This month, September, is the National Service Dog month. It’s the time of the year to remind one another how to act when it comes to dealing with someone else’s service dog. Here are some tips to guide you:

1. When you’re walking your dog and are about to approach a service dog, don’t assume that a meet and greet is okay. Steer your dog away. This is to prevent the service dog from getting distracted.

2. Ask the handler first before you approach him and the dog. While there are handlers that allow strangers to pet their service dogs, it’s always a right practice to ask permission.

3. Don’t babytalk the service dog. While canines usually prefer humans talking to them like babies, when it comes to service dogs, you should converse with the dog’s handler only.

4. Ask permission from the handler before you pet a service dog. Give them the respect that they deserve.

5. Don’t offer treats to a service dog. Food or treats are another forms of distraction. Offering them to a service dog prevents it from performing its duty properly. Also, service dogs adhere to a specific diet and eat at specific times.

The next time you meet a service dog, remember these do’s and don’ts!

Article source: Parade.com

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the image below.