Service Dog Information
Working dogs or service dogs not affiliated with the organization take priority. Please try to make sure our dogs do not interfere with other service dogs and do not lunge/jump at these dogs. Our dogs are still service dogs in training so it’s important to respect the teams that are currently working.
Our service dogs in training may not socialize with non-4 Paws dogs, unless they’ve been temperament tested by 4 Paws for Ability. However, they can socialize with other animals like cats or hamsters!
There are differences between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals.
Therapy dogs provide emotional support for groups of people in public spaces (i.e. hospitals, schools.)
Emotional support animals can be any type of animal and provide emotional support for one person; emotional support animals have no public access rights beyond normal pet-friendly places (meaning they cannot go in campus buildings). Emotional support animals are allowed in living spaces that normally don’t allow pets and there are some that live in dorm rooms.
Service dogs provide services for one person and are highly trained and socialized dogs. Our service dogs in training on campus are in their socialization phase of training (meaning they are working to be desensitized to new and strange experiences). Service dogs are protected by the ADA.
Service dogs and service dogs in training are permitted in public areas and buildings per Ohio Law. By going to Orientation and working on monthly obedience classes, you are a volunteer trainer through 4 Paws for Ability. If you are asked any questions on this, there is a letter from 4 Paws in the Drive that explains this more thoroughly.
When in classes, dogs should not be distractions (i.e. whining, barking). If they continue to disrupt after corrections, remove them from the environment and if necessary, ask for help in the Group Me! Dogs should be in an ‘under’ if there are tables available or in a ‘down’ at your feet. Please make sure they are as out of the way as possible.
All the dogs have different personalities, different tendencies, and progress through training differently! Some dogs are more food motivated than others. Some dogs handle distractions better than others. It’s important to always work with the dog on bettering their abilities and not expect them to be perfect or just like another dog.