Top 10 Myths About Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals
The use of Assistance Animals can be a great help to those with various disabilities, but some people still don’t fully understand everything about them. Here we will debunk the 10 most common myths about Assistance Animals. We have also included links to helpful articles throughout this page that includes more information.
- Myth #1 – Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and Therapy Dogs are the same
This is absolutely not true! While each serves similar purposes – which is to aid the well-being of their owner in some way – Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs are used for very different forms of therapy and have different rights in the eye of the law.
- Service Dogs are specifically trained to perform tasks that aid their owners’ disabilities, allowing them to live an independent lifestyle.
- Emotional Support Animals can be any animal that is used to provide their owner with emotional comfort and do not require special training.
- Therapy Dogs are often found in establishments where various forms of therapy are applied – ranging from care homes to physical rehabilitation centers. Their roles can vary significantly, from aiding a child to confidently read out loud from a book to assist those requiring physical therapy. A Therapy Dog is basically an ESA that helps a lot of people and not just their handlers. Unfortunately, therapy dogs do not enjoy the legal protection that the other assistance animals have.
- Myth #2 – Emotional Support Animals can come with me into hotels, restaurants, and markets
No – only ADA accredited Service Dogs may accompany their owners into public areas, as they will have been adequately trained and certified to behave appropriately, and are deemed a necessity for their owners. However, there are some exceptions. When adequate documentation has been presented, Emotional Support Animals are allowed to live with their owners, even in pet-free buildings, and travel with them in the cabin of airlines with ESA programs. Only animals that have received a Service Dog Certification are automatically granted public access rights.
- Myth #3 – Service Dogs must wear a vest
Contrary to popular belief, it is not a legal requirement for Service Dogs to wear a vest. However, many Service Dog owners choose to have them wear a vest to avoid any unnecessary hassle.
- Myth #4 – You need a doctor’s note for your Service Dog
A doctor’s note is not necessary for a Service Dog. When entering public establishments, it is only necessary to verbally inform staff of your Service Dog – if they ask. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states they may only ask 2 questions:
- Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Service Dog owners may choose (though are not required) to order an ID card, as these can make the identification process much smoother. Rather than have to explain a disability, which can cause embarrassment, presenting an ID card can instantly verify the Service Dog. Emotional Support Animals, however, do require an ESA letter from a licensed therapist.
- Myth #5 – It is illegal to qualify for an ESA letter online
Wrong. In fact, the opposite is true. Telehealth – a collection of means for enhancing the education and care of a patient – encourages online applications for ESA letters. Rules vary from state to state when obtaining an ESA letter. By using an accredited online organization that follow your state’s telehealth service laws, you can be sure you are abiding by your state’s relevant laws.
- Myth #6 – All ESA letter referral sites are the same
No. There is a broad range of referral sites ranging from mental health professionals who offer the provision of ESA letters as a part of their service, to dedicated single therapist letter mills. It is highly recommended to conduct as much independent research before choosing an ESA letter referral company, as you need to be certain the vendor is genuine and abides by your state’s rules.
- Myth #7 – Each state has different Service Dog laws
No. Service Dogs are protected by federal law under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). However, Service Dog are subject to certain state-specific regulations. For example, Connecticut law recommends Service Dogs only access public areas with their owner while wearing a harness or an orange-colored collar and leash.
- Myth #8 – A landlord can reject an ESA or Service Dog if they do not feel the tenant has a disability or needs an ESA
Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), landlords are permitted to accept tenants with an Emotional Support Animal, regardless of any pet-free policies they may have in place. If a landlord does not accept your ESA, you should file a claim with HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development). They will assist you with each step of your claim.
- Myth #9 – Service Dogs are only for the blind and people in wheelchairs, all other service dogs are fake
While guiding and pulling are perhaps the most well-known tasks performed by Service Dogs, they perform a variety of other specific tasks to aid a disability of any form. It’s not just physical disabilities that Service Dogs can be used for, but mental disabilities, too. Here are some examples:
- Visual impairment/blindness
- Hearing Impairments
- Mental illnesses such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic depression
- Seizure disorder
- Mobility impairment
- Diabetes
- Myth #10 – Therapy dogs have the same access rights as ESA or Service Dogs
No. Therapy Dogs must be granted access by prior agreement to certain establishments such as hospitals, libraries, and skilled nursing facilities. While Service Dogs are legally permitted to accompany their owners in all public areas, and Emotional Support Animals are protected in certain areas such as housing and travel, Therapy Dogs do not benefit from similar access rights.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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I have a yorky trained as a therapy dog plus emotion dog . This dog had to go through three training program to pass as a therepy dog. My daughter saw a service dog went to pet it and it almost bit her. The owner corrected the dog but the damage done. If service dogs are trained to be therapy dogs maybe this would be apositive addition to their program.
Service dogs are NOT allowed to bite others, usually they will only bite if they feel threatened or they need to protect someone. If a service dog bites another person at least, that dog is automatically, legally suspended from service and put to death. Any service dog that bites a human being of any kind, even if it’s that handler’s own child, is no longer a service dog.
Service dog training is very different from therapy dog training, yes, but they are only trained to assist with the disability needs of the handler alone, no one else. They are not allowed to…
-Bite
-Bark or growl
-Attack
-Void in public buildings
-Eat or pick stuff off the floors, even if they are given treats
-Jump up on people unless that is the “tell” of a disability such as a seizure about to happen
-Abandon or walk away from their handler UNLESS they are retrieving something
Biting or attacking, and voiding, or even showing distress while working when they are already certified automatically revokes their services and rights to be a service dog, and downgrades them to either a pet, or if they attacked anyone, put to death.
That service dog, if it bit the handler or the handler’s other service animal, whatever job the animal was doing at the time of attack, should have been disqualified and put down immediately. Service dogs cannot show aggression or attack, they may attack someone else if they do, even their handler in the future if they aren’t careful.
Sorry this is so long… Service dogs and therapy dogs, one dog can be trained for both, but it messes up the service dog’s training to its handler, and it can cause a lot of confusion, which can affect how the dog does it’s job. Example, a therapy dog is to assist the public when they feel anxiety or mental distress, a service dog is not allowed to pay attention to others except its handler. If it gets the two mixed up, the therapy dog may only tend to its handler, or the service dog may tend to the public and alert the public(persons) of a bad event about to happen when that service dog is the handler’s wheelchair, not your colleague from Rhode Island University. Just an example. A person, however, can have a service dog, and a second dog as a therapy dog, but they may start copying one another and adopting new training, which can affect how they do their jobs, so you must be cautious when training a new wheelchair ha-ha.
I at least know based on experience, we worked with an organization called Service Dogs of America, North Dakota, they helped train my mother and our family to learn how to handle the service dog they trained for my mother. I have also trained a service dog of my own, a small dog who alerts me when something bad is about to happen to me, or someone else on rare occasions. My service dog is not allowed to bark or show aggression, I do not allow him to jump up on people either, that in itself is maintaining obedience training, along with daily training so the dog can do his job right when I need him to. If my dog jumps on others, their skin can be too sensitive to tolerate his claws even if they are trimmed claws, or he may knock them down if they have balance issues.
Again, if my dog were to bite someone, he would have to be put down immediately and revoked of his rights to work as my assistant, or even show aggression.
Service dogs are also trained to protect their owners there is a thing called personal space you do not approach a service dog I’m not an emotional support dog or any other kind a dog without the owners are required permission, You wouldn’t want somebody to come up and touch your child without permission.
A child should always ask before petting a dog for their safety.
Service animals should NEVER be approached/petted! They are working animals not pets. Please teach your child the difference and to respect this.
Your daughter should not of tried to pet the service dog which was a working dog . Read learn and train your child that all dogs are not family pets . Some are working service dogs . Teach your child the difference. It’s your responsibility as a parent .
The handler of the service dog needs a lot more training and to take the animal out of service (mean not have the animal in public) until the bitting issue is taken care of… A service dog of any kind must be able to be approachable by anyone and be able to be handle by complete strangers in the event of emergency.. and it’s completely possible the little girl came across what I like to call fake service dogs… there are a lot out there now days
While yes it is important to know how to approach an animal and proper practices, a properly certified working dog would NOT bite. They are tested for that exact thing. Because service animals will be, at times, in loud, chaotic, overwhelming environments, they must have the capacity to not bite. Someone approaching does NOT equal the right to bite. That dog would not have been allowed to pass as a certified service/working animal. Go look it up.
I own a very very sweet little Pokiness .he has been he had a exorcism then he was baptized as a Catholic and now is a Catholic service dog and I’m not joking yes an exorcism and when they did that to him he used to be a very mean little puppy it about a-year-old and is soon as they did dad he turned a 45° turn out and he’s nine years old and he is well loved in our city here in Austin Texas
Well most dogs calm down around one year old the whole exorcism thing sounds like bs no offense
He did a 45degree turn? So he’s still three quarters a-hole?
can i train my service dog to also be a therapy dog?
Keep in mind, service dogs are meant to treat its handler, no one else, that dog is their personal wheelchair, not a toy.
Therapy dogs are meant to treat the public, not only the handler. You probably can, but it may confuse the dog a lot because service dogs are not meant to be pet- depending on what the services are supposed to be for.
If you want to train your dog to be a therapy dog and a service dog, train it to be for Autism Assistance, you don’t have to train for tethering, but it is a dog that invites others to pet it while servicing a mental health condition for handlers who need behavioral intervention with repetitive actions or need to be pushed into greeting others like an extrovert. You can pet Autism Assistance animals if that makes more sense, they are intended for that service and public reaction.
I have trouble trying to get out what I’m saying sometimes, so pardon me for that.
Why does 1person need 2 service dogs,an 3 e a d? The e s d,s are dressed up an compete in shows.
Why one person needs 5 dogs?
Service dogs DO NOT PERFORM!!!! A Service Dog is a working dog for its owner! A Service Dog IS NOT a Therapy Dog to take to facilities for other people’s benefit!
The confusion causes many problems for individuals and their Service Dogs. People often attempt to pass off a Therapy Dog or an Emotional Support Animal (ASA) as a Service Dog! A Service Dog requires years of specialized training.
Keep in mind, service dogs are meant to treat its handler, no one else, that dog is their personal wheelchair, not a toy.
Therapy dogs are meant to treat the public, not only the handler. You probably can, but it may confuse the dog a lot because service dogs are not meant to be pet- depending on what the services are supposed to be for.
If you want to train your dog to be a therapy dog and a service dog, train it to be for Autism Assistance, you don’t have to train for tethering, but it is a dog that invites others to pet it while servicing a mental health condition for handlers who need behavioral intervention with repetitive actions or need to be pushed into greeting others like an extrovert. You can pet Autism Assistance animals if that makes more sense, they are intended for that service and public reaction.
I have trouble trying to get out what I’m saying sometimes, so pardon me for that.
1. Your daughter shouldn’t be petting service dogs
2. That dog might not have been a real service dog
You train your dogs but not your children? It’s common knowledge that you are not supposed to pet service dogs and common courtesy to not walk up to a strangers dog and pet it without asking.
There is no such thing as Service Dog Certification in the eyes of the ADA – only the dog’s behavior and task performance qualify it as a Service Dog.
Service Dogs are not robots, and their handler must always be consistent in their treatment and aware of any behavioral aberrations. By paying attention to what has provoked unusual behavior, the handler can take steps to prevent a reoccurrence – for example, my impeccably behaved Service Dog does NOT like people who have been drinking to put their face near his, and will growl and pull away from the person. He will not become aggressive or bite, he just doesn’t want drunks grabbing his head and breathing in his face, and he has the right to not be molested in that fashion. Service Dogs should be left alone no matter how much you love dogs and want to pet them – they are working dogs and do not like to be distracted from their job, don’t take it personally that you really don’t matter to them and they are focused on their handler. It is a common myth that Service Dogs “have to be friendly” – most Service Dogs will ignore everyone except their handler, although if you are a constant companion of the handler they may form an attachment and be affectionate towards you.
I tell people that petting a Service Dog without their/their handler’s consent is like grabbing a woman’s butt – some may tolerate it, some may even like it, but some might knock you into next week. A Service Dog is not a novelty toy and is not required to submit to anyone but their handler, they ARE NOT PETS.
Service dog are never aggressive,period. Apparently this was not a true service dog. Second please never pet a service dog ….they are working and distraction may be dangerous to the service team.