Is It Illegal To Dress Your Dog As A Service Dog

When it comes to Service Dogs or Service Dogs in Grooming with public access, there are definite things Service Dogs in public should and should not do. Learn more about how well-trained Service Dogs should announced and what U.S. Service Domestic dog police force says near dogs who don't quite possess the skills necessary to safely work in public.

Well Behaved Service Dogs Make Life Easier for Everyone

You're sitting in a cafe, enjoying a nice cup of coffee with your well-trained, well-mannered canine partner when someone waltzes in with a dog in tow. The dog is lunging at everyone who walks past, jumps up on the counter, gulps down a bagel and then whirls effectually to start barking at people when they walk in. The manager rushes forward and politely states, "We're sorry, ma'am, only we're going to have to ask you to accept your domestic dog exterior. We don't allow pets."

Breezily, the adult female waves him off and announces, "He'south my Service Dog. He gets to go with me anywhere I go." The manager casts an appraising eye over the natural disaster of the dog who is now walking effectually and around his legs, tangling him in its leash, before hesitantly inquiring, "Do y'all have any papers?" He knows the law doesn't crave ID for Service Dogs, just surely, for THIS domestic dog, she'due south required to carry SOMETHING, correct?

The adult female scoffs at the thought while reaching downwardly to rub her dog's head. "I don't need whatever papers. Federal police doesn't crave me to carry any. He'south a Service Dog; that's all you need to know."

The director mumbles an apology and walks away. From the safety of the counter, he eyeballs the dog and owner as the adult female allows him to run up to anyone, spring on their lap and even kiss them or sniff their food. Just before leaving, the canis familiaris squats on the floor and urinates. The dog's handler walks away from the mess and he sends a staff fellow member to quickly make clean it up. He considers calling the police, but is agape of getting in trouble for breaking ADA regulations and federal law. Finally, though, the adult female leaves with her unruly canis familiaris in tow and he breathes a sigh of relief.

What other options did this poor, frazzled director possess? Since the woman has produced the magic "Service Dog" words, information technology may have seemed he has no recourse but to back off and leave this cocky-professed "Service Dog" squad exist. Fortunately for him, though, (and the other patrons of the shop!) that's not the case. While federal Service Dog law is written to protect individuals with disabilities and their complete, unfettered public admission with their (well-trained) canine partners, it also has provisions to protect businesses and other members of the public from "Service Dogs" in public who shouldn't exist in that location. Individuals with a inability have the right to have their Service Dog accompany them anywhere members of the public are allowed to exist, but business owners and patrons have rights, too.

What the Law Says

U.South. Code of Federal Regulations§ 36.202(c)(two):

(2) Exceptions. A public accommodation may ask an individual with a disability to remove a service animal from the premises if:
(i) The animal is out of control and the animal's handler does non take effective activeness to control information technology; or
(ii) The animal is not housebroken.

(3) If an animal is properly excluded. If a public accommodation properly excludes a service creature under § 36.302(c)(2), information technology shall give the individual with a disability the opportunity to obtain goods, services, and accommodations without having the service animal on the premises.

As excerpted from U.S. Code of Federal Regulations§ 36.202, there are two instances cited in federal police force where a business organisation may exclude a Service Dog:

The Service Dog is out of control and the handler isn't doing anything nigh it
The Service Domestic dog isn't housebroken and urinates or defecates inappropriately

If a Service Domestic dog squad is asked to leave due to the dog's behavior, the business must provide the unaccompanied handler the opportunity to obtain goods or services. Only the dog can exist excluded from the premises. If a canis familiaris'due south behavior infringes on the ability of other patrons to savor a safe, routine experience like to one they would experience without a Service Dog on-site, then a business concern may be perfectly within their right legally to enquire the team to leave. Earlier making that determination, though, cheque out the lists beneath detailing what Service Dogs in public should do and what Service Dogs in public shouldn't exercise.

Service Dogs in Public Should:

Focus on their handler at all times unless doing trained chore work.
Possess a stable, even temperament without anxiety, reactivity or aggression of any kind.
Walk nicely on a ternion without pulling, straining, lunging, lagging, circumvoluted or forging, unless the dog's task work requires tension on the ternion, and the pulling is a trained behavior with a purpose.
Remain quietly by their handler's side when their handler stops without wandering or losing focus.
Lay quietly under the tabular array or beside their handler's chair without getting up or moving around excessively. Irresolute positions is fine; outright breaking stays to reply or engage with distractions or to wander off is not.
Ignore distractions.
Be repose at all times unless performing specific, trained task work. Outside of trained and necessary task piece of work, there should be NO other vocalization, including, merely non express to, whining, grumbling, wooing, barking, growling, whimpering or other noise. Unless working, Service Dogs should be seen by the public and not heard.
Appear professional, well-groomed and well-taken care of. Your Service Dog is a representative of both you and the Service Canis familiaris community. She should ever leave anybody she comes in contact with with excellent impressions.
Go along his or her nose to his or her self at all times, even if there are food, products or other interesting things readily attainable. Sniffing people, objects or food is not only rude, it'due south a possible wellness hazard. Exceptions to this rule include Allergen Alert Dogs or other Service Dogs who rely on their olfactory organ to perform their work. However, the Service Dog'due south sniffing should be straight related to job work and not random or only "exploring."
Respond rapidly and readily to the handler'due south commands, cues or directions. Service Dogs should give off the appearance to anyone watching that they are highly trained and that they completely understand what's being asked of them. Service Dogs should possess outstanding obedience skills and above-average manners and both should be readily credible. A Service Domestic dog's demeanor, training and behavior should, without question, differentiate them from all only the best-trained pet dogs.
Be able to do pertinent task work to mitigate their handler'southward inability. In order to be considered a "Service Dog" under U.S. federal law, a domestic dog must be partnered with an individual with a disability AND perform specific, trained task work to mitigate that inability. Task work is not optional. If a canis familiaris doesn't perform task work, she'southward not a Service Domestic dog – she's an Emotional Support Animal and she doesn't belong in public.

Service Dogs in Public Should NOT:

Urinate or defecate inappropriately. If a domestic dog isn't house trained, she doesn't vest in public, Service Domestic dog or not. For younger Service Dogs in Training, outings should be brusk enough to provide plenty of opportunities to brand trips outside. "Accidents" are ane of the few reasons a business concern can exclude a Service Dog team and at that place are no excuses for having a Service Dog who isn't house trained. On very, very, very, very rare occasions, a Service Domestic dog may truly be sick or have an upset abdomen and an accident is unavoidable, but those occurrences are definitely an exception and not to be expected from Service Dogs.
Whine, bark, grumble, growl or make other noises. An exception may exist if the whining is an warning, such equally to notify a handler who is experiencing a panic set on or a driblet in claret sugar.
Pick food or objects up off the floor or steal (or even show much interest in) food or items that are sitting out. Exceptions to the "picking objects upwards off the floor" dominion include dogs who retrieve dropped items for their handlers or who are otherwise doing trained chore work. In general, though, Service Dogs should non collaborate with distractions or any kind unless cued to or otherwise working.
Sniff staff members, patrons, floors, tables, counters, surfaces, products, shelving or anything else unless the Service Dog is performing specific, trained task work, such equally detecting allergens or other substances unsafe to their handler.
Drag or pull their handler for any reason, unless the dog is performing specific mobility-related task work for their handler equally evidenced by the presence of a caryatid mobility back up harness, other job-related gear or wheelchair assist harness. A Service Domestic dog'south behavior should never announced "out of command," and there'due south a huge difference betwixt a Service Dog providing counter-balance for their handler past leaning into a harness and a dog who is simply dashing here and in that location and yanking their handler towards distractions.
Wander or move widely out of heel position unless cued to by their handler. While Service Dogs aren't robots and can't be expected to maintain exact heel position at all times, neither should they range widely plenty to infringe on the space, movement or rights of other patrons or teams. Service Dogs should be responsive to their handler'south movements and focused enough to readily move with him/her without pregnant lags or delay. Service Dogs should not exist so engaged or engrossed with the surrounding environment or distractions that they requite the appearance of wandering, heedless, ignoring or of just being generally untrained.
Pause "stays," "unders," or other stock-still-position behaviors to investigate distractions, explore or other movement around. Exceptions include Service Dogs who must perform task work that requires them to take the initiative to respond to their handler'southward disability regardless of location or position or to retrieve assistance/medication/help. The Service Dog'south conclusion to break position or disobey a "stay" should be a DIRECT result of specific, trained job piece of work. Once more, there'southward a huge divergence betwixt a domestic dog who gets upwards because they're bored or distracted and a Service Dog who'southward patently responding to their handler's disability.
Be anxious, fidgety, agitated or aggressive in any mode, shape, form or manner. A Service Dog should never make anyone interacting with her nervous or afraid because of her direct behavior. Some people are afraid of dogs or intimidated past large, dark or certain breeds of dogs, but a Service Dog's actions should NEVER contribute to that fear. Dogs who are anxious, on edge, reactive, fearful or aggressive in Whatsoever fashion do not belong in public and especially non as a Service Dog representative.
Stink, smell or appear unkempt/ungroomed in any mode.
Appoint with other dogs, people, children or distractions unless allowed to practice so by their human partner. The key here is "allowed to do so past their human." There's nothing wrong with allowing a Service Domestic dog to greet a friendly child or dog if the handler is comfortable with it, simply it should be the handler's decision and choice, not the Service Canis familiaris's. A Service Dog should non announced overly excited, unfocused, distracted, overstimulated or otherwise out of control. There'south no defined line in the sand on this ane, but it'south easy to know one time yous see it.
Leap, scratch, mouth or exhibit other "out of control" behavior. A Service Canis familiaris should NEVER exhibit rude, ill-mannered, untrained, or behaviors that are considered inappropriate or nuisances. They should NEVER infringe on other patron'south personal space in a way that appears untrained or boorish. This includes laying their head on stranger's knees, licking easily while passing by, or leaning against the legs of the person continuing side by side in line. It's not "cute," regardless of whether or not the other person provides assurances they're "ok with information technology." A Service Domestic dog should NEVER engage in any behavior or activity that could potentially exist hurtful, harmful, leave a bad taste in someone's mouth or cause the handler to have to apologize to the recipient.

If you're out in public and you see a "Service Dog" engaging in "should not" behaviors and it's readily obvious the dog in question is just more often than not ill-mannered or non well-trained, ask to quietly speak to a manager. Let the manager know that while federal constabulary does require them to permit admission for all Service Dog teams, they're not required to deal with dogs who aren't gear up for public access yet, and that federal police allows them to quietly enquire the handler to remove the dog from the premise. Don't challenge the team directly, but past letting the manager know federal law protects their business concern' and patron's rights to not be molested or subjected to poorly behaved Service Dogs, y'all'll exist paving the way towards meliorate admission rights for well-trained Service Domestic dog teams.

Encouraging Service Dog Standards

When business owners know they accept a recourse for dealing with Service Dogs who, due to their temperament, manners or lack of training, obviously shouldn't be working in public, in that location's less backlash from negative encounters with dogs showcasing unacceptable behavior. Many concern owners fear excluding a poorly-behaved squad due to the "must provide admission, flow, or you lot're breaking the police force" statements touted by those who drag their substandard dogs around with them in public, and with every example their business, clients or sense of control suffers due to a bad feel, the more all teams, even well-trained and professional ones, will run across access challenges and issues. By providing the manager with the real facts concerning Service Dog access rights, you're empowering him or her to respond appropriately to those individuals and dogs who negatively impact or touch the Service Dog customs as a whole and who cause major bug and issues for any and all real teams to follow in their wake.

Assistance educate businesses and protect Service Dog access rights past sharing this post

By giving businesses the tools to recognize what Service Dogs in public should and should non be doing, yous'll be helping to lessen access challenges overall for teams who have well-trained, well-mannered canine halves and educated, informed human halves. Got something to add, an experience to share or something you feel we should take considered? Tell us with a comment.

Often, people who suffer from invisible disabilities have trouble advocating for themselves and their canine partners. Service Dog Standards is hither to assist. Learn more >