What "individually trained" really means

The law protects a dog that is individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability. A vest alone does not make a service dog.

Photo: Viktoriya / Unsplash

Task training

The core of a service dog is trained tasks tied to the handler's disability. The dog does concrete work, such as alerting, guiding, bracing, or interrupting, that mitigates the disability.

Public access behavior

A service dog is calm, controlled, and unobtrusive in crowds, terminals, and cabins. It is safe and predictable around the traveling public.

Documented and attestable

Training is recorded so a qualified trainer can attest to it. That attestation is the exact evidence a carrier may request under ATPDR section 25(1).