When you see a dog in public, it may not be immediately obvious if it is someone’s pet or if it is doing a job for its owner. Whether you are a non-pet owner observing a dog, or a person in need of a working dog, it’s important to understand the differences between a Service Dog, a Therapy Dog, and an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). Here, we try to simplify the rules to help clarify (also see the table, below).
PLEASE NOTE: do not ask to pet or try to engage with working service dogs.
Any breed of dog can be any of the following: Service Dog, Therapy Dog, Emotional Support Animal (ESA). They all are required to exhibit general obedience and not be disruptive in their environments. Here are the specifics for each category…
Service Dog:
This is a dog who is trained to do a specific task or work for a disabled person. This dog is a working dog, not a pet in public. These dogs are protected and regulated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Service dogs often wear some identifying patch or vest, but they are not required to wear any identification. These dogs are allowed in housing that doesn’t permit animals. They are allowed to go anywhere with their owner.
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC CERTIFIATION FOR A SERVICE DOG. Since the jobs that these dogs do for their owners is so varied, there is no way to cover them all in a certification.
FURTHER: A facility is only allowed to ask the owner two questions about their dog…
- What task has the dog been trained to perform?
- Is the service dog needed due to a disability?
Owners do not need to disclose their disability or the dog’s documentation.
Therapy Dog:
This is a dog whose job is to provide comfort and joy to many people and is only allowed to be in the facilities which have invited them.
THERE ARE CERTIFICATIONS FOR THERAPY DOGS, and they are typically required. Dogs must be at least 1 year old. Generally, the facility inviting the dog will conduct the certification test, or tell you which certification they require.
Emotional Support Dog:
This is a dog who provides comfort to its owner and can help its owner feel calm. It is NOT allowed to go everywhere with its owner. They may be allowed in housing that generally doesn’t permit animals. The owner must have specific documentation showing their need for the animal, and the dog must behave appropriately.
THERE ARE NO CERTIFICATIONS FOR ESAs. They only need to be good with the owner.
There are lots of online services that say you can Register your service dog or ESA. Registering your dog does not legally protect you in any way or constitute as documentation to attest to your dog’s good behavior.
Some laws vary slightly by state or locality.
Sometimes people want their ESA to pass the CGC as supporting documentation to vouch for its good behavior.
At Perfect Manners, we train general obedience, which covers the foundational skills needed for any dog from the categories above. If you have questions, please contact us.
Below is a table to help further simplify the categories.
| Allowed in public | Allowed on Airplanes | Certification exists? | Protected Under the ADA? | |
| Service Dog |
YES |
YES |
No |
YES |
| Therapy Dog | No | No |
YES |
No |
| Emotional Support Dog | No | Check w/airline | No | No |