Service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs all serve important roles in helping people with various needs. But do you know what the differences between them are?
I often get asked, “How do I make my dog a service dog, emotional support dog, or therapy dog?” It’s important to know the differences, both in what jobs they do and what legal protections they have. In this episode, I demystify these often-confused roles to help you understand if one of them is right for your canine companion. I also touch on the troubling trend of people misrepresenting their pets as service dogs and how this can undermine the legitimacy of true service animals.
- Distinctions between service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs
- Legal protections of service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs
- The selection and training process for service dogs
- Behavior and training requirements for service dogs in public settings
- The consequences of falsely representing pets as service dogs
Whether they’re guiding, comforting, or simply being present, service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs all play a vital role in our society, and recognizing the distinctions between each helps ensure they can continue to serve those in need effectively.
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