Service dogs - should certification be required?
- Thread starter Danefied
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But that's my question - why the reluctance to show proof of training??
This is an animal that you are asking people to accept in public places where dogs would otherwise not be allowed, should they not be held to a high standard of training? Should you not have to prove that the dog has had this training?
On my own property, if I want my 12 year old to drive an ATV, its nobody's business. But in order to drive a vehicle in public where others could be harmed by my lack of knowledge, I have to pass a driver's test and be ready to present my license to get behind the wheel. I don't see how requiring a service dog to pass a public access test is any different - but I don't have a service dog, so I'm trying to understand.
This is an animal that you are asking people to accept in public places where dogs would otherwise not be allowed, should they not be held to a high standard of training? Should you not have to prove that the dog has had this training?
On my own property, if I want my 12 year old to drive an ATV, its nobody's business. But in order to drive a vehicle in public where others could be harmed by my lack of knowledge, I have to pass a driver's test and be ready to present my license to get behind the wheel. I don't see how requiring a service dog to pass a public access test is any different - but I don't have a service dog, so I'm trying to understand.
Short answer is YES I think there should be certification and I think the time that it will happen is nearing due to huggers and fakers. BUT I think there is a very specific way it should be done in order for it to be done well and not abused by either party. I'll post that when I get to an actual computer because it's loooooooong.
I think so!
It would have to widely available, low-cost and it would probably take a while to develop an appropriate test that would a) test the dogs ability to perform the task it is asked to do related to the disability and b) tests the dogs ability to be in public/behave.
but I certainly think there should be SOMETHING. a test, certification and with show-able ID card system or something
As a person entering the service dog training world and trying to do it the RIGHT way... I have found that it is just FARRRR to easy to do it the wrong way.
When researching I have found that between how easy it is to go about buying service dog equipment online (including vests etc..), phony expensive dog training programs and of course the "certified service dog" ID cards.. something needs to be done.
It would have to widely available, low-cost and it would probably take a while to develop an appropriate test that would a) test the dogs ability to perform the task it is asked to do related to the disability and b) tests the dogs ability to be in public/behave.
but I certainly think there should be SOMETHING. a test, certification and with show-able ID card system or something
As a person entering the service dog training world and trying to do it the RIGHT way... I have found that it is just FARRRR to easy to do it the wrong way.
When researching I have found that between how easy it is to go about buying service dog equipment online (including vests etc..), phony expensive dog training programs and of course the "certified service dog" ID cards.. something needs to be done.
Fran, my thinking is that you wouldn't even have to show the task the dog performs to help the handler (as technically that IS private). BUT, I don't see why a generic service dog public access test couldn't be required.
There IS a public access test, but its not required.
There is also the APDT's C.L.A.S.S. program which I think is fantastic and I don't see why the CLASS test or a version of it couldn't be required...
There IS a public access test, but its not required.
There is also the APDT's C.L.A.S.S. program which I think is fantastic and I don't see why the CLASS test or a version of it couldn't be required...
That's a good point... I forget that that sort of thing is private.
Not to mention.. I can't exactly have a seizure when asked to lol
My service dog program, as well as passing the program/graduation, also includes things like CGC, AKC puppy star program, etc.. Which I think is great and makes for a well rounded dog that as well as being certified by the school, is certified by organizations/tests that people KNOW about/know what they entail.
I think a strict public access test would be fair. That would at least end of the problem of "service dogs" attacking/barking/being a nuisance in public.
*shrug* I would've have a problem with a test/certification of some sort...
Not to mention.. I can't exactly have a seizure when asked to lol
My service dog program, as well as passing the program/graduation, also includes things like CGC, AKC puppy star program, etc.. Which I think is great and makes for a well rounded dog that as well as being certified by the school, is certified by organizations/tests that people KNOW about/know what they entail.
I think a strict public access test would be fair. That would at least end of the problem of "service dogs" attacking/barking/being a nuisance in public.
*shrug* I would've have a problem with a test/certification of some sort...
Because a service dog is a tool. You're not required to show proof that you can correctly use a wheelchair without rolling over some 10 year old's foot by accident. You're not required to show proof you know how to use cochlear implants without making people around you uncomfortable. Etc etc.
It is an absolute infringement upon my rights to be required to show a certification that I passed a test to everyone who wants to check.
Your ATV comparision is invalid. Access to public buildings is a right, not a privilege. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
It is an absolute infringement upon my rights to be required to show a certification that I passed a test to everyone who wants to check.
Your ATV comparision is invalid. Access to public buildings is a right, not a privilege. Driving is a privilege, not a right.
It would not end it.
The problem with faker service dogs has absolutely nothing to do with training, with service dogs, with people, with rights, with anything at all in the whole world.
The only problem with faker service dogs is ignorance.
Despite many training classes to businesses, and businesses being told repeatedly their rights when it comes to service dogs, people are still ignorant and don't know the very basics of their rights and what they can or can not do.
There would be a lot less fakers if businesses took the time to teach people how to enforce the already existing laws.
Don't punish the disabled because the abled are ignorant.
If you require certification for service dogs, this is what *will* happen:
Businesses will STILL be ignorant. Faker SD's will be able to show anything they want to a business and be given access, because people won't know what a real certification is supposed to look like.
People will STILL be able to buy certificates for fake SD's because they don't know the difference between a legitimate place and a scam website.
Certification solves nothing. It punishes the people who are honest, and does nothing for the people who are dishonest.
If you want to stop fakers, then stop ignorance. Teach people how to enforce ALREADY EXISTING laws that protect them from faker SD's.
The problem with faker service dogs has absolutely nothing to do with training, with service dogs, with people, with rights, with anything at all in the whole world.
The only problem with faker service dogs is ignorance.
Despite many training classes to businesses, and businesses being told repeatedly their rights when it comes to service dogs, people are still ignorant and don't know the very basics of their rights and what they can or can not do.
There would be a lot less fakers if businesses took the time to teach people how to enforce the already existing laws.
Don't punish the disabled because the abled are ignorant.
If you require certification for service dogs, this is what *will* happen:
Businesses will STILL be ignorant. Faker SD's will be able to show anything they want to a business and be given access, because people won't know what a real certification is supposed to look like.
People will STILL be able to buy certificates for fake SD's because they don't know the difference between a legitimate place and a scam website.
Certification solves nothing. It punishes the people who are honest, and does nothing for the people who are dishonest.
If you want to stop fakers, then stop ignorance. Teach people how to enforce ALREADY EXISTING laws that protect them from faker SD's.
But the wheelchair does not have a mind of its own. Its not going to endanger me or my children if not properly trained.
Access to public buildings is a right, yes. But so is my right to not being endangered by your "equipment". You can not use your rights to stomp on mine.
There was the rottie in South Africa who attacked the little girl in the mall - service dog. In this country, people pass of untrained and badly trained dogs as service dogs all the time and its getting ridiculous. I know people who put tremendous time and effort in to training their dog, and I think they would be proud to say "yes this dog passed the XYZ test".
Access to public buildings is a right, yes. But so is my right to not being endangered by your "equipment". You can not use your rights to stomp on mine.
There was the rottie in South Africa who attacked the little girl in the mall - service dog. In this country, people pass of untrained and badly trained dogs as service dogs all the time and its getting ridiculous. I know people who put tremendous time and effort in to training their dog, and I think they would be proud to say "yes this dog passed the XYZ test".
Big difference between a dog, a wheelchair or cochlear implants. 1 of which is a living breathing creature. Who if not trained correctly can be a danger and or disruptive to those around them. I have nothing against service dogs. but the people who misuse them are making it harder for those who truely need them. So there needs to be a solution to weed out the ones who are mistraining or misusing service dogs.
What I, and many people, would be proud of is to be able to walk in a store without having my rights infringed upon.
What you are saying is akin to wanting to ban Airplanes because you might get hit by one that's crashing. People's rights to fly should not affect your right to walk around in public without fear of getting hit by an airplane!
See this: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Dea...emories+Richmond+residents/5654354/story.html
We're all still scarred from that incident. That's why planes need to be banned.
It makes absolutely no sense.
You're more likely to get bitten and killed by a stray dog, or your neighbor's dog, than a service dog. I don't see you trying to require licenses to own a dog.
Trying to require licenses for a Service Dog is discrimination, plain and simple.
What you are saying is akin to wanting to ban Airplanes because you might get hit by one that's crashing. People's rights to fly should not affect your right to walk around in public without fear of getting hit by an airplane!
See this: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Dea...emories+Richmond+residents/5654354/story.html
We're all still scarred from that incident. That's why planes need to be banned.
It makes absolutely no sense.
You're more likely to get bitten and killed by a stray dog, or your neighbor's dog, than a service dog. I don't see you trying to require licenses to own a dog.
Trying to require licenses for a Service Dog is discrimination, plain and simple.
So you say the fakers (even people with real issues but with ill trained or fake service dogs) who pee in stores, growl at people, and are general a large nuisance are not the problem. The problem is the people who don't wish to be menaced by a large ill socialized dog, or store owners who dislike the damage to their merchandise or the inconvenience to their other customers?