Blues City Service Dogs

12/29/2025

An Open Letter to Service Dog Handlers,
We see you.

To the owner-trainer in the thick of puppyhood—counting potty breaks instead of sheep and setting alarms you never wanted—this part is hard. You’re exhausted. Your sleep is broken. The crate feels loud, your coffee is cold, and you’re wondering if you’ll ever feel rested again. You will. Housebreaking clicks. The midnight trips fade. One day you’ll realize you slept through the night and didn’t even notice when it happened. The early kennel-training protests will become a distant memory, even though right now they feel endless. Keep going. You’re building a foundation that will carry you both far. You can do this.

To the handlers who chose to work with a professional trainer or send their puppy to a board-and-train—this step is emotional in a way few people understand. Handing over the leash feels like sending your first child to school. The house is quiet. Too quiet. Take a deep breath. Those weeks will pass faster than you expect, and when your dog comes home, the growth will be undeniable. You’ll recognize your dog—but you’ll also see confidence, skills, and maturity that make every hard moment worth it.

And then comes adolescence. The stage no one glamorizes. Reactivity may pop up where none existed before. You might deal with marking, chewing, boundary-testing, and behaviors you thought were long gone. It’s frustrating. It’s discouraging. It’s normal. This is not failure. This is development. You are not losing ground—you are teaching through it. Stay consistent. The storm passes, and the lessons stick.

As the two-year mark approaches, something shifts. The “in training” patches come off—whether your dog was owner trained or program trained. Fear periods fade. Puppy chaos settles. Standing in front of you is the dog you once hoped for during the hardest days. For program handlers who have waited so long, the moment finally arrives: meeting the partner who will walk beside you through daily life. For owner trainers, it’s the quiet realization that you did it. Together.

Public access challenges don’t disappear—but they change you. Every confrontation, every awkward interaction, every moment you advocate for your team builds confidence and skill. You learn how to stand your ground with grace and clarity. Don’t back down. When you educate, you’re not just protecting your team—you’re protecting the teams who come after you.

And when you encounter a dog in public that clearly doesn’t belong there, pause for a moment. Look at your own dog, calmly tucked at your feet in the checkout line. Remember the sleepless nights, the training setbacks, the tears, the doubts. Your dedication shows. You earned the right to be there the correct way.

Don’t give up.
We see you.
We hear you.

We know what you’ve been through—and what you’re still navigating.
You are not alone.

— Blues City Service Dogs

12/29/2025

The Rise of Misrepresentation Is Putting Service Dog Teams at Risk

The increasing misuse of the term “service dog” has created serious challenges for individuals who legitimately rely on trained service animals. Bringing pets into non–pet-friendly establishments under the guise of service work is not only inappropriate—it directly endangers working service dog teams.

Handlers are increasingly being forced to physically block uncontrolled dogs inside places like grocery stores and retail locations. This is unacceptable. A single aggressive or overly reactive dog can distract, injure, or permanently wash a highly trained service animal.

》“My dog just sits in the cart.”

Beyond the sanitation concerns, dogs placed in carts frequently become reactive when they see other dogs. This behavior can distract or interfere with a service dog actively performing medical or mobility-related tasks.

》“If they’re real service dogs, they shouldn’t get distracted.”

Service dogs are not robots—they are dogs trained to perform critical tasks. If another dog rushes, lunges, or attacks, no reasonable person would expect a service dog to ignore that threat. Additionally, many handlers are blind, have mobility limitations, or have other disabilities that prevent them from easily intervening in such situations.

》“They don’t even look disabled.”

Disabilities are not always visible. Conditions such as seizure disorders, cardiac conditions, diabetes, PTSD, and neurological disorders cannot be identified by appearance alone. Judging a person’s disability based on how they look is inappropriate and harmful.

》“My dog is a service dog because it provides emotional support.”

Emotional support alone does not qualify a dog as a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A service dog must be individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a person’s disability.

》“Their dog isn’t even wearing a vest.”

Service dogs are not required to wear vests, patches, identification, or special collars. Many work in simple flat collars or harnesses. In some cases, handlers may legally require their service dog to work off leash, depending on the handler’s disability and the tasks the dog performs.

Important Information for Businesses

Businesses are permitted to ask only two questions:
1.) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
2.) What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

Businesses may not ask:
○What the person’s disability is
○For medical documentation
○For certification, registration, ID cards, or “papers”

There is no official registry, certification, or required documentation for service dogs in the United States.

Service dog teams cannot be denied access due to fear of dogs or allergies. Service dogs may not be required to wait outside, be isolated from others, or be charged pet or animal fees. Restaurants may not separate service dog teams frm other patrons.

When a Business May Ask a Team to Leave
If a service dog is out of control and the handler is unable to correct the behavior, a business may legally request that the team leave. Examples inclde:
○Jmping on strangers
○Uncontrolled or excessive barking (excluding task-reated alerts)
Snapping or aggressive behavior
○Eiminating indoors

Respecting service dog laws protects not only businesses, but the safety, independence, and dignity of disabled individuals who depend on these highly trained animals every day.

12/28/2025

Adolescent Reactivity & Service Dogs: What It Really Means

The claim that reactivity is rare during adolescence and primarily caused by trauma or poor training is factually incorrect and oversimplifies canine behavior.

In reality, adolescence is one of the most common times for reactivity to emerge, including in service dogs and service dogs in training. This developmental stage typically begins around six months of age and can extend up to two or even three years, depending on the breed and individual dog. During this time, dogs undergo significant hormonal and neurological changes, which can result in increased sensitivity, fear responses, frustration, and noticeable behavioral shifts.

A dog who appeared neutral, confident, and social as a puppy may suddenly begin reacting to environmental triggers during adolescence. This does not automatically indicate trauma, failure, or poor training. Temperament is influenced by many factors, including genetics, early socialization, environment, stress, and natural fear periods. Reactivity can also stem from frustration, lack of neutrality, or inherited traits—not just negative experiences.

What This Means for Service Dogs in Training

If a service dog in training begins to show reactivity during adolescence, this does not mean the dog needs to wash (fail out of training). However, it does mean the dog needs to step back in training.

At this stage:
○Training should refocus on foundational skills
○Neutrality around people, dogs, and environments should be rebuilt
○Expectations should be adjusted to match the dog’s developmental capacity

During this period, a service dog in training should not be brought into non-pet-friendly areas. Public access is a privilege earned through demonstrated stability and neutrality—not something used as exposure therapy. Continuing public access too early can worsen reactivity and undermine long-term success.

Reactivity Is Not Background-Specific

Importantly, dogs from all backgrounds can experience adolescent reactivity:
○Ethically bred dogs
○Purpose-bred service dog prospects
○Shelter and rescue dogs

No category of dog is immune. This is a major reason why early, appropriate, and ongoing socialization is critical for all dogs—not just service dogs. Proper socialization is not about flooding dogs with experiences, but about creating positive, neutral, and developmentally appropriate exposure over time.

The Good News

Adolescent reactivity is not a life sentence. With:
○Thoughtful training
○Clear boundaries
○Proper management
○Professional guidance when needed

Many dogs either outgrow reactivity or learn to navigate the world in calmer, more appropriate ways. Service dog training is not linear, and setbacks during adolescence are common—even in strong prospects.

Reducing reactivity to “trauma” or “bad training” ignores the complexity of canine development and sets unrealistic expectations for both handlers and dogs. Understanding adolescence allows us to train smarter, protect our dogs’ mental health, and set them up for long-term success—whether as service dogs or beloved companions.



**Morgan recieving some rubs for a job well done during his training session.**

12/28/2025

🚫 SERVICE DOG CERTIFICATIONS?
✨ HERE’S THE TRUTH YOU NEED TO KNOW! ✨

If someone tells you your service dog needs a certification, license, or special ID to be “legal”… they’re lying.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), NO certification is required. None. Zero. 💥

So why are those online “Service Dog Certificates” a problem?

🐾 They’re SCAMS.
Websites selling "official" service dog IDs, registrations, or certificates prey on people who don’t know their rights. They take your money and offer nothing real in return.

🐾 They’re MISLEADING.
Fake certifications teach businesses to expect paperwork that is not legally required, making life harder for REAL service dog teams.

🐾 They’re DANGEROUS.
People slap fake vests and fake certificates on untrained pets, which puts legitimate service dogs, handlers, and the public at risk. A poorly behaved dog can:
— Distract a working service dog
— Cause injuries
— Create fear and mistrust for disabled handlers who rely on trained partners every day

🐾 They HURT the disability community.
Every fake “service dog” makes it more difficult for real teams to navigate the world safely and without harassment.

💡 REMEMBER:
A true service dog is defined by training, behavior, and task work — NOT a certificate, NOT a vest, NOT a paper ID.

📢 Share this to help protect REAL service dog teams and stop the scams!
Education is the best defense. 🐕‍🦺💙

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12/27/2025

The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT) is one of the most widely recognized tools used to gain insight into a puppy’s natural temperament, drives, and problem-solving style. While no single test can guarantee a future service dog, the Volhard provides valuable information about how a puppy may respond to stress, novelty, handling, and human interaction—all critical traits for service work.

The test evaluates areas such as social attraction, willingness to engage, sensitivity to sound and touch, resilience, and recovery after mild stress. These factors help identify puppies that are confident but thoughtful, people-oriented without being demanding, and able to adapt to new environments—qualities that are essential for a successful service dog prospect.

It’s important to understand that temperament testing is a snapshot in time, not a final verdict. Puppies develop, mature, and change with proper training, structure, and support. However, when combined with ethical breeding, proper socialization, and ongoing evaluation, the Volhard test can offer meaningful insight that helps set both dogs and handlers up for success.

Equally important is who conducts the test. A third-party evaluator should always perform temperament testing. When breeders, owners, shelter staff, or program staff test their own dogs, unconscious bias can influence results—whether intentionally or not. An unbiased evaluator ensures the assessment reflects the dog’s true responses, not expectations or emotional attachment.

For service work, transparency and objectivity matter. Temperament testing done ethically and without bias is one of many tools that helps protect the integrity of service dog programs—and most importantly, the well-being of the dogs themselves.

12/26/2025

🎶🐾 Welcome to Blues City Service Dogs — Memphis, TN! 🐾🎶

Thank you so much for stopping by our page and supporting the work we do here at Blues City Service Dogs!

Due to a high volume of messages, spam, and lack of follow-through, we’re unable to respond to DMs at this time.

📧 For all inquiries, please email us directly:
BluesCityServiceDogs@gmail.com

💙 Our Mission
Every dog in our program is carefully pulled from shelters, rescues, and rehoming situations throughout the Mid-South. Your support helps us fight the shelter crisis and transform these amazing dogs into life-changing service dogs for disabled individuals.

🐕✨ Want to see our future service dogs in action? Follow us!
Facebook: Blues City Service Dogs
Instagram: .city.service.dogs
TikTok: memphis.service.dogs
Threads: blues.city.service.dogs

📬 Want to join our email list?
Send us an email at BluesCityServiceDogs@gmail.com to stay in the loop on updates, opportunities, and program news.

💬 Can’t Comment on Our Posts? Here’s Why:
If you find that you’re unable to comment, it’s because your account has not followed our page for at least 24 hours. We share a lot of educational and truthful information that can sometimes spark controversy. This policy helps reduce the spread of misinformation, limit spam, and keep trolls at bay, allowing for more productive and respectful conversations.

⚠️ Important Donation Reminder
To ensure your donation reaches us safely, only use links shared on our official posts. Please beware of fake accounts pretending to be us.

💸 Ways to Support Our Rescue & Training Programs
Venmo:

CashApp: $BluesCityServiceDogs

Amazon Wishlist (Emergent Needs):
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZR67JPXC2S2I?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for your continued support, trust, and love for rescue pups with a purpose. We couldn’t do this without you! 🐾💙

12/26/2025

✨🐾 It’s $5 Friday — and our pups need YOU! 🐾✨

We’re getting back on track after the holiday hustle, and while we don’t usually participate in $5 Friday… Christmas chaos meant our pups accidentally took the sidelines. 😬

We shared a Christmas wishlist for them and received one bag of treats 🫣 — and now those treats are almost gone. So we’re sharing their wishlist again to help restock the essentials that keep tails wagging and training fun!

The good news? 💙
Most of our dogs spent the holidays safe, loved, and spoiled with their amazing Puppy Raisers. Every single dog had a human to celebrate with — and that’s a win we’ll never take lightly.

Right now, we do still have two puppies looking for: 🐶 A temporary puppy raiser until January 30, or
🐶 An ideal full-time puppy raiser for about 12 months

Want to help? Here’s how you can make a big impact with a small gesture:

🛒 Shop our Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZR67JPXC2S2I?ref_=wl_share

💵 Or chip in just $5 (or more!)
Venmo:
Cash App: $BluesCityServiceDogs

Every $5, every bag of treats, every share helps us continue rescuing, training, and placing dogs who will go on to change lives. Thank you for standing beside us and helping us help more rescue and shelter dogs. 🐕‍🦺💙

12/26/2025

12/26/2025

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed time with loved ones—two-legged and four-legged alike 🎄🐾
Our team is easing back into routine, so emails will be answered later today. Please note that emails will not be answered after 12:00 PM CDT on New Year’s Eve and will resume on January 2nd.

Reminder: If you find that you cannot comment on a post, your account is not currently following our page. To help keep conversations productive and accurate, commenting is limited to accounts that have followed the page for more than 24 hours. If you’d like to participate in the discussion, please be sure to follow the page.

Thank you for your patience and continued support as we head into the New Year!