Question 1

Can a therapy dog become a service dog?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, but they're different skill sets. A therapy dog is trained to engage with everyone. A service dog is trained to focus on one person and ignore everyone else. A dog with the right temperament can be retrained, but you're not adding a credential, you're building different behavior from the ground up.

Question 2

Is an emotional support dog a service dog?

Accepted Answer

No. This is the most common mix-up. Service dogs perform trained tasks and have public access rights under the ADA. Emotional support dogs provide comfort and have housing protections only. A dog that helps your anxiety by being present is an ESA. A dog trained to interrupt a panic episode on cue is a psychiatric service dog.

Question 3

Do therapy dogs need certification?

Accepted Answer

There's no government certification for therapy dogs. What facilities require is registration through a recognized therapy dog organization, which evaluates the team's temperament and skills and provides liability insurance for visits. The AKC also awards Therapy Dog titles based on completed visits, but those recognize work already done rather than qualify a team to start. Our Therapy Dog program prepares dogs and handlers for evaluation and for the visiting work that follows.

Question 4

Can any breed be a service dog?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The ADA prohibits breed restrictions on service dogs. In practice, most programs work with Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and crosses of the two, chosen for temperament, size, and trainability rather than appearance.

Question 5

Can my landlord charge a pet fee for a service dog or ESA?

Accepted Answer

No, for either. Service animals are exempt under the ADA and Texas Human Resources Code Section 121.003, and documented emotional support animals are exempt under the Fair Housing Act. Landlords can still hold you responsible for actual damage the animal causes.

Question 6

What's the difference between a therapy dog and a facility dog?

Accepted Answer

A therapy dog visits with its owner as a volunteer team. A facility dog is placed full-time with a working professional, like a counselor or a courthouse advocate, and works in that setting every day.

Service Dogs

Service Dog vs Therapy Dog vs Emotional Support Dog: What’s the Difference?

How to Get a Service Dog: Steps, Costs, and Eligibility

Cost of Service Dog Training

Service Dogs

Service Dog vs Therapy Dog vs Emotional Support Dog: What’s the Difference?

How to Get a Service Dog: Steps, Costs, and Eligibility

Cost of Service Dog Training

Help Raise a Future Service Dog