Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs and Emotional Support Animals – Are they different?
Categories: Blog
You have likely crossed paths with a dog wearing a vest, brightly colored, and in a public location that does not allow pets. They are often super cute Golden Retreivers and when you rush to pet them, you are asked to please not interact with them as they are a service dog, therapy dog, or emotional support pet. As you walk away you think to yourself…”therapy dog?” “emotional support pet?” “Service dog?” Is there a difference?
The simple answer is…YES. Service dogs, therapy dogs and emotional support pets are different, each having a different job from the others and are used quite differently to help support their 2-legged parent.
Let’s review each of these categories:
Service Dogs
Service Dogs are trained to perform tasks based on the disability of their handler. Their handlers rely on them for daily safety, independence, and active living where without them, their handlers’ disabilities would otherwise be quite limiting. A common example of a service dog is a dog that is trained as a guide dogs for the blind.
Therapy Dogs
Similar to service dogs, therapy dogs also receive training, but their job is quite different from service dogs. Therapy dogs provide psychological or physiological therapy to individuals other than their handlers. Therapy dogs commonly visit institutions such as hospitals, schools, hospices, and nursing homes, interacting with a variety of people while they’re on-duty, proving psychological or physiological therapy.
Emotional Support Animals
As compared to Service Dogs or Therapy Dogs, Emotional Support Animals are not required to undergo specialized training. Emotional Support Animals provide their disabled owners with emotional comfort. As compared to the previous 2 classifications, the ADA does not grant owners of emotional support animals the right to be accompanied by these animals in establishments that do not permit pets, the DOJ/HUD’s Fair Housing Act does allow for disabled owners of emotional support animals to reside in housing that has a “No Pets” policy, as a reasonable accommodation.
Knowledge is power!
Garret Pachtinger, VMD, DACVECC
Board Certified Emergency and Critical Care Specialist
Co-Founder, VETgirl
Below is a handy table to help differentiate between each classification.
| Characteristics | Service Dog | Therapy Dog | Emotional Support Animal |
| Handlers’ can be accompanied by these dogs in establishments open to the public, protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
X |
|
|
| Dogs are individually trained to perform tasks or do work to mitigate their handlers’ disabilities. |
X |
|
|
| Petting, talking to or otherwise distracting these dogs can interfere with their job and pose a danger to the dog and handler. |
X |
|
|
| Dogs must have a good temperament, able to tolerate a wide variety of experiences, environments and people. |
X |
X |
|
| Even if housing does not permit pets, a “no-pet” policy, these dogs may live with their disabled owners. |
X |
|
X |
| Dogs visit hospitals, schools, hospices, etc to aid in psychological or physical therapy. |
|
X |
|
| Handlers encourage these dogs to accept petting and socialize while they’re on-duty. |
|
X |
|
| Dogs’ primary functions are to provide emotional support, through companionship, to their disabled owners. |
|
|
X |
| Subject to state laws regarding dog licensing and vaccination. |
X |
X |
X |
| These dogs enjoy plenty of off-duty time, during which they rest, take part in fun activities and get to act like a regular, pet dog. |
X |
X |
X |
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