Service Dog Training Certification

Many people with disabilities do not realize that they do not need to pay thousands of dollars to acquire a well-trained service dog. There is no restriction on breed or size, just that the dog is trained to aid its handler with her disability. There are services that breed, raise and train a service dog for future handlers, while others teach disabled handlers to train their own dogs. Either way, the training and certification process is generally the same.

  1. Certification

    • According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, certification by an institution is not necessary to make a dog a service dog. Institutions that train and certify service dogs exist to improve a handler's and dog's training and for the convenience of a certificate to present as verification if needed. The only requirement laid out by the ADA is that the handler has a chronic medical condition for which the dog has been trained in a specific set of tasks to benefit the handler.

    Puppy Raising

    • The first step in getting a dog certified is usually raising a puppy to be well-socialized and well-mannered. Socialization is an important part of early training so the dog is comfortable with strangers and children, does not startle easily, is not afraid of various common objects such as wheelchairs, shopping carts, strollers and motorcycles. If a dog cannot be well-socialized or well-mannered in general, the dog will be issued a "career change," meaning the dog will be placed in a home as a pet and not continue service dog training.

    Training

    • Once the dog reaches between 12 and 18 months old, official service training begins. This process can take anywhere from six weeks to 18 months, depending on what the dog is being trained to do. A guide dog for the blind will undergo much more training than most service dogs, such as those for handlers with psychiatric disabilities. During this period of intense training, if the dog cannot perform the tasks consistently and reliably, the dog may receive a "career change" to a well-trained family pet.

    Testing

    • Finally, certification requires the dog to perform a field test with its handler through public areas, including a store, library and/or public transportation. The certification tester shadows the team, monitoring where the dog's attention remains, if it is distracted by children or food smells, if it startles easily, permits strangers to be near without appearing threatened and if it consistently performs the tasks asked of it by the handler. At the end of the test, the certification tester will usually give the handler some notes on performance and determine if the service dog team passed the test. If the team passed, the team is issued a certificate of graduation and sometimes a specialized service patch. The team can retake the test if they did not pass but the certification tester may recommend a "career change" for the dog if the testing standards are not met repeatedly.

    Benefits

    • While the ADA does not require service dog certification, it can come in handy during awkward situations. When a disabled person is applying for an apartment, showing a certification for the service dog can eliminate a lot of hassle regarding pet deposits and verifying medical necessity. If a handler is hospitalized, the certificate quickly becomes useful in presenting the need of the service dog's presence. While most handlers will not carry the certificate everywhere, a badge identifying the dog as a certified service dog will prevent many confrontations in grocery stores, malls, movie theaters, libraries and other public places where generally dogs are not welcome.