If you see a dog wearing blue gear—like a vest, harness, or leash—it could be more than just a fashion choice. Blue is often used to signify that a dog is a service animal or in training, although there is no official color requirement. These dogs assist individuals with disabilities and should not be distracted while performing their duties. Therapy dogs and puppies in training may also wear blue gear to indicate their roles, similar to a “student driver” sign, alerting others that the dog is still learning or working.

However, sometimes blue is simply the owner’s color preference. Still, knowing what gear colors can mean helps the public better respect and understand working dogs. For example, yellow may indicate that a dog needs space; red can signal “Do Not Pet” or denote a working dog; and green is typically used for dogs in training or approachable working dogs. So the next time you see a dog in blue, consider that it might be playing a vital role in someone’s daily life and deserves space and focus to do its job.