Not all the dogs in our program become service dogs.
Although every dog starts on the same path, only 50-60% of them become working
service dogs. Being a service dog is challenging. A dog must be able to “turn
on” and perform tasks, but then “turn off” and relax when they’re not needed. They
must be able to handle the stress of working in public. And most of all, they
must enjoy service dog work.
What happens to our
dogs who don’t become service dogs?
Sometimes our dogs show us that service dog work is not for
them. This can happen at any point in a dog’s training. What happens to the
dogs who don’t make it through our program?
Just because a dog doesn’t become a service dog doesn’t mean
the dog failed. And it certainly doesn’t mean that the puppy raiser failed. Quite
the opposite, actually. Many of the dogs that “don’t make it” simply change
careers and continue changing lives. That was the case for Autumn, Delilah,
Diesel, and Dory. These four dogs were recently accepted into the CIA’s
training program. And just this past December, former SSD dogs Aunt Nancy and
Thor graduated as CIA dogs! We’ve also placed dogs with the United Nations; the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and the state
police.
Other dogs may become therapy dogs and work in schools. We have
placed several dogs with Hill Top Academy, and the difference they have made in
students’ lives is incredible. This video from Hill Top Academy says it better
than we ever could:
(The part about Hill Top Academy starts around 0:35.)
The dogs at Hill Top Academy are changing students’ lives,
and in at least one instance, saved a student’s life. These dogs are doing the
work that best suits them and it’s making a difference.
Even if one of our dogs simply becomes a family pet, that
doesn’t mean the dog or raiser failed. It just means that the dog found the right
path for them, and their raiser helped them get there.
While each dog’s journey may start out the same, where they
end up varies, and it’s thanks to our puppy raisers that these dogs grow up to
change lives.
There is often a lot of confusion about the difference
between a service dog, an emotional support dog, and a therapy dog. What are
the differences?
Service Dogs
A service dog is individually trained to perform tasks that
are directly related to their human partner’s disability.
Service dogs (and miniature horses) are the only ones
covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By law, service
dogs must be allowed to accompany their partner into any establishment open to
the public.
In addition to the ADA, service dogs are also covered under
the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act.
Emotional support animals are comfort animals. They are not
service dogs. Unlike service dogs that must be trained in specific tasks,
emotional support animals do not need any special training. Their mere
existence provides comfort and emotional support for someone with a disability.
People who have emotional support animals do not have public
access and are not covered by the ADA. Their animals cannot accompany them to
public places such as restaurants, movie theaters, etc., unless those
establishments allow pets.
However, emotional support animals can go some places where
other pet animals cannot. Both the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access
Act include emotional support animals. Documentation from a doctor or mental
health professional may be required to prove the animal is necessary.
Therapy Dogs
A therapy dog is a well-trained pet that provides comfort to
others. They visit schools, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, and other places
with their owners.
However, even though
they go to some public places that don’t usually allow dogs, therapy dogs and
their owners do not have public access and are not covered under the ADA. They
must be invited to these establishments.
Therapy dogs are not trained in specific tasks, although
they usually need to meet certain behavior requirements, such as basic
obedience and tolerance for sudden noises, medical or assistance equipment, and
being handled by strangers, among other things.
It's International Assistance Dogs Week, an entire week devoted to recognizing and celebrating assistance dogs and everything they do to change their partners' lives! The rest of the week, we're going to post stories of service dogs and training tips, but today, we want to make sure that everyone understand what a service dog is.
There are so many different types of assistance dogs that it can get confusing. Guide dogs, service dogs, hearing dogs, balance dogs, psychiatric service dogs, seizure response dogs, facility dogs, diabetic alert dogs - there are even dogs who have been trained to detect peanuts for people who have life-threatening peanut allergies! (Please note that this isn't a comprehensive list of the types of assistance dogs.) Each of these dogs is trained in specific tasks to assist their partners. Assistance Dogs International (ADI) defines some of these types of assistance dogs, if you're interested in more details.
Today, however, we would like to discuss the difference between service dogs and therapy dogs. People often mistake therapy dogs for service dogs and vice versa.
Service Dogs
What is a service dog? According to the ADI website, a service dogs is "a dog that works for individuals with disabilities other than blindness or deafness. They are trained to perform a wide variety of tasks including but not limited to; pulling a wheelchair, bracing, retrieving, alerting to a medical crisis, and providing assistance in a medical crisis. "
Service dogs are covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They are working dogs, not pets, and each dog must be trained to perform specific tasks for their partner. Under the ADA, service dogs have public access, meaning they can accompany their partner anywhere that is open to the general public. This includes restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, and other businesses and nonprofits. Legally, access to public places cannot be denied unless the dog is out of control or not housebroken.
What is a therapy dog? A therapy dog is a pet that has been trained to provide affection and comfort to people. Therapy dogs often visit hospitals, nursing homes and schools to interact with the children and adults there. However, therapy dogs are not mentioned in the ADA and do not have public access. They must be invited to enter a public place, and business owners are well within their rights to ask a therapy dog to leave.
Emotional support dogs are similar to therapy dogs. While it may comfort their owners to have the dog with them, emotional support dogs are also pets that are not covered by the ADA and do not have public access.
Other Important Information About Service Dogs
How can you tell if a dog is a service dog? Service dogs often wear a special harness to show that they are service dogs. However, the ADA does not require service dogs to be identified by a harness. If you aren't sure if a dog is a service dog, by law you are allowed to ask two questions: 1.) is the dog a service dog required because of a disability, and 2.) what specific tasks has the dog been trained to do.
You may not ask the person what their disability is, ask them to have the dog demonstrate a task, or ask for documentation for the disability or service dog.
Can you pet a service dog? Please do not pet, feed or otherwise distract service dogs. Remember that they are working and must concentrate on assisting their partner. If you distract a service dog, you could even endanger the dog's partner.
The Norwegian Association of the Blind did a great public service announcement about the importance of not distracting assistance dogs.
You may, however, ask the person if you may pet their dog. Many times, the person will say yes, although they may make sure that the dog stays focused on them. Please don't be offended if the dog ignores you while you're petting it. This is actually a good thing! It means that the dog is most likely still focused on its partner, which is exactly what it's supposed to do.
If you ask to pet a service dog and the dog's partner says no, please respect their decision.
Can you talk to someone with a service dog? Of course! People who have service dogs or who are training service dogs are often more than happy to talk to you. But please talk to the person and not the dog. After all, the person is the one who is going to answer you!
Those of us who have dogs know that they have an amazing ability to make us happy. Even if you don't have a dog, you may have noticed that petting or even just seeing a dog can lift your mood and make you smile.
But did you know that your dog can become a certified therapy dog. As a therapy dog, your dog will have the opportunity to bring smiles to lots of people. At PawsAbilities, you and your dog will have the chance to take the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test and the Therapy Dog International (TDI) test to become a certified therapy dog.
In order to become a certified therapy dog, dogs must first pass the CGC test. CGC is a program of the American Kennel Club to certify that dogs have good manners at home and in the community. Dogs will be tested on ten different categories, including acceptance of a friendly stranger, recalls, and their reaction to other dogs and distractions. The TDI test builds on the CGC requirements to include the dog's reactions to medical equipment, leave it, acclimation to infirmities, and reactions to all people, especially children.
What is a therapy dog?
A therapy dog is a pet that has been certified as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs have wonderful temperaments and get along with people, especially children, as well as other dogs and animals. Therapy dogs may visit schools for reading programs and other activities, or they may visit hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, libraries and shelters. Some therapy dogs may even make home visits.
Many therapy dogs can sense when someone needs them, and they'll go right up to them for some cuddle time. The TDI website has a beautiful story about a therapy dog named Alex that helped a little boy come out of his depression and smile again. [Note: To read this story, you'll have to scroll down in the middle column on TDI's homepage.]
What is the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog?
People sometimes confuse therapy dogs with service dogs, but they are not the same. A therapy dog is a pet, while a service dog is not.
Service dogs have public access, meaning they can accompany their partner anywhere that caters to the public. They can go into grocery stores, museums, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. - all places where you cannot typically take pets. Although therapy dogs can go into schools, libraries, hospitals, and other similar places, they can only go when they are invited for a therapy visit. Therapy dogs do not have public access and should not accompany their owners to places like the grocery store.
A service dog is trained in specific tasks to assist their partner in their daily life. Legally, service dogs and their partners are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A therapy dog, on the other hand, is trained to provide comfort and affection, and they are not mentioned in the ADA.
Susquehanna Service Dogs raises, trains, and places service dogs to assist individuals with disabilities. We train service, hearing, balance and companion dogs to support men, women, and children to be more independent.
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