Considering making your dog a working dog? Here’s more information on specialized training Saving Duos can help with:
A service dog is a dog trained in specific tasks to aid an individual with a disability or multiple disabilities. These dogs are highly trained to be completely neutral to their environment. There are a lot of tasks a service dog can be trained to do and each will be specific to their handlers disability. Under the American’s with Disabilities Act service dogs are federally protected to have public access in places pets are not. Businesses are legally allowed to ask two questions: 1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and 2. what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? Given that these are correctly and successfully answered, the animal must be allowed in. Farther important notes include that vests, harnesses, and/or any type of labelling on service animals are not required by law. The United States of America DOES NOT have any form of legal registry for service animals. Plus, businesses CAN ask dogs to leave if they are 1. the dog is out of control and the handler can’t control it or 2. the dog is not housebroken. It is also important to note that under the federal law, service animals do have housing protection. Please visit ada.gov for more information on service animals. It is important to talk to your doctor if you think a service animal could benefit your daily life.
Therapy dogs are also highly trained dogs who know how to be calm in any situation. They are trained to provide comfort, love, and affection to the public and anyone who approaches them. Therapy dog teams (handler + dogs) volunteer their time to provide comfort in a variety of settings both professionally and non-professionally. It is important to note that therapy dog teams do not have public access, but are granted public access for their therapy dog work. Therapy dogs are often seen working in locations like schools, hospitals, airports, first-responder/firehouse locations, and more. Therapy dogs do not have protected housing under the US federal law.
A facility dog is another type of highly trained working dog. Facility dogs are trained to and work along side their handler at one specific facility. They are often seen in hospital or therapy type settings and are trained to help people meet animal-assisted intervention goals. While facility dogs don’t have public access rights, they are approved by their specific facility to work inside the location. Facility dogs are not protected for housing under the federal law. It is important to check with your facility, if they will approve a facility dog to work in partnership with you.
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