Service Dogs vs Emotional Support Dogs

Assistance animals help people with medical and physical conditions lead more independent lifestyles. They fall into two main categories: emotional support dogs and service dogs. They serve different purposes and have different legal rights and protections.

This article will discuss the differences between service dogs and emotional support dogs so you can better understand how each should be treated in society.

Service Dogs

Title II and Title III of the ADA define service animals as dogs trained to perform tasks to aid a person with a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or mental disability. They may:

Alert a person with a hearing impairment when they detect certain sounds
Assist a visually impaired person with navigation
Assist a person having a seizure
Provide medication reminders
Provide balance and stability to people with mobility issues
Help people with mental disorders by preventing or interrupting self-harming or dangerous activities

Legal Rights and Protections

Service dogs are eligible for certain rights and protections. For example, they are allowed in almost any public space, including spaces other dogs are not typically allowed in. They may be permitted in restaurants, grocery stores, and on airplanes.

If a handler and service dog are denied access to a public space, they may take legal action against the owner or manager.

Training Requirements

Service dogs must undergo training to ensure they can perform their handler’s required tasks, which differ between disabilities. Initial training is typically completed in 1-2 years, although refresher courses can be ongoing.

Certification and Identification

Handlers are not required to provide specific identification for their service dog. The dogs don’t need to wear vests, and handlers don’t need to carry particular licenses. However, several online services provide licenses and registrations for service dogs.

Some handlers choose to attain licenses and registrations to prevent confusion. If a business owner tells a handler to remove their service dog from the premises, the handler may show a certification or registration to prove they have a right to be there and prevent future arguments.

Emotional Support Dogs

This section will discuss emotional support dogs so you understand the difference between service dogs and emotional support dogs.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Development, an emotional support dog is any animal that provides emotional support to a person with a disability, alleviating one or more symptoms. They may:

Provide companionship
Help relieve anxiety and depression

Legal Rights and Limitations

Unlike service dogs, emotional support animals are not permitted in every public space. Like any other dog, it is up to the owner to allow an emotional support dog in their business. However, some employers may allow workers to take an emotional support animal into the workplace.

Training and certification

Another difference between emotional support dogs and service dogs is that emotional support dogs do not require training. Furthermore, no amount of training can qualify them as service dogs. No service will certify or register an emotional support animal.

Differences Between Service Dogs and Emotional Support Dogs

If you are wondering what the difference between a service dog and an emotional support dog is, here are a few facts to consider.

Primary function: A service dog can help people with various disabilities live more independently, and emotional support animals help people with emotional disorders.
Legal status and public access rights: Service dogs are legally permitted in almost every public space. Emotional support animals are limited, much like any other dog.
Training and certification requirements: A service dog requires training according to the disability it serves. An emotional support dog may be trained, but it does not require any training.
Tasks performed: Service dogs help handlers with mobility issues, medical reminders, navigation, and hearing assistance as needed. Emotional support and animal responsibilities are more mentally focused.
Housing and travel accommodations: Service animals are permitted to fly in an airplane’s cabin. Emotional support animals may also fly but are subject to fees and must be kept in a carrier under the airplane seat. Both service animals and emotional support animals may live in no-pet apartments because they are considered medical tools rather than pets.

Common Misconceptions

Several misconceptions exist about service dogs vs. emotional support dogs, which could result in a legal battle. If you are a business owner or anyone else who might grant or deny access to someone entering a property with a dog, it’s essential to understand the difference. Service dog handlers denied access to a public space may file a complaint or sue.

Differences also exist in the training and certification of each animal. Service dogs require training, while emotional support animals may be trained but are not required.

While neither animal requires certification, service dog handlers may obtain certification to avoid confusion. There is no certification for emotional support animal owners. However, owners may obtain a doctor’s note stating they require an emotional support animal.

Choosing the Right Assistance

Do you need help determining which dog is right for you? Generally, a service dog assists with physical needs, while an emotional service animal assists with mental needs.

Service dogs can help people with mental disorders but usually assist with physical needs. For example, they may assist a person with PTSD by shielding them from big crowds. They may also fetch medication or assist if their handler has a breakdown.

Emotional support animals provide a calming presence in the face of mental upsets.

You may consult a healthcare professional if you are still determining which animal is right for you. They will help you find the right kind of assistance. They can also provide documentation proving you need an emotional support or service dog, which can help you qualify for ownership and minimize confusion in confrontational situations.

Be aware that you could get in trouble for claiming an emotional support animal is a service dog to become eligible for the same accommodations. You also cannot take legal action against someone who denies you and your emotional support animal access typically afforded to a service dog animal and their handler.

Conclusion

So, is an emotional support dog a service dog? No, they are not the same. Here are some key differences to consider.

Service dogs require training; emotional support animals don’t.
Service dogs have access to public spaces, and emotional support animals may have access to certain spaces, but their rights are more limited.
Service dogs typically address physical issues or assist people with mental disorders, while emotional support animals always assist with mental issues.
Service animals are always dogs, although sometimes miniature horses may qualify. Emotional support animals include dogs, cats, rodents, birds, pigs, etc.

Although service dogs may have more rights than emotional support animals, it’s important to respect both types of assistance animals. Failure to do so may result in legal action.

Justice Speaks helps people learn more about service dog and handler rights. We educate school-aged children to treat service dogs and handlers respectfully and ensure they are treated fairly in the workplace.

Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs: Key Differences