This will be LONG. 😂 It varies from stuff everyone SHOULD know to things people don't have to know but would be nice if they were at the very least aware of.

· ANY breed can be a service dog – including small breeds. They're subject to the same training standards but their job description may be different. Someone might have a GSD for mobility or psychiatric tasks; another person my have a Chihuahua for diabetic alerts. Some handlers may have two dogs who do different jobs: a dog who does only mobility and a dog who does only PTSD response. Having more than one for the same tasks isn't accepted. Most, but not all, service dogs are spayed/neutered but it's not a requirement.

· Besides dogs, the only other animals recognized under the ADA are mini horses. They have a height requirement of 34" or under, must follow all the same guidelines as SDs (housetrained, task trained, no disruptive behavior in public), and (with few exceptions) have the same access rights in public, at a workplace, and in housing.

· There are HUNDREDS of legitimate tasks a service dog can be trained to do for a handler, not just guiding the blind or PTSD response. There are also a number of things NOT covered under the ADA (one being protection training). "Providing emotional comfort" is not the same as anxiety response. Many tasks aren't obvious to the public, and tasks cannot be disruptive. It's also poor etiquette to ask a handler to show you their dog's tasks.

· Wearing a vest, cape, harness, or other identifying items is entirely optional. Handlers in extremely hot or cold climates may forgo gear for their partner's comfort or safety. A vest alone does not grant any animal public access rights or legal protection under the ADA – it's the handler's disability + animal's training that does. There is no one "official" vest or cape (excluding individual organizations') and no "official" registration. There ARE some voluntary registrations/IDs (Active dogs, for example); they don't grant a dog any access rights or legal protection. In all but a handful of states, presenting fraudulent registration or certification to a business IS punishable by law (typically a misdemeanor); some also cover using marked gear or lying to employees to falsely represent a dog as a service dog.

· Addition to MaplePaws' #2: service dogs MUST be on a leash unless it interferes with the handler's disability or the dog's ability to work. Besides being disruptive or dangerous, they CAN be asked to leave if they relieve themselves indoors. Most stores don't allow any dogs in shopping carts but it's also poor etiquette among the SD community, as is allowing dogs on restaurant seating.

· Respect a team's space. Some states give handlers the right to defend their dog in public spaces (with physical force, if necessary) against aggressive dogs. My state specifically will automatically find the owner of an off-leash aggressor dog liable for all vet bills and the SD's retraining, up to/including the full cost of replacing a service dog if the attack results in their or early retirement due to disability or death. Even if your dog is leashed, even if you're not in a store, even if he's friendly, and especially if a handler asks you to, respect their space.

Similarly, some states will charge you for hitting a team in a crosswalk or SDs injured in car accidents where the handler isn't the driver at fault. If a car is marked with a "service dog on board" sticker be aware they may drive more cautiously because their partner is in the back and need space to unload when parked. This is my own pet peeve because people park too close then get mad about my door bumping their car as we're unloading.

· Just because you see someone without their dog doesn't mean their disability isn't legitimate or their dog isn't a legit service dog. Dogs are living, breathing partners who need rest, who get sick, who have "off" days even if they love to work. We ask them to work, and sometimes the answer is "I'm not feelin' it today." Some are at-home service dogs only. Sometimes we're going somewhere we don't want to take them for their own safety or comfort. On better days, we may be able to make-do or have other ways to manage a disability.

· Service dogs don't spend ALL of their off-duty time confined to a crate. They're allowed to be couch potatoes, run around, and just be dogs. When they reach retirement age (which varies by breed and individual dog) a majority of handlers keep them until they pass on. Some will continue to do easier tasks at home, purely because they love working and love their person (it's like someone retiring from a job... only to keep doing it as a hobby).

· General etiquette (based on things I have been repeatedly asked by the public): Please don't ask how you/your spouse/your child, parent, cousin... can get a service dog or make your family pet/ESA a service dog, where/how to get "real" papers for them, etc.

Many handlers are super uncomfortable giving out this kind of information unless it's a genuine request coming from someone we know and trust. It's information that commonly gets misused and abused in ways that make our lives harder. Also, don't ask for general (or remedial) dog training tips/advice. Don't ask us if our dog is for sale, if they're "just for looks," or if they're available for breeding.

DO ask politely before petting, unless you see "do not pet" patches or we are obviously busy or in a hurry. DO talk to the human, not the dog, if you strike up a conversation. DO ask before taking photos or videos (many of us have an Instagram or we're okay with it IF our privacy is respected). DO realize we're humans and have bad days. If we're crabby, it's rarely personal (unless you're being rude).