GUIDE DOG OWNER SAYS LOUIE MAY BE HER LAST UNLESS BEHAVIOUR OF ‘SERVICE DOGS’ CHANGES

Not all ‘service dogs’ undergo the same training, and this can pose challenges for guide dog owners.

When Avril Rinn takes a walk, her Labrador retriever Louie leads the way.

Living in London, Ont., Rinn is legally blind, and Louie is her second guide dog.

As he navigates the sidewalk, boards the bus, or moves through the grocery store, Louie remains calm and focused. He doesn’t bark, beg, or jump on seats; instead, he attentively avoids distractions, fully committed to guiding Rinn safely around any obstacles in her path.

While Rinn loves Louie and appreciates the freedom and safety he provides, she’s considering not getting another guide dog after he’s gone. Increasingly, when she and Louie visit stores, restaurants, and other indoor public spaces, she often finds herself unwelcome due to the presence of other dogs.

“There’s an industry that offers very official-looking service dog vests and ID cards,” Rinn explains. “People use them to gain access to places.”

In addition to accredited guide dogs for the visually impaired like Louie, there are other dogs categorized as service, support, or comfort dogs. These animals help their owners manage a variety of challenges and disabilities, including non-visible conditions like autism, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, the difference between Louie and some of the service dogs Rinn encounters becomes clear almost immediately.

“They often lack the proper training and temperament for public spaces,” she says. “They misbehave, growl, and their handlers allow behaviors that a guide dog owner would never tolerate. It’s becoming a common issue.”

Louie spent nearly two years training with Leader Dogs for the Blind, a Michigan-based program accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation. He was specifically bred for this role, and an extensive matching process took place before he was paired with Rinn.

In Canada, organizations like the Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides also offer guide dog training programs with the same level of accreditation as Louie’s training organization.

The process is rigorous, and many dogs don’t make the cut.

Rinn notes that poorly behaved service dogs create significant challenges for owners of accredited service and guide dogs.

Business owners often struggle with knowing which dogs they should allow inside. Unfortunately, well-behaved dogs can sometimes be unfairly grouped with those that misbehave, leading to skepticism among owners and increasing restrictions on access to public spaces.

“I face more challenges today than I ever did in the past,” Rinn shared.

Diane Bergeron, president of CNIB Guide Dogs, a charitable organization that trains accredited guide dogs in Canada, also has firsthand experience. Legally blind for 40 years, she has relied on a guide dog throughout her life.

“The current legislation allows nearly anyone to claim their dog as a service or comfort dog without any certification or training requirements,” Bergeron explained. “This tarnishes the reputation of properly trained service and guide dogs that meet high standards.”

Both Bergeron and Rinn have encountered untrained dogs in public that distract their guide dogs from the critical task of keeping them safe.

“It actually puts us at risk,” Bergeron emphasized.

They both believe that the number of people bringing dogs into public spaces has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s become a global concern,” said Chris Diefenthaler, executive director of Assistance Dogs International, a coalition of non-profit organizations dedicated to raising, training, and placing assistance dogs. “Our member organizations around the world are all reporting issues with their graduates facing difficulties when encountering dogs that aren’t properly trained to be in public as assistance dogs.”

Diefenthaler noted that, given the challenges in creating legislation that addresses every situation, the best approach is to establish clear behavior standards. Additionally, business owners should have the authority to ask the owners of disruptive dogs to leave or to deny them entry.

“If dogs are being disruptive in public—such as lunging, approaching people, or interacting with other dogs—they aren’t effectively assisting the individuals they’re meant to support,” she explained. “Their owners may not realize the negative impact they’re having on those with trained assistance dogs.”

Diefenthaler, Bergeron, and Rinn all agree they are not against allowing access to dogs that provide comfort and support for individuals dealing with various conditions, disabilities, or injuries. They simply want to raise awareness about how misbehaving dogs in public can jeopardize the hard-won rights of visually impaired people to access public spaces.

“What I really want is more awareness,” Rinn said. “I hope people who bring their dogs for convenience or personal enjoyment will think twice about it.”