What are service dogs?
Service dogs are dogs that are individually trained to perform specific work or tasks for a person with a disability. According to the ADA, service dogs must be trained to perform tasks that are directly related to a person’s disability, such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting someone having a seizure, or performing other special tasks. Service dogs are working animals, not pets.
Some examples of tasks service dogs can perform include:
- Guiding people who are blind or have low vision
- Alerting people who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds
- Retrieving items or pressing buttons for people with mobility issues
- Detecting the onset of psychiatric episodes
- Reminding people to take medication
- Calming people with PTSD during anxiety attacks
Service dogs are different from emotional support animals, which are pets that provide comfort just by being with a person. Emotional support animals do not need special training to perform tasks related to a person’s disability. Under the ADA, businesses and public places are only required to allow access to service dogs, not emotional support animals.
Service dog laws in Florida
Florida has laws protecting the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by service dogs in public places and housing. These laws include the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA), as well as Florida’s own statutes.
The ADA requires all public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, and retail stores to permit service dogs to accompany people with disabilities. Service dogs must be under control and housebroken. Under the ADA, it is illegal for businesses to refuse service, charge extra fees, or demand documentation for service dogs [1].
The FHA requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for assistance animals including service dogs for people with disabilities. Landlords cannot deny housing, charge pet fees, or restrict where service dogs are allowed to go [2].
Florida law aligns with the ADA and FHA. State law provides penalties for discriminating against or interfering with the duties of a service dog. Service dogs in training have the same rights as fully-trained service dogs [3].
Requirements for service dogs in Florida
There are no statewide licensing or certification requirements for service dogs in Florida. According to Florida Statute 413.08, service animals are defined as “any dog that is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability”. The work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.
While formal training or certification is not required under Florida law, service dogs should have excellent obedience skills and be trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate their handler’s disability. According to the Association of Assistance Dog Partners, at least 120 hours of at-home training and 30 hours of public training are recommended to ensure service dogs are properly socialized and can handle public access environments [1].
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses and public entities may only ask if the service dog is required because of a disability and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform. They cannot require special ID cards, registration, certification or documentation for service dogs.
While not mandatory, optional certification can help educate the public and make access easier. Certification organizations like the Service Dog Certifications Center can test a dog’s public access skills and obedience to certify they meet service dog standards.
Can I train my own service dog in Florida?
Florida law allows people with disabilities to train their own service dogs. However, owner-training a service dog requires a significant time and cost commitment as well as diligent training.
To owner-train a service dog in Florida, you must invest substantial time and effort in: [1]
- Choosing a dog with the right temperament for service work
- Socializing and obedience training the dog from puppyhood
- Teaching disability-specific tasks to mitigate the handler’s disability
- Maintaining the dog’s skills through ongoing training and practice
Owner-training can take 1-2 years of consistent daily training to produce a reliably-skilled service dog. Owner-trainers must also cover the costs of the dog, supplies like a vest and leash, and professional training if needed.
With diligence and commitment, it is possible for a person with a disability to successfully self-train their service dog in Florida. However, owner-training requires an immense time and financial obligation compared to getting a pre-trained service dog.
Choosing a service dog
When choosing a service dog, certain breeds tend to be better suited for service work than others due to their intelligence, trainability and temperament. According to Choosing the Right Dog, some popular breeds for service work include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Poodles and Collies. It’s important to choose a breed that is eager to please and learns quickly.
In addition to breed, each prospective service dog should undergo temperament testing to evaluate their suitability. According to How to Choose a Service Dog Prospect, important traits to look for include a friendly demeanor, confidence, low reactivity and strong food/toy drive to aid in training. Performing a modified Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test can help assess these traits in puppies.
Most experts recommend obtaining a service dog prospect between 8-16 weeks old. According to How to Pick a Puppy Service Dog Prospect, starting training at 8 weeks allows shaping of behavior early on. However, waiting until 12-16 weeks allows more thorough temperament evaluation.
Service dog training best practices
Proper service dog training is essential for ensuring your dog can assist you and behave appropriately in public. There are two main approaches to training a service dog:
Professional training programs: These organizations specialize in training service dogs. They provide expert instruction and socialization in basic obedience as well as disability-specific skills. The programs often last 2-3 weeks of intensive training. Hiring a professional service dog trainer can cost $10,000-$25,000 on average (AKC).
Owner training: With diligence and proper techniques, owners can train their own service dogs. You start by mastering basic obedience commands like sit, stay, heel, come, and down. Your dog should respond promptly to commands in all environments. Next, teach disability-specific tasks based on your needs. Public access skills like ignoring distractions, behaving on public transit, and remaining calm in crowds are also crucial. Owner training takes 4-24 months and you must put in consistent daily practice (Service Dog Registration).
Regardless of your training approach, use positive reinforcement techniques. Avoid punishment-based methods. Service dogs must have rock solid obedience and non-aggressive behavior before public access. Partner with a professional trainer if needing assistance.
Socializing Your Florida Service Dog
Proper socialization is extremely important for a service dog in training. Socialization refers to exposing your service dog to a wide variety of environments, people, animals, surfaces, noises, and situations. This helps the dog become confident, calm, and focused when faced with new experiences. According to Anything Pawsable’s SDiT Socialization Checklist, nothing is more vital in service dog training than exhaustive socialization.
There are many ways to socialize your service dog in Florida. Take your dog to crowded public places like outdoor malls, parks, beaches, and downtown areas. Introduce them to people of all ages, abilities, sizes, races, and styles of dress. Have them experience different walking surfaces like tiles, wood floors, grass, sand, gravel, elevators, and stairs. Expose them to sights, sounds, smells, and distractions like traffic, machinery, crowds, and loud noises. You can also arrange controlled meetups with friends who have calm pets or well-mannered children. Work closely with a professional service dog trainer to create a comprehensive socialization plan.
The key is to make socialization positive and rewarding, not stressful. Keep sessions brief, watch your dog for overstimulation, and allow them to approach new things at their own pace while praising and treating for calm behavior. Proper socialization conducted gradually and correctly will ensure your service dog remains focused in any environment.
Service dog etiquette
When interacting with a service dog team, there are some important etiquette rules to follow so you don’t distract or interfere with the dog’s work. Never pet, feed, whistle at or otherwise distract a service dog without the handler’s permission. The dog is responsible for assisting their handler, so any distractions could prevent them from properly doing their job [1].
Only approach and speak to the handler, not the dog. Don’t make noises at the dog or wave food in their face. You can ask the handler “May I pet your dog?” but be prepared for them to say no, as petting can be very distracting for working dogs [2].
Also avoid touching or leaning on a service dog’s harness or vest. Don’t feed a service dog without checking with the handler first, as they may be on a specific diet. Always walk on the opposite side of the handler from the dog. That keeps the dog focused and not distracted by people on their working side [3].
The only questions businesses can legally ask about a service dog are 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? They cannot require special ID for the dog or ask about the owner’s disability.
Service dogs in Florida housing
Florida has strong laws protecting the rights of people with disabilities to have service dogs in housing. The Florida Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on disability. This means housing providers must make reasonable accommodations to policies and rules for tenants with disabilities who have service dogs.
Under Florida law, housing providers cannot refuse housing, charge pet deposits or fees, or restrict where a service dog can go just because they have a “no pets” policy. Service dogs are not considered pets under the law. Tenants with service dogs cannot be isolated to certain floors or areas of a building either.
If a housing provider tries to deny reasonable accommodation for a service dog or charges pet fees and deposits, the tenant can file a complaint with the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Damages caused by a service dog may be charged to the tenant, but general pet fees and deposits cannot be charged just for having a service dog.
Sources:
[1] https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/florida-laws-on-service-dogs-and-emotional-support-animals.html
[2] http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0760/Sections/0760.23.html
Service Dog Resources in Florida
There are several organizations in Florida that provide service dogs or assistance with obtaining one:
Canine Companions for Independence has a Southeast Regional Center in Orlando that breeds, raises, and trains service dogs for people with disabilities. They provide service dogs at no cost to qualified applicants (https://genesisassistancedogsinc.org/how-to-get-a-service-dog-in-florida/).
Southeastern Guide Dogs located in Palmetto, Florida offers guide dogs for the visually impaired and service dogs for veterans. They also have a Paws for Patriots program that provides dogs for veterans dealing with PTSD and other disabilities free of charge (https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/disability-topics/disability_topic_info/service_animals).
Florida Service Dogs in Zephyrhills provides fully trained service dogs to people with disabilities. They rely on donations and do not charge recipients. They have services to help match applicants with dogs and provide follow up support (https://floridaservicedogs.org/).
There are also several organizations that provide grants and financial assistance for service dogs in Florida:
Handi-Dogs provides sponsorship programs that cover 50-100% of costs for acquiring and training a service dog. Applicants must demonstrate financial need (https://genesisassistancedogsinc.org/how-to-get-a-service-dog-in-florida/).
The Special Needs Trust Foundation offers grants to help cover service dog costs and related expenses like veterinary care and equipment for Florida residents (https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/disability-topics/disability_topic_info/service_animals).
There are also national programs like the Service Dogs for America that provide financial aid for obtaining service dogs to applicants who meet eligibility requirements (https://floridaservicedogs.org/).