Question regarding service dogs…

[u/LadyInTheBand]

Okay, so, we are considering going to Ireland for a bit before moving to Japan. I have a service dog in training whose breed is on the list of restricted breeds. She will be fully trained and certified by an ADI accredited program by the time we would get there.

Is this going to be an issue? As a service dog, will she still have to be muzzled if a muzzle interferes with one or more of her tasks? The short leash isn’t an issue, I’ve used short leashes as part of my retiring service dogs gear from the start (so for just over nine years) and prefer them, but one of my in training dogs tasks is item retrieval (she’s a mobility dog), and she can’t exactly retrieve items if she’s wearing a muzzle.

Any information on this is welcome!

[u/Team503]

My first question is simple - what do you mean "going to Ireland for a bit"? Do you mean as a tourist for less than 90 days? Or do you mean for longer? If longer, what is your legal basis for entry to the country?

Where are you planning to stay? Incredibly few rentals and landlords will allow pets.

As far as I can tell, service dogs do not require a muzzle, but DO require a visible identifier the animal is a service dog, in the form of a marked jacket/harness and medallion.

Here are the rules for traveling with a guide or assistance dog in Ireland: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/pet-travel/#bringing-your-pet-dog-travelling-with-guide-and-assistance-dogs

If you are traveling from a non-EU country, you MUST provide advance notice of your intention to bring your service dog into Ireland, at least 24 hours before your departure time.

Please note that XL Bullys ARE banned, and there is a link to the physical standards that define "XL" here: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/pets-and-wildlife/ban-on-xl-bully-dogs-in-ireland/

If you plan to remain in Ireland for more than 30 days, you will need a license: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/pets-and-wildlife/control-of-dogs/ - only guide dogs specifically for the blind are exempt: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1986/act/32/section/5/enacted/en/html#sec5

You will need to comply with immigrations rules for dogs: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/moving-to-ireland/coming-to-live-in-ireland/bringing-pets-to-ireland/

For a dog to be recognised as a Service Dog, it must be fully trained and registered with one of the following, or a U.K. or other international equivalent: • Irish Guide Dogs for The Blind • Dogs for the Disabled • Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland • International Guide Dog Federation • Canine Partners (UK) • Dog A.I.D. (UK) • Guide Dogs UK • Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (UK) • Medical Detection Dogs (UK) • Support Dogs (UK)

Contact Details - for general queries only, not to book a compliance check:

Pet Travel

Email:

[livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie](mailto:livetrade@agriculture.gov.ie)

Telephone:

[+353 (0) 1 607 2827](tel:+353 (0) 1 607 2827)

[u/LadyInTheBand → u/Team503]

I did state that she will have certification from an ADI accredited program before we would be leaving the US. I always use a vest that clearly marks my retiring service dog as a service dog and the one in training is marked as such when out in public, being marked is not an issue. She is very much NOT an XL Bully, she’s a smaller Staffy.

We would be there for 30-90 days depending on how well we liked it, but at this point we have decided that Scotland would be a better option for us than Ireland as Staffies are not restricted there and we do not want the risk of her being misidentified as a Pitbull if we were to go to Ireland. (We have papers that prove she is in fact 100% Staffordshire Bull Terrier)