Free self-assessment
Could your dog become a service dog?
Six honest questions. A service dog means two things: a person with a disability, and a dog individually trained to do a specific task that helps. This tells you where you really stand, including when the answer is “probably not.” Built by Danny, who owner-trained his rescue Copper.
Question 1 of 6
Do you have a health condition that a trained dog could actively help with?
Physical or mental. For example: a dog that alerts to a blood-sugar drop or an oncoming seizure, interrupts a panic attack or flashback, retrieves medication, braces for balance, or guides.
A service dog is for a person with a disability, doing a specific trained task. Both have to be true. That's the law, and it's what keeps the door open for everyone who genuinely needs one.
Common questions
Does my dog need to be certified or registered?
No, and there's nothing to register with. There is no U.S. government certification or registry for service dogs, and none is required by law. What matters is that you have a disability and your dog is individually trained to do a specific task that helps with it. Owner-training is fully legal.
Can any dog become a service dog?
No. A service dog is for a person with a disability, and the dog has to be able to stay calm and safe in public and learn a real task. Plenty of wonderful dogs aren't suited to it, and that's okay. This quiz gives you an honest read either way.
What's the difference between a service dog and an emotional support animal?
A service dog is individually trained to perform a specific task for a person with a disability, and has public-access rights. An emotional support animal provides comfort by its presence but isn't task-trained, and since a 2021 DOT rule change, airlines no longer have to accommodate ESAs.