Therapy dogs and service dogs do wonderful work in the community and for their owners.  We have many clients that want to train their dogs to be one of these two types of working dogs.  Many times, people in need of a service dog will be able to acquire one already trained; but sometimes people need help training a dog they already have because circumstances have changed.  Clients have also asked us to help match a dog they are thinking of getting with the goal of training for therapy or service work.  Either way, we’ll be happy to help you if you need one of these types of training!

What is the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog?

People often get the two confused, but yes, there is a difference. Simply put: a therapy dog is a dog that does something for someone else; a service dog does something for it’s owner/handler. 

• Examples of Therapy Dogs:
  • Dogs that go into children’s hospitals to make the kids feel better
  • Dogs that go into elderly living homes to cheer up the residents
• Examples of Service dogs:
  • PTSD dogs
  • Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
  • Dogs that help clients pick things up if the person is in a wheelchair

Therapy dogs are welcome into establishments that the owners/handlers have received permission to go into.

Service dogs are “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.” (ADA National Network).  They are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act and are allowed in any establishment.

In between lessons and evals our trainer, Lynn, works with her personal ESA registered dog, Buddy, on his off leash behaviors. Buddy has been trained to hold distance stays, out of sight stays, heel with auto-sit, along with many others.