Understanding the Differences Between Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Emotional Support Dogs

Dogs are deemed as good friends of humans and offer significant support to us in multiple ways, from helping disabled individuals to comforting patients in therapeutic settings. Nonetheless, not all assistance dogs serve the same purpose, and their legal classifications considerably diverge from each other. In the US, service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs are distinct categories, each with specific responsibilities, trained skills, and legal rights.

The blog explores the key differences between these three groups of assistance dogs, including their purposes, common breeds, standard skills, and legitimate properties under US laws.

1. Service Dogs

Definition and Purpose

According to the Assistance Dogs International (ADI), a service dog is officially defined as “a dog that works for individuals with disabilities other than blindness or deafness.” These disabilities can be physical, psychiatric, intellectual, or mental health-related.

Examples of tasks performed include:

• Bracing

• Retrieving

• Alerting to a medical crisis

• Providing assistance in a medical crisis

Service dogs should not be treated as pets but working animals instead. The work they have been trained to do must be closely related to their handlers’ disability.

Common Breeds for Service Dogs

• Labrador Retrievers: popular for guidance tasks and mobility supports

• Golden Retrievers: affective, eager to please, and easily trained for complex tasks related to patients with psychiatric or medical conditions

• German Shepherds: talented with blood sugar monitoring due to a powerful sense of smell

• Poodles: a passive breed that loves challenging and completing tasks with owners

• Collies: one of the smartest dog breeds in the world that are especially sensitive to emotions

Policies and Legal Rights

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulates that service dogs must be under their handlers’ control, meaning that they must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless their handlers’ disability prevents them from doing so or these devices interfere with the service dogs’ safety or performance.

Service dogs enjoy full public access rights under the ADA. 

• All state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that are open to the public generally must allow service dogs to accompany their disabled handlers in all areas that are permitted to go.

• Businesses should not deny access or refuse service to people using service dogs due to any invalid reasons.

• People with disabilities who use service dogs cannot be charged fees that are not charged to other patrons without animals. And a deposit or fee must be waived for service dogs and their handlers if a business requires any to be paid by patrons with pets.

2. Therapy Dogs

Definition and Purpose

Based on ADI’s definition, therapy dogs are “trained to provide affection, comfort, and love to many people in many different settings” such as hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, schools, and treatment centers. Their roles are often complementary to more conventional treatments or therapies via supportive, calming, and engaging interactions.

Common Breeds for Therapy Dogs

• Labrador Retrievers

• Golden Retrievers

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: not excessively energetic but still enjoy pleasing people

• Beagles: have a friendly disposition and love to be around people

• Pugs: less intimidating due to small sizes and gentle with young kids

Policies and Legal Rights

Therapy dogs often undergo basic obedience tests like the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Good Citizen test, in which they are tested in the working environment in potential situations, demonstrating minimal signs of behavioral pressure and fair social behavior. They may also need to be certified as healthy and free of zoonotic diseases by veterinarians.

Since therapy dogs are not recognized as service dogs under the ADA, and they are formally treated as pet dogs rather than working dogs, they do not have general public access rights as service dogs do. Access to facilities is granted on a case-by-case basis with permission or invitation from the business and institution.

3. Emotional Support Dogs

Definition and Purpose

The ADI defines an emotional support dog as “a dog that provides only emotional support to an individual with a mental health condition or emotional disorder.” Its primary purpose is to offer companionship and comfort to disabled individuals by its presence. The emotional support dog does not perform tasks to mitigate a person’s disability.

Common Breeds for Emotional Support Dogs

• Golden Retriever

• Labrador Retrievers

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

• Poodles

• Shih Tzu: well-suited for indoor living and companionship

Policies and Legal Rights

Similar to therapy dogs, emotional support dogs are not covered under the ADA and therefore do not have the same public access rights as an assistance dog and its handler. However, The Fair Housing Act (FHA) grants emotional support animals (ESA) owners the following:

• The right to live with an ESA even in housing with “no pet” policies

• Freedom from pet deposits and pet fees

• Protection from breed, size, or weight restrictions

• No requirement for specialized training

To be eligible for the benefits above, handlers need a letter by their mental healthcare provider to verify their need for an ESA.

Key Differences at a Glance

Category	Service Dog	Therapy Dog	Emotional Support Dog
Purpose	Task-trained for disabilities	Provides comfort in therapeutic settings	Offers emotional support
Training	Task-specific	Basic obedience testing	No formal training required
Legal Rights	Full public access (ADA)	No public access	No public access Housing rights (FHA)
Common Breeds	Labs, Goldens, German Shepherds	Labs, Goldens, Cavaliers	Small companion breeds

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support dogs is crucial for respecting their roles and legal protections.

• Service dogs are specifically trained for disability-related tasks and enjoy full access rights

• Therapy dogs provide comfort in institutional settings but do not have full access rights

• Emotional support dogs offer companionship but are only protected in housing (not publically)

Please always follow legal guidelines and consult professionals when determining the best assistance dog type for your needs!

Source

American Animal Hospital Association. (2021a, October 14). Assistance and therapy dogs. https://www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-working-assistance-and-therapy-dog-guidelines/assistance-and-therapy-dog-considerations/

American Animal Hospital Association. (2021b, October 14). Therapy dogs. https://www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-working-assistance-and-therapy-dog-guidelines/therapy-dogs/

Assistance Dogs International. (n.d.). Assistance Dogs International. https://assistancedogsinternational.org/

Robinson, L. (2025, April 9). Emotional support dogs: Choosing the right breed. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/pets/emotional-support-dogs-choosing-the-right-breed

Service Dog Certifications. (2025, March 26). Federal protection: the Fair Housing Act. Emotional Support Animal Laws. https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/emotional-support-animal-laws/

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. (2020, February 28). ADA requirements: Service animals. ADA.gov. https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/

US Service Animals. (n.d.-a). Common service dog breeds. Service Dog Breeds | The Best Breeds & Traits To Look For. https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/service-dog-breeds/?srsltid=AfmBOooJ93iG_h3Cqdxcud2liWD6rYHmOVGoNnK7cf8Tb89HWri_E889

US Service Animals. (n.d.-b). The best breeds for therapy dog work. The 14 Best Therapy Dog Breeds. https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/best-therapy-dog-breeds/?srsltid=AfmBOoqXsHZIaBu-tGFVvxPu7O5CY6Fc8UXsnUz6Iz2USAj8q_TX_XKO