12 Misconceptions About Service Dogs And Those Who Use Them

(TheBark) TToday as dogs are being trained to assist with an increasingly wide range of conditions more individuals are incorporating a four-legged helper into their lives. That said there are still many misconceptions surrounding service dogs including who can have them and what they do. Here are 12 of the most common misconceptions about service dogs. 1. Emotional Support Dogs Are The Same As Service Dogs. There is a very clear legal difference between the two and they shouldnt be confused. An emotional support dog is defined as an untrained pet who emotionally supports her or his handler. With a doctors note support dogs are allowed to fly in the cabin of an aircraft free of charge and live in no-pets-allowed housing. A service dog however is considered to be medical equipment no different than a wheelchair or insulin pump. Service dogs must be specifically trained to do work or tasks relating to the mitigation of a persons disability. Emotional support comfort or calming effect do not count as work or tasks for a service dog. 2. Service Dogs Are Certified Or Registered After Completing Training. While in the U.S. there is no such thing as a legitimate federal or state identification card or certificate that proves" a dog is a trained service dog many scam sites claim their products are not only legitimate but mandatory. It is because of such scam sites that this misconception exists. 3. Service Dogs Are Only For The Blind Or Deaf. This used to be the case many years ago but things have changed. Today service dogs are used by people with mental illnesses autism seizures diabetes and countless other conditions.