Service Dog Terminology
Service dog- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as any dog that has been specifically trained to assist an individual with a disability. These service dogs perform essential tasks that are directly related to the needs of the person they serve, such as guiding those who are visually impaired, alerting individuals to sounds, or providing support for mobility. While dogs are the primary species recognized under the ADA for service roles, miniature horses have also been considered for certain tasks due to their unique abilities and characteristics. However, the use of miniature horses as service animals can depend on various factors, including the type of assistance needed and the environment in which they will be working. Overall, service animals play a vital role in enhancing the independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Handler - An individual who works alongside a specially trained service dog that assists with a variety of physical, emotional, or medical challenges. The handler is responsible for the dog’s care, including training, feeding, and ensuring proper behavior in public spaces, while also advocating for their rights and the rights of their service dog. In some instances the handler may be another individual than the one the service dog is for such as in the case of younger children.
Task - An action that a service dog is trained to perform to mitigate a handler's disability.
Alert - A task where the service dog detects things such as smells or physical actions in the handler and performs an action such as bumping the individual with it's nose to make the individual aware they are about to have an episode. For example a diabetic alert dog detects changes in the person's blood sugar and bumps the individual with it's nose.
Response- A task a service dog performs to mitigate an episode. For example the service dog retrieves medication.
SD - Service Dog
SDIT - Service dog in training
Public Access- This refers to taking a service dog into non-pet friendly places like grocery stores and restaurants.
PA - Public access
Pet Friendly- Places that allow animals
Non Pet Friendly- This refers to places that do not allow animals wether by law or business policy.
Fully Trained Service Dog- A dog that has completed training to be under control, not cause a disturbance, housebroken, and perform a task. This does not mean that the dog does not still have training. The dog has to continue training to keep it's skills sharp. Other tasks may be trained after the dog has become a fully trained service dog.
Service Dog in Training- A dog that is training to become a service dog but has not yet met the qualifications for a fully trained service dog.
Access Issue- This is when a service dog team encounters problems entering a place such as a business or park due to the service dog's presence. This could be refusing entry to the service dog or requiring that the service dog wear a vest, or that identification or certification forvthe dog be presented as a condition for the service dog to enter. So anything that violates the ADA'S laws about public access for service dogs.
Service Dog Team - This refers to the service dog and it's handler,
Program Dog -This is a service dog that comes fully trained front an organization or school.
Owner Trained- This is a service dog that was trained by it's owner.
Hybrid Training- This is when a service dog owner works with a dog trainer to train the dog.
Service Dog Certification/Registration/identification- There are companies that sell certification/registration and provide identification for service dogs. This registration is not accepted under any of the laws reguarding service dogs and it is illegal for anyone to ask for this. Understandablly, as many of these companies will literally allow you to register a cartoon character. There is not any official certification/registration or identification for service dogs. Some communities offer service dog registration for things like making firefighters aware there may be a service dog in the house. These registries are often free of charge an are completely voluntary.
Wash - This is when a dog is pulled from training to be a service dog or is a service dog and is career changed. For example a service dog sustains an injury that will prevent it from continuing to be a working dog so the dog is career changed to be a pet.
Retire a Service Dog- Similar to wash but usually occurs as the dog's advanced age interferes with it's ability to work.
Pulled from public access - This is when a service dog is no longer taken into public access. For example a service dog gets attacked by another dog causing it to become reactive to dogs. The dog is no longer taken into non pet friendly places while it tries to work through this issue.