Poorly Behaved Service Animals
What If The Dog Is Bad?
Quietly ask the manager to speak to the handler to remove the animal for:
- growling at patrons
- lifting its leg, urinating or marking
- barking inappropriately
- eating off the floor or tables
- unwanted approaching of other patrons
- lunging at patrons or other animals
- disruptive behavior or the dog is requiring excessive efforts from the handler to control the dog’s behavior
If the dog is not clearly identified as a service dog, through vest, harness, or other equipment, then staff may ask only the following questions:
- “Is this a service dog?”
- “What tasks does this dog provide for you?”
- The Department of Justice does ask the business staff/manager to determine if the handler needs assistance in completing the tasks without the service dog on the premises.
- The business staff/manager is encouraged to document the incident clearly and thoroughly. Suspected fraudulent use of a service dog can be reported to local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies.
These guidelines are also available on the website: