Service dogs: the basics

• A. A dog that provides comfort simply by being present in a person's home
• B. A dog individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a person's disability ✓
• C. Any dog that has passed a basic obedience class
• D. A dog that alerts its owner to strangers approaching for security purposes only

Why: A service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks directly related to a person's disability, such as guiding, alerting to sounds, or interrupting self-harm behaviors. Comfort or general obedience alone does not qualify a dog as a service dog.

• A. A guide dog assisting a person who is blind
• B. A hearing dog alerting a person to a doorbell
• C. An emotional support animal providing companionship to someone with anxiety ✓
• D. A mobility assistance dog retrieving dropped items for a person who uses a wheelchair

Why: Under the ADA, emotional support animals are not considered service animals because they provide comfort through presence rather than performing trained tasks. Guide, hearing, and mobility assistance dogs all perform specific trained tasks related to disability and qualify as service animals.

• A. Therapy dogs are larger than service dogs
• B. Service dogs perform trained tasks for one handler, while therapy dogs visit many people to provide comfort ✓
• C. Therapy dogs are legally allowed in all public places, while service dogs are not
• D. Service dogs must be certified by a national registry, while therapy dogs do not

Why: Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for an individual with a disability and typically accompany that person everywhere. Therapy dogs visit various settings such as hospitals or schools to provide comfort to many people, and they do not have public access rights under the ADA.

• A. What is your diagnosis or disability?
• B. Can you provide documentation proving your disability?
• C. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? ✓
• D. Can you show me the dog's certification card from a registry?

Why: Staff may ask only two questions: whether the dog is a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task it has been trained to perform. They may not ask about the handler's disability, require documentation, or demand special identification or certification.

• A. Service dogs may enter most public places where the handler is allowed, unless the dog's presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the business or pose a direct threat ✓
• B. Service dogs may only enter places that have specifically approved them in advance
• C. Service dogs may enter any public place but must always wear a vest that identifies them
• D. Service dogs are restricted to outdoor areas and public transportation only

Why: Under the ADA, service dogs are generally permitted in all areas of public accommodations where members of the public are allowed. Exceptions exist only where the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action, or where the dog is not housebroken, or in limited cases like certain food preparation areas, and a vest or special identification is not required by law.

• A. Seizure alert dog
• B. Mobility assistance dog ✓
• C. Hearing dog
• D. Psychiatric service dog

Why: Mobility assistance dogs are trained to help people with physical disabilities by performing tasks like retrieving objects, opening doors, pulling wheelchairs, and providing stability and balance support.

• A. To guide a person through busy streets
• B. To alert a deaf or hard-of-hearing person to important sounds such as doorbells, alarms, and their name being called ✓
• C. To detect changes in blood sugar levels
• D. To provide emotional comfort during anxiety attacks

Why: Hearing dogs alert their handlers to important sounds like doorbells, smoke alarms, alarm clocks, and people calling their name, helping deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals stay aware of their surroundings.

• A. Guide dog
• B. Autism support dog
• C. Seizure response dog ✓
• D. Diabetic alert dog

Why: Seizure response dogs are trained to assist people with epilepsy by alerting others for help, retrieving medication or a phone, or staying with the person and providing protection during and after a seizure.

• A. To pull a wheelchair over long distances
• B. To detect allergens in food
• C. To help a person with a visual impairment navigate safely, avoiding obstacles and stopping at curbs ✓
• D. To provide deep pressure therapy for anxiety

Why: Guide dogs are trained to assist people who are blind or have low vision by leading them around obstacles, stopping at curbs and hazards, and following intelligent routes so the handler can travel safely and independently.

• A. Diabetic alert dog ✓
• B. Allergy detection dog
• C. Psychiatric service dog
• D. Hearing dog

Why: Diabetic alert dogs are trained to detect changes in blood glucose, typically through scent, and alert their handler so they can check blood sugar and take action before it becomes dangerous.

• A. Any animal that provides emotional comfort to its owner
• B. A dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability
• C. Any dog wearing a vest or harness
• D. A trained miniature horse or capuchin monkey

Why: Under the ADA, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Emotional support animals do not qualify, and miniature horses are a separate special case under the ADA rules, so the best single answer here is the individually trained dog.

• A. Can you provide documentation proving your dog is certified?
• B. What is your disability?
• C. Is the dog required because of a disability, and what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
• D. Can I see the dog's training records?

Why: ADA rules allow staff to ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform. Staff may not ask about the nature of the disability, demand documentation, or require a demonstration.

• A. Only in areas of a business open to the general public with prior notice
• B. Only in restaurants and grocery stores
• C. In all areas of a place of public accommodation where members of the public are normally allowed to go
• D. Only outdoors and on public transportation

Why: Service dogs must be allowed in all areas of a place of public accommodation where the public is normally allowed, such as stores, restaurants, hotels, and medical offices. Access cannot be restricted to certain areas simply because of the dog.

• A. The dog is a breed the business considers dangerous
• B. The owner does not have identification for the dog
• C. The dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it
• D. The dog barks occasionally while the handler is shopping

Why: A service dog may be excluded if it is out of control and the handler fails to take effective action to control it, or if the dog is not housebroken. Breed bans, lack of ID or certification, and occasional barking are not valid grounds for exclusion under the ADA.

• A. Landlords may charge a pet deposit for assistance animals
• B. Assistance animals are not subject to breed or size restrictions and are not treated as pets
• C. Assistance animals are only allowed in housing units without any pet policy
• D. Assistance animals must always be kept in a crate when the owner is not home

Why: Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords must make reasonable accommodations for assistance animals, which are not considered pets. Breed, size, and weight limits and pet fees generally do not apply to them, though the handler remains responsible for any damage.

• A. A classified ad from an unverified seller
• B. An accredited assistance dog organization or a reputable program with a documented training process ✓
• C. A pet store that sells puppies on weekends
• D. A social media post offering a dog that is already 'trained'

Why: Accredited assistance dog organizations follow established training standards, health screening, and matching processes, making them the most dependable starting point for a service dog.

• A. To determine the dog's coat color preference
• B. To assess whether the dog is calm, confident, focused, and able to handle public environments ✓
• C. To confirm the dog's age in years
• D. To check whether the dog already knows advanced tricks

Why: Service dogs must remain calm and focused in busy, unpredictable public settings, so temperament is one of the most critical selection criteria.

• A. It determines the dog's breed registration status
• B. It identifies medical or structural issues, such as hip dysplasia, that could limit the dog's ability to work and its long-term welfare ✓
• C. It is required only to obtain a pet license
• D. It replaces the need for any behavioral assessment

Why: Health conditions like hip dysplasia or eye problems can impair working ability and cause pain, so a veterinary exam helps ensure the dog is physically suited for the demanding work.

• A. Whether the dog matches the owner's clothing style
• B. How well the dog's trained tasks meet the handler's specific disability-related needs and the handler can manage the dog's care ✓
• C. Whether the dog is the most expensive available
• D. Whether the dog has the largest size possible

Why: An effective match depends on the dog's specific skills aligning with the handler's needs, along with the handler's ability to handle, groom, and care for the dog.

• A. Any dog can become a service dog with a few weeks of basic obedience
• B. Service dogs typically require extensive, specialized task training, and handlers often receive team training with the dog before placement ✓
• C. Service dogs do not need to be house-trained or well-behaved in public
• D. Once purchased, a service dog requires no further training or support

Why: Service dogs undergo specialized task training, and handler-dog team training is usually part of the process to ensure the pair works together effectively and safely.

• A. To make the dog perform tricks for bystanders
• B. To ensure the dog remains calm, focused, and non-disruptive while working in public
• C. To teach the dog to greet as many people as possible
• D. To prevent the dog from ever needing a bathroom break

• A. Greet strangers and accept petting
• B. Lie quietly and settle, without seeking attention from others
• C. Play with other dogs in the area
• D. Wander freely to explore the environment

• A. Petting always causes the dog to become aggressive
• B. Distraction can interrupt the dog's focus on its handler's needs and tasks
• C. Service dogs are legally forbidden from being touched
• D. Petting reduces the dog's lifespan

• A. Off-leash retrieval of distant objects
• B. Reliable 'leave it' and attention-focus cues in distracting environments
• C. Howling on command
• D. Jumping over obstacles at high speed

• A. Initiate a friendly greeting to be polite
• B. Bark to warn the other dog away
• C. Ignore the other dog and stay focused on the handler
• D. Chase the other dog to establish dominance

• A. Feeding a high-sugar treat diet to keep energy levels up
• B. Scheduling regular veterinary checkups, including vaccinations and parasite prevention
• C. Only visiting the vet when the dog shows obvious signs of illness
• D. Avoiding all exercise so the dog conserves energy for work

• A. Only once in the dog's lifetime
• B. Every 5 to 7 years
• C. Roughly once or twice a year, or as the veterinarian recommends
• D. Only when the handler notices a change in work performance

• A. It helps the dog maintain a healthy weight and the energy needed for daily tasks
• B. It eliminates the need for any veterinary care
• C. It prevents the dog from ever needing grooming
• D. It makes the dog less responsive to commands

• A. Eager, relaxed body language and steady focus
• B. Excessive panting, yawning, lagging behind, or reduced responsiveness to commands
• C. Playing enthusiastically with other dogs at the park
• D. Quickly settling into a down position on a cool floor

• A. Keeping the dog in constant work mode with no downtime
• B. Providing regular off-duty time for rest, play, and relaxation
• C. Punishing the dog whenever it appears tired
• D. Isolating the dog from social interaction at all times

• A. To provide companionship and emotional comfort to anyone who requests it
• B. To perform trained tasks that mitigate a person's disability ✓
• C. To serve as a guard dog for the handler's property
• D. To participate in therapeutic visits to hospitals and nursing homes

Why: Service dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a handler's disability, such as guiding a person who is blind or alerting a person to an oncoming seizure. Companionship alone does not qualify a dog as a service animal, and therapy dogs serve a different function.

• A. Offer a treat to get the dog's attention
• B. Call the dog over and let it approach you
• C. Ask the handler for permission ✓
• D. Gently touch the dog's head to see its reaction

Why: Service dogs are working and should not be distracted. Asking the handler for permission first respects the dog's focus and the handler's needs. Even a friendly approach can interfere with the dog's task.

• A. What is your disability and what medications do you take?
• B. Can you show me the documentation proving your dog is certified?
• C. Is the dog required because of a disability, and what work or task has the dog been trained to perform? ✓
• D. Can you have the dog demonstrate its training for the whole staff?

Why: Under the ADA in the United States, staff may ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what work or task the dog has been trained to perform. Staff may not ask about the nature of the disability, require documentation or certification, or require a demonstration of the dog's training.

• A. Ensuring the handler can perform the dog's tasks reliably and the team is well matched ✓
• B. Selling the dog at the highest possible price to cover training costs
• C. Keeping the dog at the training facility until it is retired
• D. Training the handler to perform the dog's tasks for them

Why: Trainers must confirm both the dog's reliability and the handler's ability to work with the dog, since a well-matched team is essential for safety and effectiveness. The handler must be able to manage and communicate with the dog, not rely on the trainer to do so.

• A. Because service dogs cannot be left alone for legal reasons unrelated to their function
• B. Because service dogs are trained to remain attentive to their handler and a dog left alone may become stressed or unsafe ✓
• C. Because the dog is required to greet other customers at all times
• D. Because service dogs must always be kept in a crate when not working

Why: Service dogs are trained to remain attentive to their handler's needs and environment. Leaving a dog unattended in a public place can cause stress, lead to unsafe situations, and is not part of the dog's working role. Community members can help by understanding this expectation.