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I am looking for information on getting a dog a service dog distinction.  
I have called saint john ambulance and they don't do it. there was a website canada service dog..but seemed kinda sketchy. $200.00 for small vest saying "service dog" this is for a small dog...this is for medical reasons. thanks

If it was for medical reasons, would a doctor be able to refer you to the proper organization? You would need to go through appropriate medical channels. I don''t believe that it is easy nor cheap.  
 
That organization may be sketchy. I know neither way. I do know that in the US, many people would abuse this distinction and pay sketchy organizations (they exist to scam people for their money) to give them "paperwork" and so on so that they could claim their animal was a support/service animal, often for "medical reasons" (referring to these particular owners, not you) that could not be easily seen nor proven in a minute or two. These medical reasons were bogus and their ID for this was bogus, of course. This got their animals special rates when flying, they could keep them with them in the cabin & so on.  
 
I understand that a true service dog needs to be trained as such and screened for potential problems, & needs to respond appropriately to the medical condition & to those around them to qualify as a service dog, and that paying for a special vest in itself would not be enough to give one's regular dog that distinction. I believe it is quite regulated.  
 
Edited by Flutterby, 2018-01-18 17:20:12

I'm pretty sure that you can't just give your dog a "distinction" as a service dog.  
 
Service dogs are trained as such from the time they are puppies. Also, the owners have to go through a training period, as well, in order to work with a service dog. Its also very costly to train a service dog.  
 
What can your dog do that makes you think he/she should be a service dog?

Don't you mean trained as a service dog no service dog trainer is going to give their designation on a dog unless it meets standards and has been trained and tested, a vest and some papers doesnt make a service dog.

Are you looking for an emotional support designation.  
If you are:  
In the USA a patient can have their therapist designate their pet as an emotional support animal (ESA) and they have many of the same rights as a trained service dog. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  
 
This is not the rule in Manitoba.  
http://manitobahumanrights.ca/v1/education-resources/resources/policies-pages/policies-i-9.html  
 
Edited by loeog, 2018-01-18 21:17:22

I have a friend who has a "service dog" now for almost 2 yrs.....the dog went through rigorus training as a pup, and when he was 1 my friend had to go for a week to work with the dog.....  
I work in retail and we have had people come in with little dogs that have the fake service dog vests on, any real trained service dog you should not be allowed to touch it and the dog stays right beside it's owner. These ones with the fake dogs have their dogs on retractable leashes, pulling ahead, has growled at employees/customers but these people insist it's an emotional dog.....if that was the case they wouldn't allow everyone petting the dog or allowing it to pull ahead or growl at people....

I am sory to inform you but it is against the law for any resturant or public establishment to refuse axcess to a person with a service animal. I would sugest to alot of people reading this post to educate youselfs further on who is allowed to train a service dog as well. Under curent laws it is not requiered that the dog be profesionaly trained and can be trained by the owner/ owners themself. Proof of disabilety is required and smart to cary around with you. ESA ( emotional suport ) do not fall under the service animal requierments and therefore are not protected like service dogs for mobilety stabilety suport or other disabiletys and are not allowed everywere servixe dogs are allowed. It is not as simple as going to your dr anymore and jist getting a letter. Happy camper feel free to PM me and i can help point you in the right direction and to the corect information you need tlto move forward.

Check out www.msar.ca  
 
They can help answer your questions.

Nate29 said "I am sory to inform you but it is against the law for any resturant or public establishment to refuse axcess to a person with a service animal. I would sugest to alot of people reading this post to educate youselfs further on who is allowed to train a service dog as well. Under curent laws it is not requiered that the dog be profesionaly trained and can be trained by the owner/ owners themself. Proof of disabilety is required and smart to cary around with you. ESA ( emotional suport ) do not fall under the service animal requierments and therefore are not protected like service dogs for mobilety stabilety suport or other disabiletys and are not allowed everywere servixe dogs are allowed. It is not as simple as going to your dr anymore and jist getting a letter. Happy camper feel free to PM me and i can help point you in the right direction and to the corect information you need tlto move forward. "

Maybe you are referring to someone else's post? Please make sure you don't put words in other people's mouths. Please read carefully and make sure that you are understanding what is written. I did not say restaurant. I was also not accusing this person of being a scammer.  
 
In my post, I was referring to the scammers & how they worked (obviously a legitimate concern of the OP). I also was referring to those who did not have a true service animal and ABUSED the system. There are both. Many have done this and are still doing so. In this case, an establishment certainly CAN refuse access. Just bringing a dog into a place does not a service dog make, otherwise most pet owners would do just that and claim such for their convenience. I trained it, so it is good to go. We trained our dog, and he can be relied on for many things, but he certainly is not a service animal.  
 
The news report I have in mind focused mainly on air travel, but also had briefly mentioned other places. These people also had FAKE proof of disability signed by a fake "doctor"/"professional". Scammers are out there on both ends. They referred to both service animals (not dogs only) & ESA. I think what made this news was a "support" snake on a plane, but many other animals were also mentioned. I did not put together the prime time tv news report, by the way.  
 
You do need proof of your disability, as you said. Now, why would a doctor not be able to give proof of this? Isn't that who you go to for diagnoses & treatment? Someone trained to treat mental health issues & prescribe is a doctor. They should also know a legitimate place to refer people to (even to a specialist/service club) so that they are not scammed. Who do you need to go to if not a legitimate doctor?  
 
I am well aware that a true service dog can accompany its owner into establishments. That is common knowledge and I have no issue with a person who needs one having a legitimate service dog.  
 
I checked the links given. I am not above educating myself on issues. The www.msar.ca looks like a great one to start from. I wish the OP success in their search for answers.