Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, affection, and emotional support to individuals in various settings. They undergo obedience training and must demonstrate calmness, good manners, and sociability with people of all ages and backgrounds. They work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, disaster areas, and other locations to alleviate stress and boost morale. Therapy dogs need to pass a temperament test and may require certification depending on the organization or facility they visit. The journey to a well balanced Therapy dog requires training and working together with your dog as a team. Training can be in the form of basic and advanced obedience group classes followed by Therapy Dog class. Another option is a Stay, Play & Learn program followed by Therapy Dog class. Upon completion of Therapy Dog class the team is eligible for certification through a National Organization.

 Emotional support dogs provide comfort and emotional stability to individuals suffering from mental or emotional conditions. They are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and do not have public access rights like service dogs. To be recognized as an emotional support dog, a licensed mental health professional must prescribe their need for therapeutic support. Emotional support dogs may be permitted to live in housing with no-pet policies (with appropriate documentation).

Service dogs are highly trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. These tasks can include guiding individuals who are blind or visually impaired, alerting to sounds for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, retrieving items, providing stability alerting to blood sugar instability, heart rate monitoring, preventing self-harm, detecting gluten, finding exits, creating space, and more. Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and have public access rights, allowing them to accompany their handlers into places where pets are typically not allowed. They undergo extensive training to perform tasks directly related to their handler’s disability and must exhibit impeccable behavior in public. A doctor’s statement is recommended as there is no certification required for Service Dogs.  It is against the law to impostor a Service Dog. Imposter dogs lacking this training and put into stressful situations may exhibit unpredictable behavior potentially endangering legitimate Service Dogs and endangering public safety.

Each type of assistance dog serves a distinct purpose, tailored to the specific needs of individuals requiring their support, whether it’s for therapeutic comfort, emotional stability, or physical assistance.

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