
- Food preparation areas
- Worship services in a church
- Military bases
- Private clubs
The right to be somewhere with a service dog is not absolute – if your service dog misbehaves, it can be denied entry.
For example, service dogs should not growl at people, lunge, bark excessively, or exhibit any type of aggressive behavior towards other humans or animals. Service dogs can also be asked to leave if they are unclean and not sanitary.
Q5 – What do I do if my service dog is wrongfully denied access?
Unfortunately, service dog owners are sometimes denied entry because venue staff are misinformed about service dog laws. If this happens to you, consider these tips:
First, remain calm and explain that under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you have the right to your service dog in public areas.
Second, inform the staff that you can verify your service dog by answering two questions that are permitted under the ADA:
1. Is the service dog required due to a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
You can also, at your option, display tags, ID cards, certificates, or other service dog paraphernalia as further indications that you own a service dog.
Third, ask to see a manager or owner of the establishment. For a larger business, you may want to do a quick search on your phone for a customer service department. Explain the situation to whomever you decide to discuss this matter with.
Fourth, if you are still denied access, you can consider filing an official ADA complaint with the US Department of Justice. It is good to exhaust all options for an amicable resolution of a dispute with a venue regarding service dog accessibility before resorting to this option.
Fifth, before you leave the establishment, it may be helpful to ask for any witnesses who may want to give a statement regarding your denial.
Service dogs are there for you!
Owning a service dog is a significant responsibility. Service dogs must be appropriately trained, and service dog owners should be up to date on the latest service dog laws.
No one can require you to register or certify a service dog, ever. These tools, like other service dog paraphernalia, are here to help you as a service dog owner, but you should never feel pressured to carry them around. They only exist to make your life easier, especially in public areas.
For this reason, many service dog owners voluntarily utilize service dog accessories like ID cards, vests, tags, and certificates.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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Hello,
I have been training my Dog to be a Service dog for over one year now and we are finally ready to certify her as a psychiatric service dog.
The problem is I am an American citizen living in France and my dog has a French passport and microchip and a health certificate from a french veterinarian. Can i still certify her as a service dog in USA to fly with me on planes through the united states?
France does not allow Service dogs that have not been bought in special Service dog breeder. My dog is a street rescue dog since a puppy.
Thank you for your answers!
Please see this guide for details on flying with a psychiatric service dog: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/flying-with-a-service-dog-guide/
I am traveling to Hawaii in October for my granddaughters wedding and unfortunalty I am not comfortable going without my little helper. With the new laws and Corona Virus, I am very concerned they will attempt to quarantine my dog when I arrive. I have diabetes and PTSD stemming from severe trauma suffered in the military. Although my dog isnt trained by a “professional”, she has a Service Animal Certification and she does alert me when my blood sugar is low and also provide an enormous amount of comfort to me. She is small and current on all immunizations, potty trained and extremely well behaved. What Precautions, Forms, Measures can I take to assure 100% that she will he able to travel to and from my trip. Thank you in advance for Any help and information you can offer me. God Bless You.
Thank you for your service! A service dog does not need professional training to qualify as SD. If your dog is at your service at all times and trained to do the tasks that you need, then you have a legitimate service dog. Please contact the airline you’re planning to fly with for their policies on service dogs. There has been a change in rules recently; thus, it’s best to directly connect with them. You may find this article on how to fly with a service dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/flying-with-a-service-dog-guide/
Hi Annette!,
I live in Maui and we moved from the mainland at the beginning of 2020 with our Mini Australian Sheppard! While he is an emotional support dog, that has nothing to do with the pet Quarantine in Hawaii. Hawaii is the only state that does not have rabies therefore they are very strict with allowing entry for animals. If your trip is in October you’ll have plenty of time to do fulfill all the requirements (it’s a lot of paperwork & vaccination records, microchip, etc.) and it took us about 5 months to get everything in order so I highly suggest you don’t wait. There’s a whole process and waiting period so I cannot stress enough that you get a head start in everything!
Here’s a link of requirements but I also suggest you contact a vet on the island you’re visiting to confirm everything is correct! It’s kind of a pain and the state will not make any exceptions so double check everything!
https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/aqs-info/
Hawaii is one place where you will find impossible as they are a rabies free island. The quarantine is 6mths. Not even my son “X-military” can get around this. Good luck tho
I have a 3 year old German Shepard I would like to have her trained for depression, anxiety. Thanks
Depression and anxiety may qualify for a psychiatric service dog. However, a service dog must be trained to perform tasks relating to a disability. If your Shepherd merely provides comfort for depression and anxiety just through its presence, an emotional support animal may be more appropriate for you. You may find this article on the difference between service dogs and emotional support dogs interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/is-an-emotional-support-animal-same-as-a-service-dog/
What are the specific types of training that you could teach your dog for depression and anxiety?
The training depends on what helps you to overcome your anxiety. If you’re unsure, you can talk to your therapist and find what type of assistance your service dog could offer you. You may find this article on everything you need to know about service dogs for anxiety interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-for-anxiety/
My name is Darlene, for for 3o years I was diagnosed with depression, 2015 I was informed I was misdiagnosed, I have major depression and PTSD and anxiety. I don’t like being out in public, I neglect my health and grooming, (except when I’m at work, I’m a pediatric homecare nurse (I’m opened about myself to the parents and I’ve been with my agency for 12 years), my primary Nurse Practitioner agrees that I should have a support dog, but which one? I don’t need Anya (my husky) for work, work is only place I feel normal (I actually thought I had slit personality but found out that’s normal to feel different at work) can you please help me, I don’t want to “abuse” the system but want to make sure my needs are met.
Thank you Darlene Coldwell
Hi Darlene,
If you feel an animal (a dog, cat, rabbit, or any other pet) can give you enough emotional support at home, you can apply for an Emotional Support Animal. There’s no training involved as the pet simply helps you overcome your dark times with their presence and love. But an ESA only has limited access rights, meaning they are not allowed out in public where other pets are not allowed.
If you need 24/7 support, you may need a Service Animal (only dogs). Your SA needs to be fully trained, under control at all times, focused, and most of all, needs to fulfill a particular task that you cannot do yourself in times of need (like give you a deep-pressure massage or fetch medicine). The Service Dog can go anywhere you go but also needs to stay in your presence at all times.
You may discuss more with your primary what assistance animal would fulfill your needs best. And you may find this article on the difference between an Emotional Support Animal and a Psychiatric Service Dog interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/the-difference-between-a-psychiatric-service-dog-and-an-emotional-support-animal/
Good luck to you and take care.
I have a dog I want to be certified for me. I am training her to be my service dog.
I have a 41/2lb chiwawa as an emotional support dog and for depression and bipolar. I’m of Social Security Disability for: Axienty Insomina, Depression BiPolar. And as well being treated today’s for these issues by medications to this day. Also medications for COOD, restless leg syndrome and Gerd. I believe all these impairments follow under the guidelines for a service dog. Please inform me where I go from here the dog has been taken for shit seen by a vet has its rabbies tag and is certified and named. There is a file for him at Lieghow Vetinarian Clinc.
I just lost my husband 3 mists ago this little baby doggie gives me comfort and a sense of not being alone. He is very loving and protective. He stays by my side all the time. I need that feeling of feeling needed my son is wonderful but all grown up with a son of his own. Now I must move after 10 years all by myself. They will only take my little baby doggies if he is a service dog if not we’ll I can’t take him anywhere but we’ll I don’t want to say. All I can say is I need him more now then ever. Can you please help me get this little 41/2 lb. emtional support dog for all my traumas become my service dog. Please
Hey, can I know how you are getting your dog certified as a service dog? I want to get my too but don’t know where or who to contact. Best wishes, Caroline