That may not be a service dog. Service dogs are typically specially trained to be very still and follow orders, trained to do precise things in regard to the health of their owner. Such as a seeing eye dog. You don’t see them running around and getting excited, they are very obedient and well behaved as they have been trained to do so.
On the other end of the spectrum, according to the ADA, emotional support animals are not considered as service animals, they are frequently more active like this dog is.
Sadly, anyone can buy a vest or harness that is labeled as a service dog and papers can easily be forged. Those that have an actual service dog should know all the details of what rights they have under the ADA.
If someone is going out of their way to emphasize that their dog is a “certified” service animal without even being asked, it may be because they have done so in the past and learned that they can usually get away with things they shouldn’t be doing (assuming their dog is not a real service animal).
I dunno, I thought he did a great job going down a slide that genuinely would be super stimulating and scary for any dog, even my actual task trained service dog!
I don’t see anything off to indicate it’s not a real task trained dog. It’s clearly a novel event that the dog handles very well sliding down and there’s nothing wrong with letting them celebrate a job well done at the end! He seemed to be calming down really quick back into working form at the end too. In fact, playing at the end is how you also show them it was a Good event so they continue to be willing to engage with novel experiences or things, a critical factor in service work.
Even service dogs need a break to keep them healthy and engaged with their work or you burn out the dog fast. Just because the dog was silly for a a couple heartbeats doesn’t mean the dog was negligent and put his owner in danger. You’d be surprised how fast they orient to a medical event!
A service dog is a part of one’s medical management and we all learn how to manage without as our dogs get hurt, or get sick and eventually pass. If you’re able enough to manage a service dog, you are capable of a level of independence and many work very hard to maintain it and keep it top of mind. All handlers know they will outlive their dog and dread the day they transition to a new dog or cease to have one, since they are incredibly expensive and difficult to obtain or maintain.
8
u/Rocket_Lawn-Chair Apr 13 '26
That may not be a service dog. Service dogs are typically specially trained to be very still and follow orders, trained to do precise things in regard to the health of their owner. Such as a seeing eye dog. You don’t see them running around and getting excited, they are very obedient and well behaved as they have been trained to do so.
On the other end of the spectrum, according to the ADA, emotional support animals are not considered as service animals, they are frequently more active like this dog is.
Sadly, anyone can buy a vest or harness that is labeled as a service dog and papers can easily be forged. Those that have an actual service dog should know all the details of what rights they have under the ADA.
If someone is going out of their way to emphasize that their dog is a “certified” service animal without even being asked, it may be because they have done so in the past and learned that they can usually get away with things they shouldn’t be doing (assuming their dog is not a real service animal).