While there are no formal regulations on etiquette for service dog handlers, responsible pet ownership and respect for others are key. Don’t make things harder for the team that comes after you.

Here are some guidelines:
Maintain control: Ensure your service dog is always harnessed/leashed/etc and under your control (service dogs are NOT required to be vested, nor are they required to be leashed if it interferes with their tasks). This minimizes distractions and upholds safety for everyone.

Clean up after your dog: Like any pet owner, you’re responsible for cleaning up after your service dog’s waste. Ensure they are clean and brushed so they’re not leaving anything dirty behind and aren’t excessively shedding.

Be considerate of others: Avoid letting your service dog block walkways or crowd people in public spaces. Don’t allow your service dog to go greet unsuspecting strangers. No service dogs should be doing unsanitary things like sticking their faces in deli counters. If someone seems fearful of your dog, do what you can to give them space.

Advocate for access: If you encounter resistance regarding your service dog’s presence in a public area, politely explain their legal right to be there. All service dog registries are scams – if someone asks for documentation, politely educate them on the scams and explain what the law says so the next team doesn’t have so many issues.

Dealing with the public: People are going to be rude and invasive at times. Have prepared answers for invasive questions, and if you can, politely explain why the questions are invasive and inappropriate. Get used to avoiding eye contact and continuing to walk when people ooh and aah at your service dog or you’ll never get anything done.

It’s all about protecting yourself and your service dog, while also being respectful to the public. You don’t have to be nice, rude people are not owed that, but don’t make things harder for the next team.