Confudes on what certification your dog needs?
What is a service dog?
A service dog is defined a dog who is individually trained to work or perform a task for the benefit of a person with a disability - notably including psychiatric and mental disabilities which had previously required extra steps for qualification.
As a Service Dog, your canine assistant will be able to accompany you into any publicly accessible space including restaurants, museums, airports and airplanes, theaters, stores and parks. You can train your Service Dog to meet the specific needs of your disability.
What is a Therapy dog?
A therapy dog is a dog that is trained to provide affection, comfort and support to people, often in settings such as hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices, or disaster areas.
From working with a child who is learning to read to visiting a senior in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve the lives of other people.
What is an emotional support dog?
Is your dog a good candidate to be a service dog?
Your dog does not need to be any specific size, breed or age to be eligible for service dog certification. Some characteristics that a service dog should have are, a calm demeanour, a friendly loving disposition and a desire to work.​
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All service dogs need to pass a public access test. This ensures they're able to focus on their handler and their duties even in distracting or stressful environments such as restaurants or airports.
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Although all dogs offer an emotional connection with their owner, to legally be considered an emotional support dog, also called an emotional support animal (ESA), the pet needs to be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional to a person with a disabling mental illness. A therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist must determine that the presence of the animal is needed for the mental health of the patient. For example, owning a pet might ease a person’s anxiety or give them a focus in life. The dogs can be of any age and any breed.