Service dogs may straight up ignore other dogs or loud noises. They have a job to do, and they tend to lock in pretty hard on that task.
A real service dog would probably be very resistant if someone tried to put them in a purse or stroller, since that restricts their ability to do their job.
You won’t see real service dogs off leash. Most service dogs are trained to be “on the clock” when they’re leashed.
The occasional sniff every here and there is no big deal at all, but if the dog is persistently distracted and interested elsewhere, it’s not a good sign.
It’s actually illegal in some states to pet a service dog because it might distract them from the task at hand. It’s even a felony in Arizona!
Service dogs are trained to be “on” when they’re out and about. They’re normal, playful pups at home, but on a leash in public they should be zoned in on the task at hand.
Real service dogs are basically as well-trained as a dog can be. If you’re impressed by the dog’s diligence and responsiveness, they’re probably legit.
Dogs lower on the intelligence scale, such as bulldogs, chow chows, borzois, and Pekinese. Dogs that are independent and prone to do their own thing, like huskies, Airedale terriers, and akitas. Dogs that insurance companies rarely cover, such as pitbulls, mastiffs, or rottweilers.
You should probably put the least amount of emphasis on this component when trying to spot a fake service dog. Some owners don’t put signs or vests on service dogs because they don’t want to broadcast their disability to the world. Somewhere along the line, the general public got it in their head that service animals have to have special certification or some specific kind of vest. None of that is true. [12] X Trustworthy Source State of Michigan Official website for the State of Michigan Go to source
