Are Therapy Dogs Considered Service Dogs Under the Law

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service dog as a dog that is individually trained to perform tasks or do work for a person with a disability.

The ADA does not specifically mention therapy dogs, which are dogs that provide comfort and emotional support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, and other settings.

Under the ADA, service dogs are protected from being denied access to public places, but therapy dogs are not entitled to the same protections.

In fact, the ADA explicitly states that emotional support animals, including therapy dogs, are not considered service animals unless they are trained to perform a specific task related to a person's disability.

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A service dog is a highly trained dog that assists individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or mental health conditions.

Their primary role is to perform specific tasks to help their handler navigate daily life, such as opening doors, picking up items, or providing emotional support.

Service dogs are not the same as therapy dogs, which provide comfort and affection to people in need.

Service dogs are trained to respond to their handler's needs, not to provide emotional comfort or affection to others.

In the United States, service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits businesses from denying access to individuals with service dogs.

To qualify as a service dog, the dog must be trained to perform a specific task to assist its handler.

Service Dog Training involves a thorough evaluation process, which is different from therapy dog training. Therapy dog training typically consists of five one-hour sessions, covering exercises like meeting and greeting, hospital equipment familiarization, and role-playing for a hospital environment.

The evaluation process for service dogs is more comprehensive and may include multiple sessions, but the exact duration is not specified. Good Dog Foundation trainers observe human behaviors that are incompatible with therapy dog service, such as abusive or rough handling of the dog, non-nurturing nature, and harsh or punishing training methods.

In contrast, therapy dog training has specific requirements, including instruction and coaching on safe dog-handling in healthcare facilities. The Good Dog Foundation trainers also recognize that dogs may perform better or worse on a test on any given day, so their total evaluation process is based on performance throughout the training course, not just on a single test.

Here are some common behaviors that may disqualify a dog from therapy dog service:

To become a therapy dog, a dog must be well socialized and have a specific temperament. They should be friendly, enjoy being handled, and able to remain calm in distracting environments.

Therapy dogs-in-training learn specific behaviors that help them better interact with the people around them. These behaviors include holding a down-stay command, jumping up on a bed or chair when asked, and more.

The AKC's Canine Good Citizen test is often the first level of training required to move into therapy work. This test assesses a dog's basic obedience and good manners.

On a similar theme: Public Access Test for Service Dogs

Dogs that don't meet the criteria for therapy work may display behaviors like aggression toward people or other dogs, obvious signs of fearfulness or shyness, or overexcitability.

Here are some specific behaviors that may be incompatible with therapy dog service:

The Good Dog Foundation's trainers also observe human behaviors that are incompatible with therapy dog service. These include abusive or rough handling of the dog, non-nurturing nature, harsh or punishing training methods, and more.

A dog's behavior is not constant and immutable. The Good Dog Foundation's trainers recognize that dogs may perform better or worse on a test on any given day.

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To become a therapy dog, a dog must be well socialized and have a specific temperament, being friendly, enjoying being handled, and able to remain calm in distracting environments.

A therapy dog's training starts with the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test, which is often the first level of training required to move into therapy work.

The Good Dog Foundation offers a thorough evaluation, training program, and follow-up program for its Good Dog Therapy teams, initially evaluating the handler and the dog as a team to determine which level class they are placed in.

The Good Dog Foundation has developed a highly effective multiple-session training course for dogs that uses positive reinforcement and patient, reward-based methods, which allows gentle, loving dogs to participate in therapy dog services work.

Here's a summary of what's included in each of the Good Dog Foundation training programs:

Therapy dog training typically consists of five one-hour sessions, including meeting and greeting exercises, familiarization with hospital equipment, role-playing for the hospital environment, and instruction on safe dog-handling in health care facilities.

A trainer may recommend alternative activities for a dog if it displays certain behaviors or conditions that are not compatible with therapy dog service, such as aggression, fearfulness, or overexcitability.

You don't need to get your service dog certified or registered to take them with you in public places. Individuals who have service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements.

Service animals are subject to the same licensing and vaccination rules that apply to all dogs. Mandatory registration of service animals is not permissible under the ADA.

Colleges and other entities may offer voluntary registries, which are permitted under the ADA. These registries can serve a public purpose, such as ensuring emergency staff know to look for service animals during an emergency evacuation process.

Some communities maintain a voluntary registry that offers benefits like reduced dog license fees for individuals who register their service animals. An entity may not require that a dog be registered as a service animal as a condition of being permitted in public places.

Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to assist individuals with disabilities, whereas therapy dogs provide comfort and emotional support to people in need.

Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are allowed in all public places, but therapy dogs are not.

Therapy dogs require special permits and licenses to work in certain settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, but service dogs do not.

A unique perspective: Ada Law Service Dogs

A service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.

The task performed by the dog must be directly related to the person's disability, such as alerting someone with diabetes to high or low blood sugar levels.

A service animal must be trained to take a specific action when needed, like reminding someone with depression to take their medication or detecting the onset of a seizure in someone with epilepsy.

The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals, with the former being trained to take specific actions to help alleviate symptoms.

If a dog's presence provides comfort, it's not considered a service animal under the ADA.

People with disabilities have the right to train their service animal themselves, without needing to use a professional training program.

Under the ADA, a service animal must already be trained before it can be taken into public places.

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Emotional support dogs provide comfort and companionship for their owners, but are not required to undergo specific training, unlike service and therapy dogs.

They are not allowed access to the same public and private places as service or therapy dogs.

However, if a person living in no-pet housing needs an emotional support dog, a physician might request a special allowance by writing a letter stating that the person's dog is serving as an emotional support dog.

Unfortunately, claiming a dog as an emotional support animal has been abused by some people in recent years, which led to a change in regulations.

As of December 2020, the US Department of Transportation revised the Air Carrier Access Act to no longer allow emotional support dogs in plane passenger cabins.

If you're considering getting an emotional support dog, it's essential to talk with your physician or mental health professional to determine what kind of support you need.

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Service dogs are often picked by breed for certain characteristics, which helps them excel in their specific roles.

Some breeds are naturally suited for service dog work due to their intelligence, athleticism, or temperament.

Service dogs can be trained to perform a wide range of tasks, from pulling wheelchairs to alerting to sounds.

Their specific breed can be an asset in their training, allowing them to focus on the tasks they're best suited for.

For example, some breeds are naturally more alert to sounds, making them ideal for alerting to the telephone or smoke alarms.

Their breed can also influence their ability to navigate different environments, such as crowded public spaces.

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Pet Partners are amazing animals that provide companionship and support to people in need. They can be trained to perform specific tasks to help their owners manage their disabilities.

A person with depression may have a dog that is trained to remind them to take their medication. This task can be a lifesaver for someone struggling with mental health issues.

Pet Partners can also be trained to detect medical conditions like epilepsy. A dog trained to detect the onset of a seizure can help the person remain safe during the seizure.

In some cases, Pet Partners are part of Animal-Assisted Therapy programs. These programs can benefit both humans and animals, providing a healing partnership that promotes well-being and happiness.

Some Animal-Assisted Therapy programs acquire, house, train, and maintain their animals in a way that prioritizes animal welfare. This is great news for the therapy animals, who often need care and attention just like their human partners.

For more insights, see: Can Service Dogs Detect Seizures

Farm Friends are a special breed of therapy animals that bring joy and comfort to people in need. They can be cows, pigs, or even horses like Zoe, a 1,800-pound Percheron mare, who was recognized for her special abilities and participates in goal-oriented therapy.

Some Farm Friends, like Scarlet the cow, have been rescued from difficult situations and now live in peaceful pastures where they can graze and roam freely. Scarlet was confiscated from a Bronx slaughterhouse and now lives at Green Chimneys Children Services in New York.

The bond between children and Farm Friends is incredibly strong, thanks to the "Learn and Earn" program, where kids help care for injured or sick farm animal rescues. This helps them develop empathy and understand their own situations.

Babe, a Yorkshire pig, has lived longer than expected at Green Chimneys, where he's become a beloved therapy animal. He's helped children bond with him through caring for him and learning about his history.

Farm Friends like Scarlet and Babe don't need to perform specific tasks, they just need to listen and be present. They're a reminder that even the simplest interactions can have a profound impact on our lives.

Suggestion: Do Service Dogs Have to Be Registered

Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but there are specific laws and regulations that apply.

The Fair Housing Act applies to many types of housing, both public and privately owned, including housing covered by the ADA. This means that service animals are allowed in housing, but there may be different rules that apply when a resident or applicant with a disability uses a service animal or other animal to assist with their disability.

Service animals are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements, and they are subject to local dog licensing and registration requirements. However, mandatory registration of service animals is not permissible under the ADA.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and their service animals. The ADA defines service dogs as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animals who is trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability.

Service dogs are not considered pets, and their presence in public places is not optional. They are trained to perform specific tasks to aid individuals with disabilities, such as pulling wheelchairs or alerting to sounds.

Mandatory registration of service animals is not permissible under the ADA, but local governments may offer voluntary registries that serve a public purpose, such as ensuring emergency staff know to look for service animals during an emergency evacuation process.

Service animals are subject to local dog licensing and registration requirements, just like all dogs. However, their owners are not exempt from local animal control or public health requirements.

Here's a breakdown of what you need to know about service animal registration:

The ADA requires that service animals be allowed access to public places, including restaurants, libraries, supermarkets, and churches, as well as transportation systems and other public areas and services.

Other housing laws apply to service animals in housing, including the Fair Housing Act, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Under the Fair Housing Act, there may be different rules that apply when a resident or applicant with a disability uses a service animal or other animal to assist with their disability.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for administering the Fair Housing Act, and you can learn more about it on their website or by contacting your Regional Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office.

If you're looking for more information on service animals and the ADA, you can check out the technical assistance documents provided by the ADA, including Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA and ADA Requirements: Service Animals.