Small Breed Service Animals Article - YorkieTalk.com Forums

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-19-2005, 06:56 PM

A lot of members were curious about small breed dogs as service animals since,like most of the general public, they are most familiar with large breed dogs like labs as service animals. Yorkies make great service dogs. This story is about a Pom:

From Lap to Laundry: Toy Service Dogs
by Debi Davis

Delta Society Service Dog Resources

“Look Mommy!” the small girl squealed, watching my 9-pound Papillon service dog pick up the car keys I’d dropped. “That doggy wants to drive the car!”

Driving a car is one of the few things my service dog Peek can’t do for me. However, the tasks he performs for me each day more than make up for his inability to play chauffeur. As a person with a disability using a wheelchair for legs, I remain independent and self-sufficient because Peek handles tasks which are difficult or painful for me to perform.

Each morning Peek hears the alarm clock ring, then slaps the snooze button with his paw for 5 more minutes of snuggling in bed. After nature breaks, he helps tug off my pajamas, then hands them to me to fold and put away.

When I am dressed, Peek knows it’s time to make the bed, and jumps in position on the far side of the mattress, waiting for the cue to “tug the covers.” Grasping the sheet between his teeth, he pulls it up toward the bedstead, then repeats the task with the comforter. “Pillows,” I whisper. Peek pulls them into place then looks to me for another cue. I dream of ways to teach him to pour me a cup of coffee, but so far the training techniques elude me.

When breakfast is finished, Peek helps me with the housework. Following me from room to room, he picks up any object. I point to the cordless phone, and he fetches it and places it on the hook. The TV controls are deposited on the end table. Peek reluctantly stashes away all his toys in his toy box, sighs, and follows me to the kitchen.

I point to the lower cupboard and say “Open.” Peek pulls on the leather thong attached to the handle, then waits, as I throw trash into the container under the sink, before closing the door with a swipe of his paw.

Because I get dizzy when I bend over, on laundry days Peek’s job is to tug the clothes out of the dryer and put them in the clothes basket for me, while I sit in my wheelchair and fold them. And although he’d prefer to sleep in the pile of dirty clothes, he does my bidding by bringing me the next load to be washed – one piece at a time.

When we have outings, Peek jumps on my lap and presses the handicap door opener button for me. We roll to the elevator, where he again presses the button with his nose, and we are off.

The public is used to seeing large breeds doing service dog work, but a toy dog performing these tasks always raises eyebrows. Comments of “Oh, he’s so cute!” soon turn to “Oh, he’s so helpful!” when they see a toy dog do many of the things a large breed service dog can do.

Yet the amazing abilities of toy working dogs are overlooked by most large service dog training programs. They prefer dogs like Golden Retrievers, which have a history of even temperament, and whose size and strength make them easily adaptable to those with a wide variety of disabilities. And it is true that large dogs are needed for those requiring assistance in pulling wheelchairs, pulling heavy doors, or getting in and out of the tub. But not all people with disabilities require that level of assistance. Many with mobility impairments mainly need a dog to do retrieval tasks, and a toy dog is indeed a viable option.

For those living in small apartments, a toy service dog may be ideal. Travelling by car or plane is certainly easier with a smaller dog. In restaurants, they fit easily under a chair or table, and more discretely than their large canine counterparts. Clean up after nature calls is easier, and the amount of food consumed is considerably less.

Toy breeds have much to offer as service dogs. But it will take advocates to spread the word and herald the successes of those already working in the field before they are taken seriously. I look forward to the day when a cruise through the mall will gain me comments of “Oh, what a fine working partner you have!” instead of “Oh, what a cute puppy!”

It can happen.

txshopper73 · 06-19-2005, 07:02 PM

WOW! I could use Peek around my house! A very interesting thread. See, toy dogs are much more than some cute ornament to be carried around. The possibilities for these dogs are endless!

Ilovebaby · 06-19-2005, 09:54 PM

Awesome article. What an amazing companion!

ritaman1 · 06-20-2005, 05:50 AM

I'm glad to see this is a REAL Service animal and not one being used for the ease of tricking the public. I have read where people use small animals and claim they are service dogs just to get into restaurants and stores. As a disabled person I find that reprehensible.

MeganS · 06-20-2005, 06:43 AM

Wow what a coincidence. I hope my mom won't mind me posting this about her... anyway she wants to use our new dog tucker as a service dog. he's either going to pick stuff up for her like the papillon (sp?) or help her with other things. i think he'll make a wonderfull service dog becuase he is very smart and learns quickly. i've been reading about service dogs and he seems to be service dog material. my mom already sent away for his service dog in training patch.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-20-2005, 05:44 PM

I have five dogs and they are all service animals. Dogs are so intuitive they can even tell when you are about to have a seizure and they can detect the onset of a migraine headache for example and tell you to take a pill. It is wonderful what healing powers these little guys have as well.

Good luck to your mom! Let me know if I can help.

Meg · 06-20-2005, 05:51 PM

What an awesome story! I think that is great that a toy is a service dog.

Very sweet!

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-20-2005, 06:19 PM

There seems to be a misconception about the definition of a disability for purposes of the service dog laws.(A post on another thread indicated this)

A disability is defined as a current or previous condition which impedes the completion of daily tasks.

As you can see this is very broad and covers everything from minor psycological problems like "fear" and anxiety to blindness. Some examples are obesity, high blood pressure, severe headaches, deression, arthritis, minor hearing impairment, fainting spells, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, MS, MD, etc.

Not many people have perfect health and the healing powers of animals, and dogs especially, is well documented.

As this article points out, the more animals that become working animals and assist their owners with daily tasks and become service animals the more accepted they will become in society and everyone benefits, especially the animals and the more severely disabled.

Please do not criicize people or judge them if their disability is not as great as someone else's. The law is there for anyone who wishes to use it and there is no down side to it!

diva pup · 06-20-2005, 06:44 PM

I really did not want to go here again yet you continually bring this up. Why I don't know.
I do not think anyone has a "problem" with dogs being used as service animals if someone has a real disability. I know many people that get thru the day with high blood pressure and they control it with medication.
I am all for someone having a TRAINED dog to alert them to the onset of a seizure etc. But to say an animal is a service dog that has had no formal training is stretching it. The actual service dogs have gone thru extensive training. What you seem to continually describe is a therapy dog, there is a big difference. I just had a conversation with my neighbor on this subject today. She has had therapy dogs and service dogs. There IS a difference.
Most of the restaraunts and buildings that do not allow dogs in our state do not say "service dogs only" they say "guide dogs only".
I do enjoy good health, I am lucky. But if I had high blood pressure or a migraine I simply can't see twisting the laws that are there for people that need them so I can take my dog to the mall. IMO it just really makes people question the animals that are truly needed.

Maddie-Rudy-Mom · 06-20-2005, 07:16 PM

I gotta agree with Diva Pup. Service dogs go through extensive training. I don't think people should take advantage of the law. The law was made to enable people to live as normal life with there disability as possible with the assistance of a service dog. Maybe the definition of a service dog should be rewritten before it is taken advantage of.

Laura · 06-20-2005, 07:18 PM

This is not a fight. I am sure the law is very specific. If a person has a service dog or therapy dog, they will probably need to discuss it from time to time with the locations they are dealing with. Any ailment can be different for some and others. We have a neighbor who walks perfectly well on his fake leg. Another friend of our cannot stand on his. He uses a wheelchair. Should we tell him he should be able to walk because John can?

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-20-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diva pup

But to say an animal is a service dog that has had no formal training is stretching it. The actual service dogs have gone thru extensive training. What you seem to continually describe is a therapy dog, there is a big difference. I just had a conversation with my neighbor on this subject today. She has had therapy dogs and service dogs. There IS a difference.
Most of the restaraunts and buildings that do not allow dogs in our state do not say "service dogs only" they say "guide dogs only".
I do enjoy good health, I am lucky. But if I had high blood pressure or a migraine I simply can't see twisting the laws that are there for people that need them so I can take my dog to the mall. IMO it just really makes people question the animals that are truly needed.

Thank you for the opportunity to once again reiterate what the law actually says. The more people read and understand the scope of the law the better for everyone. I am glad you are in good health and do not need to use your dog to assist you in your daily activities. Many of us are not so lucky.

Actually, you are not correct about the training required. The law does not require any "formal" training, whatever that might mean. Service dogs do have to be trained to assist the person with the disability in some way, but the owner can train the dog. It is not "stretching it" to do so. It is perfectly acceptable and encouraged even. I do not know what you mean by "actual" service dogs but I assume you mean "seeing eye dogs since you have referred to them in previous posts and, depending on the severity of the disability, and the nature of the task being trained, a professional trainer might be necessary, but not always.

Yes, you are correct that there is a difference between therapy animals and service anmals and I have always made that clear when the issue has arisen. Therapy dogs are not allowed access like service dogs are. I have never used the term therapy animals once in my discussions regarding service dogs except to point them out as being different and not subject to the same privileges.

The law which allows service dogs access to all public places is a federal law and supercedes all state and local laws so it is the controlling law in every state in the country and whether the sign in an estblishment opent to the public says "service dogs" or "guide dogs" is irrelevant. This law was enacted in 1990 and it allows all service animals who are assisiting a person with a disability.

I have done extensive legal research on the subject to the point of reading the majority of the case law. There is no "twisting the law" as you describe. These are legitimate uses of dogs that are allowed under the law and to imply otherwise is actually misrepresenting the nature of the law in my opinion.

For anyone who wants to do some research on their own to learn more the law is enforced by the Deaprtment of Justice and there are severe penalties for business owners who violate the law. There is a FAQ sheet they have printed to educate business owners about the law in layman's terms. It is located at

www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/qasrvc.htm

I always carry a copy of this with me for any business owner who is unfamiliar with the laws.

Of course, this just gives a periferal overview and is not an in depth analysis but I have done the in depth analysis and there is lots of info on the internet if anyone wants to look into it for their dogs and themselves.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-20-2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diva pup

I really did not want to go here again yet you continually bring this up. Why I don't know.
I do not think anyone has a "problem" with dogs being used as service animals if someone has a real disability. .

I keep bringing this up because, as a dog trainer and a dog lover, I am quite passionate about it. There are always threads on here about people who cannot take their beloved "family member" here or there and I always think, well I can help them if they are aware of the service animal law. I also firmly believe it is a safety issue for my dogs and everyone else's. Our furbabies are almost always better off when they are with us as opposed to home alone or in a kennel at a boarding place, or left in the car while we run in for a couple of minutes, or even being dog sat by a neighbor or professional dog sitter. When people realize how easy it is in a lot of cases to train their animal to be a service dog, they will be thrilled and everyone wins!!

Yorkies are especially needy in this way and have severe separation anxiety sometimes. If you can train that dog to pick up your keys if you have arthritis or alert you when the phone rings if you are partially hearing impaired, then WHY NOT????

I find it interesting that anyone in this dog friendly community would have a problem with this.

The reference to a "real disability" I do not understand since I gave the definition of a disability. Are you trying to judge who has a "real" as opposed to an "unreal" disability and who is to judge whose disability is worse and should it matter? The law does not discriminate based on severity of disabilty except to say that it is long term, although you qualify also if you had a previous disability which is now cured or gone.

Lexi's_Mommy · 06-20-2005, 08:10 PM

Kim, I would just like to say thank you. A few months ago I read a thread about making my pup a service dog and for me it will be great. Lexi starts puppy classes in 2 weeks. She will then be considered a service dog in training.

I have a VERY rare case of Rhumatoid arthritis, I swell so bad that some days I can't close my hands, or wear shoes. Because of my illness that still is not completely under controll I also suffer from depression. Beleive it or not Lexi makes a world of a difference when it comes to depression. I love my kids dearly but when you are depressed and they start argueing or begging for a pack of gum in the store it only gets worse. With Lexi it is different and more relaxxing.

My bother says Lexi is way to spoiled to be a service dog, and she is spoiled but she is also well behaved and listens well. So we will show him...

SoCalyorkiLvr · 06-20-2005, 08:16 PM

Tricia~

You have made my day. I am so glad the info I passed on helped you and Lexi. Good luck in the classes!

06-19-2005, 06:56 PM	#1
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Small Breed Service Animals Article A lot of members were curious about small breed dogs as service animals since,like most of the general public, they are most familiar with large breed dogs like labs as service animals. Yorkies make great service dogs. This story is about a Pom: From Lap to Laundry: Toy Service Dogs by Debi Davis Delta Society Service Dog Resources “Look Mommy!” the small girl squealed, watching my 9-pound Papillon service dog pick up the car keys I’d dropped. “That doggy wants to drive the car!” Driving a car is one of the few things my service dog Peek can’t do for me. However, the tasks he performs for me each day more than make up for his inability to play chauffeur. As a person with a disability using a wheelchair for legs, I remain independent and self-sufficient because Peek handles tasks which are difficult or painful for me to perform. Each morning Peek hears the alarm clock ring, then slaps the snooze button with his paw for 5 more minutes of snuggling in bed. After nature breaks, he helps tug off my pajamas, then hands them to me to fold and put away. When I am dressed, Peek knows it’s time to make the bed, and jumps in position on the far side of the mattress, waiting for the cue to “tug the covers.” Grasping the sheet between his teeth, he pulls it up toward the bedstead, then repeats the task with the comforter. “Pillows,” I whisper. Peek pulls them into place then looks to me for another cue. I dream of ways to teach him to pour me a cup of coffee, but so far the training techniques elude me. When breakfast is finished, Peek helps me with the housework. Following me from room to room, he picks up any object. I point to the cordless phone, and he fetches it and places it on the hook. The TV controls are deposited on the end table. Peek reluctantly stashes away all his toys in his toy box, sighs, and follows me to the kitchen. I point to the lower cupboard and say “Open.” Peek pulls on the leather thong attached to the handle, then waits, as I throw trash into the container under the sink, before closing the door with a swipe of his paw. Because I get dizzy when I bend over, on laundry days Peek’s job is to tug the clothes out of the dryer and put them in the clothes basket for me, while I sit in my wheelchair and fold them. And although he’d prefer to sleep in the pile of dirty clothes, he does my bidding by bringing me the next load to be washed – one piece at a time. When we have outings, Peek jumps on my lap and presses the handicap door opener button for me. We roll to the elevator, where he again presses the button with his nose, and we are off. The public is used to seeing large breeds doing service dog work, but a toy dog performing these tasks always raises eyebrows. Comments of “Oh, he’s so cute!” soon turn to “Oh, he’s so helpful!” when they see a toy dog do many of the things a large breed service dog can do. Yet the amazing abilities of toy working dogs are overlooked by most large service dog training programs. They prefer dogs like Golden Retrievers, which have a history of even temperament, and whose size and strength make them easily adaptable to those with a wide variety of disabilities. And it is true that large dogs are needed for those requiring assistance in pulling wheelchairs, pulling heavy doors, or getting in and out of the tub. But not all people with disabilities require that level of assistance. Many with mobility impairments mainly need a dog to do retrieval tasks, and a toy dog is indeed a viable option. For those living in small apartments, a toy service dog may be ideal. Travelling by car or plane is certainly easier with a smaller dog. In restaurants, they fit easily under a chair or table, and more discretely than their large canine counterparts. Clean up after nature calls is easier, and the amount of food consumed is considerably less. Toy breeds have much to offer as service dogs. But it will take advocates to spread the word and herald the successes of those already working in the field before they are taken seriously. I look forward to the day when a cruise through the mall will gain me comments of “Oh, what a fine working partner you have!” instead of “Oh, what a cute puppy!” It can happen.

06-19-2005, 07:02 PM	#2
txshopper73 Donating YT 14K Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 14,226 Blog Entries: 1	WOW! I could use Peek around my house! A very interesting thread. See, toy dogs are much more than some cute ornament to be carried around. The possibilities for these dogs are endless! __________________ As always...JMO (Just My Opinion) Kimberley

06-19-2005, 09:54 PM	#3
Ilovebaby I love my Monster! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 1,137	Awesome article. What an amazing companion! __________________ Mindy & Baby Baby's Dogster Page ****** Baby pics and Videos & More Baby pics

06-20-2005, 05:51 PM	#7
Meg YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 671	What an awesome story! I think that is great that a toy is a service dog. Very sweet! __________________ Meg & Keeley I love my little Yorkie boy! www.dogster.com/?169319

06-20-2005, 06:19 PM	#8
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Disability defined There seems to be a misconception about the definition of a disability for purposes of the service dog laws.(A post on another thread indicated this) *A disability is defined as a current or previous* condition which impedes the completion of daily tasks.** As you can see this is very broad and covers everything from minor psycological problems like "fear" and anxiety to blindness. Some examples are obesity, high blood pressure, severe headaches, deression, arthritis, minor hearing impairment, fainting spells, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, MS, MD, etc. Not many people have perfect health and the healing powers of animals, and dogs especially, is well documented. As this article points out, the more animals that become working animals and assist their owners with daily tasks and become service animals the more accepted they will become in society and everyone benefits, especially the animals and the more severely disabled. Please do not criicize people or judge them if their disability is not as great as someone else's. The law is there for anyone who wishes to use it and there is no down side to it!

06-20-2005, 05:50 AM	#4
ritaman1 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Flushing, New York Posts: 34	I'm glad to see this is a REAL Service animal and not one being used for the ease of tricking the public. I have read where people use small animals and claim they are service dogs just to get into restaurants and stores. As a disabled person I find that reprehensible.

06-20-2005, 06:43 AM	#5
MeganS Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12,016 Blog Entries: 1	Wow what a coincidence. I hope my mom won't mind me posting this about her... anyway she wants to use our new dog tucker as a service dog. he's either going to pick stuff up for her like the papillon (sp?) or help her with other things. i think he'll make a wonderfull service dog becuase he is very smart and learns quickly. i've been reading about service dogs and he seems to be service dog material. my mom already sent away for his service dog in training patch.

06-20-2005, 05:44 PM	#6
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	I have five dogs and they are all service animals. Dogs are so intuitive they can even tell when you are about to have a seizure and they can detect the onset of a migraine headache for example and tell you to take a pill. It is wonderful what healing powers these little guys have as well. Good luck to your mom! Let me know if I can help.

06-20-2005, 06:44 PM	#9
diva pup BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,139	I really did not want to go here again yet you continually bring this up. Why I don't know. I do not think anyone has a "problem" with dogs being used as service animals if someone has a real disability. I know many people that get thru the day with high blood pressure and they control it with medication. I am all for someone having a TRAINED dog to alert them to the onset of a seizure etc. But to say an animal is a service dog that has had no formal training is stretching it. The actual service dogs have gone thru extensive training. What you seem to continually describe is a therapy dog, there is a big difference. I just had a conversation with my neighbor on this subject today. She has had therapy dogs and service dogs. There IS a difference. Most of the restaraunts and buildings that do not allow dogs in our state do not say "service dogs only" they say "guide dogs only". I do enjoy good health, I am lucky. But if I had high blood pressure or a migraine I simply can't see twisting the laws that are there for people that need them so I can take my dog to the mall. IMO it just really makes people question the animals that are truly needed.

06-20-2005, 07:16 PM	#10
Maddie-Rudy-Mom YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 1,887	I gotta agree with Diva Pup. Service dogs go through extensive training. I don't think people should take advantage of the law. The law was made to enable people to live as normal life with there disability as possible with the assistance of a service dog. Maybe the definition of a service dog should be rewritten before it is taken advantage of. __________________ Cindy, Maddie, Rudy, Polly, Sprout, Angie, and Tucker Rest in peace Lucky 1989-2007

06-20-2005, 07:18 PM	#11
Laura Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wylie TX Posts: 1,577	This is not a fight. I am sure the law is very specific. If a person has a service dog or therapy dog, they will probably need to discuss it from time to time with the locations they are dealing with. Any ailment can be different for some and others. We have a neighbor who walks perfectly well on his fake leg. Another friend of our cannot stand on his. He uses a wheelchair. Should we tell him he should be able to walk because John can? __________________ Laura--loving mom of Robyn, Dexter, Sandy, Mattie, Sammy, Jake & Mollie http://www.yorkietalk.com/gallery/sh...00&ppuser=1851

06-20-2005, 08:10 PM	#14
Lexi's_Mommy ~GirlieGirls~ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,293	Kim, I would just like to say thank you. A few months ago I read a thread about making my pup a service dog and for me it will be great. Lexi starts puppy classes in 2 weeks. She will then be considered a service dog in training. I have a VERY rare case of Rhumatoid arthritis, I swell so bad that some days I can't close my hands, or wear shoes. Because of my illness that still is not completely under controll I also suffer from depression. Beleive it or not Lexi makes a world of a difference when it comes to depression. I love my kids dearly but when you are depressed and they start argueing or begging for a pack of gum in the store it only gets worse. With Lexi it is different and more relaxxing. My bother says Lexi is way to spoiled to be a service dog, and she is spoiled but she is also well behaved and listens well. So we will show him... __________________ Tricia ~ mommy to Alexis, Victoria, & Candise www.TriciaMartinPhotography.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotosbytricia/sets/

06-20-2005, 08:16 PM	#15
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	So glad I helped! Tricia~ You have made my day. I am so glad the info I passed on helped you and Lexi. Good luck in the classes!