Requirements for Service Dogs

Any dog breed can be a service dog, but some breeds are better suited to be service dogs than others. Goldendoodles are smart, loving, easy to train, and great companion animals. If you’re considering training a Goldendoodle as a service dog, there are a few things you need to know.

What is a service dog?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.”

Some state and local laws have a broader definition for “service animal”, but the ADA definition is generally followed.

Here are some of the examples the ADA lists for types of work that service dogs perform.

  • Provide support for those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder during an anxiety attack
  • Remind people with mental illness to take medications
  • Guide people who are blind
  • Pull a person in a wheelchair
  • Seek help and protect a person who is having a seizure

In other words, a service dog performs a task that helps keep a person safe or reduces the effects of a disability.

What a service dog is not

Service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs are not different words for the same thing. Service animals must be trained specifically to help with a person’s disability.

“Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.”

A service dog is not a pet, it’s a working animal. This means that you can’t simply decide that your pet is now a service animal. A service dog must be trained to perform work that directly assist a person with disability.

Is a service dog right for you?

It’s important to understand the rights and responsibilities for owning a service dog. Read the ADA Service Animal requirements if you are interested in getting a service animal.

Your doctor can help you determine if a service dog is right for you. If your doctor agrees that a service animal can assist with your disability, the next step is talking to a service dog trainer.

While it is possible to train a service dog yourself, it’s recommended that service dogs be trained professionally.

The ADA does not have requirements for service dog breed or size. Any dog can be a service animal, but some breeds are better suited for the work than others. Goldendoodles are a great option for service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs. Call 5051-514-1026, or contact Platinum Goldies online, for information about our current litter of Goldendoodle puppies.