Do you believe in Leprechauns?

As I noted in my previous blogpost article, I spend a portion of my time each day researching information about service dogs, organizations, providers and trainers. 

So, today, this is what I learned:  Number one: the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs is that people get to keep their therapy dogs as pets and service dogs are given away to help people in wheelchairs.  Really?  Not so much. (Let’s not even address the misconception about the role of service dogs and the disabled!!).  Essentially a service dog has had extensive training to provide one or more specific tasks for an individual. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees the rights of these individuals to have their service dog accompany them wherever they go as long as the general public is also allowed.  On the other hand, a therapy dog most often gives its love in group settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, and schools.  Read more about the difference here.

Number two:  one organization advertises that their program is the very best because they train their dogs to perform basic obedience commands like sit, down, stay and shake by the age of 3 weeks.  Hmm.  Perhaps they meant three months, but that’s not what the article said.  At three weeks I’m pretty sure those puppy babies are still scooting around on their bellies looking for momma’s teats.  So, language is important. 

And, if language is important, perception is reality.  While there are many altruistic organizations whose primary motivation is to help people, they still have expenses.  And to offset those expenses, they have to make people believe that their organization is the very best.  Clients who pay or sponsors who pay … makes no difference, someone has to pay.  And, while many of these organizations are truly awesome—great dogs, great trainers and a great moral compass—there are just as many who are not as well-educated about what they’re doing, how they're doing it and why. 

So, do you really believe that the Internet is a harbinger of solid, reliable, factual, and real information?  Do you believe in Leprechauns?  If you’d like some assistance in navigating through the ocean of information about service dogs, providers, trainers or just to learn more about the role of service dogs for people with invisible disabilities, please contact us through our website at www.ServiceDog411.com.