Emotional support animals and service dogs are the most common types of support animals. While both types of support animals have their benefits, it’s important to understand how they’re different. This is because their differences determine how they’re interpreted by the law, where you can bring them, and the type of training they need to have.
The key difference is that service dogs are protected under several federal acts, like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, but there’s more to it than that.
Read on to learn more about what makes a service dog and emotional support animal different.
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What Is an Emotional Support Animal?
Emotional support animals (ESA) are support animals that help with mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Any type of animal can be an ESA, but they need to be friendly and well-behaved, or else this can cause problems, and the animal can lose their privileges if they harm someone.
These animals also have some protections under the law, but not as many as service dogs. For example, they have protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act prevents landlords from discriminating against tenants who have disabilities, and if you have an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional, you can live in apartments that are otherwise not pet-friendly.
Does an Emotional Support Dog Need Training?
No, emotional support dogs don’t require training. In fact, no type of emotional support animals need training because they’re only there to provide emotional support for you. That said, we still recommend emotional support animals receiving basic behavioral training because landlords can remove you and your companion if they cause problems on the property or around other tenants.
What’s a Service Dog?
A service dog is a canine companion that has specialized training to help someone who has a disability. Service dogs are trained to help with both physical and mental health disabilities, so there is a wide range of tasks they can be trained for. Aside from training designed to care for someone who’s disabled, these dogs also have behavioral training to help them remain calm and alert in public. Some service dogs may even be trained to help in disasters, with the police, and even as guard dogs.
It’s also important to note that service dogs are protected by laws outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). This means that they can go with you to public places, private businesses, and even on airlines (as long as they follow the rules).
What Type of Training Does a Service Dog Need?
Service dogs require specialized training to help people with disabilities, which is done best by a professional. It’s recommended for a service dog to be trained from a young age (starting at around six months) because some specific tasks can take a lot of time and dedication.
When it comes to service dog training, always make sure you work with a professional for the best results. Otherwise, the dog might fail specific tests and be unable to help you in emergencies. Thankfully, service dog training is readily available if you know where to look, and organizations like US Service Animals can help.
What About Therapy Dogs?
Therapy dogs also deserve some attention because they’re often lumped in with ESAs or service dogs; however, this is not the case. These dogs are closer to emotional support animals than they are service dogs because they’re still classified as someone’s pet. That said, they do have some of the same protections that ESAs have under the FHA.
It’s also important to note that therapy dogs are unique aside from their legal classification. Unlike emotional support animals and service dogs, they’re meant to interact with groups of people to help them relax and feel calm.
You’ll usually find therapy dogs in places like funeral homes, hospitals, schools, and other places where groups of people need support.
Get the Help You Need From a Support Animal Today
Service dogs and emotional support animals are not the same, and it’s important to understand the differences. Failing to do so can result in legal problems, such as being unable to fly with a dog when you need them for comfort, and being unable to get help in public.
Thankfully, the differences aren’t too complex once you know what a service dog and ESA are. Think of an ESA as a companion that can live in your home, while a service dog is an extension of your treatment that can follow you just about wherever you go. Don’t forget to register your ESA or service dog for the best results.
