To make your dog a service dog, you need to follow several key steps involving eligibility, training, and sometimes registration for convenience, though registration is not legally required.
1. Confirm Your Eligibility
You must have a qualifying disability-physical or mental-that substantially limits a major life activity such as working, moving, or socializing. Disabilities can include visual impairment, hearing loss, mobility limitations, anxiety, PTSD, and others. For psychiatric service dogs, a licensed mental health professional can provide a letter confirming your eligibility
2. Assess Your Dog’s Suitability
Your dog should have a calm temperament, be trainable, healthy, and able to handle various environments without aggression. Basic obedience and socialization are essential traits for a service dog
3. Train Your Dog
Training is the most critical step. Your dog must be individually trained to perform specific tasks or jobs that directly mitigate your disability. Training includes:
- Basic obedience (sit, stay, come, heel)
- Task-specific skills related to your disability (e.g., retrieving items, alerting to medical conditions)
- Public access behavior (remaining calm, focused, and under control in public places)
You can train your dog yourself or work with professional trainers. The ADA does not require professional training, and you are allowed to train your own service dog
4. Public Access Test
Your dog should be tested to ensure it behaves appropriately in public settings, demonstrating the ability to stay focused and controlled despite distractions
5. Optional Registration and Identification
While the ADA does not require service dogs to be registered or wear vests/ID, many handlers choose to register their dogs and obtain ID cards or vests to ease access to public places and avoid confrontations. Registration is a convenience, not a legal necessity
Summary
- Have a qualifying disability confirmed by a healthcare professional.
- Ensure your dog has the right temperament and health.
- Train your dog in obedience, task-specific skills, and public behavior.
- Optionally, register your dog and obtain identification for easier public access.
By following these steps, your dog can legally function as a service dog under the ADA, providing you with the support needed for your disability
