DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN SERVICE DOGS AND THERAPY DOGS Differentiating between service dogs and therapy dogs is not a matter of splitting hairs or political correctness. Each classification has a very different job from the other and the terms are not interchangeable.
THERAPY DOGS Therapy Dogs receive extensive training, but have a completely different type of job from service dogs. Their responsibility is to provide psychological therapy to individuals other than their handlers; who are usually their owners. These dogs have stable temperaments and friendly, easy-going personalities. Typically, they visit various institutions like hospitals, schools, hospices, psychotherapy offices, nursing homes and more. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are encouraged to socialize and interact with a variety of people while they re on-duty.
THERAPY DOGS A therapy dog is a pet trained to interact with many people other than its handler to make those people feel better. Therapy dogs are also trained to behave safely around all sorts of people.
THERAPY DOGS A therapy dog handler is not given public access rights by any service dog laws to take the dog out everywhere like service dog users, because the handler does not have a disability the dog is individually trained to mitigate. Therapy dogs are only allowed into places like hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and libraries by prior agreement (again, not by service dog laws).
THERAPY DOGS Somewhat similar to service dogs, therapy dogs, may have a variety of jobs. While most people are familiar with therapy dogs that visit places like hospitals, nursing homes and hospices to provide emotional therapy, these are not the only environments in which therapy dogs can be beneficial. Therapy dogs may also visit schools, day cares, group homes and rehabilitation centers. Their roles vary, from dogs who give learning disabled children the confidence to read out loud to actively participating in physical rehabilitation therapy. In some cases, a therapy dog will work in a particular establishment exclusively, like a psychotherapy practice.
THERAPY DOGS Therapy dogs may be trained by just about anyone, but must meet the standards set by a particular organization to be registered and actively participate within the respective organization. They are handled by their owners.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPY While there are many different ways in which therapy animal work is conducted, a significant distinction is made for those activities in which a health professional is directly involved.
ANIMAL-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES (AAA) The term animal-assisted activities (AAA) is used to describe activities which typically involve only the handler, their animal and the client. Examples include visits to patients in hospitals and residents in retirement homes.
ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY (AAT) Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), on the other hand, is conducted by a health professional who uses the animal in providing their service to the client. Thus a typical session would include the health professional, the client, a therapy animal and its handler.
ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY (AAT) Animal-assisted therapy further differs from animalassisted activities in that the sessions are designed to help the client achieve specific goals, such as increased mobility or improved memory. The sessions are documented by the health professional to record activity and progress.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPY Examples of areas where animal-assisted therapy is used to help clients improve: Verbal and physical interactions with others (self-expression, cooperation) Motor skills Mobility and balance Exercise Mental skills (memory, concentration, problem solving) Anxiety Depression (grieving) Trust
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL THERAPY Visiting with therapy animals has been shown to lower anxiety and motivate participation. In mental therapy, the animal is seen as a friend and ally, thus presenting a safe atmosphere for sharing. In physical therapy, the client may be motivated to brush the animal or walk with it.
THE WORLD ENGLISH DICTIONARY DEFINES OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AS FOLLOWS: Treatment of people with physical, emotional or social problems, using purposeful activity to help them overcome or learn to deal with their problems That nicely sums up the purpose of animal-assisted therapy.
SERVICE DOGS Service Dogs are individually trained to perform tasks and do work that mitigates their handlers disabilities. Service dogs are much more than highly trained companions. Working as part of a team with their disabled partners, service dogs help people attain the safety and independence from which their disabilities would otherwise limit them.
THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service dogs in places where the public is allowed to go, such as businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, doctor s offices, public transportation and many areas of hospitals. Additional acts of law, like the DOT s Air Carrier Access Act, DOJ/HUD Fair Housing Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act protect the rights of people with disabilities to be accompanied by their service animals under a wide variety of circumstances under which the ADA may not be applicable.
SERVICE DOGS The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service dogs as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. The term Guide Dog or Dog Guide is specific to a dog guiding someone who is blind or visually impaired. They are considered a service dog under the ADA.
Service Dogs According to the ADA: The work that a service dog performs must be related to the individual s disability. The dog must be under the control of the handler, and with a few exceptions, must be on leash. The dog should be vaccinated according to state and local laws. The dog must be housebroken. A business may ask a handler to remove their dog from the premises (the business must still provide services after the removal) if these conditions are not being fulfilled.
SERVICE DOGS Service dogs are not required to be registered or certified by any entity. Service dogs are not required to wear a vest, though many do in order to avoid the animal being confused with a pet. Service dogs are not required to be trained by a school or other notfor-profit organization. They may also be privately trained or ownertrained. In some states trainers are allowed access similar to the ADA. Service dogs are excluded from breed specific legislation (BSL) or breed requirements of insurance or landlords/housing.
SERVICE DOGS If a question arises as to whether or not a dog is a service animal, there are only two questions that a person can ask the individual with the dog: Is this animal required because of a disability? What work or task has this animal been trained to perform? The person may NOT ask for documentation These questions may NOT be asked if the need is obvious (i.e. a dog guiding a person who is blind). The person may NOT ask about the nature or extent of the disability.
SERVICE DOGS Possible work includes working for someone who: Is blind (navigation-larger breeds such as lab, golden, and shepherd) Is deaf or hard of hearing (alerting to sounds-any size or breed) Has mobility difficulties (helping to balance, assisting with household tasks such as laundry/bringing medication and other objects/operating light switches, opening doors, carrying or picking up items-often larger or giant breeds) Has seizures (alert to oncoming seizure, laying next to the person while seizing, alert for human assistance, trigger an alarm for help-medium to large breeds)
Possible work, continued: SERVICE DOGS Has diabetes (alert the person when blood sugar level is dangerous, provide balance during episode, bring medication, trigger alarm for help-any size or breed, often larger breeds) Has autism or sensory disability (provide a point of contact, help prevent sensory overload, help stop a child from bolting-usually larger breeds) Has PTSD or other psychiatric disability (provide physical grounding during episodes of flashback/panic/dissociation, respond to nightmares, trigger an alarm for help, bring medication, turn lights on or off, alert for human assistance-often but not always larger breeds)
SERVICE DOGS These dogs provide an important service to their human. They are well-trained but they are still dogs, not robots. Interacting with them can distract them from their job and compromise the safety of their human. Please speak directly to an individual with a service dog, or in the case of children, the child or person responsible for the child. Please leave service dogs alone. Do not pet the dog. Do not ask to pet the dog. Do not attempt to engage the dog with eye contact. Do not speak to the dog. Do not make noises at the dog.
BASIC BREAK-DOWN OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SERVICE DOGS AND THERAPY DOGS
Characteristics Service Dog Therapy Dog Handlers rights to be accompanied by these dogs in establishments open to the public are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dogs must be temperamentally sound to tolerate a wide variety of experiences, environments and people. X X X These dogs may live with their disabled owners in housing with a no-pets policy in place. Dogs visit hospitals, schools, hospices and other institutions to aid in psychological or physical therapy. Handlers encourage these dogs to accept petting and socialize with other people while they re on-duty Dogs are individually trained to perform tasks or do work to mitigate their handlers disabilities. Petting, talking to or otherwise distracting these dogs can interfere with their job and pose a serious danger to the dog and handler. X X X X X Subject to state laws regarding dog licensing and vaccination. X X These dogs enjoy plenty of off-duty time, during which they rest, take part in fun activities and get to act like a regular pet dog. X X