What are your requirements for service dog training?
Before accepting a future or actively working service dog into my modular owner-assisted programs, I require an evaluation. This evaluation allows me to meet you and your dog, assess your current level of training and understanding, and ensure that your goals align with both the legal requirements for a working service dog, and your individual dog’s needs & capabilities.
I work with dogs between 8 weeks and 4 years of age within my modular programs, and handlers of all ages (see my answer to “Will you work with minors?” for more details.) Dogs must have full and smooth mobility and no pre-existing health conditions. Dogs displaying behavioral issues such as reactivity, anxiety, marking, or guarding may be required to go through additional tracks of training to completely resolve those issues before beginning service dog training, and may be entirely ineligible depending on the severity of these problems.
Handlers must be capable of safely controlling their dog during lessons and classes, capable of providing adequate at-home care, training, and enrichment for their dog, or have a support system/additional household members capable of doing this for them in attendance. Handlers must have an impairment for which we can train the dog to perform tasks to directly mitigate. If the desired tasks are not directly related to the handler’s disability or the handler fails to adequately train & maintain those tasks, the dog cannot be considered a service dog.
Can my dog be a service dog?
That question is impossible to answer without knowing you and your dog individually. Legally, for your dog to be considered a service dog, you as a team must meet 3 requirements.
First, you must be disabled. The definition of “disabled” being having a condition that significantly impairs your ability to independently perform one or more major life functions.
Secondly, your individual dog must be trained to perform specific behaviors that directly reduce the impact of your disability in one or more areas. “Comfort” and “protection” are not valid trained tasks.
Lastly, your dog must be under control & non-disruptive, housetrained, and non-aggressive.
In the U.S, there is no federally recognized certification or ID system. Whether a dog is legally a service dog is determined by whether they meet the three requirements above, not any outside certifying body.