Service Dog, Emotional Support Dog, and Therapy Dog: The Comparison

Assistance animals are becoming popular nowadays thanks to their ability to help the impaired people. Assistance animals include many different types of animals that can provide us, humans, with physical and mental assistance. These can include dogs, cats, rabbits, hedgehogs, piglets, or even snakes. They are all friendly in nature, which is why they are able to sympathize with their human companions.

Assistance animals contain different categories. These include service animals, therapy animals, and emotional support animals. People usually confuse the three categories and consider them the same. However, there is a considerable difference between them, and they are surely NOT the same.

Confused on what is a servcie, ESA or a therapy dog?

Are you confused about the differences between service dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs? realesaletter can help you better understand these distinctions and provide you with an emotional support animal (ESA) letter if you need one. A service dog is trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability, while an emotional support dog provides comfort and emotional support to individuals with mental health conditions. A therapy dog, on the other hand, is trained to provide emotional support to others, typically in a healthcare setting. real esa letter is a trusted provider of ESA letters, which allow you to legally live and travel with your emotional support animal. Our licensed mental health professionals can help determine if an ESA is right for you and provide the necessary documentation. Contact us today to learn more.

Dogs are the most common of all three types of these assistance animals. They are known to provide comfort to their owners and help them through any difficulties in their lives. No wonder they are a man’s best friend! Now, before you register yourself for one of these, you should really know what the difference between each of the dogs is so that you can see which one of the three types is the best choice for you.

Service dogs are trained to assist people with severe physical disabilities, which do not allow them to perform certain tasks. A therapy dog, on the other hand, is trained only to provide their owners with comfort and affection, especially if they have suffered from an unfortunate incident or difficult situation. An esa dog or emotional support dog is another type of assistance dog that helps its owner by providing relief from emotional or mental stresses due to its therapeutic benefits. Let's get into more details and discuss the tasks of all three types of dogs, see how they can be trained, and learn what the law says about them.

Service Dogs

Under the law, service dogs are considered as the animals that help people with any mental or physical disability to perform their daily work. People that have certain diseases are allowed to register for service dogs. Once they are adopted, service dogs can be kept with you anywhere, even in places where there is a no-pet policy. These types of dogs are protected under different laws. These include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), and Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). To be eligible for getting service dogs, you need to have a certain disease that is listed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), some of which include stress disorders, depression, cerebral palsy, paralysis, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders. However, the act does not permit you to have a document such as an emotional support animal letter to prove that your animal is a service dog. Service dogs are supposed to be well-trained; hence, they should be under the owner’s control. You should make sure they complete the tasks that they are assigned. For instance, if you have diabetes, your service dog should be able to detect your blood sugar levels. Similarly, if you have a certain paralysis, which hinders you from walking, then your service dog should be able to push your wheelchair if you want to go out for some fresh air.

Emotional Support Dogs

         Emotional support animals are the animals that help you cope with the effects of any physical or mental distresses. Unlike service dogs, emotional support dogs are not protected under all the acts. They are recognized under the fair housing act or FHA, according to which you are allowed to take your dog anywhere once it is certified. The emotional support dogs can be kept with you in your homes or apartments, even if the building or the landlords have imposed a no-pet policy. All you need is to get an esa letter for housing, and you and your esa dog are good to go. Emotional support dogs are not exactly trained for certain tasks. They are only there to provide you with their affection and help you therapeutically. However, like service dogs, esa dogs also require love and care. Be sure to take care of the food they eat and make sure they exercise to stay as lively and active as they are expected to be.

Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs are not your pets. They are present in medical hospitals or facilities to comfort people who are going through troubling times and are recognized under AKC or American Kennel Club. Many pieces of research prove that due to the presence of therapy dogs, people have reported maintaining blood pressure, anxiety reduction, and an increase in endorphins and oxytocin. Unlike service dogs, they are not specifically trained for certain tasks. Therapy dogs need to have certain characteristics. Not every dog is qualified to be known as a therapy dog. They should be calm, not aggressive, and have a friendly nature, which makes them affectionate with strangers as well. Therapy dogs are trained under specific programs. If you think your pet dog has the tendency to be one, all you have to do is register it for the therapy classes.

Therefore, in a nutshell, assistance dogs have become an important part of people’s lives following the unfortunate and difficult circumstances they face in life. You can get yourself your very own assistance dog by registering for it at the necessary facility or online at the relevant website. What you need to do is see what kind of condition you have and then select the type of dog that can help you the best. Hopefully, this article made it clear how all three types of dogs are different and will help you make the right choice. 

 By the way guys on a side note if you are considering an ESA then you must acquire an ESA Letter and here are some of its benefits to help you make your decision better.

ESA Letter California

Air trip benefits: Californians with an emotional support beast( ESA) letter can bring their beast onboard an aeroplane
without paying fresh freights.

Housing benefits: Landlords in California are needed to allow ESAs in casing units, indeed if the structure has a no- faves policy.

Public access benefits: ESAs in California have no legal right to public access, but they're generally allowed in public areas similar as premises and cafes.

ESA Letter Florida

Air trip benefits: Florida residers with an ESA letter can bring their beast on aeroplanes for free, without any fresh freights.

Housing benefits: Under Florida law, landlords must permit residers with ESAs to live in their casing unit, indeed if the structure has a no- precious policy.

Public access benefits: ESAs in Florida are allowed to accompany their proprietor in public spaces similar as caffs
, cafes, and shops.

ESA Letter New York

Air trip benefits: New Yorkers with an ESA letter can bring their beast on aeroplanes for free, without any fresh freights.

Housing benefits: Landlords in New York must allow ESAs in casing units, indeed if the structure has a no- precious policy.

Public access benefits: ESAs in New York are allowed to accompany their proprietor in public spaces similar as shops, cafes, and premises .