What’s the difference between service dog and a therapy dog? Both types of dogs provide valuable assistance to people, but they have distinct roles and training. Understanding the differences can help individuals determine which type of dog is best suited to their needs.
Service dogs are highly trained animals that are partnered with individuals who have disabilities. These disabilities can be physical, sensory, mental, or emotional. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that help their partners with daily activities, such as guiding a visually impaired person, alerting a hearing-impaired person to sounds, or reminding an individual with autism to stay calm.
On the other hand, therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and emotional support to individuals in various settings, such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. They are not trained to perform specific tasks for their handlers, but rather to be gentle and affectionate companions. Therapy dogs are often used to help individuals cope with stress, anxiety, and depression, and to improve their overall well-being.
One key difference between service dogs and therapy dogs is their legal status. Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which means that they are allowed to accompany their handlers in public places, such as restaurants, stores, and airplanes. Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are not protected under the ADA and may not be allowed in certain public places.
Another difference is the training process. Service dogs require extensive training to perform their specific tasks, which can take several months to a year. Therapy dogs also receive training, but it is typically less intense than that of service dogs. Therapy dog training focuses on socialization, behavior, and comfortability in various environments.
While both service dogs and therapy dogs provide invaluable support to individuals, they serve different purposes. Service dogs are trained to assist their handlers with specific tasks, while therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and emotional support. Understanding the differences between these two types of dogs can help individuals make informed decisions about which type of assistance they need.
