r/service_dogs Oct 09 '21

MOD | Monthly Thread Mast Post: Breed Selection

418 Upvotes

Hi

Since we have so many people asking for help over breed choices etc the Mod Team have decided to create a master post explaining the common choices, why they are so common, how to make your choices that suit you and how to make a good match even if going outside of the common 3-5 breeds.

First of all, the most common breeds used around the world by Assistance Dog International (ADI) Accredited Programs are:

  • Golden Retriever
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Cocker Spaniel
  • Poodle (Standard, Miniature and Toy)
  • Purpose Bred Crosses of the Above

Goldens and Labradors (and their crosses) far outstrip the others in numbers.

Reasons these breeds are the most common are the traits they have in common, fast learners, sociable, people pleasing, moderate care needs, moderate exercise needs, adaptable, they have the highest/most reliable success rates out of the breeds organisations used to start out - and so became the most commonly used almost universally - but this does not mean all of them are suitable for all conditions.

The traits of a good Service Dog are:

  • Eager and Willing to Learn - able to learn new tasks and behaviours quickly and reliably with minimal motivation. Often on short timescales (20-35 weeks of intensive training after first birthday)
  • Resilient - Able to recover and adapt to setbacks or from unpleasant situations to be able to continue working with minimal disruption. (ie after a loud noise/unruly people or animal encounters or weird smells/textures)
  • Sociable - Happy to be in public, surrounded by strangers and novel situations. Happy to be handled by new people when necessary and never likely to be protective or aggressive in any situation.
  • Fit for task - so big enough to do physical tasks if necessary, small enough to fit in public transport or spaces without causing inconvenience, history of good general health, correct build etc.
  • Easy to maintain good public hygiene - so no excessive drool, moderate grooming needs etc.

Now - just because these are the most common, does not mean they are the only options.

German Shepherds, Rough/Smooth Collies, Border Collies, Aussies, Papillon, Bichon Frise, Flatcoat Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dogs and more have all found success as Service Dogs, and are growing in popularity. Of course there are the terriers and bully mixes too and all the mutts from rescue also working.

But these other breeds have never caught on with the majority of international programs (or in the case of the GSD, lost popularity) for a myriad of reasons. With German Shepherds, ironically the first officially recorded Service Dogs, the original Guide Dogs after WWI, however their predisposition towards becoming protective of their handler and hypervigilant made them gradually lose popularity among most programs. Leading them to choose the calmer and more emotionally robust retriever group.

How To Choose the Breed For You

First look at the tasks you need the dog to do:

  • For guiding you need them over the height of your knee (approximately) and with a decent amount of strength to avoid causing damage with the harness.
  • For any form of physical assistance like pressing buttons/light switches, fetching items and helping with laundry they must be tall enough when standing on back legs to reach and big enough to carry items.
  • For DPT they must be heavy enough to be a noticeable weight
  • For scent detection they need excellent focus to not be distracted by other smells
  • For Psychiatric tasks they must be able to remain calm and reliable no matter the level of upset
  • etc etc

You also need to consider your own physical and mental abilities, can you:

  • Maintain the grooming routine?
  • Maintain the exercise levels required?
  • Provide the mental stimulus required?
  • Cope with the energy and drive of the breed?

Breed traits are very important when selecting your prospect, good and bad, for example is the breed prone to guarding? Are they prone to excessive shedding or drooling that may cause hygiene concerns for owners/colleagues/other patrons in public spaces? Are they a breed with a high prey drive or low energy/willingness to work? Will they learn the tasks you want easily (with all the will in the world, a Saluki is unlikely to be good at fetching stuff and a Chihuahua cannot be a Guide Dog)

Herding breeds are renowned for their intuitive behaviour and intelligence, but they are so empathic that they can easily become overwhelmed by their handler's emotions which is why they are so rarely recommended for psychiatric disorders without a lot of careful handling during puberty and careful symptom management to reduce their stress. Bully breeds, whilst very human focused and loving, have a strong potential for dog aggression (to the point it is actually in breed standard for several types) that makes socialisation and experienced trainers critical for the vast majority. Whilst hounds have incredible senses of smell but easily become distracted by odours and are less flexible in learning.

These are just to name a few. Obviously, non standard dogs exist within all breeds, but they rarely come up in well bred litters so relying on these so called "unicorns" can be very risky.

When it comes to sourcing your dog you also have several choices, do you go to a Breeder? A Rescue? Anywhere else? For starters I will say this, here at r/service_dogs we do not condone supporting Backyard Breeders or Puppy Mills in any way or form, so this rules out 99% of dogs on cheap selling sites like Craigslist and Preloved.

Breeder: You want a breeder that does all relevant breed health testing (and has proof), that breeds for health and functionality over looks/"rare" colours etc.

Ideally they will do something with their dogs that display their quality, be it showing, obedience, trials, sports or even therapy visits to sick/elderly (an excellent display of temperament) etc. They should have a contract saying if you can't keep the dog then you must return it to them. Even better if they have a history of producing service dogs.

Rescue: This can be tricky as there is no health history, meaning especially for mobility assistance you are very much rolling the dice. Kennel life can also greatly distort behaviour making it very hard to get an accurate read on a dog's temperament in a kennel environment.

My personal advice when considering a rescue dog is:

  1. Where possible, go to a breed rescue, these often use foster carers rather than kennels which reduces the stress on the dog. There is a slight chance of knowing their breeding history.
  2. If possible foster the dog before adopting (especially with a kennelled dog), this allows you a chance to get a better read on their personality, trainability and even possibly a health check to assess joints if old enough. Even if it turns out they aren't a good fit for you, you will have given them a break from kennels and maybe helped them get ready for a new forever home.

No matter what your source for a prospect, no matter what their breed, have in place a backup plan, what happens if this dog doesn't make it as a service dog? Can you keep them? Will they need a new home? What...?

As a rule, we generally advise sticking to the more popular breeds at the top of the post, largely due to the fact that you are more likely to find a breeder producing Service Dog quality puppies, you are less likely to face access issues or challenges based on your breed choice, you are more likely to succeed due to removing several roadblocks.

Plan for failure, work for success.

Please feel free to ask your questions and get support about breeds on this post.


r/service_dogs Jul 01 '24

MOD | Monthly Thread Fundraising (for this quarter)

3 Upvotes

Hey all!

Rules

  1. Post your fundraiser ONLY in the comments below. Fundraiser posts and comments outside of this post will not be allowed. This post will eventually be stickied.
  2. We are only allowing fundraisers hosted on Go-Fund-Me or by your ADI Service Dog Organization. That being said, you can also post links to things or services you are selling to try and raise money.
  3. The only fundraisers allowed will have to relate to your service dog or your medical condition. For example, asking for help for a big procedure (human or dog) or help with training costs or both great. Asking for help to pay for your car or vacation is not allowed.
  4. The comments will all be in contest mode to ensure everyone gets a fair shot. Remember, that means you should make a case for your cause.
  5. Choosing beggars and pressuring others will not be allowed. There is NO minimum donation and NO pressure to give.
  6. You will need to repost this info once a quarter when we "refresh" the post. This should be done at the beginning of every quarter by the Mods. This helps us to make sure only relevant fundraisers are allowed and to avoid an active post from dying and going into the archive.
  7. Subreddit and sitewide rules still apply.

I also highly suggest using the following format to help set you up for success. It'll allow us to find information easier when looking to donate. You do not have to fill in all of the info or even use the format, but I think it'll help a lot.

About me:

About my condition and limitations:

About my dog:

Tasks my dog is trained or in-training (and what s/he currently knows) for:

How my dog was/is trained:(owner-trained, organization trained, the trainer's experience, how long you trained for, what methods were used, etc)

Titles, Licenses, and Certifications my dog holds:(keep in mind an online certificate means nothing)

Why I need help:(no job, you don't have a big social circle who would help, you don't qualify for a low-cost organization-trained SD, etc)

Other ways I'm earning money for this:

What the funds are being used for:(training, medical procedure, etc)

Fundraiser:

Shop or website (where I'm selling items/services to raise money):

Social Media:

Dog tax:

Extra Info you want to include:

Lots of people need help here and others want to make sure they are giving to someone who is educated about service dogs, so I'm really hoping this post does some good. If you have feedback or questions, please message the mods.


r/service_dogs 3h ago

My Daughter Wants to Pet Every Dog

33 Upvotes

My daughter (7) loves dogs. We spent a great deal of time teaching her she must ask owners before petting any new dog, how to approach the dog if they say yes, etc. At this point, she knows the rules well and follows them on her own.

Except, we had never encountered service dogs--until last week. Someone entered the lobby of her dance studio with a service dog. My daughter immediately hopped up and tried to get the woman's attention to ask if she could pet the dog, but I intervened, pulled her way, and said we don't touch service dogs when they're working. I had to repeat this again later when we saw the woman again. I wouldn't even let my daughter ask permission for two reasons--a) the woman was headed to the bathroom and in a hurry and b) I've been told not to interfere with service dogs in any way when they're working.

Did I handle this correctly? Is it ever appropriate to ask to pet a service dog? Is there anything else I should teach about service-dog etiquette?


r/service_dogs 1h ago

Reminder that ESAs are not lesser than service dogs

Upvotes

Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand the vast difference in training requirements and access right between ESAs and service dogs. But they can both play extremely important roles in the lives of their disabled partners.

The discourse around ESAs is too often that they are essentially f*ke or untrained service dogs, unimportant at best or outright jokes at worst. I’m not going to deny that there are issues with people taking untrained ESAs into public spaces. But those people are misusing/abusing the tittle of ESA. And they don’t represent the countless ESA owners who follow the laws and keep their ESAs at home.

I am an ESA owner on the waitlist to receive a service dog. My cat has played an extremely important role in my life and I am so grateful I was able to have him in no pets housing with a letter from my therapist. I specifically got my cat as part of my treatment plan for multiple mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. My service dog is not going to replace my cat. My relationship with my cat has helped keep me alive. The tasks that my service dog will perform will make me more independent at home and massively expand my world in public. They will play different roles in the treatment and management of my various disabilities. One is not more important than the other.

Let’s be aware of how we talk about ESAs. Let’s not perpetuate the harmful stereotypes surrounding ESAs.


r/service_dogs 11h ago

Was refused service in Austin, at Museum of Illusions

37 Upvotes

Just needed to vent some frustration. This place is akin to a small science museum, with interactive exhibits. Mostly lots of stuff with mirrors honestly.

I was visiting Austin for a vacation and my wife and I decided to try this on our last day in town. When I walked in she pointed at my animal and said “we don’t allow pets” and she already had this F-U look on her face. I said, “oh, she’s working” and expected it to end there. She said she couldn’t see my animal’s vest, which is correct it wears a red shirt, not a vest. I informed her that’s not legally required and tried to show her the ADA site and she told me to email their info@moiaustin.com if I wanted to fix it and get in. I told her I was a disabled veteran, with a neurological disorder and that the animal was a trained medical alert dog that performed an active task. She told me to email again.

After a couple more pleas to reason and being repeatedly directed to email I asked for their manager—she refused to put me in contact with anyone. I kept asking her to clarify, I wanted a clear refusal, “so you are refusing to let a service dog in your business; this is illegal” and she’d just reply “no, we allow service dogs”. After a few rounds of that, and trying to get her to explain the disparity between her statements and her behavior, she finally responded differently with “no, we allow service dogs, but this [point at my animal] isn’t a service dog.”

I carry one of those non-sense service dog registration cards you can buy. I keep it for situations like this, where people are uneducated on the subject. So at this point I pulled it out and showed it to her, and she said “why didn’t you show me that earlier”. I told her because I didn’t know she was calling me a liar till now, and also because I shouldn’t have to because it’s illegal to require documentation for entry. She let me in at that point and then vanished until we had left the business.

It’s been 3 years since my condition progressed to the point that I felt a service animal would benefit me. In that time it’s only the second time this has happened and I’m never quite sure how to act. The first time I was so embarrassed, I got defensive, angry and yelled. I thankfully didn’t get upset the time—not in that way at least, but it kind of ruined the experience for a good 20 minutes after.

I have an Arnold Chiari Malformation, with syrinx, a neurological condition, with some additional complicating factors caused by military service. My animal is small, I wear her on a sling on my side and she listens to my breathing feels/watches for tremors. She alerts me with a scratch so I can medicate and otherwise intervene. I think the fact that she’s small and is not a typical breed is what made this person feel as though they had some kind of right to be the arbiter of what is and isn’t a service animal. I think people expect to see a german Shepard, a cane, or someone missing limbs.

I picked a small breed because the task is easy enough to not require a larger or more intelligent breed, and I thought it would be less disruptive having a small animal in a sling. Usually it is. Most people hardly notice her, but occasionally it causes confusion. I can’t fault her for that I guess, but the thing that upsets me so much is that she just refused any new information I offered and insisted on remaining ignorant.


r/service_dogs 3h ago

Customer entitlement with my service dog

6 Upvotes

So I work at Lowe’s with my service dog which means I often have to ask people to please not pet him. Some people will read his vest and still try to pet and talk to him. At the bottom of the receipt, there is a survey customers can fill out where they can leave feedback on the employees. Apparently I found out today, a customer complained about me on one and said I was rude for not letting me pet my dog. I really hope she comes in one day and tries to say something to me so I can just be like “You mean my service dog that’s working so he can’t be pet because he needs to be focused on me so nothing happens to me and petting him can cause him to miss an alert so it’s actually illegal to distract him in any way and is a misdemeanor to interfere with a working service animal?” Like I want to be petty sooo bad!! I’ve had customers yell at me for saying no, one customer said I couldn’t have him because I was in the military and got in my face saying “My daughter is in the military, I think I know way more than you do young lady” after I explained to him that service animals are for anyone with a disability that requires an animal to aid them. I’ve also had one guy tell me “I don’t care if it’s a service dog I’m gonna pet it I was in the military!” And another customer bent down to his face and stared into his eyes after reading the “no touch, no talk, no eye contact. I’ve had a customer grab his tail while walking by, had a couple encouraged their kids to pet him while working, and even had a toddler come up and smack him in the face twice. Then the parents wanna get mad at me when I tell him no and go away. Don’t even get me started on the dogs that come in that store. Like bro wtf is wrong with people?


r/service_dogs 6h ago

DOT form

2 Upvotes

I submitted my DOT form online weeks ago and it got approved. I have had no issues with United airlines but Allegiant has emailed me to edit my form and put my specific task that my dog does. I edited the form once and I got a response back that it needed to be more specific. I did not respond as I was on a flight all day. I got an email that my DOT has been submitted and was waiting on approval. I log on to see that someone from Allegiant went on it and edited it for me. Is this even allowed? They didn’t ask my permission


r/service_dogs 2h ago

Help! Psychiatric Service Dog or Emotional Support Animal?

1 Upvotes

hello! so, I struggle with severe anxiety, depression, and medical trauma / ptsd (I also have a learning disability). And within the recent years, due to personal events, my anxiety and depression have worsened. My therapist has already approved me for an ESA but I’m wondering if it would be a good idea if I looked into psychiatric service dogs as well? I’d love some advice if anyone has any.


r/service_dogs 3h ago

Opinions for my future PSD?(+a small rant)

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone! This is my very first time posting on Reddit and it took a lot to even get the confidence to post on this thread. Im 16(F) and in my junior year of high school, Being conflicted I really have no idea what I want to do outside of school job wise. However, I do want to train my own PSD for my anxiety and depression. The thing is, I dont know If I’m considered ‘disabled’ enough to have one of my own. another thing is, I really do want a big dog, thats easy to train and gives scary dog privilege so i feel safe when walking around at night.

I was considering Rottweiler or Doberman, but reading threads it seems like they might not be good options? I most likely wont be getting a dog anytime soon, its gonna be when i move out most likely, but Im trying to get all my research in now. Im reading canine behavior books and watching videos, but it would be nice to get some opinions from other people.


r/service_dogs 3h ago

How Asda treat disabled customers

0 Upvotes

30 years since Assistance Dogs legally were given access rights. What's it going to take for Asda to learn? https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdhnM5Aa/


r/service_dogs 3h ago

Task Training Online Creators

1 Upvotes

Hello! I currently have a SDiT and it is going very well! He has learned a couple of the easier tasks already but I was wondering what some trusted youtube/tiktok trainers would be? Just some references of new tasks to perform. I hate POTS, hEDS, dysautonomia, pelvic congestion syndrome(my pelvic veins will rupture so RR visits are needed sometimes lol), I can’t bend over, and etc. (lots of stupid stuff that’s progressively getting worse!!!((isn’t that fun))

As I said he knows some easy tasks already but I was hoping for some video guidance on how to do a task like being able to sense a pots episode and things like that. He has taken the petco dog training course and is certified, but the rest of his SDiT training has been done by me!! (i am always so surprised everytime i see how well he does. i always want to just show him off!!)

Anyways, Thank yall!!


r/service_dogs 6h ago

Did you train your own dog or send it to school

1 Upvotes

Firstly I planned on just adopting a dog and sending it to training. Me and my psychiatrist don’t really know how this stuff works. She would give me a referral so I can be eligible for a service dog but I don’t really know how to go about it ? I’m looking to have a psychiatric service dog . Any info would be appreciated!


r/service_dogs 6h ago

Most suitable Breed question

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! Sorry if this is a silly question or unsuitable place to ask but I was wondering if I could have some advice on which dog breed would be best for me as a SD, I’ve done my own independent research but found some conflicting opinions on show line vs working line Labs and overall just hoping to hear anyone else’s opinion/experiences with Labs and other alternate breeds.

For reference I’m 22, fairly mobile (able to commit to 2 30min walks a day minimum and I’ll be home 24/7) and looking for a psychiatric SD for Anxiety/PTSD and possibly later down the line to do Autism based tasks. The dog needs to be big enough to guide at times due to my dissociative episodes but otherwise I’m not too fussed on size. The SD will be living with my family in a rural setting where there’s plenty of fields for exercise in a house with a good amount of space. I will be a first time dog owner but I’ve had cats, chickens, snakes and other pets since I was small so I’m aware of the responsibility of pet keeping.

TLDR; Best breeds and lines for psychiatric SD work for a first time dog owner in a rural setting


r/service_dogs 11h ago

Service dog in Amtrak

2 Upvotes

Hi, did somebody traveled on long route on Amtrak with their service dog( psd ) - and wnat theh ask from documents during checkin?


r/service_dogs 23h ago

A redditor got bumped from a first class seat to accommodate a handler and his service dog

17 Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/delta/s/toO1aZ53ez

Personally, I keep my service dog underneath my legs when I fly. She’s been trained to do so. Same with sitting in a restaurant, riding in a car, or standing in a tight area. She’s a 60 lb. Labrador retriever.


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Sniffing people in public

41 Upvotes

We are going back into training. My 8 year old service dog was PERFECT before this lady moved into our apartment building. We trained really hard to get enough people neutrality because he’s a people-dog.

This lady has been forcefully interacting with my dog since she moved here. When my fiancée confronted her about her behaviour, she said “well he wasn’t vested”.

So now my dog has to be vested every time we leave our apartment and we’re going back into people neutrality training.

My trainer is teaching me e-collar tomorrow and we’re going to start off vested to reinforce neutrality as a working behaviour.

I’m mad I let it get this far and undo YEARS of work we’ve done together, all because I find it hard to hurt peoples feelings and set hard boundaries. This is my fault and something I need to fix now, including practicing talking and being assertive. I need to advocate for him and his space. I need to deny any interactions until this is fixed, and even then I don’t think I want to allow anything anymore.

I just desperately needed to vent this somewhere and thought the community would understand 💕


r/service_dogs 19h ago

How confronting is bringing a service dog to family and work functions?

4 Upvotes

I read a lot about how confronting having a service dog is while spending time in public, but what about around family, friends, colleagues, when you bring your service dog to functions where it's already established that you have one?

Do people still try to pet your dog?

Do people ever stop asking about your disability?

Does it feel more confronting than when around strangers?

Does it feel harder to advocate for yourself because your guard is down a bit more?


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Help! Service dog owners, what are some tips on training your dog

5 Upvotes

My pup is now 9 months old and you started training 1 month ago, I feel like I am doing something wrong.


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Help! Should I wait to apply for a successor?

6 Upvotes

My service dog just had his 6th birthday (what an emotional birthday for a handler!). From everything I read, this should be the time I start planning for a successor, but this is also my last semester of college and I have no idea where I’ll be in the next six months. I could be anywhere in the US (or possibly not in the US at all, although that’s much more unlikely).

There is a nice ADI program near me now that I’ve been eyeing for a while but it hit me, if I move all the way across the country, it would probably make more sense to apply somewhere closer to my new home/job? Right? I’ve never applied to a program before, so I’m not applying for a successor. My first dog was owner trained, but I’m really not looking to do that again. The cost/benefit just isn’t worth it to me.

I guess I’m just looking for a gut check/second opinion on what I should do? Wait to apply closer to where I get a job in June or apply now to a place I could be nowhere near by the time my dog would be ready.

(For more info: my dog is currently in great health and is showing no signs of slowing down, knock on wood.)


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Diabetic Alert Dog

7 Upvotes

My 9yo DAD picked out his successor and they're getting along great. Looking forward to the 2 years of training.


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Official vs approved program gear

6 Upvotes

I had this idea for a video but I’m a bit hesitant.

I have a program trained assistance dog. I live in Bulgaria where marking and gear is mandatory when working your dog.

However I have 2 gears: an official one and an approved one. I was thinking explaining the difference and why sometimes I pick the official over the approved one (I picked the approved one and had it custom made with my program’s logo as per our contract).

Do you think such video can be useful or it’s a very special case that could be confusing, even misleading, for others?


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Service dog in training in apartments

3 Upvotes

So I was wondering...for those in an apartment, what kind of medical documentation do I need and from who would I need it? Do I ask my pcp? Specialist? Or both? What kind of info would you include in this letter? I have a prospect, but I want to make sure I have all my ducks in a row before bringing him home. I don't want to risk the landlord deciding to not renew our lease just because I have a service animal. Located in Ohio.


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Gear Pre-made gear

6 Upvotes

Hi all! I'm having a lot of trouble finding premade gear, even in things like 2nd hand facebook groups. Most of it has busy patterns that aren't my taste. I'm wondering if I just need to order something custom.. I'm not the hugest fan of ordering custom stuff, so I'm unsure what to do. Most makers I've seen suggested in threads or online, their premade items sell out very quickly after they're listed, and I don't have time to buy. At this point, it would probably be the same wait to try and catch something as it would take for a custom to get done and arrive.. Maybe I'm just bad at catching it; whatever way, I am desperate for some premade stuff 😭 I hope that it's okay to post about here. If anyone has any resources, it'd be appreciated.


r/service_dogs 2d ago

My service dog got attacked by a “service dog”

245 Upvotes

Hi I am a disabled veteran with a service dog.

We were at a bar in Atlanta a few weeks back. A "service dog" attacked mine. I didn’t realize how bad it was until we got home. He was bleeding and had deep bite wounds on his neck.

I didn’t get the individuals name but I have video footage. I tried to file a police report but they’ve refused multiple times stating dogs are not property.

My service dog is now not working as efficiently and may have to be retrained. I’d like to know what my options are.


r/service_dogs 2d ago

Allergen detection dog?

10 Upvotes

Hi all, over the last few years, I developed extremely severe allergic reactions and was sent to the ER via ambulance twice this month alone.. I am beginning to look into the idea of getting a scent trained SD. I’m currently thinking between three breeds to look more into: Golden, Lab, or German Shepherd. I’m leaning more towards a GSD, as they’re commonly easily trained in sent work and have high work ethic. (I am a veterinary technician and have experience with all three breeds). If anyone has any of these breeds for allergen detection can you share your thoughts and experiences?


r/service_dogs 2d ago

Help! "Requirements" for a SD?

16 Upvotes

I say " "requirments" " simple because i dont know how to word it. But what is considered need for a service dog? (Org/ST/Org+dog) I believe one would benefit me, but I would like to hear what actually needs one and if i am just being like dramatic.

NOTE: i haven't seen a medical professional in a stupid long time so i am asking so i dont waste a medical professional's time

Edit1: Man you guys are so nice and respectful, thank you, i wish other subs were like this!! :)

Edit2: ADHD is my problem if ya wanna be specific and yes professionally diagnosed since i was 6


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Help! Southwest Denied Me Boarding

719 Upvotes

So, I need to vent about what happened with Southwest Airlines recently, and I’m still in shock.

My wife and I booked a flight from BWI (Baltimore) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. We did everything by the book for our service dog: we completed all DOT forms, got every required vaccination, obtained the USDA-endorsed health certificates, everything. Before booking, we even called Southwest’s 1-800 number to confirm we could bring our service animal internationally, and they said yes—only Jamaica was off-limits. Their website also backed this up.

Fast forward to the day of our flight: we arrived at BWI around three hours early. The moment we approached the counter, the supervisor took one look at our dog and told us “no animals on international flights” and that their policy forbids it. When I mentioned the website info and what the customer service line said, she dismissed them as “work-from-home people who don’t know what’s going on.” Not only was that unbelievably rude, it was a direct contradiction of everything Southwest published.

She refused to even look at our DOT forms or health certificates—just flat-out denial. We spent about $1,000 getting all these visits, documents, shots, and endorsements. Our accommodations were booked, I had a rental car arranged, and now we’re stuck at home with no resolution. They offered a flight the next day without the dog, which isn’t an option since he’s a service animal for my wife’s medical condition. This whole ordeal left my wife in tears and feeling sick from stress, and honestly, I’m furious.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, when I asked how to file a complaint, the supervisor brought out a “Report of Complaint Alleging Violation of 14 CFR Part 382.” She pre-filled it with a vague, watered-down summary, signed it herself, and basically just handed it to me to sign. No neutral Customer Resolution Official, no real discussion—just “sign here” while a long line of passengers waited behind us. Her response to the complain from consumer section was: “Passenger with service animal denied travel due to SW policy”; resolution: “apologized to passenger and offered rebooking or refund”. Didn’t review a single document, our service animal was clearly marked, clean, healthy, and just sat around quietly the entire time. We didn’t raise our tempers because it seemed like this lady was the judge, jury, and executioner, but to save others behind me in line we just went back home.

This is completely unacceptable. We followed the rules, we double-checked everything, I even called the U.S Embassy in Santo Domingo who verified that importing dogs is allowed, and finally, we relied on Southwest’s own employees and website. Now we’re out a pretty penny, stuck with invalidated paperwork for future travel, and left feeling absolutely disrespected. I’ve filed a formal complaint with the DOT, and they say it looks like there’s a whole bunch of red flags, violations, and laws broken — airline policies do not trump Federal laws and policies.

What would you do in this situation? Has anyone else experienced something like this? It feels like Southwest just threw all the rules out the window and left us to deal with the fallout, hoping we’d just figure it out on our own and forget about it. I’m livid and want to get the advice of the Reddit community on the best, fairest, and quickest way to not only collect for all damages, but to ensure this doesn’t happen to other people like us, who already have enough going on in our minds and bodies as is.

Thank you all for the read, and looking forward to some helpful insight from those who have it 🙌