Important Guidelines
Safety Tips
How to interact respectfully with service dog teams and ensure everyone's safety.
Don't Pet or Touch
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Respect Their Focus
Service dogs are working. Petting, talking to, or making eye contact with them can distract them from their job and put their handler at risk.
Always ask the handler first, and respect their answer if they say no.
Don't Make Noises
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Avoid Distractions
Whistling, barking, or making other noises to get a service dog's attention is dangerous and disrespectful.
These sounds can break the dog's concentration during critical moments when they need to alert to their handler's condition.
Never Feed
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Food Safety
Never offer food to a service dog. Many have dietary restrictions, and unexpected treats can make them sick or interfere with their training.
Food can also distract them from detecting important medical alerts.
Ask Before Photos
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Privacy Respect
Taking photos or videos of service dog teams without permission invades their privacy. Many handlers prefer not to be photographed.
Always ask first, and accept "no" gracefully.
Control Your Pets
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Keep Distance
Keep your pets away from service dogs. Even friendly dogs can distract or frighten a working dog, and aggressive encounters can traumatize them.
A service dog that becomes fearful may not be able to continue working.
Don't Question
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Respect Privacy
Don't interrogate handlers about their disability or challenge their need for a service dog. Many disabilities are invisible.
Businesses may only ask: "Is this a service dog?" and "What tasks is it trained to perform?"
Audio Safety Tips
Listen to these helpful audio guides about service dog etiquette.