To those who don’t have one, or are looking to get one, there seems to be a lot of confusion between the three basic types of what we call support dogs. There are a lot more dogs out their working these days than there was just a few years ago. In this article, I will explain the difference and the rights that each one generally has, as well as how to interact with them. Of course this will vary by state. This is also great information to share with your kids.
No matter where you encounter a dog outside your home, here are some general rules to keep people and dogs safe.
BASIC RULES FOR INTERACTING WITH A STRANGE DOG
- Never pet a dog without asking.
- If a dog approaches you, stand still, and let them smell you. Typically, if they want to be petted, they will turn their side or back to you. They are telling you that they are calm, know you are not a threat, and they want to be petted. If they walk away, do not reach for them. They are not interested.
- Avoid eye contact. Maintaining eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge to the dog. In fact, dog on dog confrontations always start with a stare. This is especially dangerous for toddlers since they are often at eye level with the dog and fixated on things they are interested in.
- NEVER offer a strange dog food.
- When petting a dog, make sure you don’t reach over their head palm down. Instead, reach under their chin palm up. Palm down removes your ability to see how they are responding to you and prevents them from being able to see you. This can cause a dog to panic. You can recognize and respond to aggression much faster when you are palm up.
TYPES OF SUPPORT DOGS
Service Dogs– are dogs that are specifically trained to perform tasks to mitigate the disabilities of a single individual. A good rule of thumb is that whether a dog is wearing any type of Service Dog identification, if you are in a place that you don’t typically see dogs such as a grocery store or a movie theatre, there is a good chance it is a service dog. As a general rule, don’t ask to pet the dog and try not to distract it whatsoever. They are working and need to concentrate on their handler. It is also very rude to ask the handler what their disability is. Remember all disabilities are not visible such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Diabetes. The adage of No talk, No touch, No eye contact are good to keep in mind. If you do engage the handler in conversation, ignore the dog as if he is not there. It’s hard sometimes, but by doing so you are being very kind and setting a good example to those around you.
Requirements- typically there are not requirements to have a Service Dog “certified”. However, you will see many people out there with dogs wearing Service Dog Identification including ID cards that people get off the internet. A fake Service Dog is usually easily spotted by their behavior, such as barking or not maintaining a sit or down stay while the handler is doing something. Most programs have two parts. The first is Public Access which ensures that the dog is sound and can ignore typical environmental factors and stay focused on serving their handler. The second part is Task Testing. Usually the dog is required to perform at least two specific tasks on command that mitigate the disabilities of the handler. Examples would be the dog alerting the handler that their blood sugar is low, or the dog clearing a house to let a handler with PTSD know that there is nobody inside.
Rights-typically a Service Dog can go anywhere the public in general can go. For example, they are allowed in restaurants, but can’t go in the kitchen. Houses of worship may restrict or deny their access. It is against federal and in some cases state law for a property owner or agent of a property owner to question the handler about the legitimacy of their Service Dog. They may however ask the handler two questions-
- Is the dog required due to a disability?
- What tasks is the dog trained to perform?
They cannot ask for any sort of paperwork or for a demonstration of the tasks. They cannot be denied or charged more for housing.
Emotional Support Dogs– the easiest way to explain the difference between Emotional Support Dogs and Service Dogs is that Emotional Support Dogs are not trained to perform tasks on command. Often they are recommended by a therapist or prescribed by a doctor for a person in need of support for an emotional or a psychological diagnosis. ESAs serve their handlers by offering physical touch and emotional support.
Requirements- typically there are no requirements for ESAs unless an individual wants to have their ESA in housing that does not allow pets. In many cases a letter from a doctor is all that is required.
Rights– outside of them being able to have an ESA in a housing situation where otherwise dogs are prohibited, ESAs do not enjoy any other rights and don’t have any more access than any other pet dog.
Therapy Dog- the easiest way to explain it is that if a Service Dog is for one person, a therapy dog is for everyone else. This job is to bring love, happiness, joy, and calm to people in places they are invited into where dogs otherwise would not be allowed. Some examples are-
- Schools
- Churches
- Nursing Homes
- Hospices
- Rehabilitation Centers
They are are used to provoke the same medicinal feelings for individuals in these places that their own dog would.
Requirements- therapy dogs are chosen based on their temperament and sometimes physical size. For example, little dogs can sit in laps in wheelchairs and hospital beds, while big dogs are able to reach from these places where individuals don’t want to hold a dog. Therapy Dogs must be able to remain calm around groups where many people want their attention. There are many organizations for Therapy Dogs who offer a Certification. This is often required by institutions where the dog may visit.
Rights- as with ESAs, Therapy Dogs have no more rights than any other pet, however due to their training they are often invited into places to do what they do.
This article was intended to clear up some misunderstandings about support dogs. It in no way is exhaustive and for further information I recommend that you contact an organization in your area for each type or at least check out their FAQs that will better educate you on your area.