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 into a real diabetic-alert dog.
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.