The Process to have a Service Dog

We know it can be very exciting to think about having a Service dog come with you everywhere you go, but there’s a lot more to it than that. There are many things you should consider before getting a service animal: 

• Per the Americans with Disabilities Act only Dogs and miniature horses can be service animals in the USA. 
• Service dogs are still dogs, and service miniatures are still horses. Although they are well trained, they can still get sick, make mistakes, or have bad days too. 
• Service animals draw in plenty of unwanted attention from the public which can cause an anxious person to have more anxiety, or be faced with uncomfortable questions. 
• Service animals are expensive. No matter if you train the animal yourself, or you use a professional; service animals still have other expenses such as vet appointments, food, and equipment. 
• Service Animals are not a cure, and sometimes they can make things harder than they were before. 
• Very few dogs or miniature horses have what it takes to be a service animal. 
• Need before Breed. Don’t choose a dog because They look nice or are a breed you always wanted. Choose the best dog for the job. For example, a Chihuahua would not be a good fit to be a mobility service dog because of their small size, but it could be a medical alert dog, or another type of assistance dog. 
• You do NOT need a service animal ID. In the United States of America there are no federally recognized or required registrations, certifications, or IDs for service animals per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Unfortunately the registrations you find online are scams who take advantage of people who are unaware of the federal laws. Those registrations, IDs, and “certificates” will not hold up in a court setting. 
• Service Animal’s do not need a vest. In the United States of America your service animal can wear anything you want, even if it’s nothing. However many people choose to use a vest to help deter people from distracting their service animal, or to carry emergency information/medications.
• Having a service animal can be hard. Training is exhausting, people can be rude, and taking an animal everywhere is like taking a small child places with you. 
• Training takes a while. for most Service animals, it can take up to 2-3 years to become fully trained.
• Having a Service animal can be heartbreaking; illness and accidents happen, and it can be even more difficult to grieve when it is a service animal. You’ve spent years with this animal creating tons of memories and independence. 
• Service animals eventually retire. Most service dogs retire around age 10, unless they show signs of slowing down, illness or injuries where they may need to retire sooner.

The next step is to figure out where you want your service animal to come from.

Most people choose to get a service animal from a program. This is because many of the animals come pre-trained and are usually well bred. Because of this the animals generally have less health risks. The downfall to this is that programs can be very expensive, some programs ask you to fundraise for the service animal if you cannot afford it. They usually have long wait times and application processes.

Your second choice is to hire a trainer to help you train your dog or miniature horse to become a service animal. This is called owner assisted training. The benefit of this is that you can choose what dog/horse you want with the guidance of the trainer and potentially bond better with the animal. Your animals training can also be personalized to meet your needs. It's very rewarding and educational when you get to participate in the actual training, and you get to learn skills that you can use for life. Unfortunately it may be hard to find a trainer within your location who has experience training Assistance Animals, and that is priced within your budget.

Fur the heart Dog Training is an owner assisted training program.

Your last choice is to train your service animal yourself. This is called Owner -Training. Although this may be the cheapest option, be this can be very challenging for new service animal handlers. On top of having a disability, many new service dog handlers may not know how to properly train the tasks and skills that are needed for the animal to become a service animal, or the laws that protect them. This may increase the risk of the animal needing a career change. A career change is when an animal can no longer train to become a service animal because the dog (or miniature horse) doesn’t meet the requirements needed because of reactivity, aggression, fearfulness, or other issues. (Sometimes called a “washout”) 

At Fur The Heart, we believe that with the right support, education, and determination successful owner training IS possible!