Quote:
If you don't have a permanent disability that places you under the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act, you will not have public access rights with your dog. That doesn't mean you can't train him to perform service functions and put him to work. It does mean that you can't take him everywhere. No matter what his training, he is legally not a service dog unless he's actively working for a legally disabled person.
The previous poster is correct, a dog that must brace for weight bearing must be ABSOLUTELY physically sound, and MATURE. That means at least two years of age for a Lab, maybe older if he's a slow maturer.
To put a person's weight on a skeletally compromised or growing young dog can permanently damage him. Far too many service dogs break down early because of these physical stresses.
Retrieving, otoh, is something you can start using as soon as it's solid.
Don't lie and take your pup into stores. You can ask for permission, but don't imply or state that he is something other than what he is. It makes things harder for people who must have their service dogs, and this kind of abuse is the reason why ADA rules are being revisited and clamped down even now.
If you don't have a permanent disability that places you under the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act, you will not have public access rights with your dog. That doesn't mean you can't train him to perform service functions and put him to work. It does mean that you can't take him everywhere. No matter what his training, he is legally not a service dog unless he's actively working for a legally disabled person.
The previous poster is correct, a dog that must brace for weight bearing must be ABSOLUTELY physically sound, and MATURE. That means at least two years of age for a Lab, maybe older if he's a slow maturer.
To put a person's weight on a skeletally compromised or growing young dog can permanently damage him. Far too many service dogs break down early because of these physical stresses.
Retrieving, otoh, is something you can start using as soon as it's solid.
Don't lie and take your pup into stores. You can ask for permission, but don't imply or state that he is something other than what he is. It makes things harder for people who must have their service dogs, and this kind of abuse is the reason why ADA rules are being revisited and clamped down even now.
