Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as:

A dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

The disability may be physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities.

Examples of tasks are:

• Medical alert

• Mobility Support

• Psychiatric Tasks 

• Hearing Assistance

More tasks can be found on our law page: linked here

Dogs must be carefully selected, not every dog will make it. Even with a high level of training many dogs may lack some key needs for public access.

Success depends on the handlers readiness and ability to work as a team with the dog.

A service dog can be life changing, with support and safety in mind, service dogs can help those living with a disability find their independence. But this is not just simply a pet. A service dog is a huge commitment that comes with legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities.

It is both the readiness of dog and handler to take on these challenges together.  

Financial:

Estimated yearly costs can be around $2,000 (USD) - $6,000 (USD)

See a more detailed breakdown here: Financial Commitment Page

Lifestyle

Your life with a service will cause you to adjust your routine. As they are not robots dogs need care and fulfillment to do their best in everyday life.

Lifestyle expectations

• 1+ hour daily exercising your dog -This can be a walk, playing with them, menal enrichment

• Keeping up with training routines - you will need to continue training till the day your dog retires to ensure that they are reliable when you need them most

• Planning your schedule around your dogs needs - potty breaks (before, after and during events), feeding, rest

• Public privacy - having a dog in a public outing can draw a lot of attention both good and bad you must be willing to advocate for yourself and your dog (more in the next section)

One of the most underestimated parts of owning a service dog is becoming morevisible in public. Even if your disability is “invisible,” the presence of a service dog often invites curiosity, questions, or even unwelcome attention. You’ll need to be comfortable:

• Explaining to strangers (politely) that your dog is working

• Advocating for your legal rights in public spaces

• Setting boundaries with people who want to pet or interact with your dog

This can be emotionally taxing for some, especially if your condition already makes social interaction difficult. It’s important to consider how this addedvisibility might impact your mental health and comfort.

Your service dog will be your teammate, not your employee. The bond you develop with your dog—built on trust, communication, and mutual respect—is essential for success. The first few months to a year post-placement are considered a critical adjustment period. 

During this time, you'll need to:

Learn how to handle and communicate with your dog

Build a routine that meets both your needs and the dog’s

Be patient as the dog adapts to your lifestyle

If you’re not ready or able to invest time in relationship-building, this partnership may not work out as expected.

While you are the primary handler, having a support network can make all the difference. Family, friends, or caregivers can help:

• Provide backup care during illness or emergencies

• Assist in transportation to vet appointments

• Reinforce training and rules at home

• Watch your service dog when you are not able to take them

Especially in the early stages, when adjusting to life with a service dog can be overwhelming, having others involved can ease the transition.

A fully trained service dog isn’t the only path. If cost or wait time is a barrier,

Consider: 

Owner training programs: Fide Canem offers coaching and online classes to help you train your own dog, *provided your dog meets specific temperament and health criteria.

Partial training support: Some clients prefer to start the training process and receive professional guidance along the way. Fide Canem can help you find the right trainer in your area to help support your continued training.

Other assistive tools: Depending on your condition, technology or support animals (not service animals) might offer sufficient help.

These options are more affordable and flexible but require more hands-on work and time commitment from the owner.

*Owner training a service dog is significantly more difficult and risky. The pool of eligibility is very small when the dog is already owned. Factors like age, temperament, health, and willingness to work will effect success. You must be willing to accept that the dog you (the owner) picked out may not work out even after time and effort have been put into it. For assessing dogs for service work follow our guide: Assessing Working Dogs