When I was a kid German Shepherd Dogs were called "Police Dogs". Everyone I knew called them that. The book to the right is a book published in 1924...NO! I am not that old!

"Service Dog" used to mean dogs, any type or breed of dog, in the Military.

Now. People still rarely call German Shepherd Dogs by their correct name, calling them "German Shepherds", but it is closer. German Shepherd is actually a German Man that tends or works sheep or goats. The dog, has the word 'Dog' in the Name. Proper Name - German Shepherd Dog.

And "Service Dog", can mean so many different jobs, but much the same. A Service Dog is a Dog that gives Service to someone that needs a bit of help. A CERTIFIED SERVICE DOG actually has the Credentials, the Training, and is recognized by all Authorities and welcome in all establishments such as Stores and Restaurants and such.

Service Dogs are also called, PTSD Dogs, Seeing Eye Dogs, Hearing Ear Dogs, some are dogs that Carry items for people that can not, Dogs that are helping 'hands' to people in wheel chairs and so much more.

I have ALWAYS been Impressed with Service Dogs of any type. I am Impressed with Well Trained Working Dogs.

The Laws and Training Your Own Service Dog.....See Below.
Training Your Own Service Dog.....See Below.
Service Dog Etiquette....See Below.
Type Of Dogs Trained As Service Dogs...Keep Scrolling Down This Page.
Well Groomed Service Dogs...see below
Feeding Service Dogs...see below
"SERVICE DOG!", Are NOT Magic Words.....see below]

Have you ever noticed how when there is a Symbol for a Service Dog it is usually a GSD? There is a reason for this. The GSD was the FIRST Breed introduced as a Certified, Bonifed, Service Dog, not only in the USA but also other Countries.

It was Captain Von Stephanitz, FATHER OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG BREED AND WRITER OF THE STANDARD FOR THE BREED, that came up with Certification for the GSD to become Eyes for the Blind....Seeing Eye Dogs with Schooling. GSD were the dogs chosen and used above and far more than any other breed.

Captain Von Stephanitz saw that his Breed, Bred For Working, could excel in many types of Jobs. But the actual Job, Sheep Herding, that the dog breed was bred for, had become a dying trade. So the Captain began to investigate how the dog breed could be useful. He believed that THIS Breed should be Working Dogs.

He has, through the years, certainly been proven Correct!

There really ARE more Service Dogs out and about in stores and places these days. Some are legitimate and some are not. Some of these dogs have truly been trained and some are in the process being trained. Then there are the pets wearing Services Harnesses THAT SHOULD BE TRAINED BETTER THAN THEY ARE!

YOU SHOULD TREAT EACH AND EVERY SERVICE DOG THE SAME. LEAVE THEM ALONE. DO NOT PET. IGNORE. Why? That Dog is Working. Legitimate Service Dogs and those that are in Training are TRAINED to help their Handler, or they are being trained, to ignore everyone but their Handler. Do Not Distract the dog.

Think of this. YOU would not want a stranger to come up to you and 'pet' you. You would have a FIT if a stranger touched your child in the store because they 'thought the child was cute'. So! PLEASE! Leave Service Dogs Alone. Ignore them. They are busy Working.

Legitimate Service/Working Dogs are NOT part of a Petting Zoo. Unless, of course, that IS part of their job.

Owners are allowed to Train their own Service Dogs....but tell me? How many people are ACTUALLY QUALIFIED TO TRAIN THEIR OWN SERVICE/Working DOGS???

Curious if ALL Dogs are allowed to put on a Vest and Be Called a Service Dog? Do "Emotional Support Dogs", or "Therapy Dogs", have the same Rights as a REAL Service Dog? They do NOT. Read online or copy out a copy of the ADA Booklet, "Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals"

When you see a Real Honest To Goodness Service Dog Working, or a Service Dog In Training, you will notice how 'Low Key' and well behaved that animal is.

Usually the Service Dog is Distinguished by wearing a Vest or Harness or Backpacks that have to words on them, 'Service Dog'.

The dog is walking, that is WALKING (not in a cart or being carried) correctly at the side of it's Handler.

The dog is quiet and out of the way. The dog sits when the person is 'at rest', that is not moving around, or when sitting down.

A Service Dog is non aggressive.

A Service Dog is Well Groomed, including, but not limited to, short toenails.

MORE COMING SOON

I will admit it. I catch myself, if only for a moment, staring at a Well Trained Service Dog in Public. I LOVE to watch a Dog Working. I am so IMPRESSED with how a REAL HONEST Service Dog Behaves and is Trained...AND STARING AT A SERVICE DOG IS WRONG!

Yes. It really is wrong to stare at the Working Dog. It is wrong to make eye contact with the Working Dog. Why? It can distract them.

As I understand the Law, it is a Felony to Distract a Service Dog (or any type of Service Dog thereof, such as, but not limited to, Seeing Eye Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs...)

This means you may NOT Talk To, Pet, Make Eye Contact With.... NO DISTRACTING THE WORKING SERVICE DOGS.

Never 'Call a Service Dog Over To You'. Leave them alone.

Do NOT even think of petting a Service Dog. Treat a Service Dog like another other patron in the Place of Business, and or, like YOU wanted to be treated by other Patrons in the Place of Business. If you do not want Strangers 'petting' you....

NO! Your child can NOT 'see the dog', or 'pet the dog', or... and the Handler is NOT responsible to Train Your Child on Manners when out and about or on Etiquette or on Service Dogs.

Do NOT ask what why the Handler has the dog, NOR ask for a demonstration of what the dog can can.

DO NOT PRAISE THE DOG if you do happen to see it Perform a Service for it's Handler. YOUR approval is not only a distraction to the dog, it is, believe it or not, RUDE.

In fact, if you see someone out with a 'service dog' and they are allowing the public to pet and hold and fuss over and or letting folks give food or treats to their dog/pup....it is NOT a real Service Dog Trained for Service to that Person.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET DOG 'OVER TO SEE THE SERVICE DOG'. KEEP YOURSELF, YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR PETS AWAY FROM SERVICE DOGS.

MORE COMING SOON

This is a note I received from one of our Puppy Buyers About Titus X Turquoise Puppy 2016. We are so Honored and Thrilled with the amount of Love and Training as well as Patience and Outside Training Costs, this whole family has spent and is spending on their beloved dog Hugo!

Hi Marna,

We celebrated Hugo's 1st birthday and wanted to tell you how great he is doing! He has graduated his first two rounds of training with flying colors. We are still working on distraction training, once he is a little better with that he will officially be a service dog! He has been trained to alert me when people are talking to me that I can't hear and also to alert to the doorbell and text alerts on my phone. He also helps me get up off the couch when my leg is bothering me and retrieves dropped items for me. He has been trained to sit and press himself against me and rest his head on my shoulder when I am having a panic attack. We are also working with him on pressing the handicap accessible buttons to open doors and cross walk buttons with his nose. He loves having a job and being part of our pack. He's amazing! Thank you for our amazing boy!

Best regards,
Nerissa

After note here by Marna: We were so THRILLED when this family bought another GSD puppy from us in 2018. She too will be trained.

There are no USA Laws forbidding a person to train their own Service Dogs. However, because of the upswing in Service Dog/Emotional Support/Therapy Dog Fraud, that is Pets being taken into Public Places and acting up, not housebroken, and other's using odd animals CALLING them 'Service/Emotional Animals', Places of Businesses are Cracking Down. Check your local Laws.

Service Dogs in Training, DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS CERTIFIED SERVICE DOGS.
Scroll Down for More Information on Service Dogs in Training.

Check not only Federal Laws, but also your own State Laws.

Photo is of Marna with Tekoa and Titus, out and about having fun!, they did not even know they were being Trained at the time.

There is a TON of information online about Training Dogs. There is a TON of information online about Training Service Dogs. If you need your dog to assist you out and about in the Public, then, Train Your Dog.

Too many people are taking advantage of the looseness of the terms used for Dogs and Animals that can 'go with them' out and about and are taking Ill Mannered Animals into Businesses. Many of these so called "Service/Emotional Support/Make Up a Cute Name Here" Animals are Enraging Businesses and their Customers with Ill Mannered Pets.

TRUE SERVICE DOGS ARE HOUSEBROKEN AND WELL MANNERED AND UNLESS YOU LAY EYES ON THEM, NO ONE EVEN KNOWS THEY ARE THERE. THAT IS, WELL BEHAVED AND QUITE!

It takes Hours and Hours and Hours and Hours and weeks and months and months and months to Train A Dog to Become a Bonafide Service Dog. Do YOU have the Ability and the Time and the Patience it takes to TRAIN YOUR OWN DOG??? Be Honest With Yourself and Others.

Training a Service Dog is not something you do 'once in a while', or the day before you want to take Rover to the store with you. It is a Daily COMMITMENT and a Large and Serious Commitment. First, Before Anything Else, the Trainer has to know HOW to and WHAT to Train the dog....Study Up before you decide that this is something you want to 'try'.

See More On How To Train A Service Dog Below.

Photo is of one of our puppies. We start their training here before they are 8 weeks old.

BECAUSE IT IS AGAINST THE LAW!

TAKING YOUR PET INTO PLACES THAT DO NOT ALLOW PETS IS AGAINST THE LAW!

PRETENDING LIKE YOUR DOG IS A SERVICE DOG IS AGAINST THE LAW!

WHEN YOU PRETEND THAT YOUR PET IS A SERVICE DOG, YOU ARE NOT JUST 'GETTING AWAY WITH SOMETHING', YOU ARE RUINING THIS PRIVILEGE FOR PEOPLE THAT SERIOUSLY NEED SERVICE DOGS!

If your dog is NOT Trained and is 'posing' as, or 'pretending' to be, a Service Dog, it NOT only Ticks Off the Business Owners, it NOT only puts Businesses at Risk (for your dogs bad behavior), It gives a 'Sore Thumb' to those that Need and Really Work With TRAINED Service Dogs. Businesses are less prone to Welcome TRAINED Service Dogs when others come in Pretending with Ill Behaved Dogs, dogs that are NOT even Housebroken. ie: YOU RUIN IT FOR EVERYONE! Business Owners, The General Public and LET'S NOT FORGET YOU GIVE A BAD TASTE LEFT BEHIND FOR THE REAL SERVICE DOGS!

Putting a Service Dog Harness on a Pet does give the dog 'Powers to Service', any more than a Person putting on a Super Hero Costume gaining 'Super Human Powers!'

By ADA Rules and Laws.... Check this yourself. Not only are you breaking the Law, YOU could got to Jail, lose your Welfare, and/or pay Large Fines.

I promise you that more and more people. More and more and more people. More people are sick and tired of people's ungroomed and misbehaving pets in Stores and Restaurants. Employees and Shop Owners are sick of it too. A REAL Service Dog is under control at all times and well behaved. There are Penalties for FAKING a Service Dogs....and more people are going to start video taping PETS in places they should not be, and turning these folks in.

You may have been told that "You Can Take Your Dog Anywhere." NO YOU CAN NOT! Check the Laws for yourself. I have seen the Websites that, for a fee, "Register your dog as a Service or Emotional Support Dog", that you can take with you anywhere. Save Your Money! AND READ THEIR SMALL PRINT ON THEIR WEBSITES!

TRAIN AND GROOM YOUR DOGS. IF YOU ARE GOING TO REPRESENT THEM AS SERVICE DOGS, TRAIN AND GROOM THEM AS SUCH.

more coming soon

Yes. Anyone can go on line and for a FEE, buy the Service Dog Fake Registration and Service Dog Costume. But. Does this make your Ill Mannered Dog a Service Dog!!!???? NO! INDEED NO! You can Dress Up like a DOCTOR for Halloween but YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR! And the same is true with your PET Dog 'Dressing Up like a Service Dog'. Just because you bought a Certificate from a place that would sell such a thing, "Does NOT Make It So".

BEFORE YOU SEND YOUR MONEY FOR 'ONLINE CERTIFICATION', READ THEIR SMALL PRINT! READ THE FEDERAL LAWS, READ YOUR STATE AND LOCAL LAWS!

Again: It IS LEGAL to TRAIN Your Own Service Dog.....the Key Word is TRAIN! If you do Not Know How to Train a Dog.....either Learn or find a Trainer and get the Dog Trained!

Also: The Definition of a Service Dog is a Dog that Preforms a Task or Tasks that a Person Can Not. Look that up. Decide if this is Honestly True in YOUR Own Situation. And from there, either learn to train your own dog or find someone to Train It. But do NOT just grab your pet and claim to have a Service Dog.

more to come

Read it for yourself. Read online or copy out a few to Hand Out. The Handbook from the ADA, "Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals". If I owned a Business the Public Visited, I would have these ready for the people that are committing FRAUD!

There are Laws, not only the ones that give REAL Service Dogs access to Places of Business. But also Laws for the Handlers.

"Emotional Support" and "Therapy Dogs" and/or FAKE "Service Dogs", DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS A REAL SERVICE DOG!

If you are serious about Training Your Own Service Dog. Do So. Do not pretend that you need a Service Dog just to take Rover to the store with you. Do not 'intend to' Train your dog 'one day'. TRAIN!

Before you EVER take your dog to Stores or other Businesses that do not normally allow dogs into their places of businesses, there is a LOT of Training to do. THAT TRAINING STARTS AT HOME.

Start with Housebreaking.....House Breaking is about FAR MORE than just 'not going potty in the house"...although that IS the Foundation of Housebreaking...it is about Manners. Every Day Manners. A Dog acting like part of a family, rather than part of a pack. Manners around food, people, company, and more.

A Real Service Dog does NOT beg for food. It lays under the table or right next to it's Handler. It does not look at the table, or other people. In a Restaurant the Dog does not Greet the Waitress, or other people, or big, or look longingly at others....

Scroll back up on this page and read the Service Dog Etiquette, read how the dog should act, and Start Your Dog Training Based On That.

Photo of our Titus, no longer with us.

MUCH MORE TO COME

To be A REAL SERVICE DOG? THE DOG NEEDS TO KNOW NOT ONLY HOW TO, BUT PERFORM, ALWAYS, MANY THINGS....STARTING WITH AND NOT LIMITED TO, BEING SO WELL BEHAVED AND QUIET THAT NO ONE NOTICES THE DOG UNLESS THEY SEE IT.

All Service Dog Training Starts AT HOME! Basic Manners, Basic Obedience, Basic Distraction Training...

Service Dogs, of all sorts, are each Trained to do tasks to help their own Handlers. Those Tasks will vary. Some Service Dogs can perform tasks the average person would not believe a dog could learn, and certainly, the average person could not teach a dog to do those tasks.

A Service Dog might learn to hand items to their Handler, let the Handler know their phone received a Text. Another Service Dog might lead a Blind Handler to a Public Bathroom, or onto Public Transportation. A Service Dog might sense when a Handler is having a Health Crisis BEFORE that person or any person knows. The list goes on and on and on of what a Service Dog can be Trained to do to Help their Handlers. There is no ONE answer to this question.

Photo of (left to right) our Texas Tea, Turquoise, Titus and Tekoa, all under 8 months old at the time of photo. I just used the photo here to show dogs trained to work around as well as with other dogs, and wearing anything you put on them, left in a Sit Stay for as long as you ask them to be there.

much more to come

When people sign their dogs up for a Basic Obedience Class, what they might not know is that the Instructor is NOT only going to be Teaching the person to Train their dog. The Instructor is going to be Training The Person at the other end of the Leash too. A Dog Handler needs to know how to Teach the Dog for Obedience AND the Dog Handler needs to know how to Cue the Dog for Obedience...and other work.

Deron used to Teach Obedience Classes. One thing that frustrates the Instructors, is a very smart dog with a not so smart owner. If the Owner/Handler does not catch on the the small Body Cues, the Dog can not Learn them correctly.

Past Obedience Training their is Task Training. Training the dog inside of Businesses that allow dogs, to familiarize the dog with other shoppers including RUDE Shoppers that want to 'pet your dog', but do not ask, just grab. Other Shoppers also include but are not limited to out of control children, nosy people that want to question every move the dog makes, people that want you to know they do not like your dog there, and loud rude people, just living their loud rude lives.

MUCH MORE COMING SOON

PROPER BREEDING MATTERS! DOGS BRED TO THE STANDARD FOR THEIR BREED MATTERS! WHY???? Dog that are Bred to the Standard of the Breed are Bred Correctly for the way that the Dog is Suppose to be built. Then. The dogs bones are proper size, proper set. Dogs that are Bred To Standard are less likely to have Structure Problems. Dogs bred to the Standard are far more likely to have Sound Temperaments. AND ALL THIS IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR THE DOG TO PERFORM A SERVICE FOR A PERSON, IT IS ALSO GOING TO MEAN THAT THE DOG SHOULD NOT HAVE IT'S OWN JOINT PAIN AS AN ADULT DOG.

If a Service Dog is distracted with it's own health problems, how can it be focused on it's Handler?

A dog that is Bred To The Standard for the Breed is also going to look like you will think it, expect it to, will look like full grown. Not way bigger or smaller or shaggier, or.... This means you can pick out a Breed of Dog for the size dog you need for the Service you would like the dog to perform for you. THIS IS IMPORTANT!

Photo of Marna laughing in the snow holding Tekoa and Titus. Deron and I Train our dogs in ALL Weather.

If pure bred dogs are haphazardly bred, what we call, 'rubbing two dogs together and hoping for the best', that is, if the person breeding the dogs is breeding off standard for something they like or that is popular for sales, such as, long hair in GSD, bigger sized, THAT breeder is not breeding dogs to the Standard, and probably not even breeding dogs that are built correctly. There is a high factor that these dogs will have a higher incident of health problems than dogs Bred To Standard. That breeder is buying their dogs based on one thing....whatever that thing is that should not be there, according to Standard, that they want in their dogs. So they are NOT caring so much about the bigger picture or the structure of the dogs.

Mixed Bred dogs, or as we so fondly call today, 'rescues', are what should be 'mishap breedings' between two dogs that probably should not have been bred at all. Not only will you not know their sizes, full grown, you will not know if their structure will ever be sound. You will not know anything about the health of their parents or even temperaments. TEMPERAMENTS, SOUND BUILD AND SIZE are important for a Real Service Dog.

AM I SAYING THAT EVERY DOG BRED TO STANDARD IS ABOVE HAVING HEALTH OR STRUCTURE PROBLEMS!!!????? NO!

CERTAINLY NOT! Any dog. ANY DOG. MAKE THAT, ANY LIVING THING! Can have Health Problems. Structure Problems.

My point is, look up the Statistics. Dogs that are Pure Bred and Bred To Standard are far more likely to become CERTIFIED, BONAFIED, HELPFUL, TRUSTWORTHY, SERVICE DOGS.

AND OF COURSE. THERE ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS MATH.

Photo of Texas Tea's Great Grandsire, well bred and Beautiful!

HONEST TO GOODNESS SERVICE DOGS ARE WELL GROOMED! It is a Fact. SERVICE DOGS ARE WELL GROOMED!

No one. No one. No one wants an ungroomed, smelly, dog with long toenails in their Places of Business... let's be Honest. No one wants to be around a dog that is ungroomed and smells.

Even if a person is very disabled, you will NOT see them out and about with an ungroomed dog. Many times it is the family of this person that grooms and cares for the dog's needs. And/Or the Vet keeps the Service Dog's toenails cut.

If you know anything about Service Dogs you will notice they normally do not have Coats that need much care. There is a reason for this. No one. No One! Wants a dog in their Place of Business or anywhere else that has a coat that is not cared for or is shedding badly. Teach your dog to be vacuumed. Yes. Really. Using a low gear on your vacuum cleaner, groom your dog with a correctly shaped vacuum attachment....THIS and Toenail Cutting is part of Training. It is also a Responsibility of the Dog's Owner/Trainer/Handler.

Real Service Dogs Do Not have Worms inside them or Bugs On Them. Real Service Dogs are well cared for. Real Service Dogs have a Job to do and can not be distracted by Poor Health or Scratching Distraction that Worms and Fleas and other Parasites can cause.

Photo of Texas Tea's Great GrandSire. Photo example of well groomed dog.

much more to come

YOU WILL NOT SEE A REAL WORKING DOG WITH LONG TOENAILS! Long Toenails on a dog are NOT just unattractive, they are Dangerous.

Many Many REAL Working/Sporting Dogs also have their Dew Claws Removed for their own Safety.

Working Dogs need to have 'freedom of their feet'. Toenails and or Dew Claws can get caught up on and torn out if left long....not to mention how 'unsightly' they look.

Long Toenails can cause injuries to the Dog's foot just by being long as the dog is trying to move around and run. They can cause injuries to their Handler when the dog is Alerting them or so many of the tasks that Service Dogs perform with their front feet/paws.

Very few Real Service Dogs do not perform some sort of Task that requires them to use their front paws. Such as a foot up onto their handler for an Alert of one type or another, to press a button to open a door for a wheel chair, and so many many more front foot tasks. The dog's toenails need to be short and groomed often.

WEARING DOG BOOTIES

PLEASE! BEFORE YOU RUN OUT AND BUY DOG BOOTIES FOR YOUR DOG, READ OUR SLED DOG PAGE, IN THE 'ABOUT BOOTIES' AREA OF THE PAGE.

Some Service Dogs will wear Dog Booites. Think of this. People, when the weather is bad, those that were raised right anyway, will stop when they come into a Place of Business and Wipe Their Feet before walking on in. Very few dogs are taught to do this. (my mother taught our dogs to do this in our home)

Dog Booties could be worn from Vehicle to Shop and Shop to Vehicle to keep floors and vehicles free from what dogs track in.

much more to come

THIS SOUNDS SO SIMPLE! If it were, you would not see so many Fat Dogs Working.

Dogs, no more than people or cats, should carry extra weight on their bodies. It is unhealthy in so many many ways.

Some Working Dogs SHOULD be fed more calories. Service Dogs; should not. Service Dogs should receive a well balanced meal with the right amount of calories to keep their weight correct. Calorie Count should include all Treats, Snacks and Reward Foods.

Overweight Dogs can not perform the Tasks needed to be Actual Service Dogs.

much more to come

WHATEVER PET FOOD YOU BUY, WHATEVER BRAND YOU CHOOSE! READ THE LABEL BEFORE PURCHASE!

I promise you. I promise you, you will find that some of the "higher end'...that is Higher Priced, Dog Food is NOT quite as high in nutrition for the dog as some other less expensive Dog Foods.

TV, Magazine, and Internet Ads COST A LOT OF MONEY....and that money comes from higher prices for their foods.

FOR YOUR DOGS SAKE! READ THE LABELS!

We have another page here on this site all about Feeding GSD. And how it can effect their Health.

By ADA Laws, Service Dogs In Training, also known as SDIT, do NOT have the same rights as Service Dogs. However. Many places of Businesses will allow SDIT into their Business IF PERMISSION IS ASKED FIRST.

ADA LAWS DO NOT COVER A SDIT! Check your own Local Laws before entering into a Business Establishment with a SDIT without Permission from Owners or Managers.

Keep in mind that their are many Places of Business where you and your dog ARE able to go for 'out and about Training'. Many Pet Stores and Farm Stores allow Dogs to come to their Stores. Many Welcome Them with, Literally, Open Arms. Train your dogs there.

Your Trainee is going to need Restaurant Training. Take your dog to a crowded park on a Summer Day with a Picnic. Teach your dog NOT TO BEG, but to lay quietly under, or next to, the Picnic Table with all the goings on. This will keep your Service Dog Training on Track and you won't be breaking any Laws.

YOU! You are responsible for your own dog. Your dog (as well as yourself and your children) are suppose to be under control at all times.

NO STAFF ANYWHERE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OR CLEAN UP OF YOUR DOG.

YOU ALONE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE YOU SERVICE DOG DOES IN ANY PLACE YOU TAKE IT.

If your dog harms someone or another animal, YOU are responsible for it.

much more coming soon

Putting a Service Dog Vest, or Harness or Backpacks on Your dog does NOT, "Make It So". Anyone can buy these items today.

Why do Service Dogs wear Vest or Harnesses or Backpacks with the words 'Service Dog' written on them? A few reasons, but mostly so that EVERYONE knows that not only is this a Working Dog and NOT a Pet, but to Cue People to leave the dog alone while it works.

The Vest or Harness or Backpacks also Cue the Dog that is it time to Go To Work. That it is time to Work.

Photo is of Deron with Tekoa and Titus when they were pups. Were they Service Dogs? No. But they were Working Dogs and could have (mind you with a LOT of Time and Patience) have been taught for the Respected Job of Service Dogs. They each had, I believe, the Temperament and Focus while working in Public. Titus is the Sire of Hugo, who IS a Respected Certified Service Dog.

more coming soon

The type of Service Dogs wearing Backpacks I am going to be talking about right here are the Dogs that Provide a Service to those who need it healthwise. The PTSD Dogs, The Hearing Ear Dogs, The Emotional Support Dogs, THOSE types of Service Dogs.

There is no reason a Service Dog could not wear a Backpack and carry items for their Handler. In fact, think about how handy that is, indeed, a Service in and of itself. The dog could carry anything a purse might carry and more. The dog might have the person's medications and other items on hand right there in a backpack.

Be wise and Beware! Not all Backpacks made with 'Service Dog' Patches are equal. I have seen some TERRIBLE fitting set ups. Real cute, but very unsafe for the dogs. Make sure the packs you use are set up for that front shoulder, not the middle of the dog's back.

You can also use and set up Patches on the Tactical Vests for MOLLE Packs/Bags. These can change out for different items to go into. Very Handy!

We have a page here on this Website about Backpacking with Dogs. Much of the information will pertain to ANY dog Backpacking. I cover fit and how to pack the Backpack as well as how to carry water bowls, and more.

-- The Working German Shepherd Dogs Team
Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:49:44 -0500