German Shepherd Service Dog
German Shepherds are continuously one of the top dog breeds in America year after year according to the American Kennel Club . This is for a large number of reasons, such as their temperament, loyalty, size, strength, and much more, which we will get into later.
Mainly, German Shepherds loyalty is what sets them apart from other dog breeds. They are often seen in law enforcement as police dogs, or excelling in obedience classes, acting as a farm dog, being military dogs, or providing protection and search and rescue services. They are a very loyal, intelligent breed, making them perfect for being a service dog.
Service dogs must be intelligent, work-minded, well-focused and calm, all of which are traits the German Shepherd is known for. Before we delve more into the breed of German Shepherds and why they make great service dogs, lets learn more about service dogs themselves.
How Important Is A German Shepherds Temperament
When it comes to service dogs, the right temperament is vital. For one thing, temperament often determines just how trainable a particular dog is.
A pooch who is willing to learn, obey, and please his or her human will fare well in this department.
There is another reason that temperament is so crucial with service dogs. Daily, service dogs interact with many more people than regular pets. What’s more, service dogs have to do this in noisy and unfamiliar environments.
All this while, they have to remain calm and collected while still helping their human out in a myriad of ways. As you can see, this is a pretty tall order.
So, how well do German Shepherds measure up as service dogs?
Well, as with most aspects, it is a bit difficult to generalize. After all, one GSD can differ from another rather drastically. Therefore, you cant really say that all German Shepherds have the right temperament to become a service dog.
Susan Briggs, MA, CPACO makes this point
You need a dog that is bred to have a stable temperament, that isnt particularly defensive around strangers, and that will not be spooked around novel situations.
German Shepherds that are properly bred, raised and train can behave well, but there are many that wouldnt be suitable for these tasks. The same is true for any breed.
How a German Shepherd is bred can have a significant impact on what their temperament is like.
Instead, look for something in the middle. This will allow you to get the best of both worlds.
The Temperament And Personality Of A Mini German Shepherd
The appearance of a miniature German Shepherd can be really up in the air depending on the pups parents. When it comes to your mini German Shepherds personality, however, theyll probably lean more toward a purebred German Shepherd.
Miniature German Shepherds tend to be very intelligent, loyal dogs great for support, family dogs, and tasks. These dogs tend to inherit the German Shepherds innate loyalty and excellent trainability.
With their medium size and energetic yet loyal personality, miniature German Shepherds are often well suited to:
- Apartment living
- Living with kids
- Emotional support animal
Just keep in mind the less desirable personality traits of the other dog breed may be dominant.
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They Need Lots Of Exercises Which Can Be Beneficial For Your Own Physical Health As Well
German Shepherds require a lot of physical activities on a daily basis, so their guardians cannot afford to be lazy. While out on a walk, a well-socialized dog may also assist in the establishment of new human relationships.
This dog breed will also assist you in maintaining good physical fitness. Every day, just 30 minutes of exercise will improve your physical strength. You may take your dog for as many walks as you like or simply play with it in your spare time.
Can German Shepherds Be Both Service Dogs And Family Dogs
Generally, it is not recommended for a service dog to also be a family pet. Although German Shepherds can be taught to co-exist with other family members, they need to develop the strongest bond and loyalty to the person they are assisting.
That means they must prefer to be in the presence of their handler and follow their commands above anyone elses. Treating them as a family pet will be confusing and will interfere with their value as assistance animals.
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Do Therapy Dogs Have Legal Rights
Although they are defined as comfort dogs and often used in therapeutic settings, therapy dogs are not considered service dogs under the ADA and dont have the same legal right to access in public spaces. There are no uniform state or national rules that regulate and certify therapy dogs, and different organizations have different guidelines. As a general rule, therapy dogs should be trained, insured, and licensed by the non-profit thats offering their services.
What Ailments Or Disabilities Can Qualify You For Getting An Emotional Support Dog
To qualify for an ESA, your condition or disability must be listed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition .
People with the following mental health disorders or impairments can qualify for an ESA:
- Anxiety disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Keep in mind that your family doctor or any other general practitioner is NOT qualified to give this assessment. Only licensed mental health professionals like psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists can give you an ESA letter! This is important since landowners and airline companies will reject your letter otherwise. If your ESA letter is invalid, you will not be protected under the law.
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Allergy Alert Service Dogs
Like bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs, allergy alert service dogs are trained to alert their owner when they detect the scent of a certain allergen. They may also wear a special vest containing medication for their owner.
As German Shepherds have a good sense of smell, it makes them great allergy alert service dogs.
A Guide To German Shepherd Therapy Dogs
Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned throughout the years how to optimize the breeds health and wellness.
German Shepherds can be trained to be excellent therapy dogs and emotional support dogs.
People have known for centuries that pets help to relieve anxiety, provide emotional support, and overall make life happier. Today, there are official designations for dogs that fulfill these purposes: therapy dogs and emotional support dogs. Whether you are looking to volunteer or to address mental health in your own life, a dog can be an excellent companion.
When people think of jobs for German Shepherds, they are most likely to think of them as police or military dogs. But German Shepherds intelligence and affection also make them perfectly suited to be therapy and emotional support dogs. With the right training, a German Shepherd can make a big difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
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They Are Easy To Teach Good Manners And Norms Of Behavior Especially At A Young Age
The German shepherd is quite lively, and you can teach them proper behavior while they are still young. Proper training is essential since it will allow you to train your dog to care for people and respect them.
These canines can also quickly learn how to behave in gatherings and public areas. If you decide to take your support dog on a trip or holiday, this information may be beneficial.
Are German Shepherds Good Psychiatric Service Dogs
Yes, German Shepherds can be good psychiatric service dogs. In fact, many people rely on this breed for a variety of mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
However, not all GSDs are equally suitable. Every dog must be evaluated, selected, and trained to ensure they can meet the specific needs of their handler.
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Emotional Support Dog Vs Service Dogs
ESAs provide support through companionship and can help ease anxiety, depression, and certain phobias. However, they are not service dogs, and ESA users do not receive the same accommodations as service dog users.
A service dog, such as a guide dog or psychiatric service dog, is generally allowed anywhere the public is allowed ESAs are not. For example, ESAs generally cannot accompany their owners into restaurants or shopping malls.
The Americans With Disabilities Act defines service animals as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. The act clearly states that animals that simply provide emotional comfort do not qualify as service animals. Some state and local laws have a broader definition, so be sure to check with local government agencies to learn if ESAs qualify for public access in your area.
The key difference between a service dog and an emotional support dog is whether the animal has been trained to perform a specific task or job directly related to the persons disability. For example, service dogs are trained to alert a hearing-impaired person to an alarm or guide a visually impaired person around an obstacle or provide pressure on someone with PTSD who is suffering from a panic attack.
Behaviors such as cuddling on cue, although comforting, do not qualify. The tasks need to be specifically trained to mitigate a particular disability, not something instinctive the dog would do anyway.
Disabilities Helped By Service Dogs
A large variety of physical, mental, social, and emotional disabilities can be helped by a service dog however, the general public is most familiar with seeing guide dogs for the blind or service animals for individuals in wheelchairs. But not all service dogs perform such highly-visible work many work for handlers who do not have a visible disability, such as:
- Diabetes, epilepsy, and other medical issues requiring alerts
- Impaired mobility, hearing, or vision
While there are dogs trained as authentic emotional support animals, an emotional support animal is not a true service dog and is not covered by the laws protecting service dogs and their handlers. A Psychiatric Service Dog, on the other hand, is a legitimate service dog that has been trained to support an individual whose disability happens to be due to mental illness. A dog for PTSD, for example, can be a Psychiatric Service Dog. Under the law, a business may not deny access to a PSD, but they can deny access to an animal whose sole task is to provide emotional assistance.
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List Of German Shepherd Service Dog Breeders
Here, weve gathered a list of some breeders you can start within your search for a great German Shepherd puppy that can be trained as a service dog.
These breeders focus on working dogs and have had some of their puppies end up as service dogs already:
Each of these organizations has different qualifications you must meet if youre going to get a service dog from them. Be sure to read through their information carefully and contact them with questions before filling out an application.
Because there are so many people in need of service dogs and not enough dogs to meet the demand, there may be a long wait before youre able to get your own one.
Can I Train My Own German Shepherd To Be A Service Dog
Yes, you can train your German shepherd dog to be a service dog, but it will depend on what kind of service animal you need. A medical support dog requires specific service dog training that generally requires the services of a specialized dog trainer. It’s simpler to make your dog an emotional support animal. You may need to take your pet through obedience training and do owner training yourself.
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What Makes The Mini German Shepherd A Great Support Or Service Animal
Emotional support animals dont need to be specially trained like service animals their primary job is being present to support their owners emotional wellbeing.
While any dog or other animal, for that matter! can make a great emotional support animal , youre probably looking for specific personality traits and a particular size.
A miniature German Shepherd can make a great emotional support animal thanks to its small to medium size which makes it great at adapting to any type of home environment or travel. Mini German Shepherds tend to retain the temperament that makes the German Shepherd a great family dog and work dog as well including loyalty, affection, intelligence, and a high level of energy.
When choosing an emotional support animal that will travel with you or leave the house often, you want to make sure your pup is trained well enough to behave properly around other people and pets. Remember: if a service animal or emotional support animal behaves n a disruptive manner or fails to respond to your commands, you can be legally asked to leave the premises of someone elses property.
Thats where German Shepherd breeds really shine: theyre very bright and easy to train, even with verbal commands.
What Is It Called When You Use A Dog For Therapy
When an animal is used in therapy, it is called animal-assisted therapy. Animal assisted therapy includes a therapy session with animals such as dogs, cats, horses, fishes, etc.
It is very well known that our pets especially dogs help us with a reduction in anxiety and depressed feelings. You come back home from a stressful day at work. You are off and annoyed until you see your fou legged furry champion running towards you wanting to love you and snuggle with you. This becomes the happiest moment of your day. You tend to forget and relieved by the entire days stress.
Now imagine, if a cute little animal which cannot talk can reduce your stress, then what can it do for an entire community dealing with similar issues. We give our dogs less credit than they deserve. They are strong, brave as well as happy and calming creatures.
Therapy dogs can also help with specific activities, such as helping children with autism practice reading aloud or encouraging patients to participate in gentle physical activities. Therapy dogs have been proven to reduce stress, as well as to help people work towards social and communicative goals. Aside from curing loneliness and depression regular visits from a lovable pooch can lower blood pressure, lower heart rates, and ease the effects of Alzheimers among seniors.
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Americans With Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 and has helped people with disabilities obtain more rights, especially when referring to service animals. The act covers what service animals are, how they have to be trained, and more.
While diving into the laws can seem intimidating, knowing a little bit about how each one protects you or a loved one makes the process of registering a service dog easier. Additionally, youll be better equipped to handle situations or questions anyone asks you.
It Is Illegal To Claim A Pet Is A Service Animal
Many states have laws prohibiting this, but it is different in every state. Michigan State Universitys Animal Legal and Historical Center has compiled comprehensive state-by-state information about many different state laws related to service animals, including the fraudulent representation of a service animal.
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How To Get An Emotional Support Dog
People who suffer from a disability in the form of a mental illness have found that the presence of a devoted dog companion can help them navigate through the struggles that arise from the condition.
If you have an emotional disability, you can legally qualify for an ESA, which stands for Emotional Support Animal. You must be certified as emotionally disabled by a psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, or other duly-licensed and certified mental health professional. The certification needs to be a formal and appropriately formatted letter, known as an ESA Letter.
Any other kind of doctor such as a cardiologist, for example does not qualify as a mental health professional because unlike a psychiatrist, other medical doctors are not specialists in mental health. Some property managers and airlines carriers do however accept verification forms filled out by a family physician, if they are treating you for a mental illness. Ensure that you have the correct authority create the letter for you.
To qualify for an Emotional Support Animal, the ESA letter must be written on the mental health professionals letterhead, and it must include his or her license type, date of license, license number, and the state which issued the license. Plus, it should have the date when it was written.
Whats The Difference Between Service Dogs And Therapy Dogs
There is a significant difference between therapy dogs and service dogs.
Service dogs are trained to perform a particular task for a particular person. They are required for their owners wellbeing. They have access to public places, as their owners require them.
However, therapy dogs are very different. They are not designed to perform a particular task for a particular person. Instead, they provide affection for people in hospitals, retirement homes, schools, and similar areas. Theyre stress-relief pure and simple.
Some therapy dogs are utilized by libraries for reading, for instance.
They dont have access to public spaces, though. Therapy dogs need permission before they are allowed into any public space, whereas service dogs do not. Typically, therapy dogs have to be working in order to be let in places where animals are otherwise not allowed. They cant just go into a school because they want to, for example.
Therapy dogs are not required to access any public space. They arent allowed in places where other dogs arent allowed. They dont have any special privileges, whereas service dogs do.
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