Service Dog Question

[aubriee]

I know service dogs come in all shapes and sizes (including small ones). My question is just a matter of curiosity. I saw something unusual last week at AK and was just curious about it. We had an absolutely wonderful guide on the Safari and on the way out of the park that afternoon I stopped by guest services to leave a comment card for him. (He was really that good--best we have ever had). Anyway, there was a lady in guest services that had the cutest little yorkie in her arms. She was irate that the bag checkers told her she could not bring it into the park with her. I heard the guest services CM tell her that most service dogs had a vest they wore or at least paperwork that said they were service animals. Apparently this dog had nothing that showed he was a service dog. I had my doubts, simply because he was yapping so much and was so hyper. It was all she could do to hold onto him. He just did not seem like a well trained service animal. Anyway, I filled out the comment card and left before I saw what the final outcome was. I didn't think much about it until a few days later when I saw the same lady walking around, carrying the dog in MK. Do service animals have to wear a vest or at least have papers showing they are service animals?

This tiny dog may or may not have been a real service dog, but with his hyperactivity and constant yapping, just didn't seem to be the type. Do you have to show anything to prove that a dog is a service animal and don't they have to be well behaved and controlled?

 

[SueM in MN]

They do not have to wear a vest or have paperwork.
The owner does have to tell that there is a service they provide that is related to a disability.
For example, I met someone on a walk and asked her not to pet my dog until I released him since he is in training to be a service dog. She asked what kind of things he was being trained to do and I explained that he was being taught to pick things up for DD because she is in a wheelchair and can't pick things off the floor if she dropped them. The woman said that she had NO disability, but wanted her next dog to be a service dog so she could take it more places. She said that picking up things would be useful for anyone and that was what she would have him do. Ah, no. Not unless a disability is why you can't pick the things up.

The dog DOES have to be well behaved. And if it is not, a business has the right to tell the person to leave even if the dog is providing a service. There are some links to information about service dogs in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread (including links to ADA guidelines). Dogs providing mental health services don't get the same protection under those laws.

 

[mechurchlady]

Even a chihuahua can be a service dog as the little dogs can pick things up, alert deaf persons to crying babies and doorbells, and help autistic kids and other neurovariants with emotional stability.

A problem is that anyone can train their dog and call it a service dog. I cannot believe how many sites are out there that let you turn your dog into a service dog. Some people believe their pet should go to the parks with them so they lie about their pet being a service dog. Some think they have a service dog because it gives them comfort but they are wrong.

My dearest Mandy and Katey were my comforters and gave me emotional help. Katey would pick things up and take things into the kitchen to my mother. Two sweet dogs but despite all the love and comfort and help they gave me there is not way I could say they were service dogs.

Like Sue said they have the right to refuse service to a service animal if said animal is a menace to society, filthy, unsanitary, or could get hurt like on a roller coaster. The disabled have rights but there are limitations just like with normal people. True service animal owners have well behaved animals who behave in public, are clean, and are sanitary.

Yorkies could be trained to do fetching and comfort work if they have a good breeding. It is sad that someone could think they had a service dog especially a yipping one.

 

[christymarie]

We have a special tag on Gemini's collar that identifies her as a Service dog. If we ever get questioned we also have the phone number for the place that certified her so they can verify that she is, in fact, a fully certified service dog. Only certified service dogs can go anywhere, companion dogs are not allowed the same access by the ADA.

 

[aubriee]

The only reason I had my doubts about this little yorkie is because of how he was yapping and wriggling to get out of his owner's arm's. He was adorable, but just so hyper and so misbehaved, I had my doubts that it was even a service dog. I swear it was all she could do to hold onto the little thing. He was cute though. Again it was none of my business. I was just curious if such a misbehaving dog could be a service dog. All the service dogs I've ever seen were so quiet and well behaved.

 

[videogal1]

The only reason I had my doubts about this little yorkie is because of how he was yapping and wriggling to get out of his owner's arm's. He was adorable, but just so hyper and so misbehaved, I had my doubts that it was even a service dog. I swear it was all she could do to hold onto the little thing. He was cute though. Again it was none of my business. I was just curious if such a misbehaving dog could be a service dog. All the service dogs I've ever seen were so quiet and well behaved.

Probably why she was having a tough time convincing anyone it was a service dog. The animal has to be trained to perform a task that mitigates the handler's disability per the ADA. It would be difficult to see how a dog of any size could be much use in mitigating a disability if it is concentrating on something other than its handler...a big reason why people who insist on fondling someone's service dog are such a nuisance...

 

[dclfun]

I doubt it was a service dog and I'm soooo glad to hear that she was questioned as often Disney CM's don't want to be confrontational to a guest and give them the benefit of the doubt. While a yorkie or any breed can be a SD, the fact that it was misbehaving leads me to believe this one was not, and as was mentioned, even if it was, a SD can be denied access if it is misbehaving, with the handler allowed to re-enter once the dog is removed. Unfortunately abuse has become rampant. A friend of mine has regularly seen people in the parks with small dogs in strollers. A dog cannot perform a task from a stroller. One woman even claimed that the dog had a disability and could not be left alone. Disney let them in.

 

[Schmeck]

One woman even claimed that the dog had a disability and could not be left alone. Disney let them in.

Did the dog get a GAC? Did it have a service cat along? I know, I'm being inappropriate, but this is just so over the top!

 

[mechurchlady]

Did the dog get a GAC? Did it have a service cat along? I know, I'm being inappropriate, but this is just so over the top!

You need a time out in the corner for that comment. Go on, scoot over to Casey's Coke Corner for Coke, hot dog or chili, and chips.

 

[LauraVV]

They do not have to wear a vest or have paperwork.
The owner does have to tell that there is a service they provide that is related to a disability.

The dog DOES have to be well behaved. And if it is not, a business has the right to tell the person to leave even if the dog is providing a service. T

Some think they have a service dog because it gives them comfort but they are wrong.

Yorkies could be trained to do fetching and comfort work if they have a good breeding. It is sad that someone could think they had a service dog especially a yipping one.

We have a special tag on Gemini's collar that identifies her as a Service dog. If we ever get questioned we also have the phone number for the place that certified her so they can verify that she is, in fact, a fully certified service dog. Only certified service dogs can go anywhere, companion dogs are not allowed the same access by the ADA.

The only reason I had my doubts about this little yorkie is because of how he was yapping and wriggling to get out of his owner's arm's. He was adorable, but just so hyper and so misbehaved, I had my doubts that it was even a service dog. I swear it was all she could do to hold onto the little thing.

At this point in time, there is no such thing as a "certified" service dog. Right now, a service dog is a dog that was specifically trained to perform a task that mitigates a disabled person's disability. A person without seizures who has a seizure alert dog, for example, doesn't have a service dog even if their dog does alert to seizures. Comforting is NOT a trained task.

A companion dog is a pet. Service dogs don't have any access rights anywhere. Disabled people have the right to take their service dogs in public.

A yapping, poorly controlled dog is EVERYONE'S business since it can be confused with a REAL service dog and limit the rights of the owners of real service dogs. Service dogs are required to be well trained and cannot disrupt the normal course of business for business owners.

Most service dogs do wear a vest or some other sort of identification but this is not legally mandated.

 

[Etoile]

And of course there is a difference between Psychiatric Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals..."the dog makes me feel better" is not an ADA-covered reason for bringing an animal into a place.
http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76

 

[SueM in MN]

And of course there is a difference between Psychiatric Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals..."the dog makes me feel better" is not an ADA-covered reason for bringing an animal into a place.
http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/76

That's a very interesting website and does a good job of explaining the difference between a dog that is giving what I called 'mental health services' (i.e. comfort or calming) and a dog performing tasks related to a disability.
Another poster suggested adding a link to it in the disABILITIES FAQs thread on the disABILITIES Board, so I am adding a link to post #3.

 

[peemagg]

I think I saw the same person at Epcot. When I saw them though the dog was well behaved and was wearing a little shirt that said service dog on it. The woman was in a wheelchair, but the man that was with her held the dog. The shirt to me was questionable. It didn't look very professional, like the ones I have seen on other service dogs. It looked like they took a little white t-shirt and put the design on themselves. I didn't question it though. I did in my own mind question whether it was a service dog or had they snuck it in somehow until I got a look at the shirt.

When I saw them it was at the Sunshine Grill, so maybe that is why they were behaving so well. Maybe it thought that if I behave, I'll get food.

 

[KPeveler]

I think I saw the same person at Epcot. When I saw them though the dog was well behaved and was wearing a little shirt that said service dog on it. The woman was in a wheelchair, but the man that was with her held the dog. The shirt to me was questionable. It didn't look very professional, like the ones I have seen on other service dogs. It looked like they took a little white t-shirt and put the design on themselves. I didn't question it though. I did in my own mind question whether it was a service dog or had they snuck it in somehow until I got a look at the shirt.

When I saw them it was at the Sunshine Grill, so maybe that is why they were behaving so well. Maybe it thought that if I behave, I'll get food.

since there is no such thing as an "official' service dog uniform, they probably did make it themselves. vests for small dogs are hard to find, so they may have made the tshirt because its either cheaper, easier, or both...

 

[aubriee]

I think I saw the same person at Epcot. When I saw them though the dog was well behaved and was wearing a little shirt that said service dog on it. The woman was in a wheelchair, but the man that was with her held the dog. The shirt to me was questionable. It didn't look very professional, like the ones I have seen on other service dogs. It looked like they took a little white t-shirt and put the design on themselves. I didn't question it though. I did in my own mind question whether it was a service dog or had they snuck it in somehow until I got a look at the shirt.

When I saw them it was at the Sunshine Grill, so maybe that is why they were behaving so well. Maybe it thought that if I behave, I'll get food.

The lady I saw at AK was not in a wheelchair. She was just standing at the counter trying to hold onto the wriggling dog. She was about mid forties with short blond hair. I think she had two girls with her around 12 y/o and 16 y/o. The dog didn't have anything on it, but a pink collar and a pink bow on it's head. When I saw her a few days later she was just walking around, holding the dog--no wheelchair in sight. The same two girls were with her.

 

[DisneyFairytale]

I saw a few months ago, while in Disneyland, a man who ended up spending hours, and I mean HOURS at the exit of Peter Pan with a lab puppy. He had a vest which indicated he in training. He sat there, frozen. The best behaved puppy I have ever seen.
I stopped and asked the man more about they were doing. It was that puppy's third week. It was incredible.

 

[peemagg]

It was a different person then. The person I saw with the dog was a woman in a wheelchair that looked to be in her late 60's early 70's. The man with her looked to be her husband and he looked like he could have been pushing 80.

 

[sorul82?]

I have another question about service animals. Are service animals distracted by other animals? By animals, I mean those that are considered to be pets? And more specifically, I just saw Southwest's new policy to allow pets in the cabin. If someone with a cat and/or dog sits near a SA, is this a distraction? Thank you!

 

[Etoile]

I have another question about service animals. Are service animals distracted by other animals? By animals, I mean those that are considered to be pets? And more specifically, I just saw Southwest's new policy to allow pets in the cabin. If someone with a cat and/or dog sits near a SA, is this a distraction? Thank you!

For a well-trained service dog, it would be no problem at all. I have observed a friend's hearing dog walk right past other dogs, some of whom looked interested in play or were barking, and she just walked right on by. This only applies to "real" service dogs though, those who have genuinely been trained for tasks.

 

[SueM in MN]

For a well-trained service dog, it would be no problem at all. I have observed a friend's hearing dog walk right past other dogs, some of whom looked interested in play or were barking, and she just walked right on by. This only applies to "real" service dogs though, those who have genuinely been trained for tasks.

We are working on training a dog right now to be our DD's service dog.
He needs to get to the point where he is invisible when he is working. We are working right now on completely ignoring other animals when he's working. That is something most people's pet dogs don't work that much on.