A service dog is a skilled companion who can make a huge difference in the life of someone with a debilitating disability. Not only do they perform trained tasks that alleviate symptoms, but they also offer security, comfort, and consistent companionship — all aspects that can improve overall well-being.
If you have a diagnosed disability and believe a service dog will help you manage your symptoms, you may be curious as to whether you can make your own dog a service dog. The good news is that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require service dogs to be associated with a dedicated organization. This means any dog can become a legitimate service animal, including your current pet!
That being said, not all dogs are suited to service work. They need to have a strong work drive, an even temperament, and the capacity to learn and perform complex tasks reliably. We’ll discuss this in more detail below and cover how exactly to make your dog a service dog.
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What Is a Service Dog?
A service dog is a skilled working animal who performs tasks that ease disability-related symptoms. Some of the tasks a service dog may be trained to do include deep pressure therapy, crowd control, room search, medication retrieval, balance assistance, and medical alerts.
Keep in mind that every single service dog is unique. The exact type (and amount) of tasks they perform can vary significantly depending on their handler’s needs.
Unsurprisingly, service dogs are treated as medical assistance aids in the US. They are granted several legal protections to ensure they can always perform their trained tasks without interruption or delay, including public access rights and reasonable accommodation within the workplace. They are also permitted on planes and exempt from landlords’ no-pet policies.
Can I Make My Dog a Service Dog?
Under the ADA, people with disabilities have the right to train a service dog themselves and not go through a professional trainer or service dog organization. There are also no size, breed, or age restrictions in place. This means it’s definitely possible to make your dog a service dog, provided they have the right temperament.
While your dog may be your best friend, try to be realistic about whether they have the right temperament for the role. Due to the nature of the work, a service dog must have a calm composure and be able to stay focused regardless of the distractions around them. They must also be non-reactive and confident in any environment.
Any breed of dog is capable of exhibiting these traits, but some breeds that are known to particularly shine at service work include golden retrievers, poodles, Labrador retrievers, cavalier King Charles spaniels, and border collies.
If you’ve assessed that your pup has a suitable temperament, you should next consider whether you have the means to train them. Training your companion to become a service dog is time-consuming and requires a lot of dedication on your part. It may also be expensive if you hire a professional trainer to help with the process.
How to Make My Dog a Service Dog
If you feel you have the ability to train a service dog yourself, here’s a brief outline of what the process would involve:
Brush up Their Obedience
Your dog requires impeccable obedience skills to succeed in this line of work. Without a solid grasp of the basics — things like sit, lie down, stay, and come — they likely won’t be able to pick up more complex service tasks.
Helping them master their basic obedience also means you’ll be in full control of your pup while in public. This is extremely important since service dogs can legally be denied their rights if they cause a disruption or risk endangering others. Which leads us nicely to public access skills training:
Teach Public Access Skills
Your dog must be capable of staying calm and focused in a wide array of public settings, including busy, unpredictable environments that can be overwhelming for a typical pet dog.
You will need to socialize them and help them become familiar with all different types of people, sounds, areas, and situations. You should also train them to keep their attention on you at all times.
Service Tasks
Once your dog has mastered the skills above, you’ll need to teach them the specialized service tasks. Under the ADA, a dog only needs to perform one service task to gain legal recognition as a service animal, but you can teach your dog as many tasks as you require.
Just be mindful that teaching service tasks can be difficult and will take time and effort on your part. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional service dog trainer for guidance and support during this process. You can also find plenty of affordable (or even free) resources online.
Get a Service Dog Today
Training your pup to become a service dog is challenging, but it is possible with the right support and training approach. However, we always advise consulting a professional to determine whether your pup has an appropriate temperament for the role.
If your dog isn’t suitable for service work, but their companionship still provides you therapeutic relief from a diagnosed disability, they may be better suited as an ESA dog instead.
While emotional support animals don’t receive the same legal protections as service animals, they are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This regulation exempts them from a landlord’s no-pet policy and pet-related fees.
