The Truth About Service Dog Certification and Registration

When it comes to service dog certification and registration, many people search for “service dog certification” and “service dog registration.” However, certification and registration do not make any dog a service dog. What makes a service dog is its service dog training.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there is no official requirement for service dogs to be certified or registered. The law defines a service dog as one that is specifically trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. No professional training program or paperwork is necessary; however, 220 hours of training are necessary to complete the task.

Still, many people look for certification or registration service dogs; unfortunately, they pay for them. These certifications and registrations DO NOT make your dog or any dog a service dog. It is illegal in 48 states to fraudulently represent any dog as a service dog.

The fake certifications and registrations serve no purpose. They do not provide any additional legal protections beyond what the ADA already guarantees. The key factor remains the dog’s training to perform specific tasks that assist its handler’s disability.

We are often asked “Is service dog registration legit?” and the answer is “No—they are not.”

It is also against federal law to ask for documentation for service dogs.

Despite the popularity of certification services, there is no such thing under ADA, DOJ, DOT, FAA Laws. For those relying on service animals, training—not paperwork—is what truly matters.

Mobility services dogs are trained to help people with mobility, movement, walking, transfers and other daily living tasks.  The size of the service dog needed depend on the size of the human and the task the dog performs.

MobilityDog trains dogs from the time they are puppies. MobilityDog, is committed to empowering individuals with mobility impairments by training highly skilled service dogs and supporting trainers and handlers through community.

The process begins with careful selection, prioritizing breeds known for their steady temperament and physical ability. Once chosen, the dogs undergo extensive training to master fundamental obedience commands, including sit, stay, come, down, heel, and recall.

Just as crucial as these commands is their behavior in public spaces. MobilityDog ensures its service dogs remain focused and composed, resisting distractions, avoiding food or attention-seeking, and demonstrating calm, controlled movement in any environment.

Beyond basic obedience, these service dogs are trained in specialized skills designed to assist individuals with mobility challenges.

They retrieve dropped or out-of-reach items, carry objects for handlers who use canes or walkers, and operate essential mechanisms such as light switches, door handles, and elevator buttons.

The rigorous and detailed training process enables service dogs to become indispensable companions, granting their handlers greater autonomy, confidence, and ease in navigating daily life.

To learn more about training service dogs you are welcome to email info@mobilitydog.org or come to a Zoom informational meeting.