Luna the service dog

yukidomari · 04-05-2011, 08:05

A TD is not automatically an SD, unless they are handled by a disabled person and had a task that helps the condition. In other words, a dog can be both, but not automatically.

Normally though, a TD goes and comforts others, not the handler, and isn't necessarily task trained, just a nice dog that comforts people, and they aren't allowed the same access rights.

And yes! There are TD vlcaks. A few of Marcy's dogs are!

Vaiva · 04-05-2011, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukidomari

Normally though, a TD goes and comforts others, not the handler, and isn't necessarily task trained, just a nice dog that comforts people, and they aren't allowed the same access rights.

And yes! There are TD vlcaks. A few of Marcy's dogs are!

Could you explain what are these "access rights"?
Wow, maybe Marcy could tell more. With what kind of people/problems her TD wolfdogs are working? I had a nice seminar, mostly about working with children with CP and this seems really interesting, but maybe not for every csv

Especially not with a very young one.

yukidomari · 04-05-2011, 08:18

Access rights.. SDs in the US are considered on par with other medical equipment like a wheelchair and allowed almost everywhere within federal scope. Including airplanes, hotels, restaurants, stores, no pet housing, doctors, schools, etc. but only if the dog behaves well so as not to interfere with others.

They are covered by different laws but all are federal laws. States can have extra protection for SDs and SDiTs.

Vaiva · 04-05-2011, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukidomari

Access rights.. SDs in the US are considered on par with other medical equipment like a wheelchair and allowed almost everywhere within federal scope. Including airplanes, hotels, restaurants, stores, no pet housing, doctors, schools, etc. but only if the dog behaves well so as not to interfere with others.

They are covered by different laws but all are federal laws. States can have extra protection for SDs and SDiTs.

Yes, I guess it is the same in many countries, just it is more difficult to become a SD

yukidomari · 04-05-2011, 08:30

For example with TDs, they are only allowed where they are invited, like a hospital, retirement home, hospice, etc. but they aren't federally protected to go in stores, hotels etc unless invited.

Of course, ten week old puppies aren't SDs as they clearly are not task trained not trained appropriately in public.. they are only potential SDs and don't have federally protected access rights, etc.

draggar · 04-05-2011, 11:38

Therapy dogs also usually require insurance (or its highly recommended). Also, their training must be outside the realm of what a normal dog would do. For example, an emotional support animal (ESA) is not considered a service animal because what they're "trained" to do is basically be a good pet - which any dog will do (if treated well etc.), love their handler, etc..

But, there is also psychiatric (sp?) support animals which help with severe mental issues like post traumatic disorder and are considered service dogs (these are also the *only* ones that require documentation - usually a doctor's note / prescription).

Therapy dogs are not service dogs because they mainly just need to be friendly but they do require a PAT (Public Access Test) certification (in a nutshell an advanced CGC). As Yuki mentioned, they can go where they are invited (hospitals, schools, etc.)

Yes, 10 week old puppies cannot be service dogs but they can be in training (IMO extremely important to start as soon as you can - Luna's "training" started as soon as we got her but early on, until they can physically do the work, it is exposure, socialization, obedience, exposure, socialization, obedience, exposure, socialization, and obedience.

When she is older (and after her elbows and hips are checked) she'll start with the actual support and mobility assistance training.

Luna is doing extremely well with her training. She's a little stand-offish still but far better than we expected. She's getting the obedience down and her stamina! WOW! The only other dog that out-worked her was Kiri (but she's 4 now and has a well insulated coat). It was a hard week for all 3 of them and they all did well. (Yes, Zorro did well, too, but he's getting up there in years, he's 8 now so we probably have at least another 3-5 years of him now, most of that should be full time (he is the primary now).

We started to do this with Pollux, his physical build would be awesome for it (he's big and strong) but he washed out because he was way to skittish (we may give his training another go in a few months).

yukidomari · 04-05-2011, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by draggar

Yes, 10 week old puppies cannot be service dogs but they can be in training (IMO extremely important to start as soon as you can - Luna's "training" started as soon as we got her but early on, until they can physically do the work, it is exposure, socialization, obedience, exposure, socialization, obedience, exposure, socialization, and obedience.

Of course, but whether you want to call it potential SD (I personally do, at ten weeks, because I don't think it's possible to gauge appropriate character at that age to even begin thinking about task training or public access training) or an SDiT, both still aren't federally protected and have access limited (or provided for) by state law. Some states are very SDiT friendly with laws that provide accomodation for them almost the same as full working SDs (like PA), others are not. In some states, SDiTs are not allowed any more access than any other pet dog, which can make public access training more difficult, when the only places you can go with an SDiT are places like PetCo.

In either case, SDiTs and potentials aren't protected under things like the ACAA of 1986 which grants access to full SDs to board airplanes free of charge in the cabin, etc.

It's easily abused though, since there aren't any certification requirements in the states. Most gatekeepers aren't familiar with what is an SDiT, what is an SD, what is a PSD, what is an ESA, and what is a TD. Most don't know what questions they are legally allowed to ask. And so it's easy for people routinely misrepresent their dogs to gain free travel.

But, since you're involved with the SD world as well, I'm sure you know all that.

04-05-2011, 11:38	#6
draggar Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 370	Therapy dogs also usually require insurance (or its highly recommended). Also, their training must be outside the realm of what a normal dog would do. For example, an emotional support animal (ESA) is not considered a service animal because what they're "trained" to do is basically be a good pet - which any dog will do (if treated well etc.), love their handler, etc.. But, there is also psychiatric (sp?) support animals which help with severe mental issues like post traumatic disorder and are considered service dogs (these are also the only ones that require documentation - usually a doctor's note / prescription). Therapy dogs are not service dogs because they mainly just need to be friendly but they do require a PAT (Public Access Test) certification (in a nutshell an advanced CGC). As Yuki mentioned, they can go where they are invited (hospitals, schools, etc.) Yes, 10 week old puppies cannot be service dogs but they can be in training (IMO extremely important to start as soon as you can - Luna's "training" started as soon as we got her but early on, until they can physically do the work, it is exposure, socialization, obedience, exposure, socialization, obedience, exposure, socialization, and obedience. When she is older (and after her elbows and hips are checked) she'll start with the actual support and mobility assistance training. Luna is doing extremely well with her training. She's a little stand-offish still but far better than we expected. She's getting the obedience down and her stamina! WOW! The only other dog that out-worked her was Kiri (but she's 4 now and has a well insulated coat). It was a hard week for all 3 of them and they all did well. (Yes, Zorro did well, too, but he's getting up there in years, he's 8 now so we probably have at least another 3-5 years of him now, most of that should be full time (he is the primary now). We started to do this with Pollux, his physical build would be awesome for it (he's big and strong) but he washed out because he was way to skittish (we may give his training another go in a few months). __________________ Fred Lanting's Official Site Dog Actors

04-05-2011, 08:05	#1
yukidomari Moderator Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 847	A TD is not automatically an SD, unless they are handled by a disabled person and had a task that helps the condition. In other words, a dog can be both, but not automatically. Normally though, a TD goes and comforts others, not the handler, and isn't necessarily task trained, just a nice dog that comforts people, and they aren't allowed the same access rights. And yes! There are TD vlcaks. A few of Marcy's dogs are!

04-05-2011, 08:18	#3
yukidomari Moderator Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 847	Access rights.. SDs in the US are considered on par with other medical equipment like a wheelchair and allowed almost everywhere within federal scope. Including airplanes, hotels, restaurants, stores, no pet housing, doctors, schools, etc. but only if the dog behaves well so as not to interfere with others. They are covered by different laws but all are federal laws. States can have extra protection for SDs and SDiTs.

04-05-2011, 08:30	#5
yukidomari Moderator Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 847	For example with TDs, they are only allowed where they are invited, like a hospital, retirement home, hospice, etc. but they aren't federally protected to go in stores, hotels etc unless invited. Of course, ten week old puppies aren't SDs as they clearly are not task trained not trained appropriately in public.. they are only potential SDs and don't have federally protected access rights, etc.