Service / Assistance Dog Training
Call Dee at 603-735-5543 or email dee@deesdogs to speak about the common sense approach for using a service dog and what it involves.
What is a Service Animal?
“Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purpose of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler’s disability. Examples of work or tasks performed include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting an individual to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purpose of this definition.” (Service animal as defined by the ADA, Title III, subpart A 36.104 definitions, July 2010)
All service dogs are granted access by Federal and state laws. CLICK HERE for registering identification card and vests.
Service Dog Programs
- Service Dog Consulting with Barbara Handelman
- Helen St. Pierre – Definition of a Service Animal. Contact Helen for more information at www.nomonkeybusinessdogtraining.com
- http://www.servicedogtraininginstitute.ca/ – very nice site for training your own service dog.
- Fake Service Dogs: Problem or Propaganda? by Marion Gwizdala
- https://www.dogwise.com/service-dog-coaching-a-guide-for-pet-dog-trainers/?goal=0_8fff254250-3f8e0261bf-20199555&mc_cid=3f8e0261bf&mc_eid=d15f1d870d
- https://www.dogwise.com/therapy-dogs-training-your-dog-to-reach-others-2nd-edition/?goal=0_8fff254250-3f8e0261bf-20199555&mc_cid=3f8e0261bf&mc_eid=d15f1d870d
Teaming With Your Therapy Dog by Ann Howie.
Therapy Dogs Today by Kris Butler.
Successful Working Dogs – Select, Train and Use Service
and Therapy Dogs by Barbara Lewis.
Teamwork and Teamwork II by Stewart Nordensson and
Lydia Kelley. Both written for people with disabilities, both also available in DVDs.
The Magic of Training a Service Dog by
Sally Montruchio.
Service Dog Categories
- Service dog which assists an individual who has a mobility impairment with tasks including, but not limited to, providing balance and stability, retrieving items and pulling wheelchairs.
- Dog Guide which assists an individual who is blind or visually impaired with tasks such as, but not limited to, aiding in navigation and alerting the individual to dangers such as moving cars.
- Hearing Dog which assists an individual who is deaf or hearing impaired by alerting the individual to the presence of sounds or people.
- Alert/Response Dog which alerts an individual to a seizure or other medical condition.
- Psychiatric Service Dog which aids an individual with a cognitive, psychiatric or neurological disability.
Therapy dogs, emotional support dogs and companion dogs are NOT service dogs under the ADA.
What Is the Difference Between a Service Dog and Therapy, Emotional Support or Companion Dog?
- A service dog must be individually trained to perform work or tasks directly related to the handler’s disability.
- A therapy and emotional support dog merely provides comfort to an individual in some fashion. Therapy dogs are often the pets of the therapist or psychiatric personnel of the particular institution or hospital where they bring comfort.
- Therapy and emotional support dogs are allowed in housing under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), but are not permitted in public places as are service dogs.
