With the holidays fast approaching, shopping, celebrations, and meals out at your favorite restaurant with family and friends are common occurrences. If you are a recipient or someone who may encounter a service dog this holiday season, there are several things to keep in mind regarding proper etiquette and safety.
At Guardian Angels Service Dogs, we’ve put together tips for recipients and others who may encounter a service dog to help them navigate the holiday season more easily and joyfully.
Tips for Visiting Someone’s Home for the Holidays
For our recipients who are invited to gatherings, it is important to remember that your service dog is federally protected in public spaces but not in private homes. If you are invited to a holiday party, you should speak with the host or hostess, informing them that you would like to attend the event but have a service dog who is required to be with you 24/7.
Ensure they know you will have the dog on a leash, and they will be right at your side for the entire party. Also, ask them if they have pets of their own. If so, they could, for example, have a territorial dog, creating an unsafe situation for both animals. Unless the host is willing to keep their pet in a separate room during the party, it may be best for you to politely decline the invitation.
While we hate seeing recipients miss out on events, having a service dog requires lifestyle changes. You may have to make sacrifices to avoid an incident or other situation.
Good, healthy conversations and education are critical when navigating situations like this, and they should have been occurring between you and your friends and family all along. If the host is not a friend or family member or someone who doesn’t understand the situation, politely declining your invitation is the most sensible action. No one is required to allow you into their home with your service dog.
Keeping Holiday Party Foods Away From Service Dogs
In addition to many popular holiday foods containing ingredients that can be toxic to dogs, we never allow our service dogs to have people’s food. While it can be tempting to give the dog a special treat of people food during the holidays, it’s crucial to avoid this. Once service dogs, or any dog, eat people food, they will smell the same thing in the future and immediately be attracted to it. Because they’ve had it before, they will think it is okay to have it again.
Dogs can’t understand that something is “special” or okay to have in some instances but not others. Dogs need consistency, so we never offer people food to our service dogs. Whether you are the recipient or a person encountering a service dog, do not give them any people food, no matter the occasion.
How Can I Interact with a Service Dog?
It’s important to never attempt to pet or speak to a service dog. Service dogs are always working. Even if they are sleeping or lying down, they are in tune with their recipient’s needs and must remain focused to ensure they can be alert to any issues. Distracting a service dog could cause them to miss a queue, which could be catastrophic for the recipient.
If you are interested in the service dog, speak directly to the recipient. You can ask them questions about the dog and offer them kind words on how beautiful or nicely behaved it is, but never directly engage with the service dog.
Get Into the Spirit of Giving with Guardian Angels
The year 2024 proved to be challenging for many nonprofit organizations, including service dog organizations, with donations across various sectors declining by 20-40%. This significant reduction in donations has made it increasingly difficult to address critical needs in our society.
At Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, our unwavering commitment is to bridge a vital gap for veterans, first responders, and civilians with disabilities. With a proven track record of success, we remain steadfast in our mission—but sustaining and expanding this life-changing work requires funding.
Our mission transforms lives, empowering recipients to regain confidence and independence. These exceptional service dogs bring hope and light to those who need it most. This holiday season, your generosity can help us continue to train, care for, and pair these incredible service dogs with deserving individuals.
Donate today!
Mrs. Borden’s expertise and accomplishments are acknowledged by numerous national awards from various industries and agencies including the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year and multiple awards for her organization’s work in mental health and suicide prevention.
She is frequently requested as a Keynote Speaker, and as an Industry Consultant to teach service dog laws to judicial systems, attorneys, and businesses, and to assist in service dog bills in multiple states that were passed into law. In 2020, she started an Institute for Higher Learning and the Borden Veterinary Hospital. Additionally, she has written and teaches college-accredited/VA-approved apprenticeship courses on dog training and service dog training.
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