How To Get A Dog Certified As A Service Dog

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Service dogs are trained to assist people with disabilities such as motor impairment, visual or hearing impairments, mental illnesses, seizure disorders, or chronic illnesses. In the United States, there is no legal process for registering a service dog. Although you cannot register your service dog, you can receive documentation by training your dog to pass the ADI Public Access test or requesting a doctor's note. By pursuing these options instead of scam registration websites, you can provide proof of your service dog's abilities to airlines, your landlord, and other organizations who ask for it.^[1]

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Recognize the difference between unofficial registration and government requirements. The United States does not require official registration for service dogs. No proof, official training, or documentation is required for your dog to be a service dog. If a landlord, business, or other organization asks for official registration, let them know that service dogs are not legally registered.^[2]
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Avoid websites that register your service dog for a fee. Some unofficial registration sites use fear tactics to con people with service dogs out of money. They claim that unless their dog is "officially registered" with them, their service dog is not validated. Avoid any registration sites that cost money to sign your dog up for, as they are designed to scam uninformed dog owners. Some well-known scam sites include:^[3]
- Service Animal Registry of America (SARA)
- United Service Animal Registry (USAR plus)
- Goldstar German Shepherds
- Service Dogs America (SDA)
- Registered Service Dog
- Service Dog Certification of America (SDCA)
- National Service Animal Registry (NSAR)
- American Service Dogs
- Service Dog ID
- Certified Service Dog
- National Association of Service Dogs
- Service Dog Tags
- Free My Paws
- Canadian Registry of Therapy Animals and Service Animals (CRTASA)
- United States Service Dog Registry (USSDR)
- Official Service Dog Registry
- Service Dog Kits
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Remember the 2 questions businesses can legally ask service dog owners. Although business owners or other organizations cannot ask what disability a service dog owner suffers from, they can ask two things to assess the validity of a service dog in lieu of documentation. If a business or organization wants to see legal registration, let them know that the United States does not offer official registration and answer these 2 questions instead:^[4]
- Is this a service dog required because of a disability?
- What is it trained to do to mitigate the disability?
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Seek unofficial registration for your own personal interest. Although you cannot officially register your service dog, you may be interested in registering your dog unofficially for the novelty. If this is the case, look for a service that does not claim to offer legal registration and notes that their services are not official documentation.
- Do not claim that your unofficial registration is legal documentation of your service dog, as this may be considered illegal.^[5]

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Train your dog to meet the ADI standards as an alternative to registration. Although you cannot officially register service dogs in the United States, training them to pass the ADI Public Access Test can give proof of your service dog's skills. If you need to document your service dog's abilities, the ADI Public Access Test is considered the most credible service animal skills test.
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Find an established service dog trainer. In the United States, there is no certification requirement for service dogs or service dog trainers. While not legally required, however, training your dog to pass a certification test can make them a more qualified service dog. To find a reputable service animal trainer, ask friends or family members for recommendations or contact a nearby veterinarian. Legitimate dog trainers might also be registered with a training organization like:^[6]
- Pet Partners: https://petpartners.org/
- Assistance Dogs International: https://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/
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Take the Public Access Test, the standard service dog certification. Although there is no internationally-recognized test for service dogs, the Public Access Test is considered an "unofficial standard" for service dogs. It is not legally required but can give you an idea of how efficient your service dog is. The Public Access Test requires your dog to meet several expectations, including:^[7]
- Safely crossing a street
- No solicitations for food or affection
- Avoiding distractions
- Self-control of excitement
- Only urinating or defecating on command
- No biting, barking, growling, or other aggressive behavior
- Other disability-related tasks
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Record your dog performing the Public Access Test for documentation. Official certification of the Public Access Test usually isn't required or given. If you need verification of your dog passing the Public Access Test, record your dog completing the test. You can then use the video as proof, if required.^[8]
- Although the United States does not require dogs to take the Public Access Test, they do require your dog to be trained (either self-trained or via a trainer) before they can meet the definition of a service dog.^[9]
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Avoid fraudulent or unqualified dog trainers. Watch out for warning signs when choosing a dog trainer. If your potential trainer does not talk about their previous experience and qualifications, cannot provide previous clients as references, or will not directly answer your questions, choose a different trainer. Unqualified trainers will not be able to teach your dog the skills it needs for the Public Access Test.^[10]

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Request a doctor's letter if you have a psychiatric service dog. Unlike emotional support dogs, which primarily provide comfort, psychiatric service dogs are trained to assist their handlers with mental illness-related disabilities. Landlords, airlines, or other organizations can require a doctor's letter for psychiatric service dogs.
- Like the ADI Public Access Test, a doctor's letter is not considered legal registration. It can, however, be a helpful document to give individuals or organizations that request proof of your service dog's credibility.
- Many airlines require that psychiatric service dogs have a doctor's note before allowing them on the plane.
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Ask your doctor or therapist for an official letter. For your letter to be legitimate, it must be written by a clinical or mental health professional. Let them know what you feel comfortable with them disclosing in your letter—you do not need to share your diagnosis or the nature of your disability.^[11]
- Tell your doctor or therapist what you need the letter for so they can base the information off of your needs.^[12]
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Avoid online websites that provide fraudulent "doctor consultation letters." Some scam websites may offer "doctor consultations" by phone or email, then claim to send an official doctor's note. These websites are fraudulent and do not provide real doctor's letters. Schedule an appointment with a licensed physician or therapist to ask about a legitimate letter.
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Request a letter for non-psychiatric service dogs to make accessibility easier. Apart from psychiatric service dogs, other service dogs do not need a letter of recommendation. If your service dog is not for a psychiatric disability, a doctor's letter can still make housing, traveling, or other activities simpler. It is not, however, required by law.^[13]

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This article is primarily geared towards service dogs in the United States. Although most countries do not offer official service dog registration, check the legal guidelines for your country to make sure.
Registration of any kind is not required by most government laws to use a service animal.

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While there's no legal process to register your dog as a service animal in the United States, you can train your dog to pass the ADI Public Access Test to give proof of your pet's skills. When preparing your dog for the test, find a reputable service dog trainer by asking friends, family members, or local veterinarians for recommendations. You can also look at the websites for Pet Partners or Asistance Dogs International to find a list of legitimate trainers. During the Public Access Test, your dog will be expected to meet several requirements, including safely crossing a street, avoiding distractions, and remaining controlled in exciting situations. Since official certification of the test isn't given, record your dog completing it as proof that it has service skills. To learn how to get a doctor's note for a psychiatric service dog, keep reading!

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