How should people behave around an assistance dog?

The Americans With Disabilities Act guarantees people with disabilities the right to be accompanied by a service animal in all areas open to the general public. Service animal means any assistance dog or other animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Here are some tips to follow when meeting or approaching a working assistance dog and his or her partner:

• Don't be afraid of the dog. Assistance Dogs from organizations like Canine Companions for Independence and other members of Assistance Dogs International are carefully tested and selected for appropriate temperament. They have been professionally trained to have excellent manners.
  

• Don't touch the dog without asking permission first! This is a distraction and may prevent the dog from tending to the human partner.
  

• Never feed the dog. It may be on a special diet. CCI dogs are generally on a feeding schedule as well. Food is the ultimate distraction to the working dog and can jeopardize the working assistance dog team.
  

• Speak to the person, not the assistance dog! Most handlers do not mind talking about assistance dogs and their dog specifically if they have the time.
  

• Do not whistle or make sounds to the dog as this again may provide a dangerous distraction.
  

• Never make assumptions about the individual's intelligence, feelings or capabilities.

Be aware of potential architectural barriers to the individual. Be respectful of the assistance dog team. They are a working pair going about their daily lives.

Business owners: Some customers and employees may be anxious or nervous about an assistance dog in your establishment. Reassure them that the dog is thoroughly trained and has a legal right to be there under the ADA. People with assistance dogs deserve the same respect as any other customer.
	“We Welcome Service Animals” is a national campaign created by the California Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Foundation and made possible by funding from the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation and the American Express Foundation to teach people in the hospitality industry and law enforcement how to improve service to disabled guests who depend on service animals for assistance.

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What we teach our graduates

At Canine Companions for Independence, we will not place an assistance dog with anyone who is unable or unwilling to manage the dog properly. Here are just a few of the many things we teach during Team Training:

• In addition to learning how to handle your dog, you have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of your dog and your team while at home, school, and work and in public settings. You must also recognize that, while out in public settings, you and your dog need to adhere to what is considered to be socially acceptable behavior.
  
• The safety of your dog and of your team is your responsibility at all times! Always have your dog on leash and attached to you when you are outside or in public settings. Never leash your dog to an object and leave it unattended.
  
• Avoid contact with strange dogs. Aside from the potential of a fight, you have no assurance that other dog owners are as careful or as care giving of their animal as you are.
  
• For the most part, the public is very responsive to the Assistance Dog concept. Since your dog should always wear its identifying equipment out in public, you will find that people will be attracted to you and your dog. They will ask questions and want to know about your dog.
  
• While many people will think assistance dogs are a wonderful concept, be aware that not everyone will feel this way. Some people are afraid of dogs, allergic to dogs or religiously opposed to contact with dogs. Still others believe that dogs are dirty and have no place in public settings.
  
• When out in public with you, your dog should be responsive and behave as if he were invisible. He should never do any of the following: Toilet in inappropriate places or where people will be walking or sitting; Sniff people, store shelves, restaurant tables or the personal belongings of others; Initiate contact with someone without your direct permission; Bark, whine, growl or make any noises that could be disruptive to others around you; Do his personal grooming in public settings. 

For additional information, contact:
Your nearest CCI Regional Training Center,
1-800-572-BARK (572-2275). ALSO:

	Assistance Dogs International, Inc. is a coalition of members representing organizations and individuals training and placing Assistance Dogs. The purpose of ADI is to improve the areas of training, placement, and utilization of Assistance Dogs. In 2002, Canine Companions for Independence became the first member agency to earn full accreditation for meeting or exceeding all ADI standards.
	Download ADI's GUIDE TO ASSISTANCE DOG LAWS as a PDF file (1.2MB).

International Association of Assistance Dog Partners

A non-profit cross-disability organization representing people partnered with guide, hearing, and service dogs.

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Updated 06-07-05 WCB