It is very important that you, as the dogs handler and everyone else involved, understands the difference between service, emotional support and therapy dogs. They are very different and all have different uses. Here is a really good article from AKC about the three types of dogs. I summarized the article below but it is still worth the read.
Service Dogs
These dogs are trained to work with someone with a disability. A disability can be physical, mental, sensory, educational or psychiatric according to the ADA-Americans with Disabilities Act. These dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures, guide someone that is blind, help someone in a wheelchair and many other tasks. Service dogs are not limited to where they can go in public-they are allowed anywhere and must be permitted in housing regardless of the pet policy. They are exempt from airline fees but they do have to follow the rules of the airlines regarding service animals.Emotional Support ESA
In order for an animal to be considered ESA, it must be prescribed by a mental health professional because the person has a mental condition. The animal is trained to aid person with a mental disability. They are not service animals but rather companion animals that help ease the stress of a person with a mental/psychological disability. ESAs do not have unlimited access to public places or on airplanes but the person needs to carry a letter from their doctor to prove the need for the animal. These animals do have rights under the Fair Housing Act to have accommodations made for them in housing that wouldn't normally allow pets.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are different than service or emotional support animals. They are part of a team rather than serving their handler. The team volunteers in places like hospitals, schools, libraries, hospice and other places to bring comfort and love to the people in those environments. A therapy dog should be calm and not easily upset by new environments, loud noises or unsteady people. Therapy dogs have very few rights for entering public places. It is the job of the handler to know where the dog is welcome or check with the establishment before bringing the dog. The team should also be insured which is usually part of the therapy registration with an AKC recognized therapy dog organization.
Something to keep in mind when bringing your dog into public places- always ask or look for a sticker on the establishment that says they are dog friendly. We have an outdoor shopping area close to us and I just recently noticed that many of the stores have stickers on their doors saying they welcome dogs. This is an area where we are practicing "greeting a friendly stranger" because we know we are welcome in many of the stores.
Another aspect not really discussed in the article is for the handler to be ready to explain the difference between the three types of animals. People often mistakenly identify a therapy dog as a service dog and it is important to politely correct/educate them. Ivan is a big fluffy Goldendoodle so I often say he is a "big fluffy stress ball" that brings happiness and love wherever he goes. His job is to be a pal and bring love.
The article also talks about the AKC Canine Good Citizen program which is something Ivan is working towards. He can't test for it until he is a year old but we are already working on all the different parts required for him. Many of the things he needs to pass for the CGC are the same things required to pass to become registered as a therapy dog. His current trainer is an AKC CGC evaluator so he is helping us work towards it.
Sources
Reisen, Jan. “Service Dogs, Emotional Support Dogs, Therapy Dogs: What's the Difference?” American Kennel Club, 31 July 2019, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/service- emotional-support-ptsd-therapy-difference/? utm_medium=email&utm_source=shop&utm_campaign=20190901_shp_service-dog- month_article&utm_term=20190901_shp_service-dog-month.
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