What is a Therapy Dog?

Emmi visiting the Eugene Airport.

I've realized that not everyone realizes what a Certified Therapy Dog is. Some people I've talked to think a Therapy Dog is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) and others think they are a Service Dog. I've found a lot of people get Service Dogs and ESA dogs confused. Sadly, it's gotten more confusing because a lot of people with ESA dogs either think they are the same as a Service Dog or think they have the same rights and that really makes it hard for people with real Service Dogs.

Certified Therapy Dogs provide comfort to others. They typically have training which includes basic obedience and manners (many have passed the Canine Good Citizen test) and must be well-behaved in public. They are certified and the agency that maintains their certification, provides insurance and a tag to identify them. The certification process includes a test to ensure they have the temperament and skills to interact with the public, a background check for the handler and observed visits. They can go anywhere they are invited. They cannot go places they aren't invited. They generally cannot fly in the cabin of a plane (some airlines allow crisis response dogs to fly in the cabin).

An ESA provides comfort to their owner and do not require any training. The process to have an ESA consists of a doctor writing a note that you need one. A person with an ESA can have their pet in housing even if it does not allow pets. However, they cannot go anywhere else unless dogs are allowed. While they were able to fly in the cabin of a plane, many airlines no longer allow them to fly.

Service Dogs are specially trained to perform tasks to help their owners. Think guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs, diabetic alert dogs, seizure alert dogs, dogs that assist with mobility, and dogs that assist with PTSD so their person can function.

Service dogs can generally go anywhere that their person goes.

This is a great graphic by Project Canine that summarizes the difference between these three types of dogs.