Your dog’s safety is a priority when out in public, and national parks are no different. In general, service dogs are allowed to go anywhere a person goes, even in places where dogs are generally not allowed. However, there are several rules and guidelines to consider when bringing your service dog into U.S. national parks.
Rules
#1 Service animals must be trained for a specific purpose
According to the National Park Service, “NPS policy defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.”
Park staff and volunteers may not ask what your specific disability is, although you may volunteer that information if you wish. However, they are allowed to ask what specific task your dog is trained to do. Also, service dogs in training are considered pets, so be aware of this before taking your pup with you.
#2 You must pick up after your dog
This goes for any dog, pet or service. You must pick up your dog’s excrement as soon as it happens. Do not leave it in the meadow or the side of the trail. According to Yellowstone National Park’s website, “Service dog fecal matter must be picked up and disposed of properly. Fecal matter should be disposed of in a trash receptacle, toilet, pit toilet, or if none of those are accessible (such as in the backcountry) it should be buried in a small hole, dug a minimum of six inches (15 cm) deep and 200 feet (61 m) from water sources, campsites, or trails.”
Want to know of a quick way to determine what 200 feet is? Check out my post here!
#3 Be sure your dog is up-to-date on his/her vaccinations
Dogs can encounter any number of illnesses in the wilderness, including those from wild animals and their excrement, tainted water, and the many things dogs find to chew on. Check in with your vet before venturing out to be sure your dog has all the vaccinations they need.
#4 Dogs must be leashed and attended to at all times
Visiting national parks is not the time to allow your dog off leash, even if he or she responds immediately and consistently to your commands. Keep your dog leashed or harnessed at all times.
Advice & Guidelines
#5 Check in with a park ranger when you arrive
Yes, your service dog is allowed to go wherever you can. But for your dog’s safety, there are things you need to be aware of at the specific park you are visiting. There are several dangers to your dog that can change by the season, so checking in with a park ranger can assure you that you are aware of these dangers before taking your service dog on the trails. Finding a park ranger is one of the first things we do when entering a national park.
For example, at Mount Rainier National Park, we were informed that there were several mountain goats near the Sunrise Visitor Center. Mountain goats and dogs are natural enemies so we were advised that if we did see any to keep our dog hidden and return back down the trail. This was for our safety and the safety of our service dog. While camping in the Hoh Campground in Olympic National Park we were told that the elk were in rut and would be more likely to charge us, seeing our dog as a threat. We did not see any elk on the trails or in the campground but were glad to know of this so we could keep Freja safe. Besides danger from other animals, there is also the danger that fast moving water can pose, as well as the boiling hot water in places like Yellowstone National Park.
Note: It is also a good idea to check in with forest rangers and campground hosts when outside of national parks, for the same reasons mentioned above.
#6 Please be sure your dog is well trained and under your control at all times
Service dogs are typically well trained and listen to their commands without hesitating. But that’s not the case for all service animals or pets. We have encountered issues with other dogs lunging and growling at Freja, which will always get the attention of a park ranger if one is nearby. In that case, both dogs must be removed from the area, regardless of who is at fault. This means that the person or persons with a legitimate disability is now not allowed in a certain area, even though their service dog is well behaved and they and their owner did nothing wrong. Please, if your dog is not under your complete control, do not bring them into public!
This is by no means a complete list of rules and guidelines for service dogs in national parks. If you have any questions, please contact the national park you plan on visiting or the National Park Service website before starting on your journey.
Do you have a service animal? What has been your experience with them in national parks or other public areas? Let us know in the comments below!
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