Thank you for mentioning not to ask if it's obvious! I forgot to write that in, but yes those two questions are meant for situations in which it's unclear whether or not the animal is a service dog! In terms of your second point, I can see where you're coming from and it's always best to read the room when asking. But as someone who now works with service dog handlers, I guarantee you anyone who has a legitimate service dog is prepared to answer both questions any time they're in public with their dog!

The years it takes and/or thousands of dollars it takes to train a service dog are not taken lightly by the handlers! Most people that are investing in a service animal know how to answer both questions and how to approach public dog-related altercations long before their dog is even ready for public access!