I have experienced many IEP's, Board Meetings with School Principals, Superintendents, Attorneys, School Psychologists, and other personnel. During these meetings I was there at the request of my client, to answer questions concerning the dog I had placed with them. The follow are the primary questions most schools will be concerned about, and answers that will clarify them:
1. CAN YOUR STUDENT HANDLE THE DOG AT SCHOOL WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP?
This is an important question because legally the dog owner is completely responsible for the dogs’ actions and behavior, and if they can’t be a responsible handler, they shouldn’t have the dog.
We have dogs with children from 7 to 16 in school presently. Our 7 year old handler handles a 110 pound mastiff, takes her on the bus, to all activities, and needs no help in controlling and commanding the dog.
2. WHAT 3 NECESSARY FUNCTIONS DOES YOUR DOG PERFORM THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE WELBEING AND PERFORMANCE OF ITS’ HANDLER ?
If your dog does not, or cannot, perform at least 3 necessary (not important, but necessary) functions your dog performs for the handler, it is not a service dog.
The dog with the 7 year old is trained to alert for seizures and “melt downs”.The handler is tethered to the dog who keeps her from bolting and running. The dog keeps her from disrupting the class, from strong vocal outbursts, helps her to focus, and calms her mood swings. The dogs’ presence helps her to overcome fears, be more calm, respond better socially, interact better with the teacher, School staff, and other children. The dog helps her to accept changes, mistakes, and problems that occur. Without the dog she’s a handful. With the dog she is a happy, responsive, good student.
3. CAN THE DOG BE IN THE SCHOOL CLASSROOM WITHOUT VOIDING OR MESSING?
Your dog needs to be trained to void on command, and as requested, in a specific space, only.
With our school dogs we teach them to only void in a specific area designated for them. They are taken there at lunch time, and allowed a few minutes to relieve themselves. So far we haven’t had a single problem in a classroom.
4. CAN THE DOG BE IN SCHOOL WITHOUT CAUSING TRAUMA FOR ANYONE IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH?
I realize that the ADA takes the needs of the disabled over those of others. However, if your dogs’ behavior is so excitable, so timid, or otherwise so as to cause emotional problems in others, it needs to do other work.
A service dog needs to be controlled, focused, and attentive to its’ job, and not distracted by anything else. Easy to say, our 110 pound mastiff could be very scary, but she isn’t because all she cares about is her handler! She is very controlled, trained, focused, and alert, to her handler. She really doesn’t care about anything else.
DOGWISH has been in the forefront of this concern for many families over the past ten years. It is our goal to integrate service dogs into school wherever it is possible and correct to do so. If we can help you, call us.
