Places of Public Accommodation (covered by the ADA):

They can ask two questions if the Service Dog's use is not obvious.

1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform? 

• If a person with a disablilty choses not to answer they can be denied access with the dog. (Costco v Grill) 

Employment:

Places of employment can ask for a verification of need for reasonable accommodation as well as some assurance that the dog is trained so as not to be disruptive in the work place.


Housing:

They can ask for a letter from a health care provider both for Service Dog and Emotional Support Animal that there is a need for the dog .


Airlines:

They can ask for 48 hr. notice as well as a letter written within the year for Service Dog for person with psychiatric disabilities as well as Emotional support animals.


Schools:

They can ask for proof of disability if a person requests reasonable accommodations to be accompanied by a Sercive Dog.

Service Animal Booklet:

http://adata.org/publication/service-animals-booklet

From the Department of Justice 

Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler´s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal´s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

Working Like Dogs - a resource for people around the world with working dogs and assistance dogs.

When training wtih me, I start your puppy as early as 8 weeks old for Private Lessons, then 9 weeks old for the STAR Puppy Classes to work on Socialization Skills. As the pup progresses he/she goes to more advanced classes for obedience and continues private lessons for Public Access and Task training. I evaluate your dog several times during the training and the Public Access Test is given at 18 - 24 months of age, when your dog is ready.

For testing a dog that is totally trained when you come to me, he/she has to be between the ages of 18 months - 4 years and have passed the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. You must also show copies of the obedience classes that the dog has passed. And there are numerous other items that must be discussed before the test is given.

The Certification Program consists of giving organizational support to people who have already trained their own Assistance Service Dogs & wish to have them certified for Public Access. I offer this program to those teams that are qualified & are prepared to accept the responsibility of having an Assistance Service Dog. These dogs must have successfully completed Basic Obedience & passed the Canine Good Citizen before the Public Access Test.

The test is given on a individual basis and a Certificate will be issued to the team upon passing. The certification is good for 2 years & during that time I am glad to answer questions & work with you on problems that should arise.

Here is the process to accomplish this goal:

• Dog must be between 18 months - 4 years old for the testing
• Application for the program
• Letter from your doctor stating that you are disabled, or a copy of your disabled parking card 
• Letter from your vet that the dog is physically & mentally able to do the job of an Assistance Dog (this includes that the hips, elbows, heart, eyes, etc are sound)
• Essay from you as to why you want your dog to become your Assistance Dog & what the 2 or 3 tasks are that your dog does for you as an Assistance Dog.
• If your dog does not pass the test, then group classes or private lessons will be suggested.

Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law presents:

The Right to Emotional Support Animals in "No Pet" Housing...

Advocates and professionals have long recognized the benefits of assistive animals for people with physical disabilities, including Seeing Eye dogs or hearing dogs that are trained to perform simple tasks such as carrying notes and alerting their owners to oncoming traffic or other environmental hazards. Recent research suggests that people with psychiatric disabilities can benefit significantly from assistive animals, too. Emotional support animals have been proven extremely effective at ameliorating the symptoms of these disabilities, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, by providing therapeutic nurture and support... (read more here) 

 
From AKC:

Obedience titles can only be earned at an AKC-licensed or member club trial. The Novice (CD) title must be completed before an exhibitor can enter the Open class. The Open title (CDX) must be earned before an exhibitor can enter the Utility class.

Companion Dog (CD) - The letters CD may be added after a dog's registered name when it has been certified by three different judges as receiving qualifying scores in Novice classes at three licensed or member obedience trials.

A Companion Dog is not a Service Dog

Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)

Paws With a Cause

Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD)

North Star Foundation (for Children with Autism)

Canine Assistants

Freedom No Pull Harness excellent harness with front and back martingale loops - my favorite! Use discount code jeaninebrawn

Raspberry Field  custom vests with embroidery

Ruffwear.com lovely backpacks and mat

Har-Vest  harness/vest combo

Dachshund Delights   Hold-a-Dog seat belt/walking combo harness...custom made mesh vest for dog of any size. Nice and cool, also non-chaffing - Tango's favorite!

Pup'parel  Service Dog Patches

Bold Lead Designs  Moblility harness with fold-down handle, leashes, tags, etc



Working Like Dogs - a resource for people around the world with working dogs and assistance dogs.  

Assistance Dogs International

Delta Society (Pet Partners)

Assistance Dog Journal

Tasks training for Psychiactric Service Dogs

Service Dog Training Info

Service Dog Central