FAQ and Guides

To be considered a Service Dog, a dog must be individually trained to perform a job or task relating to your disability.

A service doghelps a person with a disability lead a more independent life.

According to theAmericans with Disabilities Act(ADA), a service dog is “a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.”

Service dogs can be guide dogs that help blind and visually impaired individuals navigate their environments.

Hearing dogs help alert deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to important sounds.

Mobility dogs assist individuals who use wheelchairs or walking devices or who have balance issues.

Medical alert dogs might also signal the onset of a medical issue such as a seizure or low blood sugar, alert the user to the presence of allergens, and myriad other functions.

Psychiatric service dogs assist individuals with disabilities such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post–traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, and other conditions.

Examples of work performed by psychiatric service dogs could include entering a dark room and turning on a light to mitigate
stress-inducing condition, interrupting repetitive behaviors, and reminding a person to take medication.

The ADA does not require service dogs to be professionally trained. Individuals with disabilities have the right to train a service dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog trainer or training program.

Individuals who wish to train their own service dogs should first work with their candidate dog on foundation skills or work with a trainer for basic obedience. Start with house training, which should include eliminating on command in different locations.

Socialize the dog with the objective of having it remain on task in the presence of unfamiliar people, places, sights, sounds, scents, and other animals. Teach the dog to focus on the handler and ignore distractions.