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Service Dog Requirements
The ADA defines a Service Animal as a dog individually trained to perform tasks or do work for the benefit of a person with a disability. A disability can be a physical impairment, but the ADA also includes mental illnesses that substantially limit one or more major life activities, such as depression, severe anxiety, or PTSD.
This article will cover the qualification requirements to be a Service Dog handler, what training and tests can be expected for your Service Dog, and what to expect when in public. After covering the legal rights of Service Dogs, we’ll present options for facilitating interactions with the public, including specialized Service Dog accessories and identification.
What are the Service Dog requirements?
Training a dog to become a service animal is available to individuals who have a disability. If you are interested in having a service dog, below are requirements to be aware of:
Eligibility: A person is eligible for a service dog if they have a physical, emotional, or mental health disability
Training: The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. The ADA does not require professional training; people with disabilities have a right to train the dog themselves.
Behavior: A service dog must be under its handler’s control at all times.
Verification: If it is not obvious what service the dog provides, the handler must be willing to answer two questions about their service dog. These two questions are: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, require that the dog demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person’s disability.
Identification: Optionally, it can help service dogs to be clearly identified with accessories like ID cards, vests, tags, and certificates.
How does my dog become a Service Dog?
Consider these four simple steps to help you understand how your dog can become a service dog.
- Determine if you have an eligible disability
- Train your Service Dog
- Pass a Public Access Test
- Consider Service Dog Certification and Registration
Service Dogs serve an important function for those in our community who need special care. It’s crucial for both Service Dog handlers and the general public to be aware of what Service Dog requirements are.
Step 1: Determine if you have an eligible disability
Under the ADA, you must have a qualifying condition to have a Service Dog. The condition can take many forms (physical, mental, etc.). Physical disabilities include conditions like visual impairment, limited mobility, and hearing loss. The physical or mental impairment must substantially limit a major life activity like the ability to work, move about, socialize, or sleep.
Some common conditions that qualify for Psychiatric Service Dogs are anxiety, depression, and PTSD, but this list is not exhaustive. For psychiatric disabilities, a common first step is to be evaluated by a Licensed Mental Healthcare Practitioner (LMHP) who can write a letter confirming your eligibility. These PSD letters typically have the following traits:
- written on the licensed healthcare professional’s letterhead
- dated and signed by the professional
- contain the professional’s contact information, license number, license date, and state of licensure
- contain the professional’s opinion on whether you have a mental or emotional disability that can qualify for a psychiatric service dog
Step 2: Training your Service Dog
To be considered a Service Dog, a dog must be individually trained to perform a job or task relating to your disability. Be aware that there is no official organization that sets training standards in the U.S. You are not required to work with a trainer – the ADA allows handlers to train their dogs on their own.
While there’s no minimum requirement in the US, some private standards suggest approximately 120 hours over six months. Some sources recommend that at least 30 hours (about ¼ of the time) be spent in public to help train the dog for moments of distraction and when surprises come their way. While not required, it can be helpful for Service Dogs to wear relevant accessories so that people in public can adjust their behavior accordingly.
The most important thing for you to teach your Service Dog is tasking or learning the specific skill they will be performing to help assist with your disability. There are countless tasks Service Dogs are called on to perform, including guiding the visually impaired, pulling a wheelchair, sensing a medical alert, tactile stimulation during a panic attack, reminding the handler to take their medication, scouting a room for someone with PTSD, or grounding/blocking in public areas.
Step 3: Pass a public access test
In addition to training your dog to perform tasks that assist with your disability, it is important for a service dog to be able to comport itself appropriately in public by passing a public access test.
Public Access Criteria:
- No aggressive behavior towards people and other animals.
- Refrain from sniffing behaviors unless released to do so.
- No solicitations for food or affection while on duty.
- No over-excitement and hyperactivity in public.
- Able to tolerate novel sights and sounds in various public settings.
- No unruly behavior or excessive barking.
- No relieving themselves in public without being given a specific command.
Once your dog is properly trained, your next step is to decide how you prefer to identify your service dog.
Step 4: Service Dog Certification and Registration
In the United States, service dog certifications and service dog identifications are not legally required. Staff at a public establishment cannot solicit documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a Service Dog, as a condition for entry.
Despite the limited verification requirements established by the law, staff at many public establishments will still insist on IDs or other tangible proof of Service Dog status. Service Dog handlers often find it helpful to have documents and accessories that help signal that their dog is trained and at work in order to prevent being met with hostility and confusion.
Electing to carry a custom Service Dog ID card and Service Dog Vest may be helpful tools for you and your service dog to navigate public spaces. You may also choose not to carry the ID card and stand your ground on principle when you encounter people ignorant of service dog rights. Under ADA rules, staff at a venue may only ask two questions if the handler’s disability is not apparent: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
After you verbally confirm that your dog is a trained service dog, reasonable accommodations must legally be made for service dogs. Service Dogs can go anywhere their handlers can go, provided they do not pose a health or safety hazard to others. If a particular service animal behaves in a way that poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, has a history of such behavior, or is not under the control of the handler, that animal may be excluded. If an animal is excluded for such reasons, staff must still offer their goods or services to the person without the animal present. It’s important to understand these rules so you know what rights you have as the owner of a Service Dog and when third parties are violating your rights.
You’re all caught up on what it takes to have a Service Dog!
Ready to register and ID your dog?
Unable to train your dog as a service dog?
You may be interested in an Emotional Support Animal instead. ESAs do not require specific training, have access to no-pet apartments, and are exempt from breed or weight restrictions. Click here to learn more about ESAs.
In short, ESAs are protected under Federal Housing Regulations (but not the ADA), meaning that you cannot be charged any pet rent, deposits, or fees, nor can you or your ESA be denied housing on the grounds of living with a pet, with very few exceptions.
To qualify for an ESA, you must have a licensed mental health practitioner (including, but not limited to, psychologists, therapists, social workers, GPs/PCPs, etc.) write a letter affirming that you have a qualifying condition (including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.) that is helped by an emotional support animal. Additionally, unlike Service Animals, ESAs do not necessarily have to be dogs; cats, rabbits, and birds are other common choices.
¿Quieres leer este artículo en español?
Puede encontrar una versión traducida al español de los requisitos para perros de servicio aquí.
Want to read this article in Spanish?
You can find a Spanish translated version of Service Dog Requirements here.
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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I have a heart condition and rescued a young lab that without training recognizes. My heart rate increase when I’m out and about. He bumps me with his head to slow down my pace. If I do not pay attention to his head bumps he will stand in front of me cross ways and stop me from moving until I bring my heart right down. I also have type two diabetes.
I love to hike and don’t let my disabilities get in my way but from time to time don’t listen to my own body. This amazing pup has change that!
My question is to medical service dogs need to be signed off on by a physician or nurse practitioner in order to receive their medical alert certification?
I am not looking for a emotional support certification, thought he does make me feel safer when out and about with my condition. I am 100% looking for answers on how to have him certified as a medical alert dog!
You do no not need to certify or register a service dog – those are optional steps for qualified service dog owners. The relevant criteria is whether your service dog has been fully trained to perform a job or task relating to a disability.
We live in Virginia Beach, VA. I am interested in finding a service dog for my daughter who uses a wheelchair/walker and is diagnosed with a complex disability, I would like to find a dog that is already trained if possible. Do you of any people in my area that I may contact by chance? I look forward to hearing back from you, Thank you.
Unfortunately we do not provide references for ready trained service dogs, but we wish you the best of luck in your search.
How can i get a service dog?
A service dog can be purchased from an organization fully trained, or you can adopt a dog and train it yourself or with the help of a professional trainer. You must also have an eligible disability in order to own a service dog.
To OWN a service dog you need a disability? Is that a felony or a misdemeanor to own one without a disability?
It can potentially be a crime to fake having a service dog in certain states. A service dog by definition must be trained to perform a job or task relating to a person’s disability.
My 1 year old daughter had an abnormal prolonged seizure. The doctors are still actively trying to find the cause of her seizure the only official diagnosis she has received at the moment is complex febrile seizures tho they had genetic testing done and she came back with two genes associated with epilepsy tho her gene variants were unknown so they can’t give an official diagnosis of epilepsy at this time. Would her temporary diagnosis of complex febrile seizures qualify as an acceptable disability under the ADA for a seizure dog even tho she has genetic markers for epilepsy? We are wanting to get a service dog cause her seizures have mostly occurred at night when everyone is sleeping and she stops breathing and has to have someone breathe for her, we are afraid she will have a seizure one night and stop breathing and no one will know. We would all least like a seizure alert dog to let us know she is seizing so we can take appropriate measures till the ambulance arrives. I’m completely new to this and any advice or help will be much appreciated
In order to qualify as a disability, the condition must substantially limit one or more major life activities. We cannot help in making that type of determination – we recommend speaking further with your daughter’s licensed healthcare professionals.
I’ve been having my dog for 2 years now since she was a puppy, and I recently moved into a new apartment that says since she’s a lab mix the only way I’ll be able to keep her is if I make her a service dog.. I don’t have any disabilities whatsoever and I can’t bring myself to take her to the shelter or set her free.. please help me find out what I can do , I’m low income so I can’t pay thousands of dollars to train her
Unfortunately if you do not have a disability, you cannot qualify for a service dog. In order to own a service dog, you must have a qualifying disability under the ADA.
I suggest discovering what kind of therapy your insurance will cover. With therapy, you can become diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder,to which you can personally train your dog at home to bring you medication that you will only take as needed, if at all. Just saying she has the ability to is good enough for most places. Hope this helped