Service Dog Canada: The Ultimate Guide 2023
Someone very close to me had been suffering from anxiety and depression for years. It was a struggle for them to be in large groups, to attend, school, or even to leave the house sometimes. I had tried everything in my power to help them. We tried counselling, different types of medications, home schooling.. you name it, we tried it. It was completely overwhelming and being unable to find a solution made us feel extremely helpless. The struggle became unbearable.
We were finally referred to a psychiatrist who concluded that this person would be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Having already tried most of the conventional approaches to help with the diagnosis, the physician suggested an attempt with service dog training for post traumatic stress disorder. He had achieved great success with these therapy dogs in the past in other patients suffering with a traumatic stress disorder.. He immediately agreed to filling out all of the required documentation needed for the process to be initiated and our journey began.
We had a lot to learn about how to achieve this certificate for a trained service dog. There were quite a few canine service providers to our surprise within our area. There were also a lot of service dog organizations, national organizations, and the international guide dog federation that provided a great deal of information to us. It provided information such as service dog laws, access rights, human rights code, places for training service dogs, assistance dog schools, and even where to find id cards, leashes, vests, and other accessories one might need for your service dog certification process.
Differences Between Service Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs
Now there has been much confusion with regards to the differences between a professional service animal and an emotional support dog (animal). Service dogs differ in that they must receive special training in order to perform specific tasks to support their respective owners. Emotional support animals provide emotional support to their owners. They may even require a letter issued by a licensed mental health professional disclosing their need. However, emotional support animals do not hold the same certification or status as professional service animals. However, emotion support dogs absolutely serve their purpose. The process in certification is simply different altogether.
Expectations in a Service Dog
A service dog must remain behaviourally stable in a wide range of environments. They must be extremely gentle, and non-reactive in situations, especially for individuals with mobility issues. (No barking or growling.) They must be able to remain focused, quiet, and on duty while working. They can not be easily distracted. These dogs must wear a jacket, harness, or other equipment to indicate that they are working animals. Due to the human rights act, staff are not allowed to request any documentation for the dog, however the dog is required to demonstrate its abilities to work in public spaces according to direction of its handler teams. All carriers must accept a service dog for accessible transportation without charge. This includes airlines.
Human Rights
This all goes hand in hand with the disabilities regulations stated within the disabilities act with the human rights commission for all Canadian citizens. All of these guidelines would be accessible at any local government office. The Guide Dog and National Service Dogs Act make it an offence to deny a certified dog and its handler teams accessibility to any facility or accommodation, ensuring the rights of access for disabled persons.
To travel with an emotional support animal, most airlines will need an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional. There will often also be other forms to fill out by the airlines and submitted 48 hours before departure. Although, in 2021, many airlines have changed the rules on allowing emotional support animals on planes due to the DOT rules changed which limited support animals in the cabin to be trained service animals only. With this ESA letter, your support animal should also be recognized under the fair housing rules. This should allow them “reasonable accommodation”, which means they should be permitted on reasonable premises for a person with a disability such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, or any other mental disabilities related to air travel.
Some commands a valid guide will need to teach his/her service dog are:
- WATCH ME- make eye contact with handler.
- WATCH – to get dog’s attention.
- SIT – to sit down.
- DOWN – lay down on entire body.
- STAND – to stand on all four legs.
- COME – to advance to the handler’s side and sit in a heel position.
- HERE – come to handler.
- STAY – freeze in current position.
- WAIT – stop moving.
- NO – tell the dog she/he is not doing the correct thing.
- OFF – remove he/she from whatever he/she is on and place feet on ground.
- RELEASE – done working.
- DON’T -refrain from starting with a bad behaviour.
- HEEL – position on the left side of handler.
- SIDE – position on the right side of handler.
- LET’S GO – start to move.
- GET BUSY OR POTTY – go to bathroom.
- LEAVE IT – don’t touch or make eye contact with something.
- SETTLE – calm down.
- GO THROUGH – move ahead of a person, turn around and position self to be able to back up through a narrow door or entrance.
- BACK – step backwards.
- GO AROUND – move around person or thing.
- FOLLOW – move behind you to follow you through door or entrance.
- MOVE – move body.
- CLOSER – move close to handler.
- UNDER – crawl into a space and bring in paws and tail to be out of way.
- GO TO – go to another person.
- THAT’S ALL – stop the behaviour.
- CAREFUL – approach carefully.
- GET A DRINK – drink of water.
- QUIET – no barking or noise.
Some tasks that a Service Dog may do for someone with Anxiety, Depression or PTSD are:
- Deep Pressure Therapy – this could be the dog applying a leg or paw on the handler’s lap.
- Tactile Stimulation – this could be a simple continuous licking to handler to change their focus.
- Find an Exit – finding an exit for handler.
- Obtaining Emergency Phones or Medication – self explanatory
- Crowd Control – act as a buffer between the handler and crowd to allow space to the handler.
- Turning on Lights – perhaps when afraid of the dark.
- Performing Safety Checks – training to investigate areas prior to the handler entering.
- Hyper-Vigilance Reduction- providing reassurance daily to the handler.
Breeds of Dogs accepted for Service Dog Training:
Any breed of dog can be a service animal given the proper training. Some of the better breeds for anxiety are:
- Golden Retriever
- Pomeranian
- Labrador Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Pit Bulls
- Great Danes
- Bernese Mountain Dogs
- Poodles
- Boxers
- Border Collies
- And our dog was a Bernedoodle.
Who Trains a Service Dog?
You are probably wondering what goes into training a service dog? Well, service dogs can be trained by their handlers, or by their handlers with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service dog who has already been trained by a certified organization for service animals. We opted for training our dog along side a certified trainer. We started with multi-levelled training courses for the dog. When the dog was trained with all of the basic commands, we then began with the one on one training with public access. Generally, the lessons are paid by the hour and focus on teaching the dog specific skills for working with a specific person. They are hugely beneficial, but the handler must work with their dog continuously and diligently for the training to be successful.
The bond formed by the handler and the animal is unimaginable. They become a team like no other. I highly recommend this as a therapy. Service dog teams are also commonly used amongst people who suffer from epilepsy, autism, blindness, and other health issues. For a blind person, a service dog can even be trained to open doors. People can develop a physical reliance on their service dogs depending on their conditions. Often, first responders, such as police officers will also make use of hearing dogs for specialty areas of practice. You will see service dogs in all kinds of public places, sometimes even in taxis. They are always on a leash.
How does one choose which type of service dog to get for themselves or their child (or other loved one)?
When choosing a service dog, it is important to consider the individual’s needs and abilities. Different types of service dogs have specialized skills that may be better suited for certain situations or individuals. Here are some things to consider when selecting a service dog:
1. The individual’s disability and specific needs: Different disabilities require different levels of assistance and care, so it is important to choose a dog that can provide the needed support.
2. The size and breed of the dog: Depending on the individual’s needs, certain breeds and sizes may be more suitable than others.
3. The temperament of the dog: It is important to select a dog with an appropriate temperament, as they will need to be calm and well-behaved in order to perform their duties properly.
4. Training requirements: Some service dogs require extensive training before they are ready to work, while others may need less intensive preparation.
5. Cost: Service dogs can often be expensive, so it is important to consider your budget when making your selection.
6. Availability: Some breeds or types of service dogs may not always be available, so it is best to do your research ahead of time to ensure you can find the right fit for your needs or those of your loved one.
By carefully considering these factors, you should be able to find the perfect service dog for yourself or your loved one.
How do you qualify for a service dog in Canada?
In Canada, individuals who require the assistance of a service dog may be eligible for various programs or services that provide support and access to certified service dogs. In order to qualify for a service dog in Canada, individuals must have an identified medical need requiring them to use a service dog. The individual must also have a valid doctor’s note and may need to undergo testing or evaluation by an accredited professional organization. Additionally, some organizations may require individuals to be able to demonstrate the ability to handle and care for their service dog properly through dog certification. Once approved, the individual will be provided with access to a trained service dog that meets the needs of their condition.
Foundations
I am aware of a foundation in Canada called, the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, who was established in 1985. They have already paired over 3,000 Canadians with service dogs, completely free of charge. There is a website you can go to in Alberta to see if you qualify. The website in Alberta is https://www.alberta.ca/service-dog-information.aspx. The website for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is https://www.dogguides.com.
Another wonder program I have come to find in my research is called The Assistance Dogs International. (ADI) They are a worldwide coalition of non profit programs that train and place Assistance Dogs. They can be found at https://assistancedoginternational.org/.
Treats, Treats, Treats…
One last tip…You will need LOTS of treats for training! Try to find some that are smallish and low in calories. They will want to be rewarded for good performance. I will leave some recommendations below. Thanks for joining!
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Service Dog Identifiers, Click: Here
Service Dog Patches, Click: Here
For Raw Rewards Low Calorie Treats I recommend for Training, Click: Here, Here
For Raw Rewards Dried Liver Treats for Training , Click: Here, Here
