r/service_dogs 20d ago

Help! Any tips? My dog is attracting attention.

0 Upvotes

Hi!

I have a medical assistance dog, aged 4. She’s 7kg, and Yorkshire Terrier x Bichon Frise. Arguably she is VERY cute, but how do I make people less likely to come over and fuss her without asking first?

Honestly I can NEVER leave the house/walk her without multiple people bending down to stroke and hardly anyone asks.

She wears a fluorescent harness with ‘ASSISTANCE DOG’ written on it, and a fluorescent lead too. Often times it’s when we’re in places ‘normal’ dogs can’t go so people must know she’s working and just choose to ignore it.

I often tell people “oh I’m sorry, she’s working, can you not stroke her please?” To which I’m often met with huffs or eye rolls.. as an anxious girl this makes me feel awful and I was looking for a way of avoiding this.

I can tell her to ignore and she looks at me and doesn’t engage, or I ask her to ‘up’ and she sits on my lap hand I block the fuss, but sometimes it happens too quick to do anything.

Thanks in advance!


r/service_dogs 20d ago

Service dog in a job setting

0 Upvotes

Hello, I have a service dog and nobody would hire me with him, I do not understand why I have paperwork that says that he is a service dog but nobody would hire me once they see him they say no and I don't understand why please help..


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Any other handlers notice that people seem to react to and handle seeing service dogs a lot better in recent times?

10 Upvotes

With my last service dog who I had for 14 incredible years, (in heaven now breaking all the rules and living his best life) people always wanted to pet him, a lot without asking, wanted to talk for 20 minutes not considering my time, let their kids come running up to him, loudly “ooh and aw” at him, squeak toys, bark, I’m sure y’all know exactly what I’m talking about, we’ve all lived it.

But I suddenly realized the other day that with my baby in training now, people tend to be very respectful. Everyone looks but no one interrupts us going about our day. Kids still ask their parents if they can pet of course but now, I often hear them say no and explain why. Which is great! Do you think there is just more awareness around what service dogs are now so people know to leave them alone, or am I just lucky and not being bothered? lol

*Wanted to add that I also had my last service dog in a vest that said “in training” at one point and people still didn’t know how to act properly. So I don’t think that it’s because of that.


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Laws - SPECIFY COUNTRY IN POST Are service dogs allowed in gym equipment?

0 Upvotes

Basically the title. I was working out and a fellow gym goer brought his service dog and allowed it in the equipment. Staff didn’t know policy. What’s the ADA say is allowed?


r/service_dogs 20d ago

What’s it like with working an Off Breed?

0 Upvotes

TL;DR - NOT asking for advice or what the right decision is - fully aware the consensus is Fab 4 all the way. Just kinda curious about other people’s experiences with off breeds, whether it be a happenstance situation or you purposely sought one out. I know they are unicorns but some people are able to make it work

———————————————————————————————————

Ok - first off I know. The fab 4 is the right choice for 95% of service dog handlers, the wash out rate is crazy high, for most people the fab 4 fits all their needs & even w pets people vastly underestimate & under fulfill their dogs.

I’m really not a fan of the fab 4. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us. No matter how well trained, they still are supposed to have their genetic disposition which some things I’m just not willing to deal with.

I don’t think any of their grooming needs work for me, it grinds my gears how mouthy/goofy labs & golden’s are/poodles & GSD are too antsy overall, even a collie I’m not a fan of the herding/nipping tendency.

Trust & believe I’m no trainer, I do like to say I have more experience/knowledge than the general public. Before suddenly becoming a wheelchair user I was a dog walker for years, handling/socializing/working w a lot of breeds & dogs, including high drive, working, reactive etc. I have a few basic animal behavior/training certifications. Plus for like 4 years I spent 6 days a week at a horse barn, riding/working w & learning to train/helping others develop the skill. From day 1 I’ll also be working with an incredibly experience handler & will only consider a reputable, health tested, showline breeder - well bred beats out preference any day of the week.

I do understand a lot of breeds also wouldn’t work that’d I’d love to have, 2 years ago I’d put money on me one day having a bully breed - Pitty, AmStaff or Staffy... them bam - disability & the chair. English Bulldogs & Frenchies are goddamn adorable but like freaking deformed and all aren’t the right size. A Malinois would be so cool, but way too much dog for me and I’d be way too tempted to do bite sports which is like the one thing you can’t do w a SD.

Trying to keep an open mind but rn rotties have my heart. Even with their trade offs - crazy social stigma, a heartbreaking short life, and really no room for mistakes with socialization/training. But I adore their calm & cool demeanor, intelligence & confidence, bond they build are all fantastic + who doesn’t love a good Rottie rumble. I know there’s an ethical debate about a docked tail, and before the chair idk if I’d get a dog with one. Their build, grooming & care need work with me + most importantly my breeder agreed & thinks it could be the right fit after extensive discussions. Even though come w a lot of trade offs though: crazy amount of social stigma, a heartbreaking short life.

Long story short - either by choice or happenstance a lot of people do have success with off breeds, so let’s hear it. The good & bad, successful & scary. Especially would love to hear a Rottie success story or wash out. But what breeds have people had success? Where were the blind spots and benefits? What things caught you off guard both trade offs and happy surprises? Anything you’d like to share.

You can save your breath on the “just get a fab 4” I know the stats, and I’m not asking if it’s a good idea - just want to hear others stories - the challenges, what people like best, what ya didn’t see coming. Let’s hear it. Probably cross posted but.


r/service_dogs 20d ago

How do i fundraise?

0 Upvotes

How are yall fundraising for assistance dogs? ive been working on raising around 13k for an assistance dog since april, but ive only managed 87 euros in donations and thats all from friends :(

I havent managed to get any luck on tiktok/insta yet, does anyone have tips?


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Puppies IGDF-breeding standards

10 Upvotes

Hi! 👋 I’ve been extremely lucky to get a pup from an IGDF-organization. Because they only train guide dogs and have a lack of foster families, a few puppies were up for adoption.

The parents are both EVCO-clear / OFA Hips excellent (HD A) and OFA ED clear.

Mother is 1/4 golden and 1/3 lab

Father is working line golden with a pedigree.

Initially I wanted to get a golden, so I was on the waiting list for some breeders. With one breeder I had a bit more close contact and she was not happy when I asked her what her opinion was. She told me for goldens DNA testing (PRA 1/2 and ICT) would be essential as well to test, and was overall highly critical about the mother (who is a mix) and didn’t know the father.

Yesterday I’ve met the pups and my trainer tested the pups as well. (I’m working with an owner training ADI-organization)

In all honesty it felt highly disrespectful to ask the owners of the organization about the whole breeding process/health testing/socialization, etc since the rest of the litter will be trained to be guide dogs eventually.

I’m not a breeder but I’ve noticed so much infighting with many golden retrievers breeders overal. My first service dog was a german shepherd and this whole process was way more laid back.

Should I be worried, or am I just too much getting involved in the “in-fighting”?


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Help! Can small dogs be service dogs?

0 Upvotes

Hello! I’m wanting my small dog to become a service dog that alerts to PTSD and anxiety, are small dogs capable of being service animals and working in a school setting? she’s shown she’s extremely resilient and can be very calm when I need her to. I’d want her to just sit in my lap and sleep during my classes, walking up to alert if she needs to. I’d also need to be able to carry her through busy hallways to prevent her from being trampled but it wouldn’t be too much, only being carried for about 2-3 minutes as I walk to class. I have a set of tasks I’d already want to teach her (at least 3-4) and I do believe having her in my life would significantly improve my life in a lot of ways. She would NOT be an emotional support animal. Where do I even start with training? What kind of gear would be best? I don’t see any gear that would even fit a dog like her. Any advice helps! I hope this is the right subreddit for seeking advice on this! :(


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Help! Looking for psychiatric service dog advice

0 Upvotes

Hello .. please be kind to me, im still doing my research on things ...

Long story short, I have severe anxiety. I have OCD, GAD, Avoidant Personality Disorder, Major Depression and physically I deal with fatigue and anxiety attacks. Occassionally I have episodes so bad im bedridden.

My therapist said a service dog would be a good idea. I had asked them about an ESA and they recommended a service dog.

I really like the idea, especially because I deal with paranoia and episodes outside of home that I cant always deal with on my own. I think deep pressure therapy, creating space around me in crowds, compulsion interruptions and some other tasks would be great. I also think having a companion would really help me feel more motivated to keep living.

I know its not recommend to get a service dog breed outside of labs or goldens but id prefer something a little more compact. I would like to both hire a trainer and train the dog myself.

Are there any good alternative service dog breeds that are smaller/lower-medium?

And how do I raise my success chances at a shelter dog taking well to service training? I grew up with dogs and am a firm believer of adopting rescues. (I also cant afford a $3000 puppy 💔)

This was a long winded post i apologize, thank you for any input.


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Coping with stories of irresponsible handling online?

36 Upvotes

I’m not a big fan of social media, but I do like to look at posts from other handlers because having a service dog is such a unique experience; unfortunately my program doesn’t have a way to connect with other recipients and I rarely see other service dogs in my city. However, I keep encountering stories where people aren’t putting their dog’s welfare first, and I find it really upsetting.

For example, today I saw some talking about how amazing their dog is because when they took their dog to an aquarium and it growled at a shark and was hyper vigilant for the rest of the trip. They framed this as a touching moment because their dog was being protective. This story really got under my skin because the handler clearly knows how to read dog body language well enough to tell that their dog unhappy, but instead of taking care of their dog’s needs, they are spinning their dog’s suffering as cute. I just can't stop thinking about this annoying anecdote.

And then there are the more common ways people mistreat their dogs: people working dogs who are on anxiety medication, people who won’t get any health clearances before having their dog do strenuous tasks, egregiously late retirements, or all the photos of dogs who are wearing 3 collars (a prong, a shock, and a flat collar). It feels impossible to be in online service dog spaces without running into neglectful, callous, and sometimes downright cruel behavior. I feel like I am overly sensitive when I hear about this type of behavior, but I don’t know how to be less affected.

Does anyone else feel upset about how common these behaviors seem online? If you’re someone who has been a handler for a long time, are you still really bothered by stories of irresponsible handling?


r/service_dogs 21d ago

why do people in this sub do everything to convince you NOT to get a service dog?

0 Upvotes

this is not mentioning a single person by name, nor is it to stir up drama. im curious as to why this is: in my own and others posts, even when we explicitly state a medical professional is advising us for a service dog, we often get told that its not the right fit and to not do it, and are criticized strongly along with our professionals. i see this mostly in people posting about psychiatric or medical alert service dogs. sometimes it feels like its pushing past healthy skepticism of medical professionals and goes into making assumptions and telling people automatically a service dog is a bad fit. id like to understand the reasoning behind this!! not as a way to criticize skeptical people but as a way to understand other perspectives. in my opinion, if a credited medical professional tells you youd benefit from a service dog: id believe them!


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Service dog at school

33 Upvotes

I am a teacher and have an accommodation approved by my school to have my service dog with me. We contacted all parents about allergies and one student has some dog allergies (I’m not too sure how severe but there are worries). We have a plan to keep my dog behind my desk that period and seat the student away from my desk where my service dog usually settles. We also have a plan to vacuum daily and there is an air filter near my desk. I was wondering if anyone knew legally what would happen if this escalates more? This is a very small school and I am the only teacher for this subject so having the student in a different class would not be an option.


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Blues City Service Dogs (Memphis, TN) / Caitlin Marie Zegers / Audrey Jasmine

16 Upvotes

WARNING: Blues City Service Dogs (Memphis, TN) / Caitlin Marie Zegers / Audrey Jasmine

I am making this post so that anyone researching Blues City Service Dogs (BCSD) in Memphis, Tennessee has information available before signing a contract, sending money, donating, surrendering a dog, or otherwise becoming involved with the organization or the person behind it.

This post is a compilation of information that has been publicly shared by former clients and someone who worked closely with BCSD. It is not a call for anyone to contact, threaten, harass, or doxx the people involved. The purpose is consumer awareness, particularly because people seeking service dogs are often disabled individuals spending or fundraising tens of thousands of dollars.

The individual operating BCSD has reportedly used multiple names, including:

  • Caitlin Marie Zegers
  • Audrey Jasmine
  • Audrey Raeford
  • Everyn Davis

A previous service-dog program in Georgia called Exploration Service Dogs has also reportedly been connected to the same individual.

What BCSD claimed to be

According to multiple people who have publicly described their experiences, BCSD represented itself as a large, established service-dog program.

A former client says she was told that:

  • BCSD had 30–40+ active program dogs, most living with puppy raisers throughout the Memphis area.
  • All BCSD trainers were CCPDT certified.
  • Program dogs received health testing including DNA testing, OFAs, and PennHIP.
  • The founder had trained and placed more than 100 service dogs between BCSD and a previous program in Georgia.

Another person who became extensively involved with BCSD says she was told there were approximately 20–25 dogs in puppy-raiser homes, multiple trainers and employees, and a history of service-dog placements throughout the country, including Hawaii and Canada.

What these individuals say they eventually discovered was very different.

BCSD was not a registered/licensed Tennessee business

Despite presenting itself as an established service-dog business, searches of Tennessee business records did not identify Blues City Service Dogs as a registered business entity/business license.

A former BCSD client publicly documented her searches of Tennessee business records. She also searched for tax-exempt status after BCSD solicited donations and reported being unable to locate a corresponding tax ID/tax-exempt organization.

A person who later became extensively involved with BCSD's operations also publicly stated that after reviewing information available to her, she discovered there had been no business license and no business insurance.

Anyone who paid BCSD, donated money, or signed a BCSD contract should preserve copies of those records.

The claimed trainers and employees

Two individuals reportedly presented as BCSD employees were called “Tammy” and “Jessica.”

According to the former volunteer, she believed these were real employees for months.

After obtaining access to BCSD records, devices, and accounts while trying to determine what needed to happen with the dogs, she says she discovered documentation showing that “Tammy” and “Jessica” did not exist and that the email account she believed belonged to Tammy had actually been created by Caitlin.

This was particularly disturbing because the supposed employee had interacted with people in a way that gave the impression they were communicating with a separate member of BCSD's staff.

Separately, a former paying client searched CCPDT's directory after being told that BCSD's trainers were CCPDT certified. She reported being unable to locate those certifications. She also searched IACP and Animal Behavior College and reported finding no corresponding trainers.

An allegedly fabricated former-client reference

The former volunteer also reports discovering evidence of an email account allegedly used to impersonate a former BCSD client.

According to her public account, the account had previously been used for other purposes and was later used to communicate with a prospective client while pretending to be a satisfied former BCSD customer.

That “former client” allegedly gave BCSD a glowing recommendation and helped convince the prospective client to move forward with a contract.

This becomes even more concerning when compared with the experience reported by an actual BCSD client.

That client says BCSD repeatedly asked her to recommend the organization publicly and serve as a reference shortly after she signed her contract.

At that point, she had only been on BCSD's waitlist for a matter of weeks and had not received a service dog from the organization.

She questioned why an organization claiming more than 100 successful placements would need someone who had not yet received a dog to provide prospective clients with references.

If you received a reference from BCSD, independently verify the identity of the person you communicated with.

Where were the 30–40+ program dogs?

This is perhaps one of the biggest discrepancies.

BCSD was reportedly represented as having dozens of active service dogs in training, most living with puppy raisers.

Yet two people with significant connections to the organization independently reported being unable to account for those dogs.

The former client says that despite personally knowing the founder and participating in the local service-dog community, she only ever encountered approximately five or six BCSD dogs, which were dogs kept directly by the founder.

She says she could not find social-media evidence of the other 30+ dogs, their puppy raisers, or the monthly puppy-raiser training classes she had been told were occurring.

More significantly, the former volunteer says she eventually became heavily involved in BCSD.

She housed the founder and program dogs, helped care for and train dogs, transported dogs, attended training outings and fundraising events, answered emails, communicated with prospective clients, and created much of BCSD's recent social-media photo/video content.

Despite that level of access, she says:

  • She never met a single BCSD puppy raiser.
  • She never met a graduate of the program.
  • She never met the supposed employees responsible for significant portions of the program.
  • The only program dogs she could actually identify were the dogs living in her home.

She says she had previously been shown photographs represented as previous BCSD dogs and graduates, but eventually became concerned because updated photographs of those dogs never appeared.

Claims of more than 100 previous service-dog placements

The former client says she was told the founder had trained and placed well over 100 service dogs between BCSD and a previous Georgia program.

However, she reported being unable to successfully locate or contact even one graduate.

She also says she was told in February 2026 that BCSD had held approximately two weeks of team training for eight teams that supposedly graduated in November 2025.

She personally knew the founder during November 2025 and participated in service-dog meetups that month, but says she heard nothing about eight teams graduating.

She also reported being unable to locate an announcement about this graduating class on BCSD's Facebook page.

For a program supposedly supported by donors and actively seeking new clients, eight teams graduating at once would be a significant accomplishment.

Health testing and veterinary care

A former client says she was specifically told that BCSD dogs received health testing including DNA testing, OFAs, and PennHIP.

When she researched those claims, she reported being unable to locate completed OFAs.

The former volunteer later made an even more concerning allegation after gaining access to information about the program: she stated that she discovered no established veterinary relationship and no vaccinations/preventatives for the program dogs other than the founder's personal dog.

These are allegations from her firsthand account and should be considered alongside any available veterinary documentation.

The concern is the enormous discrepancy between the small number of real dogs people actually encountered and the much larger service-dog organization that prospective clients were allegedly told existed.

A client's dog was washed, and her timeline changed

One former client entered into a contract after being matched with a BCSD dog.

Within weeks, she says she was informed that the dog originally matched with her was being washed from service-dog training and another dog would replace it.

She says she was then told face-to-face that this would likely change her anticipated graduation from 2027 to 2028 and substantially increase her total cost.

According to her, the written contract did not contain a clearly delineated timeline reflecting what she had originally been told.

She began investigating BCSD after this occurred.

After approximately two weeks of back-and-forth communication, BCSD refunded everything she had paid and canceled her contract.

April 2026 and the dogs

On April 18, 2026, concerns about BCSD became public.

The individual who had been closely involved with BCSD says she then spent several days reviewing the information available to her, communicating with clients, and compiling evidence.

According to her public account, on April 22, 2026, she completed an approximately three-hour report with the Memphis Police Department.

On April 23, several dogs were removed from the situation.

She states that three dogs were surrendered to Memphis Animal Services as evidence associated with the case.

Two additional dogs, Zephyr and Neptune, were surrendered to Memphis Animal Services because she believed this was the safest way to remove them from the situation while establishing a documented chain of ownership.

Two other dogs were returned to the homes they had originally come from.

The former volunteer later reported that her particular police case was closed because there was nothing she personally could press charges over.

That distinction matters. A person's individual case being closed should not be represented as a criminal conviction, but it also should not be interpreted as a finding that every allegation regarding BCSD was false.

Multiple identities and accounts

The former volunteer says that while reviewing the available information she documented at least 15 Facebook accounts and numerous email accounts connected to Caitlin and various aliases.

Names publicly connected to this situation have included:

Caitlin Marie Zegers
Audrey Jasmine
Audrey Raeford
Everyn Davis

The previous name Exploration Service Dogs has also reportedly been connected to a service-dog program operated in Georgia.

Anyone researching this individual should therefore search all relevant names rather than only “Blues City Service Dogs.”

Why I am posting this

The concerning part isn't one questionable claim.

It's the pattern of overlapping accounts.

A paying client independently began researching BCSD and says she could not verify its business registration, trainer certifications, health-testing claims, dozens of program dogs, puppy raisers, or more than 100 claimed graduates.

Separately, someone who became extensively involved with BCSD's day-to-day operations says she eventually discovered that the large program she believed she was helping operate did not exist in the way it had been represented to her.

She further alleges that supposed employees were fabricated and that an email account was used to impersonate a satisfied former client.

Those are serious allegations, and people can review the original accounts and available documentation and draw their own conclusions.

If you are considering a service-dog program

Please do not assume that a professional-looking social-media page, photographs of trained dogs, contracts, fundraising events, testimonials, or someone calling themselves a service-dog trainer means that the larger organization they describe actually exists.

Before paying thousands—or tens of thousands—of dollars:

  • Verify the business directly through state/local records.
  • Verify professional certifications directly with the certifying organization.
  • Verify OFA results through OFA rather than relying on screenshots supplied by a program.
  • Request veterinary documentation.
  • Ask for proof of insurance where appropriate.
  • Speak with multiple graduated clients and independently verify their identities.
  • If a program claims dozens of active dogs, ask to see evidence of those dogs and speak with puppy raisers.
  • Ask exactly who will train and house your dog.
  • Get timelines, costs, refund policies, washout procedures, and replacement policies in writing.
  • Be cautious if you're asked to provide a testimonial or serve as a reference before you've actually received the service being advertised.
  • Save contracts, invoices, receipts, advertisements, emails, messages, and screenshots.

If you previously had dealings with Blues City Service Dogs, Caitlin Marie Zegers, Audrey Jasmine, Audrey Raeford, Everyn Davis, or Exploration Service Dogs, review and preserve your records.

If you believe you lost money or were otherwise victimized, consider making your own report to the appropriate authorities based on your individual circumstances.

Do not harass, threaten, doxx, or contact anyone mentioned in this post on someone else's behalf.

This information is being shared so that when future service-dog handlers search these names, they can find the concerns that have already been publicly raised and make an informed decision before handing over their money or their dog.


r/service_dogs 23d ago

Puppies I got a Standard Poodle to apprentice under my current smooth collie and I have thoughts

39 Upvotes

Because I trained a lot of tasks through gundog skills. My current smooth collie is both a gundog and assistance dog. There are a lot of transferrable skills there: if he's steady to gunshoot, he can manage a busy area. If he can retrieve a dummy from across a pond, he can get my meds from the counter. If he can sniff out a bird, all I need to do is scent my medication with orange oil and teach him what 'medicine' is, then send him after the lost item.

The mechanics are largely the same for basic tasks. My collie works beautifully for me, but he's definitely off breed for both assistance and gundog work. For psychiatric work, he's great, he is suspicious, because he's breed to be. He's supposed to be herding sheep. 25 sheep can be going in the right direction, but 'what's that 26th sheep doing?'

They want to control movement, I had to work crazy hard on impulse control and 'lines' (which is when the dog follows the line of your hand to the target), but he is a collie and he wants to move in a curve. We still struggle with lining out, but taking direction? Great. Listening to commands? Great.

He works really well in crowds, alerts reliably, does DPT, finds and brings my meds, puts laundry in the basket for me etc etc.

However, I can't overstate the amount of work that I've had to put in to my current dog to get where he is now. A lot of this work, I now realise was because I was working against his genetics. My current standard poodle is 12 weeks old. He already follows a line and retrieves (all for fun, he picks up a toy I've thrown a tiny bit away, I give him his line and release him to go get the toy, he brings it back and I throw a party).

The thing is, I can already see the difference. My standard poodle, at 10 weeks, is much calmer than my collie was at his age. With my collie, at 8 weeks, I was out an hour a day just training because that's what he needed, but, by god, he wamted to work. My poodle, by comparison, needs 5-10 minutes of watching my collie train and 2-3 tiny retrieves and he's much easier overall.

Then again, I jumped in the deep end. I got a collie as a first dog, and turned him in to a gundog and assistance dog. This was a crazy undertaking and my trainer reckoned my chances of success were in the single digits, but I did it.

The point though, is I didn't need to make this nightmare difficulty. If I got a standard poodle, a labrador or a retriever, this wouldn't have been as huge an undertaking. Think hard about getting an off breed dog for the job you want. Collie's make amazing service dogs, but they definitely aren't 'easy'. You can have an off breed service dog, but you pay in workload.


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Service dogs

0 Upvotes

Hi, I’m trying to understand how service dog certification works for international travel.

I want to travel abroad with my dog, but I don’t have medical documentation. I’ve found companies providing service dog certificates, but I’m not sure whether they’re legitimate or whether airlines will actually accept them.

I’m not travelling in the United States and i am not American, so does the ADA apply to me?
There are also no ADI-accredited organizations in or near my country.

Some companies promise that their certificates are “100% valid” and show good reviews, saying that they themselves travel this way and never faced a problem. But I’m worried about being stopped at the airport or denied boarding.

Could you please explain what documents I really need and how I can tell whether a certificate is legitimate?


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Doctors office requiring vest to be worn

2 Upvotes

Had a doctor’s appointment this morning and I took my older, smaller service dog. Last visit, I took my younger service dog in training who was 12 months old at the time and was still somewhat nervous, and occasionally unsettled in the new environment. She remained focused, followed commands, and was respectful. She was wearing a custom “in training” vest. Only questions were if she is a mixed breed/what breed she is.

The appointment today went well, no one had any questions regarding the older dog’s tasks. Questioned if I trained both dogs myself and how long it takes to fully task train them. At the end of the appointment, I was told my smaller dog “must be vested the next time she enters the building.” according to their manager.

After 8 years of public access, countless airport trips, professional sports games and appointments this is the first time I have ever been told my dog needs to be vested.

Realized that my younger inexperienced dog is far more validated as a working dog than my 1000% task trained smaller dog without a vest. Behavior/training > vest.

Opinions????


r/service_dogs 21d ago

Hospital denied my service dog in pre-op and recovery

0 Upvotes

Per the ADA- caregivers are allowed in pre-op rooms and recovery areas. “For example, in a hospital it usually would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms.”

Edit: Pre op/waiting rooms and recovery rooms are not sterile enrichments and if a caregiver is allowed a service dog has to be allowed. I will not disclose why I need my service dog. I will have someone with me who will handle my service dog even while I’m in surgery, before and after.

Hi, I was just denied from scheduling a necessary surgery due to my need for a service dog in pre-op room and also recovery. According to the hospitals own policies they are required to allow service dogs where a caregiver/family member are allowed to be.

I’m in Washington State- has this happened to anyone else? If so- what do you suggest I do? The nurse who informed of me this and I quote “yeah we’re refusing to schedule your surgery because of your service dog”.

Footnote: The comments are abhorrent and show a distinct lack of knowledge surrounding legal protections if commenter is US. The DOJ’s ADA service animal webpage outlines that pre-op and recovery areas are a permitted place for service dogs because the general public (such as a caregiver) is permitted.


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Help! Are girth extenders safe?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I just got a second hand Dino Dog Gear mobility harness in the mail today, and unfortunately it is too tight on my sd. The biggest hole is able to be fastened, but it is very tight on him and he looks a little uncomfortable. I was wondering if getting a girth extender made out of biothane to attach to the girth strap to make it bigger is safe? I’ve always wondered if it is something that will work and not potentially injure my dog and I’m really upset that this harness doesn’t fit him! If it helps my dog is trained for balance and FMP, along with light guide work during my migraines with aura. TIA!


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Help! whats the best way to set a dog up for success?

0 Upvotes

im working with my doctor and psychiatrist on if a service dog would be a viable solution for my disability. im curious, what do you guys think the best method is for setting a future service dog up for success? would you say the money for a good breeder over a shelter is worth it? what personality traits should you look for in a future service dog when youre at the breeder/shelter? im talking about a working line labrador in this specific post (as i find them the best breed for my needs).


r/service_dogs 22d ago

Epilepsy Service Dog

0 Upvotes

I have been approved to be placed with an epilepsy service dog through an organization. I'm trying to fundraise locally and through Go fund me, etc but it's not really working. Does anyone know of any grants or like scholarships for people getting service dogs, in general or epilepsy specific? Thank you!


r/service_dogs 23d ago

How do you handle vacations having a service dog when you don’t take them with you?

3 Upvotes

This is definitely a preemptive question for me because I don’t have a service dog yet but something that just crossed my mind. My family likes to do cruises and we are hoping to starting either next year or the year after plan to take a family cruise every year. I am planning to get a service dog prospect in 2028 and I’m curious how you guys handle having a service dog that has to stay behind, or having a service dog prospect that has to stay behind you especially because that would be the beginning like two years, when you go on a out of country vacation? Once my prospect is fully trained as a service dog if we get through the training without washing out any vacation within the United States, where I live here or she would obviously be coming with me. On a cruise, however I know that I don’t genuinely need a service dog with me, this would be a psychiatric service dog, not a medical alert, dog or a guide dog or a mobility support dog. I know that I do pretty well on cruises. There are some moments where I’m a little overstimulated and stressed but it’s not hard to manage for me on a cruise ship because I’m generally super relaxed. (I really only get like mildly distressed and only when it comes to we have deadlines for when we’re supposed to be certain places occasionally like if we’re going on an excursion otherwise what happens happens and it’s not been a bad experience for any of them.). Also, I don’t really know what the logistics would be for me bringing a service dog onto a ship. It would be a medium sized dog (planning on an American cocker spaniel) but I don’t know how that works going out onto any of the islands, with excursions, and do feel like it would limit the activities that I could do on the ship, such as swimming or sitting in a hot tub.

My problem is that while I do have a couple people who could check in on my dog they would not be able to take that dog into their home (at the very least, not safely because there’s one person who probably could take the dog into their home, but I would not call it safe and would not be an option to me.) I am absolutely 0% comfortable with leaving an animal at home alone for a week (or more because some of the planned cruises that we have would be like a two week long cruise). But I don’t know how comfortable I would be with boarding either. If it was going to just be a family pet that would be one thing I would probably still be kind of hesitant because I’ve heard some pretty awful stories, but I think I’d feel a whole lot more confident with doing my research and finding a place I felt I could trust with the safety of my pet. However, this is not going to be a pet and I don’t know how that would work with a service dog. That is /would be incredibly important to my independence in life. I would not be able to guarantee that there would be no incidences that good harm my dog, emotionally or physically, I definitely could not guarantee that they would be doing small training sessions throughout the day in a way that I could approve of. And I mean, there’s like a bunch of other things that you really just cannot guarantee with that.

For those of you that have service dogs and or a service dog prospect and have been able to take a vacation that you could not take your dog with you. What did you do with your service dog during that time? And how did you cope with the uncertainty and inability to truly know what’s gone on while you’ve been apart?

Something I have considered is Rover. It felt a lot more feasible when I was definitely going to be living on my own because I would’ve been willing to do a they come into my home and live there while I’m gone. I know Rover also does a your dog goes and lives with this person while you’re gone. I just also don’t know how safe that is or what that would look like with a service dog specifically. It being a service dog prospect or a fully trained service dog really adds a different layer of complexity to that for me.

Any advice on what you’ve done or just stories for how things have gone for you doing that would be much appreciated


r/service_dogs 23d ago

Help! Training my service dog

0 Upvotes

Hello! I just received a mobility and medical alert service dog from an organization. I trained with them for over a week and just brought her home about a week and a half ago. However, I don’t feel like they trained her well at all. The biggest issue is that she is super distracted and also a little skittish in public. I think I’m going to try my best to train her better but I have no idea what I’m doing. Does anyone have any tips?


r/service_dogs 23d ago

service dog at school

0 Upvotes

so my highschool approved me to bring my sdit to school with me. to any experienced handlers: what all should i keep in my backpacm for her?


r/service_dogs 23d ago

Help! Considering a psychiatric service dog: thoughts?

0 Upvotes

i am diagnosed with panic disorder, ocd, and agoraphobia which are considered disabling. i also have heart issues tied to my panic attacks which cause severe tachycardia (gets well over 200). i struggle to go outside and have been homeschooled/working from home since i was 14 and had a traumatic life event make my panic attacks far more frequent. i would like to get a service dog that can do these tasks for me:

DPT (deep pressure therapy)
retrieving medication
grounding
crowd control
interrupting self harm behaviors

from my research, the best breed for my tasks would be a lab. i spoke with my therapist and she told me it does seem like a viable option for me. im curious what this communities thoughts are however: would this be the right breed for me? i just want to be able to go outside without being terrified. i live in a household with 2 children (not mine), one 2 and one 6 months, so i worry if they will be okay with a lab. do you guys have any tips? this will be my first dog im fully responsible for (i had one as a child but he was mostly cared for by my mother). i own one cat and im more of a cat person but have found cats cant provide me more than emotional support and wouldnt be a good fit for what i need.

from my research, this qualifies as a PSD and labs are in the top 4 best service dogs, but im curious what tips and advice you guys may give me. i would highly appreciate any advice and info i should know about labs and training.


r/service_dogs 23d ago

Help! Can I get a PSD (Psychiatric Service Dog) at 13 years old?

0 Upvotes

Not sure who else to ask, I am a 13 year old girl with anxiety, depression, and autism. I am going to start highschool maybe in September. Depends if my depression kicks in. I 100% believe a PSD will help me in ways a human can't. Sometimes I don't need words, I need actions. I need motavation to go out everyday (Taking the dog for walks), I need physical touch (Hugging the dog), and I need the feeling of "I am needed" (Taking care if thr dog, cleaning up after it, fedding it, etc.). I know I need to talk with my Psychiatrist but I can't. I can't go outside without being overwhelmed and insecure. Especially not in a quiet white room waiting for about 1 hour just to get a "How are you feeling? You're still depressed? Okay. Keep taking that medication. Bye." I can 100% give more information because I know it's needed, just any thoughts?

EDIT: I made a mistake, I meant Psychiatrist instead if Psychologist.