As someone with a chronic illness, I know that having somebody help you with certain tasks can be life changing. For some people, help comes in the form of a service animal. While many animals can be trained to assist people, dogs are the most common. Guide and service dogs are becoming more prevalent, and it is important to know how to act around them. The Guide Dog Foundation and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offer guidelines and rules for service dogs.
Guide and Service Dogs
Guide dogs act as guiding eyes for people who are blind or visually impaired. Service dogs assist people with disabilities (other than blindness). Dogs whose sole function is to offer comfort or emotional support, who are not trained for tasks specific to a disability, do not qualify as service dogs under the ADA.
Tasks for service dogs can include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, opening and closing doors, turning on lights, 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, running safety checks or room searches, interrupting repetitive behaviors, and many other duties.
Any size dog can be a service dog as long as its size allows it to effectively perform the required tasks. The most common breeds are German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, and golden retrievers.
Under the ADA, people with disabilities are allowed to have their service or guide dogs in all public spaces. Know that while some wear special vests, harnesses, collars, or tags, the ADA does not require service dogs to display any identification.
Rules for Behavior
There are several rules people should follow when they encounter a guide or service dog which help keep the dog and its handler safe.
1. If the dog is wearing its harness or vest, it is working.
Do not touch, talk to, feed, or distract it. Distractions can cause the handler to fall or injure themselves.
2. Don’t assume a sleeping service dog is off duty.
When a handler sits or rests for a length of time, it is normal for a dog to nap. Even while resting, the same rules apply.
3. Approach and speak to the handler.
This way the handler can let you know what they feel comfortable with, and you won’t confuse the animal. Some handlers may let you pet the dog but do not be offended if they won’t allow it.
4. Do not praise or reward the dog.
This is part of their training and you do not want to give confusing or conflicting signals.
5. Do not feed a service or guide dog.
Many have special diets and feeding schedules – food or treats may break their focus or trigger an allergic reaction. If they are not giving 100% of their focus to their handler and tasks, injures or health issues can strike.
6. Give the service dog team the right-of-way.
This makes navigating easier and allows the dog to focus more on helping its owner.
7. If you plan to walk with a guide or service dog team, do not walk on the dog’s left side.
This can be confusing or distracting. Ask the handler where you should walk – this could be in front, to their right side, or behind to the right.
8. Treat the owner/handler with respect and assume the service dog team can handle things.
Do not try to take control of the dog, hold its harness, or steer the handler while the dog is guiding them. Ask the person if they need assistance, and if so, offer your left arm.
9. If you have a dog, keep them at a safe distance.
Service dogs are not meant to engage with other dogs while on duty. They are a distraction and might cause an altercation. If the service or guide dog is injured, the handler will be left without the services they rely on for an extended period.
10. If a service dog approaches you without its handler, this is not normal.
It most likely means the person is down or in need of help. Check your immediate surroundings for someone in need.
Service and guide dogs are an amazing help to their owners. Their training can literally save lives! If you follow the simple rules above, the dog will be better able to focus on their handler and specific tasks.
I wasn’t aware of some of the points you discussed. This blog will help so many people who travel and/or become in contact with service and guide dogs in their local areas. A must read.
Thanks Charlotte! Sometimes we forget how often you could run across a service dog. I’ve seen some in airports on travel days and that must be a lot of work for the dog and owner.
Agree. The more we know the better we behave around service and guide dogs.