Difference Between Emotional Support, Therapy, and Service Dogs.

• No Special Training Required: Emotional support dogs do not need specialized training to qualify.
• Housing Rights: Thanks to the Fair Housing Act, emotional support dogs can live with you in housing that typically has a no-pets policy.
• Travel: With recent changes in airline policies, emotional support animals are generally no longer allowed to fly for free in the cabin and are instead treated as regular pets, subject to pet fees and carrier requirements.

• Trained for Social Interaction: Therapy dogs undergo training to behave appropriately in various settings and around different people.
• No Legal Protections: Unlike service and emotional support dogs, therapy dogs do not have the same legal protections for housing or public access.
• Wide Reach: Therapy dogs often visit multiple people, providing comfort to anyone who needs it. Moreover, therapy dogs are even used in schools. They help reduce students’ stress, encourage social interaction, and provide comfort during difficult times.

1. Hearing Dog
2. Guide Dogs
3. Psychiatric service dogs
4. Mobility Dogs
5. Seizure Alert Dogs
6. Diabetes Alert Dogs
7. Autism Support Dogs
8. Medical Alert Dogs
9. Veteran Service Dogs

• Highly Trained: Service dogs undergo rigorous training to perform specific tasks that assist with their owner’s disability.
• Legal Protections: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs have the right to accompany their owners in almost all public spaces, including restaurants, stores, and public transportation.
• Task-Oriented: These dogs perform tasks that directly relate to the owner’s disability, such as retrieving items, guiding, or alerting to medical conditions. Many people wonder, “Do I need a prescription for a service dog?” No prescription is needed, but a diagnosed disability is required.

• Initial Costs: The upfront costs for an emotional support, therapy, or service dog can include adoption fees, initial veterinary care, vaccinations, and, in some cases, training expenses. For a service dog, the cost can be particularly high if you are purchasing a fully-trained dog from an organization.
• Ongoing Costs: Once you have your dog, ongoing expenses will include food, regular veterinary check-ups, grooming, and any necessary medications.
• Financial Assistance: For those concerned about the costs, there are various options for financial assistance. Some non-profits offer grants or financial aid to help cover the costs of obtaining and caring for a service dog. Additionally, there are organizations dedicated to helping veterans, children, and others in need obtain service or therapy dogs at reduced costs.

• Emotional support dogs require basic obedience training and must be well-behaved in public, but there are no specific tasks they need to learn.
• Therapy dogs need to be exceptionally calm, friendly, and adaptable to various environments, which might require more advanced training.
• Service dogs, however, must be trained to perform specific tasks that directly assist their owner’s disability, which can be quite complex.

Not all dog breeds are equally suited for emotional support, therapy, or service roles. Certain breeds tend to excel in these areas due to their temperament, intelligence, and adaptability. Here are some of the factors that you should consider.

• Popular Breeds: Some of the most popular breeds for emotional support, therapy, and service dogs include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Poodles. These breeds are known for their friendly nature and high intelligence, making them easier to train for specific tasks.
• Breed Characteristics: When choosing a breed, consider the characteristics that are most important for the role the dog will play. For example, Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are both highly trainable and have a calm demeanor, making them excellent choices for therapy and service work. Poodles, known for their intelligence and hypoallergenic coat, are often chosen for service work, especially for people with allergies.
• Other Considerations: It’s important to match the dog’s energy level, size, and temperament with your lifestyle and needs. For instance, smaller breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can make great emotional support animals for those living in apartments, while larger breeds may be better suited for service roles that require strength and stamina.

For each type of assistance animal—Emotional Support Animal (ESA), therapy animal, and service animal—specific documentation is essential:

• Emotional Support Animal (ESA): You need an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). This letter confirms that you have a mental or emotional disability and that your ESA is necessary for your well-being. The ESA letter is crucial for housing and sometimes for travel accommodations.
• Therapy Animal: Certification from a recognized therapy animal organization is typically required. The certification process involves passing behavioral evaluations that show the animal can provide comfort in various settings, such as hospitals, schools, or nursing homes.
• Service Animal: While service animals, including Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs), are not legally required to have documentation, having certain documents on hand can be beneficial in specific situations. A PSD letter from a licensed healthcare provider is not legally mandated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but it can be helpful, especially when the dog’s role as a service animal might be questioned.

Additionally, although not required by the ADA, having a training certificate that shows the dog is trained to perform tasks related to your psychiatric disability, and a vaccine certificate to ensure the dog’s health and safety, can be useful. These documents can provide reassurance and help clarify the dog’s role, particularly in situations where the legitimacy of the service animal might be challenged.These documents ensure that your assistance animal is recognized for its specific role, particularly in housing, travel, and public access situations.