Service Dogs - Page 2

PPD + mobility in the same dog still means there's bitework involved.  Again, it's frowned upon.

And when it comes to PPD/K9 type dogs, even though some people refer to them as "service dogs" they are not the type of service dog that has public access with their handlers unless it is under very specific circumstances

PPD does not mitigate a legal disability.  A PPD is a PPD, not a Servic Dog.

• When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

As stated in the rules outlining what can be asked, they can only ask if the dog is a service dog because of a disability abd what task the dog has been trained to do.  I do not need to explain my disability nor do I need to go into a diabetic comma to show what the dog does. 

You do not have to show them but if there is ever questioning the courts can make you prove your legal right to the dog and you have to be able to prove you are within the guidelines.

I was taught that you can't ask what someone's disability is (privileged medical info) but you can ask what tasks the dog does.  I had a chat (more like a lecture!) with a co-worker of mine one time because an acqaintance walked by with her Service Dog (Aussie) and my co-worker asked what her disability was.  Luckily she was very nice about it too but I lectured him that he can't ask that, only ask what the dog is trained to do, so he re-phrased the question and she explained that the dog alerts her to a medical condition, alerts others if she has a problem, and carries medical supplies on his back.  She is someone that doesn't *look* disabled (as in, the dog is not a seeing eye dog which is what most public think of as a Service Dog and it's pretty obvious when someone is blind) but the dog can be a life saver and allows her to be out in public at events where her condition might keep her home if she didn't have a dog that could immediately alert and assist.

Mine is same, not visable. If questioned in court though they will have you "prove" legal service dog so I suggest everyone using one sit down and figure if everything is legit to a court scrunity just to safe gard themselves.

Hi All,

  I'm new to this sight (looking to adopt another doggie :D) and came across this thread.  I find it interesting the question was posed for PPD to be comibed with service training.  Having owed a Fila Brasileiro (PPD dogs without the training and an extra hot trigger), I have found owners of these breeds to be more cautious even if the dog is "trained".  As stated before all PPD training includes bitework.  I will add on to this in saying that certain breeds are selected for PPD due to the natural traits and characteristics already ingrained in the genetics, the biggest being that most of the popular breeds for PPD have a predisposition to being independent thinkers and not waiting for the "pack leader" to decide what/who is and is not a threat. 

  Point blank these dogs are a L-I-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y particularly during search and rescue, they were trained to protect their owner.  While people would like to have faith the dog will rely on instinct to know the person being searched is non-threatening and in need of help all it takes is one wrong move and the person needing help is going to meet the wrong side of that dog.

  Another major reason these dogs are not used for service dogs, or search and rescue, is because the owners of these breeds/PPD have done the research and made the commitment to lead a modified lifestyle in order to own one of these dogs.  With all the BSL going around in the various states many of the breeds used for this line of work have flown under the radar because they are lesser known.  The fans of these types of dogs are also very pationate and careful with how these animals interact with the public because all it takes is one mishap to put their beloved breed/training practices on the radar.  Case in point pitbulls, which is sad because they are great dogs in the hands of those that know how to properly handle them.

  Sorry to go off on tangents.  I hope this helps shed a bit of light into the PPD world and the breeds most suited for them.

I train schutzhund with my service dog. I would not train protection. He thinks of schutzhund as a game. If you have a true medical/ need reason to have service dog and you have trouble while out your dog is going to swing from helping you to protection if you are not able to control or guide the dogs when help arrives for you. Police are shooting dogs just for being in yards or acting agressive like in the case of the man they thought was drunk and shot his dog, why would you take that chance with your service dog? I find so many people act stupid around a service dog and are naturally afraid of him anyway. I would never teach true protection/agression to a service dog. You would be giving the dog permission to protect you and that combined with a medical problem for help to work on you spells disaster IMO. It was not tolerated in many groups to even do schutzhund for search dogs, you would be crucified for a protection trained service dog out in public if anything ever happened and the dog injured someone inaproprietly. Claiming a dog as service dog just to have protection with you and not really having a qualifying medical need is punishable by law as it is not a recognised service and your dog is not protected under it.

Thank you GSD Newbie;  I totally understand where  you are coming from.  So are you saying you do not train your service dog, what ever medical condition there is NOT to protect you?  Do not under stand that at all.  To me they go hand in hand.  JMO>  Thx  Nan

When he wears his vest he knows he is NOT to protect or look for danger. Gaurding, agression and protection instincts while doing his service tasks are discouraged. If I was seriously attacked I think he would step in but he knows he must remain non threatening or look ungaurding in the vest to put the public at ease around him and to not respond to stimuli by acting in prey drive and or barking if this makes sense to you.

   His knowing police and emergency personal are there to help me is a great concern so that he does not go defensive/ protective when I need him to let them care for me. I have had him visit at rescue stations and with police and "make friends" with them in uniform and with their equipment so that he will understand and allow them to do their job for me as well.


   The idiots around you when you are in public with a dog even wearing a service vest is mind boggleing. He has had men follow us barking at us, people pulling his tail on purpose and so on... imo they deserve to get bit but I have to settle for me protecting my dog instead of him getting in trouble defending himself. If I taught him protection in his service vest and one of these idiots set him off that is exactly where the news would crucify all proper working service animals that fight for their rights.


One day a woman came up from behind me and grabbed my arm as I was stepping up to a curb.... she thought I was blind..... and thought she was helping. I can see and she was quick and strong in her grab to my body from behind even startleing me doing it much less my dog. I see this type of thing as potential dog bite had he been trained to protect in his vest.


I do trust if I am attacked full on <though I doubt it will happen as they will look for easier target that lady with a gsd> that he will step up to what is needed with encouragement from me to know it is okay to do so. Most people avoid coming to near us that look shady, even people begging do not approach. His prescence alone seems to put off the criminal element.