Let the Buyer Beware Part 2

From Service Dog Training

Let the Buyer Beware: Part 2

This post is a continuation of Let the Buyer Beware about the issues that have been in the news lately regarding problems with medical alert dog schools such as Heaven Scent Paws and Betheden Kennels.

The first topic for this post would seem to be basic, but it’s an issue that many people struggle with: When to refuse to accept a dog. Many of the people who have received unacceptable alert dogs get dogs that begin to show troubling behaviors during training. Certain dogs should not be accepted under any circumstance, regardless of any explanation the trainer or school may offer. Signs you definitely should not accept a dog include:

Growling, biting or lunging at any person, including children
Unprovoked growling, biting or lunging at other animals
Strong fear responses, without immediate recovery, to loud noises, sudden sights, people, or objects. This is not something a dog usually gets over or grows out of.
Dogs with obvious health issues, severe limping, etc.

Dogs with these issues should be rejected outright. They are not likely to make suitable service dogs, even with extensive remedial training. Other signs that should make you question whether or not you are getting an acceptable dog are:

A dog that cringes from being touched or that is unusually timid.
A dog that is not housebroken.
A dog that does not seem responsive to commands you have been told it already knows.
A dog that appears stressed in public.

Dogs that show these issues may or may not eventually make acceptable service dogs after a significant amount of additional training (likely not), but they definitely are not trained to an acceptable level for a dog that is at the point of placement with a new handler. Dogs with these behaviors should not be accepted.

If you do accept a dog that is showing signs of trouble, or that begins to demonstrate problematic behaviors after placement, you need to document these issues effectively if you want to have any chance of pursuing either a replacement dog or a refund.

Most of the trainers that are placing substandard medical alert dogs are very resistant to the idea of replacing or refunding an unsuitable dog. As a result, it is necessary for the handler to be able to conclusively demonstrate two things: first; that the dog is unsuitable for work, and second, that the handler did not cause the problem and followed the trainer’s instructions on maintaining the dog’s training.

Both of these things require a huge commitment to documentation. The second the dog begins to show problems, the problem should be written down, along with any surrounding circumstances and corrective actions taken. If the issue was significant, such as an attack on a person or another dog, any police reports, vet records or witness statements should be copied and kept in a file. Small problems should be noted as well, with a note of any witnesses that could speak on your behalf about the issue. If the problem with the dog includes temperamental unsuitability for service dog work or insufficient training, you may wish to contact another dog trainer or evaluator who can test the dog and provide an expert opinion about the suitability and training of the dog.

Most service dog schools provide directions for ongoing training after you return home with your dog. One of the most frequently used defenses by a school that has placed an unsuitable dog is that the dog was suitably trained when it left their facility, and that the lack of appropriate follow up training has damaged the dog’s training. As a result, it is important to document all the follow up training you do with your dog. Keep as many records as possible, maintain a checklist of your daily sessions and video tape some of your training sessions if possible. If you take an obedience class or work with a trainer, keep your receipts and any certificates or notes from the trainer you receive. If you have to pursue a trainer or a school for placing an unsuitable dog, these records will be extremely valuable.

The final issue is one of contracts. Be very careful what you sign, and if you aren’t 100% sure of every detail of the contract, find a lawyer to go over it with you. There are a few contractual issues that problematic schools and trainers tend to display. The first one of these is asking the potential dog handler to sign a contract and pay for the dog before receiving and training with the dog. This is basically like buying a used car sight unseen. You have no idea what you are getting in return for your money and commitment, and you are locking yourself into a contract which may not leave you much recourse if the dog is not what you expected. In short, never purchase a dog or sign a contract for a dog until you have completed your training with the dog and are sure this is what you want to agree to. Try to get a copy of the contract before you begin training with the dog so you can familiarize yourself with the terms.

Second, find out what remedies you will have if the dog does not work out. If you have to return the dog because the dog is not suitable, will you get a full refund? Will you get a replacement dog? Can you choose between a replacement dog and a refund? Make sure you are comfortable with these terms before you sign the contract. Third, find out under what circumstances the dog can be returned and how allegations of an unsuitable dog placement will be handled. Typically, less ethical schools blame the handler for any problem with the dog and refuse to refund the money with the assertion that school/trainer performed as agreed and the handler subsequently ruined the dog. This is why it is so important to maintain detailed documentation on your service dog…if you must demonstrate that the dog was unsuitable from the beginning, you will have to show that you did everything possible to maintain the dog’s training appropriately.

Third, find out the fee structure of the school or trainer. In some cases, the money you give the school for the dog is considered a purchase price for the dog, however in many other cases, the money is considered a donation to the school, and the dog is provided (supposedly) free of charge. This means that if the dog must be returned for unsuitability, the school may claim that they have no obligation to refund your money because the money was not to purchase a dog, but was a donation to the school and independent of the success of the dog.

Finally, find out who will own the dog. Many service dog schools maintain ownership of the service dog after placement, either for the entire working life of the dog, or until the partnership has been successful for a certain period of time, usually about one or two years. However, if you do not own your dog, the school can generally reclaim the dog at any time, for any reason. If the school becomes upset with you, they could take the dog, as it is technically still their property. Be very careful when signing any contract that does not give you ownership.

And last, do your research on a school before applying for a dog from them. Check with the Better Business Bureau and the state attorney general to see if there have been any complaints about the organization. Check online message boards and news archives to see what people are saying about the school. Never assume that other people who are having issues with the school are bad people, incompetent dog handlers or are trying to harm the reputation of the school without cause. Always try to get to the bottom of complaints before you commit to a school.

--Tiffany Huggard-Lee 11:22, 23 April 2010 (CDT)