Service Dog FAQ's

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act:

"Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."             

There are several types of Service Dog, each with specific skill sets. I specialize in:

• Psychiatric Service Dogs for PTSD, anxiety, panic disorders, and other qualifying disorders. 
• Medical Alert Service Dogs for medication reminders and retrieval, migraines, and other conditions. 
• Mobility Assist Service Dogs for retrieving items, pressing buttons, opening doors, turning on lights, balance assist, and more.

At this time, I do NOT train Guide or Seeing Eye Dogs, Hearing Dogs, or Medical Alert Dogs for diabetes, seizures, or autism. 

Yes. To be compliant with the ADA, protect the handler, and maintain the integrity of trained service dogs, I require documentation to start any service dog training program. 

This can include any of the following:

• A letter listing your ADA covered disability, written by your physician.
• A medical questionnaire, completed by your physician.
• A VA Award letter documenting your service-related disability.

I am often asked, "If I don't have a qualifying disability, can you help me train my dog to be a therapy dog or emotional support animal? I want to be able to take my dog with me everywhere." The short answer is, no. According to the ADA, a person must have a qualifying disability to have a service dog. There are also some very big differences between 

service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals. 

• Therapy Dogs are specifically trained to work with the public. Their handlers are usually part of an organization that has relationships with hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. These organizations have their own training requirements for the dogs in their programs. Therapy dogs are not trained to alert to medical conditions or provide medical assistance. They provide comfort and companionship. Though they are allowed into some public facilities, they do not have the same access as service dogs.

• Emotional Support Animals (ESA's) can assist with phobias, depression, and anxiety. They can be any species, such as dogs, cats, birds, or reptiles. Emotional support animals provide a therapeutic benefit, such as comfort, emotional support, or companionship. They do not undergo the same intense training as service dogs, and are not covered by federal laws that protect the use of service animals.  ESA's are only allowed in pet friendly locations, they do not have public access.

The length of service dog training can vary significantly for each team. 

There are many factors to keep in mind, including:

• The age of your dog.
• The socialization process that is right for your dog.
• Your dog's learning pace.
• Your learning pace.
• Your limitations.
• Your commitment to practicing everyday with your dog.

There are two main factors in determining if a service dog is fully trained. The first is, the dog must be extremely well-mannered in public. The dog is expected to stay next to their handler, ignoring the public and most things in the environment. The second is, the dog must be trained to alert and assist with their handler's disability.

It can take between 1-2 years to fully train a service dog. This is an average, as a few teams may need less time, while others may need more. Each team is different and has their own unique set of challenges. 

I develop an individual training program for each client. Programs are created based on the specific needs of the handler, the socialization of the dog, and the development and strengthening of the team's bond.

Training starts with a consultation, where we cover your disability and your need for a service dog. We also cover the health and temperament of your dog.

The next step will be to schedule an evaluation of your dog. If your dog passes the evaluation, you and I will meet once a week for training. You will be expected to work with your dog everyday for several hours at the beginning of your program, eventually working with your dog full time.  If your dog does not pass the evaluation, you have the option to adopt a dog for your program.

There are several milestones and evaluations throughout your program. Once you and your dog have passed your last evaluation, you are considered graduates. At this point, I will provide you with documentation you may need for access and travel.

Training a service dog is a very serious commitment. You are going to have a dog with you 24 hours a day. To many, this sounds fun. In reality, training can be frustrating, complicated, and time-consuming. Service dogs are not just well-behaved pets. They learn many skills to help their handler navigate in public. Teams are expected to spend a lot of time, both with and without their trainer, in a variety of locations.

Public access assessments will be given to determine when a team can go into non-pet friendly, public places. Some places, including Federal facilities, do not allow service dogs in training, so you will need to graduate in order to have access. Places of employment and schools may have individual requirements before permitting your dog.

Service dogs are very special. They dedicate their lives to their handlers. Very few dogs have the gifts required to be a service dog. Here are just a few requirements:

• Confidence: your dog should not be fearful in public, near people, or around other animals. Service dogs encounter a lot of loud sounds, strange smells, scary sites, and busy environments. A confident dog is not aggressive or overly excited. Barking and lunging cannot occur in public.
• Calm demeanor: your dog is not a robot and it is allowed to react when something occurs in public. Service dogs are expected to recover quickly and stay on task. They should not become stressed or anxious when the handler becomes stressed.
• Focused: your dog will be required to ignore things in the environment and stay focused on you when needed. Dogs with a high prey drive and are very distracted by other animals are unlikely candidates. Dogs who frequently seek out the attention of people or are "really friendly" are usually unable to focus on their handler and also make unlikely candidates.
• Age 6 months to 3 years: starting with a dog who is too young has many challenges. They may have potty training issues and be hard to keep on task. On the other hand, starting training with a dog over the age of 3 years limits the amount of time your dog can work. Service dogs need to be retired once they start to show signs of health issues, including age related problems such as arthritis.
• Breed restrictions: None. A service dog can be any breed or size. A dog's breed can be a factor based on the handler's needs. For example, we would not use a Chihuahua to be a balance assist dog for a handler, due to its size. 
• In New Mexico, most counties require all dogs to be microchipped, spayed or neutered, and current on vaccinations. Dogs will be required to have an up-to-date Rabies and Distemper/Parvo (DA2PP) vaccine. I also recommend the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine due to high exposure risks for service dogs. Some cities, such as Rio Rancho, require all dogs to have a city license.

If your dog has these traits/requirments and you believe they would be a good service dog, an evaluation will be performed to determine if they are right for the program.

Not a problem! We will work together to find the right dog for you. Our goal will be finding a dog that meets the basic requirements to begin training and has a strong connection with you. We have many options such as local shelters, rescues, and private adoptions.