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Service dog handler lobby

Yeah, and I think in a lot of instances the prejudice has been earned.

Oh absolutely! Didn't mean to claim otherwise.

It's incredibly difficult with dog owners. You don't know what you don't know - and it's not hard to find handlers that honestly believe they've got it all under control, but actually have very little understanding of their own dog's behaviours.

But how many times have you heard an owner say "Don't worry, he won't hurt you" when the dog is displaying very clear "I'm gonna kill you if you come any closer" behaviour, right!? This is where people get bit, because they don't know what they don't know when it comes to dog behaviour, what their dog is capable of, and the messages the dog is sending with their behaviour.

This!

Many many many (pet) dog owners overestimate their dog's training/their control over their dog. These will be the ones that will be faking ESAs/SDs to get special privileges.

"trained" is very subjective without:

I see a role for standardised behaviour and handler assessment here. And not necessarily a government regulated testing regime (which is what we have in my State - a standard behaviour test that all Assistance Dogs and handlers must pass to have public access rights). Kennel councils, for example, could have a role here as an alternative to a government-run standard.

Which the CGC (and it's derivatives) is. :)

And no, it doesn't even have to be necessary to include this under ADA. But for flying....where they propose that you have to sign that your SD/ESA can "behave"....really isn't too much to ask. In my opinion.
 
And no, it doesn't even have to be necessary to include this under ADA. But for flying....where they propose that you have to sign that your SD can "behave"....really isn't too much to ask. In my opinion

I guess, my brain is saying "why not in the ADA"? The CGC is for pet dogs. Why not standardize that in the ADA first? Genuine question as I don't understand the differences really. Law wise anyway.
 
I guess, my brain is saying "why not in the ADA"? The CGC is for pet dogs. Why not standardize that in the ADA first? Genuine question as I don't understand the differences really. Law wise anyway.

Oh, I personally would LOVE to see a requirement of CGC or something similar within ADA. Because I strongly believe that my word that my dog is "trained" means very little in the real word.

But they're not proposing to change ADA while ACAA is currently under review/proposed changes.

Also, CGC is for anyone, not exclusive to pet dogs. I know a lot of SDs who've taken it as proof that their dogs can behave. Because otherwise it's really just "my word" -- and that can mean a lot or nothing.
 
These will be the ones that will be faking ESAs/SDs to get special privileges.
Haha, this is you showing that you've spent time living outside the US, and where (JMHO) the penny drops.

Having given people an entitlement to fly with animals, it does seem to now be perceived by many as 'right', rather than a privilege. And rights are much harder to take away from people, or wind back, than privileges.
 
Oh, I personally would LOVE to see a requirement of CGC or something similar within ADA. Because I strongly believe that my word that my dog is "trained" means very little in the real word.

But they're not proposing to change ADA while ACAA is currently under review/proposed changes.

Also, CGC is for anyone, not exclusive to pet dogs. I know a lot of SDs who've taken it as proof that their dogs can behave.

I see what your saying. So, it wouldn't make any hardships on service dog handlers.
 
So, it wouldn't make any hardships on service dog handlers.

Your SD is either trained with an organization where they could take care of the testing.
Or owner-trained -- but it's easy enough to do the CGC yourself. Many local humane societies, for example, offer it. It's like 20 bucks.

It shouldn't really be too much to ask since under ADA a requirement to begin with is that you can actually take care of your dog. If you are able to train your own SERVICE dog -- there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to take the test. Maybe even include a possibility to waive test fees...
 
Your SD is either trained with an organization where they could take care of the testing.
Or owner-trained -- but it's easy enough to do the CGC yourself. Many local humane societies, for example, offer it. It's like 20 bucks.

It shouldn't really be too much to ask since under ADA a requirement to begin with is that you can actually take care of your dog. If you are able to train your own SERVICE dog -- there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to take the test. Maybe even include a possibility to waive test fees...

I personally don't think 20 bucks is too much to ask in the realm of service dogs. BUT, service dogs are expensive or can be. With vetting and stuff, to be inclusive, you would need to be willing to waive the fee if requiring it.

I don't know how it fits into the ACAA. I don't see why they couldn't require it. Especially if they offer to waive the fees. But, I don't know how the law proposals work.

Not sure why they aren't even thinking of the CGC. That said, what I was saying orginally is I wouldn't have a problem with filling out the forms how they are proposing it. That said, I wouldn't have any issue if they required it even if they want to change 20 bucks for a CGC.

Most reputable handlers take the CGC anyway. The PA test is harder to do but the CGC is nothing.
 
Was reading the comments and will say I trained my own with the help of someone that trains dogs for military vets/police. Also have been a handler for DEA so have a bit of advanced knowledge anyway. I even have an uncommon breed in a beagle but I like beagles and they are very smart but very hard to train because of their independence. I took her on planes loads of times without any issues. I always get an exit door seat so you have more room or they upgrade me to first class. I agree more people should be able to show their dog can pass the CGC. There are some where I live that I see trying to pass off a dog they have absolutely zero control of as a service dog. My dog doesn’t leave my side for longer than maybe an hour here and there and will only take commands from me or my dad. For some reason she bonded with him as strong as with me. She goes nuts every time she sees him like she hasn’t seen him in years and is happy he is there. If I have to leave her that’s who she is with.
 
I need some input/help from those of you who are more well versed in the US laws than I am.

I've gotten into a discussion online. Someone had shared a short video of their dogs running off-leash in a store. The store owner/manager is a friend of the owners and allowed it and the store was closed at that time.

Of course half the social media SD community jumped at them, kind of ignoring the above facts.
- They're faking their dogs as SDs.
- They're endangering other SD handlers.
yadayada.

I kept pointing out that the store was closed (so no, no SD/handler was endangered) and that the dogs were allowed into the store on the store owner's discretion (so no, they're not faking them to gain public access).

I keep being told that once a store is "no pets" it's protected by federal law and that trumps a manager's decision to allow pets. They keep mentioning the ADA - which doesn't even make sense. What does the ADA have to do with pet policies of establishments other than allowing SDs into no-pet stores? (obviously, I acknowledge that I could be wrong, hence why I'm asking)

It's always been my assumption that it's at an owners/manager's discretion to allow individual pets. I can't find anything legally.

I can't help feeling that they have it backwards without realizing, but as I said, I could very well be wrong.

I mean, pet-friendly stores exist. It's not like there is a federal law that make all stores "non pet-friendly" by default, is there?
 
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