Service Dogs vs. Therapy Dogs

Laramee Minor 
Social Media Manager 
  Even though both service dogs and therapy dogs can both be very helpful to their owners, there are many key differences between the two. For many, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two. While both types of dogs are trained, the main difference lies in their purpose and tasks.
  For starters, service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that help in assisting with their handler’s disabilities or medical conditions. Service dogs also undergo very intense training to learn particular commands and habits that will help them aid their handler. There are many different types of service dogs and many different ways that they can help their owners. Medical alert dogs, guide dogs, mobility assistance service dogs, allergy detection dogs, diabetic alert dogs, seizure alert dogs, autism service dogs, and psychiatric service dogs are all examples of types of service dogs. Each kind of service dog has a specific training that they learn to learn the tasks and skills needed to become what their title is for. For example, medical alert dogs are trained to let their handler know if a change in their condition is coming. They can do this in many different ways depending on the condition that their owner has. Diabetic alert dogs are trained to detect changes in blood sugar levels and then let their handler know so that their owner can take medication or proceed with caution. Another example of this is guide dogs. Guide dogs are tasked in helping their handler stay in a straight line, help down stairs and curbs, navigate obstacles, and recognize traffic signals. Service dogs are also protected under federal law. The law that protects service animals is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This allows for service animals to be allowed in any public place, and “no pets allowed” rules do not apply to them. 
  Emotional support animals can be very helpful to their owners however, they do not have the same federal rights or training as service animals do. Where a service animal can have the responsibility of keeping their handler alive, emotional support animals give their owners companionship and comfort. ESAs also do not have to undergo any specialized training to assist their owners. Despite this, emotional support dogs do still help their owners by reducing anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Emotional Support dogs are also not protected under federal law (ADA) like service animals are. They do not have the same access to public places as service dogs do. However, for an animal to become an official emotional support dog they have to be prescribed by a mental health professional. 
  Both kinds of dogs are important in their own way for different reasons; however, it is essential to understand the difference between them. Service dogs are allowed in public places and to assist their handlers in any public place whereas emotional support animals are not. Emotional support dogs have to be prescribed by a mental health physician whereas there is no mandatory legal certification with service animals. However, both have special jobs because they help their owners and handlers. 

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