The value of a dog is well being taken into consideration in our generation. Plenty of research has been done to show how much a dog can comfort and assist humans, not only as their family member but potentially as helping others in the community. There are different requirements for each of these. Some are state laws and some are federal laws. Some state and federal laws cross over.
Therapy Dogs: Therapy dogs are a distinction given to a dog who has been exclusively trained to behave well in public and to provide comfort and support to others who are hurting either mentally, physically or emotionally. These dogs generally must go through a training program and become certified in order to enter nursing homes, hospitals, public libraries for their reading programs, etc. Check in your local area for organizations who train therapy dogs. The training and certification is based on both the handler and dog as a team.
Some therapy dogs are used by therapist/psychologist/social workers in their office to help their clients during sessions. They have found that the presence of the dog helps people to feel safe and more easily discuss difficult issues. These dogs are under the supervision of the therapist and usually the companion and pet of the therapist when 'off duty'.
Service Dogs: Service dogs are specifically trained to help the needs of a disabled individual. The person must have a diagnosed disability which creates difficulties in their daily living and their ability to go out in public. The dog must be trained to mitigate the disability to help make the life of the disabled person easier and better able to go out in society. There are many disabilities, too many to list here, which may qualify an individual for a Service Dog. These can be physical, neurological or psychological/psychiatric disabilities. Some people may have more than one disability the dog is trained to help with. Some of the more familiar Service Dogs are dogs for the blind and mobility assistance. This is what most people think of when they think of a Service Dog. However, dogs have helped with a large number of disabilities. Some of these include: alert and/or assistance and response for hearing, seizures, chronic debilitating migraines, blood sugar levels, cortisol levels, heart rate, MS, EDS, stroke, severe anxiety, social phobias, PTSD, etc.
Any size or breed dog can qualify as a Service Dog, they just need to be trained to be well behaved in public, be potty trained, and be trained specifically to help the person with their disability. Because there is such a wide range of ways dogs can help an individual, the right dog for one person may not be helpful to another. Selecting a dog is an individual process based on the needs of the person and their disability. However, having the correct temperament to be able to handle the stressors of being in public and also holding focus on the 'handler/disabled person' does require certain traits in any dog who is going to be a service dog.
A Service Dog MUST be trained at least one task to mitigate the persons disability. They may be trained many more, most are. This is where the separating begins. The dog is not just there for comfort, the dog is actually performing tasks/jobs to help the person live a better life. Now the dog is not a pet, it's a team member in the task of creating greater health.
At this point, the dog is not considered a pet, it is medical equipment and may go with the person anywhere public is allowed. However, they may not go in kitchens, surgery rooms or sterile areas and there may be other restrictions as well. Private businesses, churches and private homes do not have to allow Service Dogs.
When out in public, only two questions may be asked of the Service Dog: Is this a service dog required for a disability and what tasks is this dog trained to do. They are not allowed to ask what the disability is. You do not have to disclose your disability.
According to the ADA, you do not need a doctors note to have a service dog. You need to have a diagnosed disability. There is not a Service Dog Registry required for service dogs. Places of business may not ask to see a Service Dog registry for your dog. Service Dog registries are all scams and will take your money for a cute card that is not worth anything and not necessary. You may however choose to purchase a Service Dog Identification card. This will clearly mark your dogs information and microchip as well as your name and information with an emergency phone number. This may be helpful when traveling, but is not necessary.
According to the ADA, SD's do not need to wear a vest or anything marking them as a SD. However, I personally feel having your dog clearly marked will help avoid questions, problems, and simply appear more polite and professional when in public. There are many ways to get creative to do this. There is the traditional vest or cape on a harness, a marked collar or leash, marked bandana, marked harness, leash wraps/sleeves, etc. For both big SD's and small SD's there are many options to help the public understand your dog is a SD and also work with your preferences and those of your dog. Some dogs don't like vests, some people have a hard time with the small buckles, the heat may make it unadvisable to put a vest on your dog. It's not the only option. There are many easy, yet clearly visible ways to mark your dog. Guaranteed, if the dog is marked, more understanding and fewer questions will be asked.
Many find having their dog clearly marked as a Service Dog helps people understand and thus fewer questions are asked, which reduces anxiety levels and helps them keep focused on what they need to be doing, which is enough in itself.
If you are out with your service dog, please do not get angry about people looking (dogs are cute) or asking questions (they are curious). Give a simple answer or say thank you and move on. Avoiding eye contact will help reduce conversations.
Please do NOT take your dog out as a 'Service Dog' if you have not been diagnosed with a disability and your dog has not been trained at least one task to help you mitigate the disability to help increase your ability to go out in public.
'Fake' Service Dogs, those of pet people who want to take their dog out in public can cause many issues for a person with disabilities. If your dog is not trained properly, it can cause distraction or harm to another dog. It can cause access issues at stores because untrained dogs have created problems. If you do not have a diagnosed disability in which your dog has been trained to help with, please leave your dog at home. I know it's sad to leave them there, but, please consider those with disabilities and politely let your dog safely stay home.
Emotional Support Animal Well, let's be honest, for most of us, our dogs ARE emotional support dogs. We adore them, we come home and just their presence makes us feel soooo much better. They bring joy to our day just by being themselves. They are not trained to help mitigate any specific disability, but their presence helps keep a person calm and more relaxed and perhaps even gain confidence. You do not need to certify your ESA unless you are in need of housing which does not allow pets or plan to travel via plane/train. Many people with minor emotional/psychological conditions will utilize an ESA to help make life better, get through college or some other difficult time in their life. In order to get a certified ESA, you need a doctor/psychologist/counselor note stating you need your dog. Your dog may then live in housing where dogs are not permitted. They are NOT allowed to go out in public in non pet friendly areas. They must pay the pet fee to go on a plane/train. They are pets with added housing benefits for your health. They are not Service Dogs and do not have Service Dog public access.
Some Nursing Homes have on site dogs or cats who are there to provide constant support for their residents. These dogs have been trained for this specific purpose and the residents find great joy in having a dog around. Some Adult Foster Care homes have pets which inadvertently serve as support dogs for their clients, as the clients find great joy in petting, feeding and being around the dogs. In general, most people simply enjoy the presence of a dog and the dog brings them joy and comfort. These dogs are not registered, but they serve the same purpose.
Ambulance Dog etc. Many other places are beginning to certify dogs as helpers in the community. One of these areas are dogs who ride on ambulance to comfort the sick/injured. This may also be true for firetrucks also. Many counselors, therapist and psychologists now are bringing their personal dogs to the office to help assist with client therapy. Each organization has different stipulations on what is required for a dog to do this job.
One thing we can all be thankful for.... dogs are becoming a part of society and their value in helping hurting and/or disabled people is on the rise. Certainly us dog lovers already know how much a dog can be in touch with us and can read our moods and thoughts.
Havanese can do an amazing job at all of these! We have had several of our pups move on to become therapy dogs, service dogs, reading dogs at the library, hospital dogs, nursing home dogs, ambulance dogs. They seem to thrive at everything they do. But the Havanese is not right for everyone. It's essential to take a good look at what your needs/desires are and consider what breeds would be a good choice. Then, once settled on a Havanese it's important to select a pup which has the right temperament for your needs. Not all Havanese will work well in these environments, just like not every pup is a good fit for every home. Having your breeder help select the puppy right for your needs is essential. From there, it's a lot of patience and work and exposure, but eventually you will make it. Or, choose a wonderful Havanese as a family pet and companion, they will certainly win your heart.
Written by our friend Lisa.
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