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Old 11-28-2006, 09:25 AM   #19
yorkieK9trainer
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North eastern Illinois Suburbs
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Thumbs up Federal Law

If you have a SERVICE DOG by definition, not a Therapy Dog, then you legally-federally-can take them anywhere w/ you.
You do not need to have any special certification that your dog has passed any standardized tests in order to become a "Service Dog". While there are certifications out there (No the CGC and the TDI are not one of them, although they are nice to have and help demonstrate the nature of the dog), again you do not have to become certified.
All you really need is a well behaved dog that you can handle w/ minimal control in public and in weird situations that you normally would experience when out in public-ANYWHERE YOU YOURSELF WOULD GO-and some forms of identification declaring him as a service dog so that the populous knows. Further it is a nice added touch to have a doctor's note w/ you at all times stating what your condition is (maybe you have anxiety in public and take a dog rather than medication; maybe you're recovering from surgery...maybe " "), but that's NOT neccessary even, just nice to have in case a store owner or airline really contests you. By law you do not have to respond to their questions regarding your neccessity of having a service dog-i.e. what your handicap may be.
So, there you have it. Those are some loose terms, huh? Trust me, a lot is being done to try and change this. And if you do "pose" as a service dog, please don't ruin it for the rest of us that actually train them or use them out of neccessity. Make sure that your dog is properly behaved in public (no jumping;barkingulling;lunging;snaping;growling;h olds it's bowel and urine when needed and so on.) and has proper identification. Service Dogs are often not allowed to be petted when in public also. Keep this in mind. They're not Therapy Dogs to the public, they are Service Dogs to you. They're pets +.
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