Service dog Training

[JennSLK]

Businesses may ask if an animal is a service animal or ask what tasks the animal has been trained to perform, but cannot require special ID cards for the animal or ask about the person's disability.


People with disabilities who use service animals cannot be charged extra fees, isolated from other patrons, or treated less favorably than other patrons. However, if a business such as a hotel normally charges guests for damage that they cause, a customer with a disability may be charged for damage caused by his or her service animal.


A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the animal is out of control and the animal's owner does not take effective action to control it (for example, a dog that barks repeatedly during a movie) or (2) the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.


In these cases, the business should give the person with the disability the option to obtain goods and services without having the animal on the premises.

Businesses that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises.


A business is not required to provide care or food for a service animal or provide a special location for it to relieve itself.

Allergies and fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people with service animals.


Violators of the ADA can be required to pay money damages and penalties.

ADA Business Brief: Service Animals

There are no standards or procedures for certifying a service animal under U.S. federal law. Certification is not required as a condition of using an animal as a service animal. However, the person using the animal must meet the legal (not medical) definition of "disability" and their dog must be individually trained to perform tasks that mitigate the owner's disability. They must also have sufficient training to behave appropriately in public (no barking, making unwanted contact with other members of the public, or disrupting business by misbehaving). Service animals who pose a direct threat to others by growling, lunging, or otherwise menacing people can be barred from public access.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Lizzy, I looked at the link you posted... It says under Michigan law, trainers have "the same rights as disabled, with picture." I'm not sure what that means.

I looked up the Michigan law and found this:

A person... who refuses to permit a trainer of... service dogs to enter or use the place... is guilty of a misdemeanor... if the trainer has in his or her possession picture identification and identification stating that he or she is a representative or employee of an organization or trainer, or is a trainer, included on the department of labor list of organizations or trainers that train guide or leader dogs, hearing dogs, or service dogs.

(Sorry for the snips but the law is very wordy.) It sounds like to be a "trainer," you have to be with an organization.

 

[JennSLK]

I find it odd that state law would contradict federal law.

 

[Romy]

I find it odd that state law would contradict federal law.

Me too. I tried to find the WAC that says specifically what the law is, but this is all I can come up with for now.

Washington State Human Rights Commission

Q. How can I tell if an animal is really a service animal and not just a pet?

There are no legal requirements for service animals to be specially identified. Some, but not all, service animals, wear special collars and harnesses. Some, but not all, are licensed or “certified†and/or have identification papers. If you are not certain that an animal is a service animal, you may ask the person who has the animal if it is a service animal required because of a disability. A public entity cannot require any proof of a person’s disability, or identification or certification of the service animal’s status.

A housing provider may ask for a health care professional’s statement that an individual is a person with a disability and will be assisted by a service animal. A housing provider may not ask for details or the nature of an individual’s disability.

 

[Saeleofu]

In the State of Washington you DO need a letter from your doctor. Other than that you don't need anything else.

Nope. Federal laws says you don't need a letter, so you don't need a letter. If WA affords any more rights to SD teams than the federal law does, to get those extra rights or protections you need to follow state laws.


I'm still reading the topic, I just wanted to post on this.

 

[Saeleofu]

I strongly, strongly urge you to visit the Service Dog Central link Fran posted.

Logan has a vest, but he's worn it all of maybe 5 times in the past year. I don't let most people pet either of my dogs anyway, vested or not. I have a release command that I use when I allow petting. Most of our training is done in pet-friendly places, and without the vest (but with a harness as I need that anyway). Pet stores and the like are MUCH harder environments to work in than the general public, so if a dog does well there, they'll probably do well elsewhere.

5 months is a little early to drag a puppy everywhere. I know some orgs have puppy raisers do this, but I don't agree with this. Yes, they need socialization. But they also need to be puppies. Socialization can be done anywhere, they don't need public access to do it.

At 5 months, a dog is also not an SDiT. It is a service dog candidate, and may or may not make it as a service dog. Even if they seem to be EXCELLENT candidates at this point, things can change. It takes 2 to 3 years to go from pup to SD. Take it slow. Remember to get health clearances as your dog matures, ESPECIALLY for a mobility dog. At minimum, hips and elbows either OFA or PennHip in a mobility dog. Also no mobility task training until after 18-24 months old.

 

[Fran101]

I strongly, strongly urge you to visit the Service Dog Central link Fran posted.

Logan has a vest, but he's worn it all of maybe 5 times in the past year. I don't let most people pet either of my dogs anyway, vested or not. I have a release command that I use when I allow petting. Most of our training is done in pet-friendly places, and without the vest (but with a harness as I need that anyway). Pet stores and the like are MUCH harder environments to work in than the general public, so if a dog does well there, they'll probably do well elsewhere.

5 months is a little early to drag a puppy everywhere. I know some orgs have puppy raisers do this, but I don't agree with this. Yes, they need socialization. But they also need to be puppies. Socialization can be done anywhere, they don't need public access to do it.

At 5 months, a dog is also not an SDiT. It is a service dog candidate, and may or may not make it as a service dog. Even if they seem to be EXCELLENT candidates at this point, things can change. It takes 2 to 3 years to go from pup to SD. Take it slow. Remember to get health clearances as your dog matures, ESPECIALLY for a mobility dog. At minimum, hips and elbows either OFA or PennHip in a mobility dog. Also no mobility task training until after 18-24 months old.

Just wanted to echo this.
I am BY NO MEANS an expert.. but I just had a big interview/information session about service dogs and he basically said what is quoted...
you can get the jist of it in my epilepsy thread and I thought of this thread when I was typing it out

I am working with a professional trainer.. and I'm still in the VERY early process of just research and learning and it will be more than a year before I even get a dog
(I want to wait until we have really exhausted all medical options and my life is more stable so I can lighten my course work at school so I have more time to properly train and such)

Around 5 months in the program we are still doing basic socialization with ALL kinds of people, friendly animals, at pet stores, with kids, outdoor markets etc... They are still very much babies at this age so its nothing like the adult socialization classes with public access after the dogs get their service dog vests

lol in fact, they don't even have vests AT ALL (even SDIT) until pretty late in the game

one of the rules on the contract I had to sign was something along the lines of
"I will not take my service dog prospect/SDIT into places where dogs are not allowed, my dog has not earned public access and a negative experience will reflect badly on all service animals"
But programs are different depending on where you go,this whole program takes 2-3 years so its very much baby steps and working on solid foundations before moving onto to the next thing

So my advice would be to just research research research, talk to a professional if you can and remember that at 5 months your dog is still very young so to not expect too much

just my 2 cents hope it helped and I would also visit the forum, even if you don't join it is full of helpful information!

 

[Hillside]

I find it odd that state law would contradict federal law.

Federal law trumps state law.