As of January 1st, it is now a misdemeanor to put a service vest on a dog who is not service dog trained. But what is a service dog? Technically there are three types of Partner Dogs – dogs who fulfill a need for their owners:
Service Dogs – These dogs are the most trained – and most respected. Nationally certified, these dogs are trained for months and often years and must provide at least three (3) specific tasks for their human. This category includes dogs helping individuals who are blind, suffer seizures, have severe allergies, and so many other amazingly important tasks.
Therapy Dogs – Rather than providing for their owners or guardians, these dogs provide for others; at hospitals, senior centers, and now airports, trauma centers, and an amazing variety of other places.
Emotional Support Dogs – This is the newest category of service dogs and technically the one with the least requirements. Emotional support dogs are dogs who “help alleviate symptoms of a mental or emotional disability through companionship and affection.” Training is not required for these dogs – although I would argue that’s a big part of the emerging problem.
Partner Dogs refers to all three classifications. At pranaDOGS we feel any dog in a working capacity needs these basic’s
Basic and Advanced Manners provide your dog with the basic skills needed to cope in different environments and under different distractions. Task specific behaviors are specific to each human and each dogs job. They require a great deal of training are best learned and practiced once basic manners have been perfected. Consider that many nationally recognized service dog schools foster their puppies out until they are 18 months old – during which time they are taught basic and advanced behaviors.
Although there are no national certifications for Partner Dogs, it’s up to all of us to ensure our dogs are good neighbors and that they cope well in the settings we bring them to. Remember just because they’re looking out for us, doesn’t mean we don’t also need to be looking out for them.
