Once upon a time, pit bulls were bred to fight to the death in dog fighting rings. Today, they are loving and goofy companions. However, their history has not been forgotten, and some bad apples have perpetuated the idea that this breed is inherently dangerous.
Because of this, pit bulls are often placed on banned breeds lists. They may not be allowed to live in some rentals, travel on some airlines, or receive coverage from some insurance companies. So with all these restrictions, you may be wondering if it is possible for a pit bull to be a service dog.
We are happy to report that the short answer is yes, pit bulls can be service dogs! For more information about why pit bulls can be service dogs and the laws that protect both them and their owners, keep reading.
Pit Bulls Can Be Service Dogs
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any breed of dog can be a service dog. Therefore, pit bulls are also eligible for service work. While there are some breeds that are popular for service work, like Labradors and German shepherds, what is most important about a service dog is their temperament and trainability.
Service dogs need to be able to ignore distractions and focus on their tasks. They should be friendly with dogs and people, as they’ll often be in public places, but disciplined enough that they would not greet others while on the job.
They also need to be calm when working as there may be occasions when they are asked to stay in a lying position for an extended period of time, such as when their user is at a dentist appointment or enjoying a meal at a restaurant.
Any pit bull that has these traits and is motivated to work could become an amazing service dog.
Do Breed Restrictions Affect Service Dogs?
Unfortunately, pit bulls commonly face breed restrictions. Some airlines have them on their banned breeds list and some apartments and housing communities do not allow them. Similarly, many insurance companies will refuse to include pit bulls in their coverage.
However, if your pit bull is a service dog, then many of these breed restrictions go out the window as it is against the law to turn away a service dog, even if the dog is a banned breed.
Airlines are not allowed to turn away your service dog for being a pit bull. Similarly, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects service dog owners so that they can live with their service dogs in any rental, even those that don’t allow pets or have breed restrictions. Not only will you be allowed to live anywhere with your pit bull service dog, but you also won’t have to pay any pet deposits or pet fees.
However, it is important to note that your service dog must be well-behaved. Wherever you are, if your service dog causes damage to another person’s property or self, you will be held accountable and your service dog can be removed from the premises.
In terms of insurance, unfortunately, service dogs do not have any special privileges. Insurance providers are still allowed to deny coverage of banned breeds such as pit bulls regardless of whether or not they are service animals.
Is a Pit Bull the Right Service Dog for You?
Pit bulls tend to be very loving companions who enjoy a good cuddle. Many of them are spirited and goofy and they are a high-energy breed. Pit bulls are known for being escape artists and will require ample training and supervision so that they stay in the yard.
They tend to be medium to large in size and don’t require much in the way of grooming thanks to their short coats. However, most pit bulls do not have an undercoat and they can be sensitive to extreme heat or extreme cold.
Because pit bulls were originally bred for fighting, it is not clear whether or not traits such as gameness (a willingness to fight) have gone completely extinct over time. Though pit bulls are more likely to be aggressive toward other dogs than toward humans, it is important that any pit bull being used for service work does not have any aggressive tendencies.
Any Dog Can Be a Service Dog!
Though pit bull breeds are controversial and face their fair share of discrimination, luckily, that discrimination does not extend to service work. The ADA allows any breed of dog to perform service work.
Other laws also protect service dog users so that they can go on flights and live in rentals without having to worry about their service dog being turned away even if the dog is a pit bull. As long as a pit bull has what it takes to be a service dog, there is nothing standing in their way.
If you are interested in having a pit bull as a service dog, check out US Service Animal’s webpage for details on service dog registration and more.