Service Dogs vs. Therapy Dogs: What’s the Difference?
Dogs have long been known as loyal companions, but their roles in human lives extend far beyond friendship. Some dogs are specially trained to provide vital support to people with disabilities or emotional needs. However, not all support dogs serve the same purpose or have the same legal rights. Understanding the difference between service dogs and therapy dogs is essential for recognizing their unique roles and how they contribute to the well-being of those they assist.
1. Defining Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs
What is a Service Dog?
Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. These tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability and are critical to their daily functioning. Service dogs can help with a wide range of disabilities, including physical impairments, sensory issues, psychiatric conditions, and more.
Key characteristics of service dogs include:
- Task Training: Service dogs undergo extensive training to perform tasks such as guiding visually impaired individuals, alerting those with hearing impairments to important sounds, pulling wheelchairs, assisting with balance, retrieving objects, and even alerting to medical conditions like seizures or low blood sugar.
- Legal Protections: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are granted broad public access rights. They are allowed to accompany their handlers in almost any public space, including restaurants, stores, hotels, and public transportation.
- Identification: While service dogs are not legally required to wear identification such as a vest or harness, many handlers choose to have their dogs wear them to signal their role to the public.
What is a Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are trained to provide comfort, affection, and support to people in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas. They work with a handler, typically the dog’s owner, to provide emotional support and reduce stress in individuals who are not necessarily the dog’s primary caregiver.
Key characteristics of therapy dogs include:
- Comfort and Support: Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability. Instead, they are selected for their calm, friendly demeanor and ability to interact positively with a wide range of people.
- Training Requirements: While therapy dogs undergo training to ensure they are well-behaved in public and can handle various environments, their training is generally less intensive than that of service dogs.
- Public Access Rights: Therapy dogs do not have the same public access rights as service dogs. They are only allowed in specific settings where they have been invited, such as hospitals or schools. They do not have the legal right to enter public spaces like restaurants or stores unless explicitly permitted by the establishment.
2. The Roles and Responsibilities of Service Dogs
Types of Service Dogs
Service dogs can be trained to assist with a variety of disabilities. Here are some common types of service dogs:
- Guide Dogs: Assist individuals who are visually impaired by leading them around obstacles and helping them navigate their environment safely.
- Hearing Dogs: Alert individuals with hearing impairments to important sounds such as doorbells, alarms, or a crying baby.
- Mobility Assistance Dogs: Help individuals with physical disabilities by providing balance support, retrieving objects, opening doors, and pulling wheelchairs.
- Medical Alert Dogs: Trained to detect specific medical conditions such as seizures, low blood sugar in diabetics, or severe allergies. They can alert their handler to take medication or seek help.
- Psychiatric Service Dogs: Assist individuals with mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression by providing tasks like interrupting harmful behaviors, reminding their handler to take medication, or providing deep pressure therapy.
Training and Certification
Service dogs undergo rigorous and specialized training that can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the tasks they need to perform. Training includes basic obedience, socialization, and task-specific skills. Many service dogs are trained by professional organizations, but some individuals may also train their own service dogs with the help of a trainer.
While there is no official certification required for service dogs under the ADA, having documentation from a recognized organization can be beneficial in proving the dog’s training and role. However, businesses are only allowed to ask two questions to determine if a dog is a service animal:
- Is the dog required because of a disability?
- What tasks is the dog trained to perform?
Legal Rights and Protections
Service dogs have extensive legal protections under the ADA. They are allowed to accompany their handler in any public place, regardless of pet policies. This includes transportation, housing, and employment. Additionally, service dogs cannot be denied access based on breed, size, or appearance.
3. The Roles and Responsibilities of Therapy Dogs
Types of Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs can be categorized based on the type of support they provide and the environments in which they work:
- Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) Dogs: Work with professionals such as therapists or counselors to provide therapeutic benefits during treatment sessions. AAT dogs help patients improve their physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.
- Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) Dogs: Visit various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas to provide comfort and companionship. AAA dogs are often part of volunteer programs and do not work with a specific therapist.
- Reading Assistance Dogs: These therapy dogs help children improve their reading skills by providing a calm, non-judgmental presence during reading sessions. Children read aloud to the dog, which can help build their confidence and fluency.
Training and Certification
Therapy dogs must be well-behaved, calm, and comfortable around people of all ages and backgrounds. They undergo basic obedience training and are often certified by organizations that specialize in therapy dog programs. Certification typically involves passing a temperament test, proving that the dog can remain calm in various situations and respond appropriately to commands.
While therapy dogs do not have the extensive training that service dogs undergo, they must be socialized and able to handle different environments, including loud noises, medical equipment, and various types of people.
Legal Rights and Limitations
Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs do not have the right to enter public spaces that do not allow pets. They are only allowed in locations where they are providing a service, such as during visits to hospitals, schools, or nursing homes. Therapy dogs do not have ADA protections, and their access to public spaces is entirely dependent on the policies of the individual establishment.
4. Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): A Third Category
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is a pet that provides emotional support to an individual with a mental health condition or emotional disorder. ESAs are not trained to perform specific tasks like service dogs, but their presence alone can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.
Key characteristics of ESAs include:
- Companionship: ESAs provide comfort and companionship to their owner, helping them cope with emotional challenges.
- No Special Training: Unlike service dogs and therapy dogs, ESAs are not required to undergo any special training. Their role is purely to provide emotional support through their presence.
- Legal Rights: ESAs do not have the same legal rights as service dogs. They are allowed in housing under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and may be permitted on airplanes under certain conditions, but they do not have public access rights.
Training and Certification
There is no mandatory training or certification process for ESAs. However, to qualify for an ESA, an individual must have a documented mental health condition and receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional. This letter states that the person requires the ESA for emotional support.
Legal Rights and Limitations
ESAs have limited legal protections compared to service dogs. Under the FHA, individuals with ESAs are allowed to live with their animal even in housing with a no-pet policy. However, ESAs do not have the right to enter public spaces such as restaurants, stores, or other establishments that do not allow pets.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) previously allowed ESAs to travel with their owners in the cabin of airplanes, but recent changes have restricted this right, and now only service dogs are guaranteed to fly in the cabin.
5. Choosing the Right Dog for the Right Role
Determining Your Needs
If you or a loved one requires the assistance of a dog for a specific disability, it’s important to determine whether a service dog, therapy dog, or ESA is the right choice. Consider the following:
- Service Dog: If you have a disability that requires specific tasks to be performed, a service dog is the best option. Service dogs are trained to assist with daily activities and provide independence.
- Therapy Dog: If you’re looking to volunteer and provide comfort to others, a therapy dog may be the right fit. Therapy dogs bring joy and relief to those in hospitals, schools, and other settings.
- ESA: If you have a mental health condition and benefit from the companionship of an animal, an ESA may be appropriate. ESAs provide emotional support but do not perform specific tasks or have public access rights.
Selecting the Right Breed
While any breed can become a service dog, therapy dog, or ESA, certain breeds are better suited for specific roles due to their temperament, size, and abilities:
- Service Dogs: Breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds are commonly chosen as service dogs because of their intelligence, trainability, and