Service dogs are assistance animals that help individuals with a disability in their day-to-day lives. These dogs can provide a comforting presence to their handlers while performing tasks like guiding someone who’s visually impaired, to deep pressure therapy during a panic attack, to reminding the handler that it is time to take medication.
Given their benefits, many individuals ask themselves this question: Can you train your own service dog? The answer might be more surprising than you think, and we will cover everything you need to know in this article. Continue reading to find out if you can train your own service dog.
Service Dog Definition Under the ADA
Before covering whether or not you can train your own service dog, let’s first get to know service dogs better by looking at the definition of these animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act, shortly known as the ADA.
According to the law, a service dog is a dog that’s trained for a disability-related task, whether psychiatric, physical, emotional, sensory, or any other. Because these dogs perform disability-related tasks to benefit their handlers, the ADA allows them to accompany their handlers in public places, including places that generally don’t allow pets, such as inside restaurants and government buildings.
Can You Train Your Own Service Dog?
What about training your own service dog? What does the Americans with Disabilities Act say about this?
When it comes to training your own service dog, many people think that it isn’t possible. Sure, service dogs perform remarkable tasks, with some of them doing things that can only be trained by a professional dog trainer, but the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn’t require service dogs to be trained by a professional.
Therefore, you can train your own service dog. As long as your service dog can perform a disability-related task and is well-behaved in public without causing any disruptions, you don’t have anything to worry about.
What Are Other Service Dog Requirements?
In addition to the above, there are also other requirements that service dogs must meet. Here’s a brief overview of the service dog requirements.
First and foremost, a service dog must be housebroken and under the handler’s control. While service dogs can enter public places with their handlers without being restricted by pet policies, a lack of these can be a legal basis for businesses to ask the handler to remove their service dogs.
However, businesses must first ask the handler to get the service dog under control, and they can only remove the service dog if the handler cannot get the dog under control. This is important for those who intend to train their own service dogs; obedience training must come before service dog training.
Another requirement for service dogs is that they must meet city and state licensing requirements. If your city or state requires that all dogs must be licensed, your service dog won’t be exempt from it. This also applies to emotional support dogs; you still need to follow these regulations regardless of your dog’s status.
The Easiest Service Dogs to Train
While training your own service dog is legally possible, it is important to set realistic expectations. Not every owner can train a service dog that’s effective for a disability. For instance, it is much easier to train a psychiatric service dog than a mobility assistance dog or guide dog due to the complexity of the tasks.
Before starting service dog training, consider the disability for which you want a service dog in order to decide if it is a viable option. Plus, the availability of the training resources varies greatly. If you need a service dog to perform a very specific task, it can be difficult to find appropriate training resources for it.
Can You Train Your Own Service Dog? Absolutely!
We gave a clear answer to the question: can you train your own service dog. If you’re interested in training your own service dog, we highly recommend seeking guidance from professional training materials.
Follow the US Service Animal’s service dog training course or another from a reputable organization that’s developed by experts to ensure your service dog won’t let you down when it comes to performing their trained tasks effectively. You can also consult US Service Animals to find out if a service dog is the right option for you or your loved ones with a disability.
