A dog is man’s best friend and proves it in many different ways. From providing simple companionship at one end to providing total service support for physically and mentally impaired, the dog is more than worth his weight in gold, especially when trained as a service dog.

1. The Fine Differences between Service Dogs,
Therapy dog and Emotional Support Animals

2. • A dog is man’s best friend and proves it
in many different ways. From providing
simple companionship at one end to
providing total service support for
physically and mentally impaired, the dog
is more than worth his weight in gold,
especially when trained as a service dog.
• Therapy dogs also provide invaluable
services to their owners. Emotional dogs
may not be trained but the emotional
support they provide and the affection
they give their owners is beyond
compare. They all provide services of one
kind or the other but there are
distinctions.
Introduction

3. • Therapy dogs can be compared to general practitioners who, after
extensive training, do the rounds and provide physiological or
psychological therapy to patients, if they are on general duty. If
assigned to a specific owner they serve as helpful companions and
improve social interaction thus delivering a therapeutic effect.
• In order to qualify as one, a therapy dog must undergo training
and must be certified as also carry a therapy ID, which is not the
case with emotional support animals. Service dogs have specific
tasks for which they are trained whereas therapy dogs provide
more generalized physical and mental support that helps a
disturbed individual regain balance.
• Whereas a service dog may remain aloof, therapy dogs are trained
to be socially interactive with humans and are friendlier in nature.
Therapy dogs

5. • You can pick any puppy or dog and make him your companion. In the
case of physically or mentally challenged individuals, such animals
provide the much required emotional support due to which they are
termed emotional support animals. They have neither the training nor
the specialized skills to handle specific tasks but simply work as
loving companions to their handlers.
Emotional Support Animals

7. • Service dogs are specialists trained extensively for nearly a year or more to
carry out precisely specified tasks. Such dogs are required to be aloof,
never bark, always accompany their handlers and be alert to recognize
symptoms which trigger them to act. They are trained not to bark and will
recognize voice commands as well as hand gestures as well as “sniff” out
symptoms even before the handlers are aware of it and take action to alert
the owner or people nearby and render assistance. You could say he is
almost human in the way he observes, analyzes and takes action to help his
handler.
Service Dogs

9. • Laws apply to service dogs, therapy dogs and
emotional support animals. Service dogs have
the right to accompany their handlers even in
places where pets are forbidden and are
protected by the ADA. Emotional support
animals may be forbidden entry but are allowed
in housing with rules that do not allow pets.
Service dogs must carry a photo ID and
information about trainers as also about their
owners and their disability with contact
numbers. A therapy dog must also be equipped
with a therapy ID obtained from a Animalidshop
specializing in such tags.
• It is not all work and no play for all three
categories. When they are not providing the vital
services to their human masters, they can sleep,
eat play and relax.
Conclusion

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