Fake Service Dogs they hurt us all

[gemy]

Flying the Friendly Skies with a Fake Service Dog | Best In Show Daily | 2015


I wholeheartedly agree with this article, and I would go further, an emotional support dog should undergo very similar training to a service assist dog. They the dog need to be under control agreeable, not barking, yapping, nipping etc - and certainly not dog aggressive.


Dara has been in training since 8wks old - and she is still a little unknown as to her suitability for my personal assist service dog. We shall enter a program shortly after her full osteo work up is done. But she is and has been trained in basic obedience and will shortly earn her CD title.


She will learn carting as a prelude to pulling a wheelchair - and we have ordered a specially made harness for walking assist. She is being trained to lift me up from the ground. To open doors - To steady me down the stairs. Etc Etc ETc.


People who try to take advantage of the system are quite despicable, and give a bad name to service dogs!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by gemy

Flying the Friendly Skies with a Fake Service Dog | Best In Show Daily | 2015


I wholeheartedly agree with this article, and I would go further, an emotional support dog should undergo very similar training to a service assist dog. They the dog need to be under control agreeable, not barking, yapping, nipping etc - and certainly not dog aggressive.


Dara has been in training since 8wks old - and she is still a little unknown as to her suitability for my personal assist service dog. We shall enter a program shortly after her full osteo work up is done. But she is and has been trained in basic obedience and will shortly earn her CD title.


She will learn carting as a prelude to pulling a wheelchair - and we have ordered a specially made harness for walking assist. She is being trained to lift me up from the ground. To open doors - To steady me down the stairs. Etc Etc ETc.


People who try to take advantage of the system are quite despicable, and give a bad name to service dogs!

I hate when people do this....they are going to RUIN it for so many people that actually do need this service! I agree therapy dogs should be required to be certified as a service dog....and NOT a certificate you send $25.00 to Acme Ultimate Dog and Monkey Training School at some post office mail box, and you get the certificate, a little badge, a little vest, a little iron on patch, and a glow in the dark stripe you peel and stick on the vest so you can go out at night!

True service animals must be properly trained because of where they ARE allowed to be present....can you imagine a dog like Dara, going absolutely crazy in a fully packed passenger airplane cabin, just because YOU decided she was a great traveling companion so you ordered all the little "accoutrements" that "certify" her as a "trained therapy/service dog"??? She would clear that plane at 35,000 feet!!!

But, you are right....you always have thieves and crooks and lairs that scam the public and ruin a great idea for people that REALLY need a particular service. It makes me crazy!!

[matese]

I know of 2 ppl that have untrained "service" dog because they just want to be able to take their dogs into stores and restaurants. Yes, ppl like them will ruin it for the ppl that really need service dogs.

[maxdog]

I never even realized people would do this. That is a very poor reflection on their character.

[matese]

Originally Posted by maxdog

I never even realized people would do this. That is a very poor reflection on their character.

Yes it is, last year I ran into a fellow with a little yorkie, his ex GF is deaf, she has a poodle, yorkie and pit bull, none of them trained yet they are service dogs, so this guy goes to the ex GF has her list HIS dog under her name as a service dog, just so he can take his dog on a commuter bus without having the dog in a carrier case, Some lady I met went to her therapist told therapist she needs emotional
service dog, bingo, now she has a untrained "service" dog, just to be able to take the dog into stores and restaurants. Talk about taking advantage of the system.

[Mayzoo]

Originally Posted by matese

Yes it is, last year I ran into a fellow with a little yorkie, his ex GF is deaf, she has a poodle, yorkie and pit bull, none of them trained yet they are service dogs, so this guy goes to the ex GF has her list HIS dog under her name as a service dog, just so he can take his dog on a commuter bus without having the dog in a carrier case, Some lady I met went to her therapist told therapist she needs emotional
service dog, bingo, now she has a untrained "service" dog, just to be able to take the dog into stores and restaurants. Talk about taking advantage of the system.

A service dog is ONLY allowed in public with its handler (the disabled person). The dog has NO rights. The person does. So even if this person "lists" the dog (whatever that means), no one else can take the dog into the public except a disabled person. I cannot legally take my daughter's dog into public without her even though I am the trainer (because I am not a trainer by profession nor disabled).

I am training my daughter's service dog and fake service animals are becoming a pet peeve of mine. I am spending 1-2 hours a day 5-6 days a week training this little guy. One day I can just imagine a person's, who spent 20 minutes and 100.00 bucks, "service" dog attacking my kiddos dog. Mario has not an aggressive bone in his body, he is 9 lbs fully wet, and he would get smeared. I would get tons of vet bills (if I am lucky), a traumatized kiddo, and I would be left with a dog that likely could never be a service dog again.

People are ignorant, or just selfish. They either do not grasp the damage they could be doing, or they just don't care.

[KairaPup]

This is a huge, ongoing issues. And ESAs do not get public access, yet people try to do so anyway.

It is so severe now that I have had to start carrying a stun gun to protect my service dog from fakers. The worst fake I have ever encountered was a massive white bully breed that wanted to eat my dog- that is when I bought the stun gun. I could just see this dog crushing her in its giant teeth. It was not a nice dog, but it was wearing a vest and in a store- obviously untrained and not legitimate. Even worse, the store did not kick him out.

[Mayzoo]

Originally Posted by matese

Yes it is, last year I ran into a fellow with a little yorkie, his ex GF is deaf, she has a poodle, yorkie and pit bull, none of them trained yet they are service dogs, so this guy goes to the ex GF has her list HIS dog under her name as a service dog, just so he can take his dog on a commuter bus without having the dog in a carrier case, Some lady I met went to her therapist told therapist she needs emotional
service dog, bingo, now she has a untrained "service" dog, just to be able to take the dog into stores and restaurants. Talk about taking advantage of the system.

Legally, emotional support dogs are not allowed public access. They are not service dogs and she if anyone presses charges, she will be fined and/or jailed for having a fake service dog.

Emotional support animals are allowed to reside in residence without a pet deposit, even if that place does not allow pets, and they are sometimes allowed to fly in cabin rather than cargo. That is it.

Therapy animals are allowed in hospitals, retirement homes, ie. places patients are found only. They are not allowed public access beyond that.

There is a lot of confusion on these laws. I did not know half the laws until I began to train my daughter's dog.

[gemy]

It is confusing isn't it? At least a service dog is allowed everywhere! The most commonly known are the seeing eye dogs - but there are diabetes alert dogs and epilepsy alert dogs - some provide physical assistance as I hope mine will - pulling wheelchair - assist on rising up from the ground - steady my walking gait - fetch items and carry.

[yorkiemini]

Don't even get me started

I am so bummed and angry about ill behaved/untrained dogs being passed off as service animals.

My Cali was trained at a large reputable organization. I had to apply for a grant because the cost is high, get medical proof, and have her taken away from me for 18 months. Then had to make 5 plane trips for handler training until I could get it right and understand her.

And some put a $50 badge and vest and fakes it and their dog acts like a fool and people are no longer generous to those of us who are dependent up these miraculous animals.

Additionally, she spends long hours with me at work and is the perfect extremely well trained pup!!!! And people ask, "where can I by one those those", never understanding how steep and long the learning curve is.

But the bottom line is ...... It will change and enhance your life in ways you never imagined.

[gemy]

I don't want Dara taken away my friend was able to keep her service dog after an evaluation and train weekly with the organization. Then there is an examination for passing.


My problem is my gal is very high energy and a high prey drive - but has a very sweet disposition. I have a conditional recommendation for her; by two working dog trainers - get her involved in a high energy outlay sport and concurrently do the service dog training. So I just might be able to do agility with her - if I cut the corners so I don't have to run- I don't care about the speed times at all - but it will be very fun and high energy for her. Also will be training her for draft work. Already I have her pulling a tire behind her. Formal and more intense work won't start until I OFA her joints.

[yorkiemini]

OH yes, is wish I could have stayed with Cali, but what we needed was not near us to I just did a lot of flying back and forth.

Your Dara is remarkable and you as a trainer are experienced. I had done obedience with my precious dogs but learned quickly I did not have the knowledge necessary to traine a hearing animal so,has to opt for professional trainers.

Cali can't pull tires or anything like that, but if I fall down she will run and drag my cell phone to me!

We have life time flying on one airlines because she kept alerting me to a noise that I finally checked out in the restroom that turned out to be a huge water leak - because she found it so fast we did not have to turn the plane around, but were able to continue . She got steak from first class that evening !

[gemy]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

OH yes, is wish I could have stayed with Cali, but what we needed was not near us to I just did a lot of flying back and forth.

Your Dara is remarkable and you as a trainer are experienced. I had done obedience with my precious dogs but learned quickly I did not have the knowledge necessary to traine a hearing animal so,has to opt for professional trainers.

Cali can't pull tires or anything like that, but if I fall down she will run and drag my cell phone to me!

We have life time flying on one airlines because she kept alerting me to a noise that I finally checked out in the restroom that turned out to be a huge water leak - because she found it so fast we did not have to turn the plane around, but were able to continue . She got steak from first class that evening !

Woohoo Cali! You go gal! I surely hope that you enjoyed that steak.


Dara might not work out - she is still an adolescent as big dogs go. I hope that she does of course. But even if she doesn't she will be always kept in our home. My senior boy is getting very old now and well we will have the years left together that we have. He is trained - and if I need him - he will be there for me.


I for certain would not have had the knowledge to train a hearing assist dog. But for the physicality of the tasks that I need - yes I have that knowledge as the springboard is founded in their basic obedience skills. Fetch or retrieve - hold/stand/stay - pull heel etc. Of course my breed was bred to be a working guard dog to humans. It is engrained in their nature to do just that.

[yorkiemini]

When Cali and I first started beginners agility (see, I think all dogs need a lot,of exercise and muscle mass) the instructor did not believe we were beginners because we are such a bonded-pair Cali always stayed right next to me, where the other beginner dogs would sort of wander around.

Of course she did great, I was the one who kept getting lost on the course

[Mayzoo]

Originally Posted by gemy

It is confusing isn't it? At least a service dog is allowed everywhere! The most commonly known are the seeing eye dogs - but there are diabetes alert dogs and epilepsy alert dogs - some provide physical assistance as I hope mine will - pulling wheelchair - assist on rising up from the ground - steady my walking gait - fetch items and carry.

Sadly, it seems a business must educate themselves or remain ignorant. I recently read of a man passing his snake off as a service animal in a restraunt. When asked what it does for him, he said it helps his depression (EA at best). Rather than face a lawsuit, they let him stay, but several customers left.

Only well trained, controlled (or in training) dogs are protected by the ADA as service animals and some states choose to include small horses. Everything else is a pet, therapy animal or emotional support animal.