10 Ways to Spot a Fake Service Dog

PDF download Download Article
A comprehensive list of signs someone is lying about their service canine's credentials
PDF download Download Article

Curious if that little barking chihuahua in the airport is actually a service dog? Service dogs perform a variety of important tasks for people with physical, emotional, or mental disabilities, but some folks out there abuse the system by lying about the dog’s training. So how can you tell the real from the fake? We’ll show you! Read on to learn how to spot a fraudulent service pup.

Things You Should Know

  • Service dogs are well-behaved, focused, and quiet. Fake service dogs may be reactive, loud, or playful.
  • Fake service dogs will be more likely to sniff around, require redirection, or be interested in strangers and other stimuli.
  • Don’t pay too much attention to vests or signs; service dogs aren’t actually required to wear special gear and there are no “certificates” for real service dogs.
1

They’re reactive.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Reactive dogs over-respond to stimuli. This causes them to act out around other dogs, strangers, or loud noises. A trained service dog will be incredibly well-behaved regardless of what’s going on around them. Fake service dogs won’t be nearly as disciplined. [1]
    • Service dogs may straight up ignore other dogs or loud noises. They have a job to do, and they tend to lock in pretty hard on that task.
    2. Advertisement
2

They are being carried.

PDF download Download Article
  1. If a service dog isn’t freely walking alongside their owner, they won’t be able to jump up on their owner to warn them, or bark, or yell for help. If someone is pushing their dog along in a stroller or carrying them in their purse, it’s extremely unlikely they’re trained to be a service dog. [2]
    • A real service dog would probably be very resistant if someone tried to put them in a purse or stroller, since that restricts their ability to do their job.
3

They’re not heeling on leash.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Heeling is when a dog walks alongside their owner and moves when they move, and sits down whenever their owner stops moving. You’ll never see a legit service dog tugging on the leash, biting it, or refusing to move whenever the owner tugs on it. [3]
    • You won’t see real service dogs off leash. Most service dogs are trained to be “on the clock” when they’re leashed.
    2. Advertisement
4

They’re barking or whining.

PDF download Download Article
  1. A service dog is intended to be with their owner through the most unsettling and chaotic situations out there. Crowded grocery stores, concerts, ball games, wherever—a service dog can keep their cool. If you see a service dog losing their composure and barking, whining, sniveling, or groveling, they aren’t actually a service dog. [4]
5

They’re sniffing everything they encounter.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Dogs follow their noses, and a strong scent can radically drive a dog to investigate it. For normal pups, this is no big deal! For a real service dog though, it’s a sign they aren’t paying attention to the task at hand. Service dogs should monitor their owner and keep their wits about them. [5]
    • The occasional sniff every here and there is no big deal at all, but if the dog is persistently distracted and interested elsewhere, it’s not a good sign.
    2. Advertisement
6

They’re interested in strangers.

PDF download Download Article
  1. There’s a reason people often tell strangers not to pet their service dog. They aren’t supposed to focus on anybody other than their owner. As such, a legitimate service dog won’t even make eye contact with other folks. If you see the pup looking around at people and getting excited by the prospect of a new friend, they probably aren’t legit. [6]
    • It’s actually illegal in some states to pet a service dog because it might distract them from the task at hand. It’s even a felony in Arizona!
7

They’re active and playful.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Service dogs aren’t really fun . They don’t really frolic, play, or goof off like a normal dog (at least not in public). If the service dog you suspect of being a fraud isn’t a total bore to be around, you might be on to something. [7]
    • Service dogs are trained to be “on” when they’re out and about. They’re normal, playful pups at home, but on a leash in public they should be zoned in on the task at hand.
    2. Advertisement
8

They don’t respond to redirection.

PDF download Download Article
  1. You won’t see a genuine service dog and their owner going back and forth trying to reach an understanding. When the owner tells their pup to stop doing something, sit, or lie down, the dog should respectfully listen. If you see a lot of bickering going on whenever the owner issues a command, it’s probably not a service dog. [8]
    • Real service dogs are basically as well-trained as a dog can be. If you’re impressed by the dog’s diligence and responsiveness, they’re probably legit.
9

They’re an uncommon service dog breed.

PDF download Download Article
  1. Any breed of dog can be trained to be a service dog, so this isn’t a 100% accurate test. However, it can help add a data point in your determination! [9] The most common service dog breeds are Labradors, retrievers, German shepherds, poodles, and Bernese mountain dogs because they’re intelligent, calm, and easy to train. [10] You will rarely see:
    • Dogs lower on the intelligence scale, such as bulldogs, chow chows, borzois, and Pekinese.
    • Dogs that are independent and prone to do their own thing, like huskies, Airedale terriers, and akitas.
    • Dogs that insurance companies rarely cover, such as pitbulls, mastiffs, or rottweilers.
    2. Advertisement
10

They may not have a vest and label.

PDF download Download Article
  1. People tend to put a lot of emphasis on vests, signs, and certificates, but a service dog isn’t actually required to wear any kind of vest or have a sign. With that said, many owners will put a sign like, “Service dog, do not disturb” or “Seizure service dog. Call 911 if barking,” just so people know what to do when they encounter the dog. [11]
    • You should probably put the least amount of emphasis on this component when trying to spot a fake service dog. Some owners don’t put signs or vests on service dogs because they don’t want to broadcast their disability to the world.
    • Somewhere along the line, the general public got it in their head that service animals have to have special certification or some specific kind of vest. None of that is true. [12]

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    As a business person, how do I make sure people are not abusing the law and bringing their pets in my store?
    Rosè Hansley
    Community Answer
    According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, you may ask only two questions: “Is the dog a service dog?” and "Is the dog trained to perform tasks for the owner's disability?" (A service dog is one that performs tasks for people with disabilities.)
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 25 Helpful 36
  • Question
    What places do not allow service dogs?
    Rosè Hansley
    Community Answer
    Pretty much all places allow service dogs. If your access is denied, talk to them about it or call the police.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 23 Helpful 21
  • Question
    How do you train your dog to be a service dog?
    Community Answer
    Start with basic obedience. Move to manners in public access. Then start task training. There are lots of YouTube videos and other how-to's online for each step.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 18
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Service dogs can be trained to perform a variety of different tasks. They may provide stability or help fetch items for people with motor issues, or keep people with autism or mental illness from wandering off. Seeing-eye dogs help blind people navigate obstacles, and seizure-tracking dogs can warn epileptic patients they’re about to have an attack. [13]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Some service dogs help people with emotional or mental health. A service dog might remind someone with chronic depression to take their medication, for example. The difference between an emotional support dog and a service animal is that service animals are trained to perform specific duties. Emotional support animals just make their owner feel better. These aren’t service dogs. [14]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • There are no organizations that oversee service dogs or license them. A dog qualifies as a service dog so long as they’ve been trained to perform a task. However, anybody can train service dogs. [15]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • You’re allowed to ask if an animal is a service dog and inquire about what they’re trained to do, but so long as the owner says they’re a service dog and they have an explanation, you can’t keep a service dog from entering an establishment. [17]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • You aren’t legally allowed to ask someone to prove their service dog is real, and there isn’t any kind of official certification or registration for service dogs anyway, so don’t try calling someone out for a fake service dog. [18]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0


      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Train a PTSD Service Dog
      How to
      Train Your Service Dog Without a Professional Trainer
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about caring for dogs, check out our in-depth interview with Rendy Schuchat .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/health-info/managing-reactive-behavior
      2. ↑ https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2017/10/16/tightening-the-leash-on-fake-service-dogs
      3. ↑ https://canine.org/service-dog-fraud-guidelines/
      4. ↑ https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2017/10/16/tightening-the-leash-on-fake-service-dogs
      5. ↑ https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/how-to-spot-a-fake-service-dog/
      6. ↑ https://ada.ufl.edu/service-animals/dos-donts/
      7. ↑ https://www.ada.gov/topics/service-animals/
      8. ↑ https://www.in.gov/localhealth/harrisoncounty/food-protection/files/Brochure_Service_Animals.pdf
      9. ↑ https://english.umd.edu/research-innovation/journals/interpolations/fall-2021/when-you-give-dog-license-how-we-can-stop
      1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/most-popular-service-dog-breeds/
      2. ↑ https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/
      3. ↑ https://www.michigan.gov/mdcr/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcr/service-animals/documents/faq.pdf?rev=043fb9a83d06487caf659d76f13bf9b3
      4. ↑ https://aec.uoregon.edu/service-animals
      5. ↑ https://studentsuccess.uky.edu/disability-resource-center/service-and-support-animals
      6. ↑ https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/ADAcoordinator/service-animals.html
      7. ↑ https://catalog.uaa.alaska.edu/handbook/student-freedoms-rights-and-responsibilities/service-animals-assistance-animals-and-pets/identifying-service-animals/
      8. ↑ https://adata.org/faq/how-can-i-tell-if-animal-really-service-animal-and-not-just-pet
      9. ↑ https://uca.edu/oars/faculty-resources/service-animals/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 63,268 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        Jun 20, 2023

        "I like that it covered certain things about service animals that are often missunderstood between the emotional ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement