Service Dog or Therapy Dog:

What's the Difference?

     As a tester-observer for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and a dog trainer, I frequently meet people who are unaware of the differences between a therapy dog, a service or assistance dog, and an emotional support dog.

     There are very definite, legal differences between the 3 and I am hoping that this article will help clear up some confusion and will help everyone share the differences!

     THERAPY DOGS are dogs that are well trained, self-confident dogs whose job is to go with their owner to visit others to help make the other people have a pleasanter, more fulfilling life. Therapy Dogs work with an owner/handler and many different clients. They may go to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, etc. at the invitation of the facility they are visiting BUT they do NOT have any right to go there unless invited. They DO NOT have what is called 'public access' and may only go where a regular pet dog is welcome unless they are invited in to visit.

     EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOGS are dogs that help their person partner deal with difficult life situations. They also should be well trained and self-confident but their job is to assist their owner to deal with the emotional stresses of daily life. Emotional Support Dogs work only with their owner. They may help with verifiable psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, panic attacks, etc. It is the dog's physical presence that assists with the disorder, not any specific training. Emotional Support Dogs have only limited public access rights that deal with housing and transportation needs for their partner. They DO NOT have any public access rights in places like theaters, restaurants, or stores.

     SERVICE/ASSISTANCE DOGS are dogs that are highly trained to do specific tasks to help a person with a physical disability. Their job is to do tasks that their partner either cannot do or has difficulty doing independently. This type of dog, which works only with their owner, may help a person who is blind/visually impaired, deaf/hearing impaired, physically challenged, subject to seizures, severely allergic, etc. to be more independent. Service/Assistance Dogs DO have full public access and are legally allowed to be in ANY public location as long as they are well-behaved and not causing a disturbance. It is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act  (ADA) to exclude a Service/Assistance Dog from any public facility.

     Claiming that a pet dog or a therapy dog is either an Emotional Support Dog or a Service/Assistance Dog is illegal and carries sanctions and fines which can vary from state to state.

     PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do your part to ensure the success of these working teams:

• Never give in to the temptation to masquerade your pet as a working dog
• Never pet or interact with a working animal without first asking for permission
• Always help to educate others so that they understand the differences between Therapy, Emotional Support, and Service/Assistance dogs. The Alliance of Therapy Dogs has a very clear explanation of the differences on its webpage.