Dog Fails Service Test: Your Next Steps

When it comes to service dogs, almost everyone knows that these dogs are highly trained and go through many steps before they can become officially service dogs helping those with disabilities. However, not all dogs are suited to becoming service dogs, and if you are trying to train your dog to become a service dog, you might be confused when they fail basic service dog tests or training. Our article tells you what to know and about your next steps when a dog fails a service test.

What Service Tests Exist For Dogs?

While there are no general or federal requirements for service dogs, in order for a dog to qualify as a service dog, they must be able to behave in public and complete disability-related tasks for their owners. This is a vital part of being a service dog, in addition to having a good temperament that is suitable for working daily and existing alongside their owner in public spaces.

In general, every service dog organization will have specific tests and training routines for their service dogs, and these may vary depending on the types of tasks that a service dog is being trained to complete. Service dogs are most likely going to be tested with the Public Access Test and the Canine Good Citizen Test to ensure that they are suited to working with their owners in a variety of challenging situations and that they can maintain their focus in different service dog settings.

Does My Service Dog Need to Pass All Tests?

If you want your dog to be a good service dog, they should pass the Public Access Test at a minimum to ensure they are able to work with you in public. Failing the Public Access Test may indicate that your service dog needs more training, or that they don’t have the temperament to work with you in public.

That being said, there is no law requiring that your service dog passes any test or specific training program before they are allowed to accompany you in public. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does state, however, that service dogs that are out of control, aggressive, or destructive may be legally asked to leave a certain location or public space. This means that if you want to easily access your public access rights without any stress, your dog should be well-trained and pass the minimum tests for good service dog behavior.

Qualities of a Good Service Dog

Before taking your dog for a service dog test or starting service dog training with them, it’s important to note the qualities of a good service dog. The items below can help make it easier for your dog to pass basic service dog tests and learn the skills necessary to provide assistance on a daily basis.

• Mild temperament – service dogs aren’t aggressive, nor are they overly fearful, excitable, or destructive, and they should be social, but not overly so
• Intelligent – service dogs need to be intelligent to learn basic skills and more complex tasks, and they should be alert and focused while training
• Adequate size – depending on your specific service dog needs, you may need to ensure your dog is of adequate size and strength to provide assistance
• Eager to please – dogs that are eager to please typically learn new tasks more easily, and they tend to remain more focused on their owner while working alongside them

Of course, these aren’t the only qualities that make a good service dog. You can evaluate your dog for service dog qualities before training them to determine if they are a good fit for learning assistance tasks.

Can I Adopt a Dog That Failed Service Dog School?

Sometimes, dogs that are being trained by organizations dedicated to service dog training have dogs that are either too friendly or too eager, or those that simply don’t have the temperament and skills necessary to learn service dog tasks. These dogs are often adopted out to individuals looking for a specific type of dog, though you will need to inquire directly with your chosen local or national organization to determine whether or not you can adopt a dog that failed service dog school.

Just keep in mind that some of these dogs do retain knowledge of some of the tasks they learned while training to be a service dog, and they may use this knowledge to cause a mild amount of chaos around your home.

Keeping a Well-Trained Pup at Your Side

Service dogs are important to many individuals, and these pups are generally very well-trained. However, some dogs are not meant to be service dogs and do fail service dog tests. You may be able to adopt these dogs, or you may be able to further train a dog that failed service dog tests initially at home. Either way, once your dog has undergone service dog training, they can be taken into public to provide you with assistance as you go about your day.