Category: Service Dogs

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How Much Does It Cost to Train a Service Dog?

Service dogs are an essential part of many individuals’ lives. These dogs are specially trained to provide support and assistance with particular tasks that a disabled individual may be unable to accomplish themselves. Most people acquire a dog that has already been trained to provide the assistance they require. However, some individuals who already have a dog may choose to have that dog trained as a service dog. If you’re in this situation, you’re likely wondering what such training can cost. Keep reading to learn more.

The Cost of Training

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to put a specific sticker price on what it will cost you to take your dog from a pet to a service animal. There are so many different factors that will influence your dog’s training and impact the total cost. A professional dog trainer may charge $150 or even $250 per hour for a private training session, so it will largely depend on how much time it takes for your dog to be fully trained. You may also be able to find service dog training for free in some places to help offset these costs. However, you can expect to spend several thousand dollars on properly training your dog to provide the service you need.

What Tasks Do You Need Done?

One of the major factors that will impact the total cost of your dog’s training is the exact task or tasks your dog needs to perform to assist you with your disability. For example, it will take a dog a lot more time to learn how to properly guide a blind person on the street than it will take them to learn to alert a hearing-impaired owner to someone at the door. The more complex the task, the longer it will take for the dog to learn, and the higher the cost of training will be.

How Obedient Is Your Dog?

Another major factor impacting how long it will take to train your dog-and therefore, how much it will cost to train them-is how obedient your dog is. If your dog is largely untrained in any way, they’ll need to learn basic obedience before they even begin their service training. On the other hand, a dog that is well trained and very obedient already is going to be able to learn the tasks they need to perform much more quickly.

Additionally, some dogs will simply pick up on training much more quickly than others. On average, a dog with previous obedience training can take between four and six months to be trained for just one service task. However, it can take up to two years for your dog to be fully trained to perform their necessary tasks in public, where there are bound to be things to distract them from their job.

How Much Training Can You Provide?

The final major factor impacting the cost of training your dog will be your ability to spend time working with your dog on their training. If you’re unable to help your dog work on learning their task on a daily basis, the entirety of your dog’s training will fall on the trainer and it will take much longer for your dog to learn the task. However, if you or someone else in your household can devote some time every day to practice and work with your dog, they will be able to learn their service task much more quickly.

Training your current canine companion to be a service dog allows you to receive the assistance you need from a service animal without needing to purchase another dog. If you’re hoping to train your dog as a service dog, look for service dog training in your area and begin your dog’s training as soon as possible. Once your dog is trained, National Service Animal Registry can help you register them and purchase a service dog vest for them.

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ESA vs Service Dogs: What’s the Difference?

While both serve humans, emotional support animals — commonly referred to as ESAs — and service dogs are often confused. These two types of service animals are similar in that they can provide emotional support for those that need it, but there are many differences between them. Understanding these differences will allow you to properly select and certify an animal for your needs. Here are some of the key differences between these two types of service animal certifications.

Function

Many think that emotional support animals and service dogs are interchangeable, but these two types of service animals are meant for separate tasks. A service dog is specially trained to perform a function or job for an owner that has a physical, intellectual, or emotional disability. An emotional support animal serves as more of a companion for the owner. A service dog may still be able to provide the comfort of an emotional support animal, but it has been trained to complete tasks that a support dog will not.

Protection

Service dogs are usually needed more frequently as they help the owner with physical tasks. Thus, they are offered legal protections through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that emotional support animals do not get. You can take a service dog almost anywhere that you go and they legally cannot be denied access. An emotional support dog, on the other hand, doesn’t share the same legal protections. It’s important to understand that if you have an emotional support dog, they may not be allowed into areas that a service dog will. Legal protection of an emotional support animal is limited to housing and air travel. However, there may be businesses that will allow you to bring your emotional support animal inside, so you’ll have to check with them beforehand.

Certification

As these types of support animals provide different services, the certifications also differ. A service dog agency will help to find a specially trained dog to assist with a person’s disability. While only a specifically-trained dog can be a service dog, any pet can be considered an emotional support animal. The person looking to acquire certification needs to have a disability diagnosed by a doctor or mental health professional and receive a letter stating how the animal will be of benefit.

Differentiating Your Support Dog

If your support dog doesn’t have anything that differentiates it from any other dogs, people may not recognize that it’s providing assistance for you. If you have a service dog, you might want to consider having it wear a colored vest. While this is not a requirement, it will tell those working in places you go that the dog is a service dog, and they are less likely to try to stop you from entering with it. If you have an emotional support dog, you should carry your medical letter with you, as this will provide evidence that the dog is officially a support animal.

If you suffer from a disability, be it physical or emotional, you may benefit from an animal’s support. Understanding the differences between a service dog and an emotional support animal will allow you to receive the correct service animal certification. For more information, contact the National Service Animal Registry today!

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Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals: What You Need to Know

Although some are quick to assume that service dogs and emotional support animals (ESAs) provide the same kinds of help for their handlers, their responsibilities, training, and access to public spaces differ greatly. There is often much confusion regarding what service dogs versus ESA’s do for their owners and the rights and laws that protect each animal type. Here are details of what these categories mean.

What Is a Service Dog?

A service dog is trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. In the service dog world, it is known as task-training. These tasks are important functions that handlers are unable to perform on their own because of their impairment. A Service dog’s responsibilities depend on the requirements of the handler. Some of the skills may involve retrieving dropped items, pushing drawers, pulling doors open, turning lights on, and cabinets closed, bracing to offer balance for an owner, interrupting panic attacks or informing an owner to about insulin levels. But the scope of service animal’s abilities go beyond the day to day support they provide their handlers. The harder work is in creating a dog that can flourish under all kinds of situations because a service dog must be quiet, attentive to the handler, accepting of a multitude of environments, and unfazed by all imaginable situations.

What Do Service Dogs Do?

As defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are individually trained to perform exact tasks and to work with people with disabilities. According to the ADA, disabilities can be physical, sensory, mental disability, psychiatric, and other intellectuals. The work of the service dog must be directly related to the disability of its handler. Here are examples of tasks that a service dog might perform:

  • Guide dogs help blind people navigate in the globe.
  • Hearing Alert dogs alert hearing-deficient people to sounds, such as a knock on the door or a person entering the room.
  • Psychiatric services dogs (PSD) are trained to detect and lessen the impacts of a psychiatric episode.
  • Service animals can help those in wheelchairs or who are otherwise physically limited. They can open doors or cabinets, fetch things their handler cannot carry, and reach items for their handler.
  • Autism assistance dogs are trained to aid those on the autism spectrum to distinguish essential sensory signals like a smoke alarm, from other sensory input. They can also alert their handler to repetitive behaviors or overstimulation.
  • Service dogs have been trained to identify seizures and will stand guard over their handler or bring attention to the disabled handler during a seizure or when help is needed.

What Rights Do Service Dogs Have?

The ADA mandates that service animals have complete public access rights, which means they’re allowed to go anywhere a person is allowed to go — even when pets are not allowed. They may be brought into libraries, restaurants, stores, and other public spaces. Busses, taxis, trains, must allow a disabled person to be accompanied by his/her service animal. A disabled handler may also live in no-pet housing with their service dog and not be charged a fee. A service dog must be permitted to accompany its disabled handler in the cabin of an aircraft and not be charged a pet fee. Each airline has its own rules for service animals. Most airlines require the dog to either sit on the lap of the traveler or at their feet. Dogs can’t block the aisle or sit in the emergency exit row.

Training Service Dogs

There are organizations who help pair a service dog with a disabled handler, and the training process takes time, substantial financial investment, and patience. The training begins with basic manners and continues to involve thorough socialization, impulse control and the specialized skills required to support their handler. The formal training procedure typically culminates with passing the Public Access test and Canine Good Citizen Test, which assesses the capability of the dog to be a proper, unobtrusive helpmate in public. Then, the handler and dog are matched and train together to be a working team. The scope of work that goes into preparing a service dog for the responsibility of assisting their handler and acting properly in public goes well beyond what usually occurs in pet dog training. People with disabilities have the legal right to take their service animal to any area where the general public is allowed, from movie theaters to hospitals, even when pets aren’t allowed.

Some handlers train their own pets, but typically begin with public behaviors (good dog manners), obedience, and finally task-specific training. This is a cost-effective method of attaining a service dog.

How to React to Service Dogs in Public?

Although it is tempting to talk to or pet a service animal, you should resist the urge. Remember, service dogs in public are “on the job”. It is pleasing that various people are excited to see such dogs in public, and it is most appropriate to direct your interest to the human on the other end of the leash, rather than assuming it’s okay to pet or speak to the dog.

What Are Emotional Support Animals?

Emotional support animals also offer a valuable service to their disabled handlers, but not in the same way as a service animal. They provide comfort through their presence but aren’t required to perform a physical task. To qualify for emotional support animal status, handlers must have a letter from a licensed mental health professional that prescribes an emotional support animal. The animal must always be under the control of the handler and should never cause a disturbance. People confuse emotional support animals with psychiatric service dogs trained to aid a person with a mental illness. Service animals help people with a mental illness perform precise behaviors such as reminding a person to take medication, alerting a caregiver if assistance is required, interrupting a panic attack, or awakening someone having a nightmare. An emotional support animal is not task-trained to perform those kinds of important function behaviors.

What Do Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) Do?

Emotional support animals (ESA) are typically Dogs and cats; the most common species of ESA – and most people just make their pet an emotional support animal. Dogs can be behavior and obedience trained, but it isn’t necessary for an emotional support animal to be able to perform a task for its disabled handler. The very presence of the animal is what ameliorates the negative symptoms of the person’s disorder. This is the primary difference between a service animal and emotional support animal. This does not minimize the important role the ESA plays in the lives of people with a psychological disorder. They are considered companion animals and ease loneliness, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and phobias. To be considered an emotional support animal, a person must be determined to be emotionally or psychologically disabled by a licensed mental health professional (therapist) or a medical doctor.

What Rights Do Emotional Support Animals Have?

Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals have only limited legal rights and usually need a letter of prescription from a licensed therapist or medical doctor (ESA letter). While they do not have unlimited access to public spaces, the Fair Housing Act protects a person with an emotional support animal and allows them to live in homes, apartments, condos, etc. where pets are not allowed. A person cannot be legally charged a deposit or other fee for their ESA. Even if a property has a cats-only policy, the landlord must accept your emotional support animal if it is a dog.

If the property has a policy that only allows dogs that weigh no more than 30 pounds and the emotional support animal weighs 75 pounds, the property manager must accommodate you and your pet. If the property accepts all dogs except pit bulls and your ESA is a pit bull, the property manager must allow your pit bull to live with you.

The Air Carrier Access Act is a federal law that requires airline companies to allow emotionally impaired persons to be accompanied in the cabin of the aircraft with an emotional support animal and not be charged a fee.

It’s a breeze for you to fly the friendly skies with your Emotional Support Animal (ESA)! You’ll just need a few things to enjoy smooth sailing, based on the Air Carrier Access Act and recommendations of USA-based airline companies.

Here’s What You Need to Know

  • All airline companies will require you to produce a letter from a licensed therapist or medical physician that prescribes an ESA for an emotional disability. Most airlines will also require your therapist or physician to complete a short form that verifies your emotional disability.
  • Although it’s not required by law, airlines now ask that you have identifying patches, a vest on your animal (or its cage, if it’s kept in one), and a service-type leash.
  • The same applies to an attached photo ID card identifying your animal as an emotional support animal (from a credible agency like National Service Animal Registry).
  • Airlines strongly recommend that you have an ID card, a service vest and/or ESA patches. When you have an official and documented ESA, the airlines are NOT allowed to charge you additional fees when your animal accompanies you in the cabin of the aircraft.

If you have the above items and your answers ready, it will be smooth sailing!

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Understanding Why Service Dog Vests Are Important

Service dogs offer a lot of support to their owners. These special pups are there to provide guidance and emotional assistance to those who suffer from physical disabilities or severe psychiatric challenges. You’ve probably noticed service dogs wearing a vest when they’re out in public with their owners. While some believe that these vests are required by law, they’re actually not mandatory. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), states that service animals aren’t required by law to wear them in order to avoid acts of discrimination. Any discrimination towards disabled individuals should never be tolerated. It’s clear why these service animals aren’t required to wear these vests at all times. However, there are certain benefits to displaying the service dog vest when out in public settings. Here are a few reasons why it’s important for service dogs to wear their vests when they’re out hitting the town.

Shows They Have a Right to Be There

The public is becoming more aware of the benefits of service animals. Many business owners have become more “dog-friendly” or show their support for service dogs through signs on windows or entrances. However, others aren’t as thrilled to have animals entering their store, restaurant, or bank. Service animals wearing a noticeable vest aren’t normally hassled by business owners or other patrons. When the general public sees your service dog wearing a vest, they know that they have a right to be there. Even though it’s not required by law, it’s nice to show the public that this is a dog with a purpose. Both the service dog and their owner have the same rights as any person.

A Visible Form of Trust

Most people are quite surprised when they realize all of the different ways a service dog can help their owners. They can predict and prevent anxiety attacks, assist with seizures, and even keep track of a diabetic’s blood sugar. When a dog acts as a form of protection and assistance at this level, it’s important for the public to trust the animal. In the case of an emergency, if a service dog is not wearing a vest, the public may not be able to recognize that the animal is trying to help in certain circumstances. The service dog vest can act as a visible form of trust between the dog, the owner, and the community.

Avoid Dangerous Distractions

A service dog wearing a vest lets the community know they are trained and prepared to act in the event of an emergency. A service dog wearing a vest also signals to the public that they aren’t there to play. Dogs are loveable and engaging animals. It’s very common for people passing by to want to pet or play with your dog. It’s socially acceptable in most situations. However, a service dog shouldn’t be distracted or played with when they’re out with their owners. When they’re wearing their service dog vest, the public knows that this dog is working and needs to stay focused. If you have a service dog that could benefit from having a vest on in public, you should contact the National Service Animal Registry for more information on purchasing the right vest for your dog. Check out their service dog vest selection online today!

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Tips for Registering Your Dog as a Service Dog

Service dogs keep those with physical handicaps safe and make it easier for individuals living with disabilities to have fulfilling, independent lives. To make sure your service dog isn’t turned away from a public place, it’s important to go through the service dog registration process. If you haven’t registered your four-legged companion yet, check out these tips for a smooth process.

Understand What Type of Support Your Dog Provides

While many people think of service dogs as providing assistance to people who have physical disabilities, they also offer support for people struggling with emotional challenges and personal traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder. When you register a service dog, you need to know the difference between a traditional service dog, an emotional support dog, and a therapy dog. Each of these classifications affords different privileges.

Service Dogs

These dogs are trained, certified, and recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Pups certified in the service dog registry under this classification have the most freedoms and can’t be turned away from public places. Your service pup gives you the following rights:

  • Fly with you at no extra charge
  • Enter restaurant establishments in the dining area
  • Landlords can’t charge additional rent or fees or turn you away from their building because you have a service pup

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

These animals don’t undergo the same training as a service dog because their primary function is to provide comfort and support. It isn’t required to register an ESA. However, filling out paperwork with an organization like the National Service Animal Registry gives you documentation to support your claim that your dog is an emotional support animal. This documentation makes it easier to avoid the limitations placed on travel and living.

No professional training requirements are needed to register your emotional support dog. You will need a doctor’s note that proves the dog is beneficial for your treatment. Emotional support pups are great for people living with bipolar, anxiety, panic attacks, and other qualifying disorders.

Therapy Dogs

These dogs are used in classrooms, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers and have grown in popularity. They work with a handler and are used to help people overcome emotional and physical disabilities. Unlike ESA dogs and service dogs, these pups don’t have special legal permissions and can be denied entry into buildings and other public spaces.

Have Your Documents Ready

Once you’ve determined the category your support dog falls into, have your paperwork in order. When you have all your papers, you avoid delays and other obstacles.

Ask Questions

The best service dog registry groups welcome your questions. They offer many resources and additional training opportunities for their registrants. These groups want you and your support dog to feel welcome and comfortable anywhere you go.

To learn more about registering your dog, visit the National Service Animal Registry at Register Your Animal, and select from one of the 3 options: register your service dog, register your ESA, or register your therapy animal. Follow the step-by-step instructions to get your dog registered as quickly as possible.

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Emotional Support Animal Myths Debunked – Find the Truth

Emotional support animal myths

Service animals are becoming a more common sight in society. Many people benefit from service animals for both practical and therapeutic reasons. For those who suffer from a range of debilitating conditions, service animals can help restore quality of life and provide peace of mind to those who use them. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the rights of those who use service animals, and as a result of federal regulations, service animals are more accepted now than ever before.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still myths, misconceptions, and inaccuracies present when it comes to service animals, the regulations that govern their usage, and the people who benefit from their service. Whether you have a service dog who performs specific tasks for you or an Emotional Support Dog (ESA dog) whose presence helps to mitigate the effects of psychological or emotional issues, you may encounter some of the following myths as you navigate the world with a service animal. Read on to learn more about some of the most common misconceptions pertaining to emotional support animal myths and discover the best ways to debunk them.

Myth 1: All Service Animals Are the Same

While it may be convenient to lump all service animals into one category, they actually fall into three distinct categories that are determined by the type of service they provide to their owners. Service dogs are canines that receive special training to perform tasks that their owners may not be able to complete themselves due to a specific disability.

Emotional support animals (ESA) aren’t trained to perform tasks but are instrumental in helping those who suffer from emotional and psychological conditions function in society. While not considered service dogs, ESAs can be legitimized with a letter from a licensed health care provider and ESA registration. Therapy dogs represent yet another class of service animal. They are similar to ESAs in the function they fulfill. However, instead of being assigned to a single owner, they are often used in group settings so that their benefits can be enjoyed by many people rather than a single owner.

Myth 2: Anyone Can Get an ESA

While it may be true that anyone can have a pet that brings emotional support and psychological benefits, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your dog or other animal qualifies as an ESA. For a pet to truly be formally considered as an ESA, a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychotherapist, psychiatrist, or licensed mental health social worker must determine that an ESA will benefit you. Once the determination is made, the care provider issues a letter to legitimize your ESA. Those letters must be renewed each year to remain valid.

Myth 3: Only Service Dog Owners are Protected from Discrimination

Numerous pieces of legislation protect the rights of those who must use ESAs from being barred from public transportation, housing opportunities, and public facilities. For example, the Fair Housing Act protects the rights of tenants to keep their ESAs even when the landlord has an explicit ‘No Pets’ policy. Not only that, there is no charge for keeping the ESA. Landlords may however request to see documentation like an ESA letter for housing that proves the tenant’s need for an ESA. This protects the landlord from being duped and tenants from being discriminated against.

Housing is likewise protected for those with ESAs by the Fair Housing Act, as landlords can’t discriminate against those with emotional support dogs and can’t charge additional fees for the animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of disability and are required to make reasonable accommodations for the disabled. Those clauses extend to those who use ESAs, and employers can’t use emotional support animals as a reason to discriminate against job candidates or employees. However, hotels and restaurants aren’t required to grant access to those with emotional support dogs, though they are required to do so with service dogs.

Myth 4: ESA Dog Rules Vary by State

Service dog and ESA rules aren’t set at the state level but are instead governed by federal law. While there may be state regulations in place that augment or enhance access for those who use service animals and ESAs, the core rights of those who use both categories of animals are protected at the federal level by legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Air Carriers Access Act.

If you think you could benefit from the use of a service animal or ESA, consider these myths when making an informed decision. To learn more about misconceptions surrounding service animals, visit the National Service Animal Registry.

Myth 5: Only Dogs Can be ESAs

Various domesticated animals, in addition to dogs, can qualify as emotional support animals. For example, ESAs can be cats, rabbits, ferrets, pigs, birds, and even miniature horses. An ESA should be well-mannered and not cause a nuisance to others. If your emotional support animal is a dog, it can be of any breed and size. However, this isn’t applicable to service animals since the ADA recognizes only dogs as service animals. It is important to note that an ESA is not considered a pet since it is essentially doing a job of providing you relief from your emotional disability through companionship.

Myth 6: All Emotional Support Animals are Service Animals

This is one of the common Emotional Support Animal myths. Emotional Support Animals are not service dogs. A service dog is specifically trained to perform certain tasks related to the disability of its handler. For example, a service dog can fetch medication and water, respond to seizures, pull a wheelchair, create a barrier between its handler and other people, interrupt self-harm, get help, act as a guide dog for the visually impaired, alert its handler, switch on lights, etc. But an ESA does not receive any formal training of this sort. The job of an ESA is to provide comfort and companionship to a person who is suffering from an emotional or psychiatric disability.

Myth 7: Anyone Can Get an ESA or a Service Animal

Typically, anyone who owns a pet draws emotional support and companionship from them. However, this does not make the pet an emotional support animal or service dog. To get an ESA or a service dog, you need intervention from a licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP). An LMHP will first evaluate your mental health to determine whether you need one. Not everyone with a disability will need an ESA or a service dog. The responsibility of caring for an animal may become overbearing for some people. If your LMHP feels that your treatment can be augmented with an ESA and if you already own a pet, they will also verify whether the animal can provide emotional support and psychological benefits in times of need. If everything checks out, you will be issued a legitimate ESA letter.

Myth 8: Airline Carriers Have to Allow You to Fly with Your ESA in the Cabin

Previously, both ESAs and service dogs were covered under the Air Carrier Access Act which meant handlers could fly with them in the cabin without charge. Many people started taking advantage of the system and brought along poorly trained animals with them which caused a lot of inconvenience for fellow passengers. So in 2021, the rules were changed to exclude ESAs who now have to travel in a carrier with or without an ESA letter. Only service dogs who are trained to perform tasks related to physical, psychiatric, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities can travel in the cabin. Since this rule has come into effect recently, there has been a lot of speculation over it, which is why it has become a common emotional support animal myth.

Myth 9: You Can Take Your ESA or Service Animal Anywhere

Although you can stay with your ESA or service animal in an accommodation that does not allow pets, the same may not be applicable to all public places or business facilities. For example, non-pet-friendly grocery stores, restaurants, etc. may not allow your ESA. However, this is not always the case with service animals. A service animal can accompany you to movie theatres, restaurants, schools, museums, etc. Covered entities are required to modify their policies to accommodate a service animal. That being said, businesses hold the right to exclude the animals from their premises if their presence jeopardizes the safety of others. For example, if a service animal is not housebroken or is out of control, businesses may ask the handler to remove it from the facility. Hospitals may not allow such animals in the operating room, etc.

Myth 10: You Cannot Get a Legitimate ESA Letter Online

While being a common emotional support animal myth, it cannot be any further from the truth. The basis of this myth is the rising number of fraudulent companies that scam people with fake ESA letters. This is why it is important to be cautious. One of the ways to identify the legitimacy of an ESA letter is through the intervention of an LMHP.

National Service Animal Registry provides a platform to order legitimate ESA letters. Once the order is placed, you will need to answer a set of questions. Based on your answers and your zip code, an LMHP will be assigned to you who will diagnose your condition and determine whether an ESA is necessary. If approved, an ESA letter will be provided to you on the official letterhead of the LMHP. Get your ESA letter today.

If you think you could benefit from the use of a service animal or ESA, consider these myths when making an informed decision. To learn more about misconceptions surrounding service animals, visit the National Service Animal Registry.

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What’s the Best Type of Leash for Service Dog Training?

While dogs don’t require any task-specific training to register as an ESA, they’re expected to be well-behaved in public. So, if your dog needs a little extra training before they can be treated as an ESA in public areas, then it’s time to get started. But first, you’ll need the right leash. Here are a few tips for choosing the best service dog leash for training your dog.

What Kind of Training Are You Doing?

The exact type of leash you need is going to depend on the exact type of training your dog needs. Do they need to learn to walk without pulling? Do they need to work on staying close to you when you’re out on a walk? Do they need to work on obeying commands when there are distractions around? Different types of leashes will work best for different types of training, so keep this question in mind as you continue reading and as you shop for service dog leashes and collars.

Long Leashes

A long leash can be over 30 feet long and isn’t generally used for everyday walks. Instead, it’s a training tool that allows your pup to work on obeying commands when they’re in an uncontrolled environment.

For example, if your dog needs to work on coming to you when you call, even when there are other dogs around, you might take them to the park and clip on the long lead. You are then able to put distance between yourself and your pet as you work on their obedience, but you can still retain control with the long lead if they decide to try to chase down another dog that’s passing by. This can make it more likely that your dog will obey your commands, even if they’re not restrained or in a contained, controlled setting.

Short Leashes

Short leashes give you increased control over your dog during walks. They’re usually about 4 feet long or shorter, and can be used for everyday walks. Most often, they’re used by people who walk their dogs in larger urban areas, as these leashes keep your dog close to your side and out of the way of any pedestrian or vehicle traffic nearby.

Short leashes are also great for training a service dog to stay close to your side while walking or to obey the “heel” command. Many individuals with service dogs also use short leashes on everyday walks while utilizing a service dog harness.

Slip Leads

Last but not least, slip leads combine both the collar and the leash into one slipover piece. They’re an excellent tool for training a dog not to pull against the leash when on walks. They’re also valuable for training a service dog to focus their attention on you instead of on the things around them. A slip lead is positioned behind the dog’s ears and under the chin and applies gentle correction to redirect your dog’s attention.

The goal of a slip lead isn’t to use it as your go-to walking leash, but to retrain your dog for proper leash behavior. Hopefully, after using the slip lead for a while and focusing some time on retraining your pet, you will no longer need to use the slip lead and can graduate them to a standard leash for everyday walks.

If you’re looking for a service dog leash to provide your dog with some extra training, check out our online store for high-quality leashes and collars.

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Why You Shouldn’t Fake Having a Service Dog

Everyone wants to have an animal companion. After all, there’s a certain romance in the idea of being accompanied by a dog anywhere you go. And it seems that many people today are lured by the ease of just calling Fido a service dog and letting the dream of that constant companion come true. Once a service dog, they can take their beloved pet to the movie theatres, to restaurants and to malls.

Very appealing, right?

Perhaps on the surface. But there’s a reason real service dogs exist and it’s not for the luxury of having pet companion everywhere. By faking a service dog, you create unfortunate—albeit unseen, in many cases—consequences for both those who actually have service dogs, due to a need, and for businesses who try to comply.

Think about it:

Would you pretend to be handicapped to get the best parking? Would you pretend to be a veteran to get discounts? Pretending to have a service dog is no less morally dubious, and yet it seems people are ready to excuse themselves in this particular instance—perhaps because it has become so commonplace that the ethics are easier to ignore. Or perhaps a sense of entitlement develops where pets are concerned.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand that faking a service dog has a negative impact on the community.

What is a service animal?

Service animals are dogs (and in some cases, miniature horses) trained to perform major life tasks to assist people with physical or severe psychiatric impairments or disabilities.

Note that they have special training—not just to help the person whom they work for in essential tasks, but to behave in a certain way in public in order to be unobtrusive. For example: no barking, no begging, and most definitely no growling or other form of aggression towards others. They also know to tuck themselves out of the way under a table or between their human’s legs to create little to know disturbance to others. These are working animals.

Where can service dogs go?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public must in general allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go.

This of course is the appeal of pretending to have service dog—they are allowed nearly everywhere, so long as they don’t create a potential hazard (such as in an operating room). However, you should remember that you’re not just pretending that your dog is a service dog. You’re pretending that you are a person in need of a service dog.

Who needs a service dog?

For a person to legally qualify to have a service dog, he/she must have a physical impairment (or severe psychiatric impairment) that substantially limits his/her ability to perform at least one major life activity without assistance. There are no limitations with respect to the kinds of impairments and disabilities this applies to.

So, in other words, if you pretend your dog is a service dog, you are also pretending that you have a physical or psychiatric impairment.

How faking a service dog undermines the people who really need them

Every time an untrained dog passing as a service makes a mistake in public—such as jumping up on people, growling, etc.—it creates a bad impression of service dogs. This might not seem terribly consequential if you’re only faking your service dog and don’t really have a need. But for those who really are dependent on their service dog, the bad rap they are getting from all the fake “service dogs” creates extra stress.

For example, if a restaurant had a bad experience with a phony service dog in the past, they may be less than welcoming to an individual with a well-trained, professional service dog. It can be incredibly frustrating for those with real service dogs to have to explain again and again that their service dog is actually trained to provide assistance in every day life and will not cause disruption.

Even more horrifying are the cases in which fake service dogs have attacked and wounded—or in some cases even killed—real, highly trained service dogs, something that is horrible for many reasons, not least of which is that the impaired person is now without their necessary support. Faking a service dog puts both the reputation and the lives of real service dogs in jeopardy.

Faking a service dog can also stress out the greater community.

Why faking a service dog hurts the community

A person with a service dog is not required by law to carry documentation. Furthermore, business owners can only ask two questions of anyone who has a service dog: “Is it a service animal?” and “What is it trained to do?”

Any other question, such as inquiries into the particulars of an individual’s disability, for example, is strictly prohibited.

And herein lies the apparent ease of faking a service dog: Because you are not required to carry documentation and business owners don’t want to risk a lawsuit by asking too many questions, they often let the dog enter, even if the veracity of the dog’s status seems questionable.

The problem is that faking a service dog not only undermines people with real disabilities, it also creates a tough situation for businesses. For example, imagine a restaurant that has to deal with people faking service dogs that are untrained for this sort of social setting. These dogs might bark, whimper, whine, beg, or even relieve themselves in that space, annoying other customers and even driving them away, thus putting business owners in an unfair bind.

This is part of the reason that a widespread flagrance of the law has now led to the laws being more strictly enforced.

New enforcements on service dog laws

In the last 3 years, many states across the country have signed legislation to enforce punishment of people falsely claiming a service dog. Punishment in most cases includes a fine and a misdemeanor charge. The hope is that the new laws will discourage such rampant abuse of the service dog title. A real service dog has a serious job to do.

While these laws will hopefully help to mitigate the negative impression fake service dogs give to the world, those with real service dogs may want to consider getting their animals registered to avoid confrontation and hassle.

Why register your service dog?

Registration is not federally mandated or compulsory, but voluntary. While it may seem that registering is unfair, it can really make your daily life easier. Registering your service dog not only legitimizes your dog (making him/her look official) but eliminates nearly all the hassles and confrontation you’ll encounter without it

That’s the reason National Service Animal Registry exists: To make life easier and less problematic for the disabled! Several members of the NSAR staff group are disabled and attest to how much easier it has been to take their animals in public after they were registered and attired appropriately.

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Where to Buy the Best Service Dog Vests Online

If you have a service animal, one decision you must make is whether or not to get a vest for your pet. These vests usually say “ESA” or “service dog” on them to let passersby know that your pet is working and should not be bothered. But do you need a vest for your dog? How do you pick out the right service pet vest? Where can you buy one of them? Read on below to learn the answers to these questions and everything else you need to know about buying the best service dog vest for your pet.

Do You Need to Purchase a Service Dog Vest?

At the moment, service dogs are not legally required to wear special vests, tags, ID, or any other form of identification. When a dog enters a private building like a store, restaurant, or airport, staff members are only allowed to ask if your pet is a service animal and what tasks they are trained to complete. They are not allowed to question you about your disability, and they cannot prevent you from accessing the property with your service pet.

Many people with service animals choose to purchase vests or other types of identification for them to limit any confusion. When people on the street or on private properties see the clearly marked service dog vest, they become aware that your pet is a working dog. They then know not to bother you or your dog. Having a vest also cuts down on a lot of questioning and conflict that could otherwise arise when going about your business with a service animal.

On the other hand, many people who rely on service animals choose not to identify their dog as a service animal because they do not want to be labeled as “disabled.” This label could potentially open them up to discrimination. Ultimately, however, the choice is yours; it is all about what makes you the most comfortable when you are walking around with your dog.

What to Consider When Choosing a Vest

There are a few crucial things to consider when looking for a vest for your dog. First, measure your dog’s waist and neck to determine what size vest you should purchase. Then, consider the style and functionality of the vest. You want something that will be comfortable for your pup and easy to put on when you go out together. The vest should also make it clear that your dog is a service animal by prominently featuring the acronym “ESA” or a synonym of it. Lastly, consider the extra features you are looking for like added pockets, padded straps, and waterproofing.

Where to Buy a Service Dog Vest

Now that you know what to look for, you can begin shopping for a vest. But where should you start? Nowadays, the best place to shop for anything is online. Before selecting a store, be sure to read reviews from past customers to ensure you are buying a high-quality product from a reputable seller. If you are looking for a vest for your service dog, contact us at the National Service Animal Registry!

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Lyft’s Service Dog Policy

There are many occasions when we need to travel by car with our Service Dogs. If we don’t drive ourselves or are without a car temporarily, we may need to use a taxi service.

The taxi industry has changed considerably in recent years with the rise of companies such as Lyft and Uber changing the way we call and pay for cabs. It’s certainly much easier than it used to be to take a taxi, it’s also more common and much cheaper.

The aim of this article is to provide you with all the information you need about the Lyft’s Service Dog Policy so you know exactly what the rules are and you can confidently book a ride for you and your Service Dog with Lyft. We will also provide details about what to do if you have a bad experience as well as some general guidance about traveling in a car with your Service Dog.

Are Service Dogs always allowed in Lyft cars?

Lyft is very supportive of people with Service Dogs. They believe everyone has the right to a safe ride and encourage their drivers to make everyone’s experience with the company a positive one.

No Lyft driver has the right to refuse you a ride because you have your Service Dog with you. Both the law and Lyft’s Service Dog Policy states that they must always say yes and take you and your Service Dog wherever you need to go.

There are no exceptions to this rule. Lyft drivers are not allowed to refuse you entry to their car with your Service Dog because they have an allergy to dogs, religious or cultural objections to animals, or even an allergy or phobia.

Do I need to carry proof that my dog is a service dog?

No, you are not required to have any sort of paperwork with you to prove your animal is a Service Dog. Your dog does not need an identification tag. The driver is not entitled to ask for any proof. If you say your animal is a Service Dog, that should be enough for the driver and he should take you and your Service Dog.

According to Lyft’s Service Animal Policy, drivers are allowed to ask you two questions:

Is the animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has he been trained to perform?

Even if a driver suspects your dog isn’t a registered Service Dog, (or tries to use this as an excuse not to take you) he is not allowed to refuse you a ride for this reason.

If any driver suspects someone is abusing the system by pretending falsely that their animal is a Service Dog, the driver would still have to take the passenger and their dog to wherever they wanted to go, but he would be at liberty to report them afterward.

What happens if a driver refuses to take me because I have a Service Dog?

If a driver refuses to allow you to use the Lyft service because you are accompanied by a Service Dog, this would be considered to be discrimination. There would be an investigation, and if it is proved that the driver refused to take you because you had a Service Dog with you, he would not be allowed to work for Lyft again. This “deactivation” would be permanent.

If you believe there has been a violation of Lyft’s Service Dog Policy, you are invited to call 1-844-250-3174 or contact support. This might include being refused a ride or charged fees because you had a Service Dog with you.

Once you submit a complaint, Lyft will investigate and get back to you within two weeks to let you know what has happened as a result of your complaint. They will tell you about any actions that have been taken, including whether the driver has been removed from the Lyft platform.

If there isn’t enough evidence to determine whether discrimination took place, a note will be made on the driver’s record about your complaint. If a similar complaint is made about the driver in future, your case will also be taken into consideration and it is likely that the driver will not be permitted to work for Lyft again.

If the investigation concludes that discrimination did not take place, no further action will be taken against the driver, but Lyft will let you know.

For full details about how to submit a complaint if you feel you were discriminated against by a Lyft driver by being refused a ride with your Service Dog or mistreated in some other way, consult the User Guide for Riders with Service Animals.

Are all Lyft Drivers knowledgable about Service Dogs?

Lyft Drivers should all be aware what a Service Dog is, and that you have the right to bring them along with you on the ride. They are informed about the sort of training Service Dogs receive and the sort of tasks they often perform.

Lyft has produced written information called the Lyft Service Animal Pamphlet which is available from their customer service department. If you are a regular user of the Lyft service it would be useful to get a copy. It very clearly states that it is Lyft’s policy that all drivers must allow Service Dogs in their cars.

Should I inform the driver in advance that I have a Service Dog with me?

It is not a legal requirement or Lyft policy that you have to let the driver know you have a Service Dog with you when you make a booking. However, you may choose to let your driver know out of courtesy.

Will I be charged any extra fees because I travel with my Service Dog?

No, you will not be charged any extra fees if you take a Service Dog with you in a Lyft car.

For instance, you will not be charged a cancelation fee if the driver cancels because you have a Service Dog (although this shouldn’t happen, if it does call 1-844-250-3174).

You cannot be charged a cleaning fee for your dog being in the car unless he urinates, vomits or defecates and the driver is able to provide photographic evidence.

I’m a Lyft driver, can I take my Service Dog in the car?

Yes, if you are a Lyft driver and have a registered Service Dog you can take them in the car with you, even when you have passengers.

It’s possible some passengers might not want to get in a car with a dog because of allergies, fear or personal preference. It’s also possible that you might not have room to take their whole party if there is a Service Dog in the car.

If that is the case you must cancel the passenger’s trip and allow them to order another car. Lyft drivers are advised to call passengers to tell them there will be a Service Dog in the car and give them the option to cancel their ride before they are picked up.

Lyft drivers are not allowed to have their own animals in the car unless they are registered Service Dogs.

Are other non-service animals allowed in Lyft cars?

While drivers are not allowed to refuse Service Dogs a ride, they can use their discretion for animals that are not registered as a Service Animal. Some drivers might not mind, others might be less keen.

If you have an animal who is not a registered Service Dog it is advisable to call the driver to check first if he will allow him to travel. If he refuses and cancels your trip, you should not be charged. If you are, contact support who will be able to refund you.

General advice about traveling in cars with dogs

Your Service Dog has probably experienced traveling by car as part of his training, but if it’s been a while or you feel a bit nervous about taking him in an unfamiliar car, read these tips about car travel for dogs to help you feel more prepared.

1. Build up to big trips

If you know you are going on a long car journey with your Service Dog, get him used to short trips first. It’s a good idea to frequently take him on a short trip so he gets confident in a car environment. If you suddenly have an emergency and need to take him in a car, you don’t want it to be a shock for him.

2. Don’t give him a big meal for the road

Dogs, like people, can get sick in cars. Perhaps more so, because it can be harder for them to balance. Avoid giving him his main meal just before you travel. Either give him a light meal or wait until you get home.

If you are going on a long journey and your Service Dog has a history of getting car sick, talk to your vet. He might be able to give you some suggestions or medication to stop him from vomiting.

3. Take him for a walk first

However well behaved your Service Dog is, traveling by car isn’t much fun for him. He might find it stressful to be in an unfamiliar environment and he might not enjoy being confined.

Make sure you take him for a good walk before his trip, to allow him to release some energy and relieve himself before he gets in the car.

4. Don’t let him hang his head out of the window

As cute as his ears look flapping in the breeze, it’s very dangerous to drive with your dog’s head out of the window as he could get injured. It’s a good idea to invest in a special harness that clips to the seatbelt in the back of the car to keep him steady.

5. Be prepared

Just in case of accidents, bring along a plastic bag or two and some wet wipes. You might also want to bring along some water and a small bowl so you can give him a drink. If you are going on a longer journey bring along something for him to sit on to protect the car from hair and accidents.

6. Never leave your animal in a parked car

You’re not likely to leave your Service Dog in a taxi unaccompanied, but just in case the situation arises, always remember how quickly cars can get dangerously hot. Never leave an animal in a parked car because they can become dehydrated very quickly.

7. Make sure your dog can be identified

Losing your Service Dog would be devastating, especially if you are traveling far from home and he is in an unfamiliar environment. Make sure he wears an identity tag and is microchipped.

Final words…

There are times when we need to travel in a car with our Service Dogs and it’s reassuring to know that Lyft, as a company, is supportive of people with Service Dogs.

If you plan to book a ride with Lyft, consider informing your driver in advance that you have a Service Dog with you out of courtesy, but remember this is not a legal requirement.

Remember also, there are no exceptions to the rule that a Lyft driver must not refuse to take you and your Service Dog even if he has a fear of dogs, an allergy, or objections on religious or cultural grounds. You are not liable for any extra fees because you travel with your Service Dog either, unless he defecates, vomits or urinates in the car.

If you believe you have been discriminated against call Lyft on 1-844-250-3174 or contact support.

We hope this article has given you all the information you need to ride confidently with Lyft with your Service Dog and the peace of mind to know that you can travel easily with your Service Dog wherever you need to go.

Happy traveling!