Service Dog Stuff

Service Dog Stuff (Read 6270 times)

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New28

September 14, 2009, 12:00:16 PM

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When all else fails, play dead!

I don't know if it's still right, but there is/was a point saying nobody is allowed to ask what your specific disability is and what the dogs tasks are, and if you're asked you're legally allowed to refuse to answer.
All this and legal amendments and stuff meant that as long as the dog was clean and doesn't poo or piddle everywhere, nobody can say anything.

My GP knows me and after I demonstrate what Horse does for me, I think she won't have a problem with it.
I've emailed Che at AWARE to let him know what the OT said, and written her name and number on the forms...

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Bella

September 14, 2009, 12:22:42 PM

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Do you actually use Horse for mobility? I thought he was still a puppy that you're training.

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New28

September 14, 2009, 12:35:18 PM

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When all else fails, play dead!

After checking the disability discrimination act, he IS a service dog. Look at 2c...he is trained, just he hasn't been accredited yet.

Horse is a puppy - large dogs don't mature until they're 2 1/2.
His bones aren't mature yet either, but as he has been trained to counter balance, and his backpack isn't even 1/50th of his body weight a puppy is suitable. For weight bearing work, I have to wait until he's 3.

The vet told me he's very mature for his age. He will always be in training, so he doesn't forget what he already knows, and I'll teach him new things so he doesn't get bored.

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Bella

September 14, 2009, 01:14:41 PM

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So are you saying your puppy is trained to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place, as well as trained to alleviate the effects of your disability? If so, then great. You do realise you'll have to prove it if you ever went to court though, and without any evidence in the form of testing or professional training you'd find that very hard to do. It confuses me that you claimed to have a fully trained service dog but didn't even know what the PAT is.

It sounds like under the proposed new laws you wouldn't be covered at all unless you have him tested through an approved trainer. They aren't going to just let people take their pets around as service dogs and it's going to be very hard for owner trainers to prove that their dogs are trained to the same standards as service dogs from a professional training organisation.

If you're using him for counter balance work, I hope he's at least 2 years old and the vet has given you the ok regarding his joints. He shouldn't be carrying any weight or doing any balance work until then.

This is the reason I recommend people go to professional service dog organisations - they know all of these things already and can make sure the dog is trained to an appropriate level and that as a team you meet the requirements to be covered under the law.

I hope that you're able to join a professional organisation and they can explain all of this to you.

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Bella

September 14, 2009, 01:20:16 PM

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Posts: 16

Assistance animals
   (1) This section applies in relation to a person with a disability who has an assistance animal.

Note: For when a person with a disability has an assistance animal , see subsections 9(2) and (4).

   (2) This Part does not render it unlawful for a person to request or to require that the assistance animal remain under the control of:

   (a) the person with the disability; or

   (b) another person on behalf of the person with the disability.

   (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), an assistance animal may be under the control of a person even if it is not under the person's direct physical control.

   (4) This Part does not render it unlawful for a person (the discriminator ) to discriminate against the person with the disability on the ground of the disability, if:

   (a) the discriminator reasonably suspects that the assistance animal has an infectious disease; and

   (b) the discrimination is reasonably necessary to protect public health or the health of other animals.

   (5) This Part does not render it unlawful for a person to request the person with the disability to produce evidence that:

   (a) the animal is an assistance animal; or

   (b) the animal is trained to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place.

   (6) This Part does not render it unlawful for a person (the discriminator ) to discriminate against the person with the disability on the ground that the person with the disability has the assistance animal, if:

   (a) the discriminator requests or requires the person with the disability to produce evidence referred to in subsection (5); and

   (b) the person with the disability neither:

   (i) produces evidence that the animal is an assistance animal; nor

   (ii) produces evidence that the animal is trained to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place.

   (7) This Part does not affect the liability of a person for damage to property caused by an assistance animal.

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New28

September 14, 2009, 01:43:24 PM

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When all else fails, play dead!

So, where does it say you must have the assistance dog accredited?

The only balance work he does is counter balancing, no weight put on him, he uses his body weight to make sure I don't fall, and he's been trained to get into position to use his weight most effectively.

I have been told to keep his backpack as lightweight as possible(which is also a good reason to keep all my money on ATM card) and the vet has said it's a good idea to use the backpack to accustom him to wearing one.
The vet checked his joints, he remarked that Horse relaxed very well and had very good extension in his back legs.

I do know what the Public Access Test is, I just didn't associate the acronym to being used on this forum.
Kaos only missed the pass by 1 yes when I tested him before he went to his new home.

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Bella

September 15, 2009, 02:03:18 AM

Jr. Member

Posts: 16

Nobody said it has to be "accredited" right now (though the new laws appear to be moving in that direction, so it would be smart to be prepared for that), however if you read the current laws you will find that you need to prove certain things such as standards of training and hygiene when asked. Good luck at trying to prove those things if you don't have your dog do any kind of test. The easiest way to meet those requirements is to have your dog pass the PAT, that's why service dog users do it. Dogs that aren't able to pass the PAT haven't met those standards.

Quote

Kaos only missed the pass by 1 yes when I tested him before he went to his new home.

So he shouldn't have been "working" as a service dog at all. Perhaps he was a service dog in training, but if he couldn't pass the PAT (which is really quite a very basic test) then he wasn't trained to a high enough standard to be considered a service dog under the law.

You can't test your own dog. The PAT is a test done on the team - the dog and the person.
The person marking the PAT should have credible qualifications in dog training or behaviour, normally it's done by a service dog trainer from an organisation.

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New28

September 15, 2009, 08:12:41 AM

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When all else fails, play dead!

...Which is why I have the form printed and I'm getting it filled in.
Horse'd pass the PAT no problem.

The only problem Kaos had was the down stay while food was dropped at his feet. When I got him, he jumped up at the slightest smell of food, but he was learning.
The PAT is used by me, to see what we can improve on. We can't do the loading/unloading in and out of a car, so we practice on trains and buses. We continually test ourselves so that Horse remembers that he has to ignore food when it's dropped at his feet.
I go WAY overboard with the praise at times, but I don't think Horse minds!

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New28

September 19, 2009, 08:01:48 AM

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When all else fails, play dead!

Horse passed the PAT. Deb, a trainer with the Dobermann and Dog Training Club (her dog Zoot is out of action due to cancer) tested us, and he did admirably when we came across a black lab in training as a guide dog. He sniffed the air, looked at the other dog and just kept on walking with me.
It's not everyday you'll come across another team, I must say though, we didn't work on that at all, I've been too busy working on his recalls (and we don't stop at 6ft either!)
I am so lucky to have him!

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Samantha

September 22, 2009, 06:47:30 PM

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I Will Be Diagnosed !

Congrats to Horse Dance

you must be very proud New Big Grin

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New28

September 23, 2009, 06:38:41 AM

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Posts: 339

When all else fails, play dead!

He's such a good boy! He's good with Miranda, so I knew he'd be good with the child patting his nose while holding a sit. Tomorrow'll seriously wear him out though, he'll have heaps of down time, and lots of water always available.

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Bella

November 13, 2009, 01:31:21 PM

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Posts: 16

Well done :) I hope you can find an organisation to join soon!

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Bella

November 17, 2009, 11:16:25 PM

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Posts: 16

Any updates?

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New28

November 20, 2009, 06:23:13 AM

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When all else fails, play dead!

Asknig questions...

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