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A Service Dog is a task and public access trained dog who helps a handler mitigate their disability
A Service Dog is not something you decide you want on your own. This is something you and your medical team would decide is best for you. Your family doctor would prescribe a Service Dog.
Service dogs are task trained to mitigate your disability and have public access rights under Canadian and Provincial Human Rights Acts. Emotional Support Animals are not usually trained, are not recognized in Canada and would not have public access rights, are not protected by laws in Canada, but sometimes are recognized by some airlines or landlords. Therapy dogs work in specific locations such as hospitals, schools, or care homes and only have access to the place of work. They help many people and are not protected by Human Rights Acts.
You will see all different breeds and sizes in Service Dogs. Not all dogs make it as Service Dogs however. We encourage you to have an assessment done on your dog prior to beginning training.
No reactive or aggressive dogs are permitted to be Service Dogs. Service Dogs must not bark unless it is a life or death situation for the handler and the dog needs to get a stranger’s attention to help the handler. The Service Dog must also not deficate in any public establishment unless it is appropriate to do so.
Canada does not have any registries for Service Dogs. If you find a registry online, it is a fake registry. Canada only has voluntary Provincial Certification in 3 provinces (British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia) which requires you to pass a test by 100% and is conducted by applying through the provincial government.
Canada does not have a national service dog law, but there are federal laws that state the Service Dog must be trained by an individual or organization who specializes in Service Dog training. For example, proof would be required if you were to fly with an airline that falls under the Canadian Transportation Act, or go to a Military Base.
We will ask for a doctor letter verifying you require a service dog, and that your dog is fully vaccinated including bordatella.
If your dog displays non-service dog behaviour during class we will meet with you to assess and determine whether you will need to consult a behavioural consultant.
We reserve the right to remove an aggressive or disruptive dog from the class, and will reimburse you for any class you have missed but paid for