how do I legally make my dog a service dog?
I am hard of hearing, and would like to train my puppy myself to being a hearing service dog, but I want to know what I have to do and how to make it all legal, so I am not misrepresenting people with disabilities and get charged under state law. I live in kansas city, Missouri by the way.
Can anyone help me find out what I need to do??? If you know anyone in this state who trains dogs for hearing impaired and can help me, please let me know. Do I have to have a doctor’s prescription to have a service dog also??
IF YOU CAN NOT GIVE DETAILED RELEVANT ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION, LIKE PHONE NUMBERS, ETC. REAL SOLUTIONS, I KNOW MY DOG NEEDS TO BE TRAINED, SO IF YOU ARE NOT EDUCATED AND JUST PUTTING YOUR OPINION OUT THERE WITHOUT SOMETHING TO BACK IT UP, DO US BOTH A FAVOR AND DON’T RESPOND,LMAO!
Here’s an article on how to find a trainer or program: http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/node/262 This article includes links to several lists of trainers and programs, most organized by state. There are at least a couple in KC but I’m having difficulty recalling the names.
To qualify you need to be legally disabled. The Missouri definition was worded the same as the Federal ADA, so qualifying as disabled for one will qualify you for the other as well. The standard is “substantially limited” in one or more major life activities, such as “caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working.” 28 CFR 36
You don’t need a doctor’s prescription per se to use a hearing dog, but any organization you work with may require medical proof of disability before agreeing to help you. In either case, you want to discuss this with your doctors to establish that they consider you disabled. If at some future date this becomes an issue, say you are charged with trespass, you will need them to testify that you are in fact disabled. You will also need someone to train or at least evaluate your dog and be prepared to testify if needed. One would hope not to wind up in court, but it would be foolish not to be prepared just in case.
In Missouri, there is a criminal penalty for anyone claiming a dog as a service dog if it isn’t. So you have an additional reason for making sure you have documentation of both your disability and your dog’s training.
— edited to add —
A therapy dog is not a type of service dog. Two entirely different things. A service dog requires 18-24 months of expert training. A therapy dog requires 8 weeks of training with a reasonably competent pet owner. Service dogs accompany their disabled owner to places where pets are not permitted. Therapy dogs only go to places where pets are not permitted BY INVITATION.
MHGDC-PuppyTraining.wmv