What is a K9?
Although usually associated with police dogs, the term K9 can correctly be applied to any dog with a specific job. K9 Kaliber is named in honor of all working K9s, to remind us of what we seek to learn from the dogs we share our lives with: dedication, loyalty, drive, and service to those who need us.
There are many, many kinds of working dogs; from search and rescue to arson detection, seizure alert to flock protector, many dogs not only love to work, they live to work. It’s no wonder, when we consider that dogs were domesticated to work alongside us in our daily lives! Today, many dogs still perform the original jobs they were bred for, but over the years, we have come to appreciate not only the dog’s ability to track, hunt, and protect, but also their love, compassion, spirit, and devotion.
There are three types of civilian working dog, and I have had the great joy and honor of training with all three. Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs all work for the betterment of people. However, these titles are often confused and muddied, and many people are unsure of what each title really means. While they share many characteristics, their jobs are all distinct and have very different laws surrounding them.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are exactly that: therapeutic! A therapy dog works in senior care homes, hospitals, hospice care facilities, and more. Their job is to bring joy and light to the people that they visit. While that sounds like a simple thing, therapy dogs must be trained to be able to handle people of all ages and abilities, as well as various kinds of medical equipment. They cannot be spooked by beeping monitors in hospitals, nor wheelchairs, crutches, canes, walkers, IV poles, hydraulic hospital beds… If someone accidentally steps on their foot or tail, they must be able to control themselves and not bite or react in any forceful or frightening manner. There are many different therapy dog organizations, most of which have specific facilities that they work with. Most require a potential therapy dog handler to seek their own training, which they will follow up on with testing and certification before allowing a team to work. Therapy dogs are not permitted in places where pets are not also welcome, and may not accompany their owner to restaurants, stores that do not welcome pets, etc.
Emotional Support Animals
An Emotional Support Animal, or ESA, is a dog or other animal that provides comfort and companionship to someone with a mental illness. They are pets, most commonly dogs or cats, that are recommended by a mental health professional for stability and emotional support. Much like a therapy dog, their job is to bring happiness and love to someone, however, they only work for one person, not many. They are often beneficial for someone with depression or anxiety disorders. People who are prescribed an ESA may also keep their pet in no-pets housing (with some exceptions). ESAs do not require any specialized training, however they must be well-behaved and under control. It is important to remember that ESAs are not service animals, and they are not welcome in public places that do not welcome pets. With the exception of housing, an ESA is not legally considered any different from a pet.
Service Animals
A service dog’s purpose is all in their name: they provide a service to a handler with a disability that the handler cannot do for themselves. Service dogs require many, many of hours of training, and for good reason. A handler relies on their dog to keep them safe, healthy, and functional. They must be specifically trained to perform work or tasks, which are specific jobs that their handler needs them to do (note: comfort, kisses, and “just being there” are not tasks). These dogs open doors, retrieve medication, alert to seizures and blood sugar crashes, guide from one place to another, tell their hearing impaired handler about alarms and important sounds, interrupt panic attacks and flashbacks, and so much more. A service dog is considered medical equipment, and a handler is protected by law to be accompanied by their lifeline just about anywhere they go.
“I’d like my dog trained to become a service dog. Can you do it?”
I love working with my disabled community, and would be honored to help you and your companion become the best team you can be. That said, I cannot do it all for you. Understand that training a service dog is time-consuming, a lot of hard work, and that you will be responsible for homework between training sessions. No trainer can make your dog a working dog in the few hours that they see them, you must put the work in between lessons.
If you are ready to put the work in, and your dog is qualified (non-aggressive, in good health, etc.), then yes, you are very likely to succeed! I have successfully trained over sixty service dogs in mobility assistance, medical alert/response, psychiatric/neurological assistance, hearing work, and guide work since 2013, including service dogs for children and teens.
“Can’t I just register them online? This is a lot of work!”
No, absolutely not. There is no such thing as a legitimate registry or online certification program. All are third-party, for-profit companies started with the intention of giving pet owners a way to scam and bully their way into stores, restaurants, etc. with their pets. None are recognized by the Department of Justice or any state, and none can make a pet into a real working dog. Using these sites is unethical, immoral, and often illegal. Disabled people have already lost many rights and protections because of people abusing the laws in place to protect them and allow them full access to the world; no disability + no training = no service dog.
“What if I see someone abusing the law? What can I do?”
Do not approach the dog or the person. Remember that dogs, regardless of whether they are still in training or finished, are still dogs. You may have come across a real team having a bad moment; the dog may have suddenly become ill or injured, or the dog may have become startled or unfocused by someone interacting with it inappropriately. Depending on the behavior, it may be a real team; for example, a barking dog may be trying to get attention to a downed or unresponsive handler, or a seemingly unfocused dog may actually be scanning the area for people, exits, and other things he needs to know how to find. Remember that size of the dog is never an indicator of whether or not it’s really a working dog, and many small breeds make amazing service dogs. If necessary, report the person to management and describe what you witnessed. Allow them to take the necessary steps. Do not stalk or harass the handler; if you feel threatened, it may be acceptable to record your own service dog’s behavior or the other dog’s behavior for management or law enforcement, however, it is not okay to post that recording on social media or otherwise share it.
Disabled people are frequently targeted by strangers, and if the animal is indeed a real service dog or service dog in training who has been seen at a very poor moment, the handler does not need harassment on top of the worries about whatever has happened to their service dog. Depending on your behavior and the severity of your claims, you may face repercussions for stalking, harassment, libel/slander, or other legal problems. Don’t make a scene, just report it to the proper persons and move on with your day!