Therapy dogs receive training to fulfil their responsibilities to provide psychological or physiological therapy to individuals other than their handlers. These dogs and their handlers are volunteers in various Therapy Dog organizations. The dogs have stable temperaments and friendly, easy-going personalities. Typically, they visit hospitals, schools, hospices, nursing homes, and more. Therapy dogs are also sometimes used in courtrooms to help children open up. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are encouraged to interact with a variety of people while they are on-duty which usually includes petting.
Therapy dogs may also visit schools, daycares, group homes, and rehabilitation centers. Their roles vary from dogs who give learning disabled children the confidence to read out loud, to actively participating in physical rehabilitation therapy. In some cases, a therapy dog will work in an establishment exclusively, such as a psychotherapy practice.
Therapy dogs do need certification from, and registration in, a reputable national organization. Certification is the final hurdle in a dedicated process toward becoming a therapy dog that also includes temperament assessment, training, and more. They are usually handled by their owners, but in some cases of Animal Assisted Therapy, the therapy dog may be handled by a trained professional.
Therapy dogs are not service dogs. Service dogs are dogs who are specially trained to perform specific tasks to help a handler who has a disability. Service dogs stay with their person and have special access privileges in public places such as on planes, restaurants, etc. Therapy dogs do not have the same special access as service dogs.
Therapy dogs are also not to be confused with Emotional Support Animals. ESAs primarily stay at home, providing emotional support to their owner. ESAs require no professional training, meanwhile a Service Dog or Therapy Dog does.
With an explosion of fake ESAs and Service Animals, the integrity and reputation of both are in jeopardy. For people who do have genuine disabilities, the situation is becoming dire. Not only can fake ESAs distract or attack working Service Animals, but service-providers and employees who have been inconvenienced by bad behavior from fakes often are discouraged from accommodating all animals thereafter.
It's important for both owners and employees to understand the difference between these animals and what to do in certain situations.
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