A service dog is a type of assistance dog, specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment. Desirable character traits include good temperament or psychological make-up, good health including physical structure, and trainability. Service dogs are sometimes trained and bred by service dog organizations. Some dogs are donated by private breeders, and some are selected from shelters. Any breed or mixture of breeds of dog might produce a representative capable of service work, though few dogs have all of the qualities in health, temperament, trainability and physical ability needed.
In the United States, the Code of Federal Regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 set the very first standard and definition of a service dog while protecting the rights of individuals utilizing a dog to accommodate their disability.
On September 15, 2010, the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, issued "ADA 2010 Revised Requirements; Service Animals." It states that:
"Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person's disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."
At Braveheart Kennels we will train your dog for your specific needs.
We will work your dog in every scenario that you might encounter in your daily activities. We not only work with the dog but we will spend many hours working and educating the owner to be the best handler possible. We will go over in length about the proper way to handle your dog in public situations such as restaurants, airplanes, doctor visits, and grocery stores. We can work with all breeds of dogs.
Due to an increased interest and growing national focus on the use and function of Service Dogs we seek to expand this aspect of our Training Program and help a greater number of individuals. To ensure credibility and help protect the rights of disabled people, we do screen both clients and their dogs thoroughly before accepting them into this Training Program.
Please note that if you do not qualify for a Service Dog but are seeking a dog for emotional support we can provide you with excellent Obedience Training, ensuring that your dog is welcome and easily managed in all environments where dogs are normally allowed.
For information and FAQs:
For Federal laws as defined by the American with Disabilities Act, revised in 2010:
https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html
For general information on State Laws:
https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-assistance-animal-laws
For the most comprehensive guide to Service Dogs and the laws which protect them and their owners please see:
http://www.disabilityrightsmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Service+Animal+Booklet+ENGLISH.pdf
For more information regarding legal rights of the disabled please see:
http://www.americanbar.org/publications/gp_solo/2014/march_april/service_dogs_and_rights_the_disabled.html
For a better understanding of Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Animals please see: