Dog training thread

[Nym]

Interesting, is that the actual law regarding service dogs? If so much more strict than in the US

There is no law, its merely a requirement to charge people 200+$ lol

 

[Squawkers]

There is no law, its merely a requirement to charge people 200+$ lol

Ok that makes sense! There is stuff like that here too. Tests and certification that really doesn’t mean much.

 

[Nym]

You can definitely buy one easily. And service dogs are loosely regulated. I see many people in have “service dogs” that obviously are not. It came be something as blatant as trying to attack other dogs walking by or as minimal as sniffing food as they walk by. It is very obvious to spot but unfortunately it is harder to do anything about it due to privacy rights of the handlers. I appreciate the privacy laws but am just annoyed how everything is abused.

I agree! It would not be hard for any local training club to be issued with the necessary regulations required to test a dog's public manners before handing out a licenced vest for their dog.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I disagree with this one point. Service dogs can be owner trained

You're right. But legally 1) the person must have a medical disability recognized by their doctor, and 2) the dog must perform a task that assists the person with that disability.

The thing is, though, that due to privacy laws, nobody is actually allowed to ask, What is your disability, and How does your dog assist you with your disability? So it's a "law" with no teeth. But the work that service dog organizations do should be respected, and for people to go around with barely controlled dogs wearing "service dog" vests is an insult to the dedicated people who raise and train actual service dogs.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

To me it's no different than people who buy police or fire fighter outfits and present themselves as real cops or fire fighters when they're not. Shame on them.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

Semantics aside: All dogs that the owner doesnt want the public interacting with is, by purpose, a service dog - it is serving the owner and in some cases the owner is serving an aging, anxious or fearful dog, I would politley argue.

Actually no. A service dog is a dog that went through rigorous training, either by the owner or a professional, to assist someone with a disability. It's illegal to say a regular pet dog is a service dog. Putting a service dog vest on a non service dog is not only illegal, it's bad for the reputation of service dogs. It furthers the issues with public access and makes people question real service dogs assisting a disabled person. It may be different in Australia but it is NOT ok to give the advice of putting a service dog vest on a pet dog.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

You're right. But legally 1) the person must have a medical disability recognized by their doctor, and 2) the dog must perform a task that assists the person with that disability.

The thing is, though, that due to privacy laws, nobody is actually allowed to ask, What is your disability, and How does your dog assist you with your disability? So it's a "law" with no teeth. But the work that service dog organizations do should be respected, and for people to go around with barely controlled dogs wearing "service dog" vests is an insult to the dedicated people who raise and train actual service dogs.

I completely agree and I love what service dog trainers do! But owner trained service dogs are valid, yes the owner needs to be educated and know what they are doing but it's completely valid for a service dog to be owner trained.
The 2 questions allowed by law are:
Is that a service dog required for a disability?
And
What tasks is it trained to perform?

 

[Nym]

You're right. But legally 1) the person must have a medical disability recognized by their doctor, and 2) the dog must perform a task that assists the person with that disability.

The thing is, though, that due to privacy laws, nobody is actually allowed to ask, What is your disability, and How does your dog assist you with your disability? So it's a "law" with no teeth. But the work that service dog organizations do should be respected, and for people to go around with barely controlled dogs wearing "service dog" vests is an insult to the dedicated people who raise and train actual service dogs.

True service dogs were trained and issued for the legally blind? There's the slope to the irresponcible. My dog Edi is so amazing that she was hardly noticed at a wedding I took her to. I looked everywhere locally to get her certified K9 Citizenship Award and can find no one.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I raised a puppy for Canine Companions for Independence once years ago. It was very demanding but satisfying. And this Golden puppy was head and shoulders above any other pup I'd ever handled in my life, due to its incredible breeding. He was the smartest, sharpest pup I'd ever encountered. At three months he pushed a chair up against the kitchen counter from the middle of the kitchen, in order to get to a loaf of bread on the counter. Scary smart!

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

True service dogs were trained and issued for the legally blind? There's the slope to the irresponcible. My dog Edi is so amazing that she was hardly noticed at a wedding I took her to. I looked everywhere locally to get her certified K9 Citizenship Award and can find no one.

No service dogs can assist in a large variety of disabilities. Even psychiatric disabilities