Hi Allison,

What I'm about to say, I only know to be fact here in Ohio.

1. No matter what kind of sign you have posted, no matter what the sign says, if your dog bites someone, you are liable. Every situation is different, and everyone is entitled to "their day in court" but the laws that govern "using your dog as self defense" are the same as using a gun. So, for example, if you catch someone breaking into your house and they run away, you can not shoot them, nor send your dog after them (unfortunately ).

2. "Service dogs" supercede any (board of health regulations), so any service dog can not be denied access to restaurants, hotels and so on. (This might be a national law, I'm not sure) But it is surely the case in Ohio.

Of course laws are different everywhere, so it's always best to check with your local code.

please correct me if I'm wrong, but putting a service vest on a dog doesn't make it a service animal, and doesn't make it an "automatic in" to restaurants, businesses etc for dog trainers etc - in fact I believe it is against the law to impersonate a service dog by gaining access to otherwise off-limit places with a dog by putting a vest on or harness...

I don't know for fact, but I would assume that it is illegal to do so. We are saying, it is illegal to impersonate a "service dog". But it is perfectly legal to bring a dog into a resturaunt with a vest that says "in training or working dog", if indeed these statements are true. The only catch is, if they don't want you "training" your dog in their establishment, they have the right to throw you out.
That one was pretty black and white to me.

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please correct me if I'm wrong, but putting a service vest on a dog doesn't make it a service animal, and doesn't make it an "automatic in" to restaurants, businesses etc for dog trainers etc - in fact I believe it is against the law to impersonate a service dog by gaining access to otherwise off-limit places with a dog by putting a vest on or harness...

From what I understand - it is illegal to impersonate a service dog, and I don't mean getting on all fours and barking... they'll just think you're nuts... but its also illegal to demand certification or paperwork upon entry and deny entry if you can't prove your dog is a service dog. This in itself makes it almost impossible to enforce this law, the only way I could see this happening is either the establishment's rep calling the cops on you, or them taking the risk of asking you to leave and hope you don't sue them dor denying entry to what really WAS a service dog.

The americans with disabilities act is a federal law, it applies to every state and supercedes the health department and all individual store policies. If you see a huge sign that says "No Pets Allowed" and you claim you have a service dog, you can walk in with fluffy all day long without any ID, certification or paperwork of any type. If you really do own a service dog and they demand paperwork before your entry to the store, you can turn around and sue them in court for denying your rights.

If you go into a restaurant with your service dog, it's illegal to put you anywhere but at a table that they would ordinarily seat someone that does not have a service dog, they can't put you in the back corner with nobody else, they can't put you in the back room, they must treat your service dog as any other customer or you can sue them again.

THE EXCEPTION to this law is a very simple one - if your service dog is at any time disruptive to a business, you can legally be asked to leave. This means barking, interfering with other customers, jumping, licking, trying to steal food off the table next to you, etc etc.

Oh and I forgot to add - it's actually not required for you to put a vest or ID on your service dog, it's a courtesy, but you can take your service dog on a regular leather collar and leash and TELL people "its a service dog" and they have to believe you, no distinguishment is required by law.

I researched this stuff a few months ago when I was looking at "Do Not Touch" harnesses etc, I read the whole americans with disabilities act, I don't think I am wrong on any of these points, but it has been a month since I read it, so I'm remembering things as I applied them in a hypothetical situation to my own dog. If someone would like to find written stuff that disproves what I said, feel free to correct me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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So with this said I would advise people to use patches that say WORKING DOG - and not SERVICE DOG. We sell the a selection of the highest quality vests I have seen anywhere in the world. We also have the patches.

A WORKING DOG and a SERVICE DOG are two distinctly differant things and you will not get in toruble if you correctly label your dogs vest.

These are awesome!

I ordered one of the padded harness vests with the "WORKING DOG - DO NOT PET" patches. I can't wait until it comes!

Yet another moron tried to pet him today. If it makes just a few of these bozos leave us alone, it will be well worth it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

How horrible would it be to consider your personally trained dog to be a service dog if it indeed provide "services" to you- like protection, watch the kids, or whatever you teach it to help you do... As long as the dog is a helpful service to you?
Or would a "service dog" only be a dog that did something for you that you couldn't do for yourself?
In today's crazy world, I'd love to take my ppd everywhere I go- he serves as a form of protection to me and as a petite woman, I normally wouldn't be able to protect my self with out him.
I wouldn't want to encourage the abuse of these laws and privleges but I might want to take advantage of the oppurtunity if I thought my dog would make my family safe wherever we went. That's begging a little too hard right?

Well, I get nervous thinking someone is going to rob me - my dog would likely prevent that. That's as much as a service dog in my eyes as someone with bad nerves that requires a service dog to pet so they can be out in public. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I think the original concept of the service dog was noble, but it's being dumbed down by the "professional disabilty" crowd. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Ok,
No one has asked yet, so I'll take a shot.

What is the "true definition" of a: Service dog?
Working dog?
I have to agree with Will and Alison. My dogs work for me/with me and they provide service to me and my family.

So... what kinda disclaimer would u put on a dog that's primary service is protection? "Protection Dog - Not Responsible For Bodily Injury" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But yes I don't think there is even a real definition of a service dog that legally narrows it down to what constitutes a service dog. Maybe you need to be legally disabled like with the disabled signs/tags for your car?