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How to Register Your Dog as a Therapy Dog?
Humans are lucky to have dogs as our companions. Dogs used to help us watch livestock or help us hunt. Now, they are here to provide us with much-needed support. Unfortunately, people often get assistance animal regulations wrong. We are here to help clear things up. The first step is to understand the rules and regulations around assistance animals.
Can I Register my Dog as a Therapy Dog?
There are three types of assistance animals. Each performs a specific function and has special access rights.
- Service Animal – trained to perform a specific task for their handler’s disability. Service Dogs have full access to all public places, including restaurants, hotels, and no-pet housing. A fee cannot be a charge for granting access to Service Dogs. A service dog is considered a medical device and not a pet.
- Emotional Support Animal – does not require special training and provides comfort to their handler. Emotional Support Dogs have access to no-pet housing, and the landlord cannot charge a fee for an ESA as well.
- Therapy Animal – does not require special training and provides comfort to others. Therapy Dogs do not have special access and must be invited in. A fee can be charged for granting access to a therapy dog.
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You can register your dog as a therapy dog by following the links below!
Therapy Animals are often confused with Emotional Support Animals. A quick way to discover which assistance animal you need is to ask yourself a simple question.
Is my dog here to support my emotional needs or is my dog her to support other’s emotional needs?
- If the answer is yourself, you require an ESA Letter from a therapist.
- If your answer is others, your require a Therapy Dog Certification.
Train and register your dog as a Therapy Dog in 3 Easy Steps –
- First – Adopt and train a dog with a calm and kind temperament and can pass a Canine Good Citizen Test.
- Second – Train your dog to be well-behaved in public places such as a hospital or school. When they go to a hospital or school, they need to be well-behaved as to not hurt others or themselves.
- Third – Certify your Therapy Dog by registering them with Service Dog Certifications
Your Therapy Dog can also act as your Emotional Support Dog. To qualify your Therapy Dog as your ESA, you will need an ESA letter from a therapist. If your current therapist understands ESA laws and can help you write an ESA letter, this is your best route. If you do not have access to an ESA Doctor or ESA therapist, we recommend seeking support for a legitimate ESA resource.
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Why is everyone asking about registration? Therapy dogs do not need to be registered. They do not even need a vest. Places can ask 2 questions. 1. Is the dog needed. 2. What does the dog do. Requiring proof of either answer is illegal under the ADA. The ADA also stipulates that there is NO requirement that a dog be trained by an outside organization. You can train your dog at home and it is illegal for anyone to require proof of training.
What are you saying is mostly correct, but only in relation to service dogs. Therapy dogs are not considered service dogs and do not have public access rights under the ADA. Therapy dogs are trained to assist others, often in group settings. They can for example provide an uplifting experience for seniors at a home. The handler does not however have ADA public access rights.
Hi, I was wondering if getting my dog registered as a service dog/emotional support dog would get her access on to flights
Unfortunately ESAs no longer have legal rights when it comes to flights. Service dogs however still can board the cabin. Neither ESAs nor service does require getting a registration. You might find this guide helpful: https://esadoctors.com/how-to-fly-with-a-dog-travel-guide/
I adopted a Staffie 6yrs ago. I suffer with complex mental health needs and she is my constant companion. I attend a weekly therapy group where Catie is the unofficial therapy/mascot for the group. She enjoys her weekly therapy and the benefits that she brings to the group are huge. She calms patients down and also promotes conversations where normally someone wont talk. She loves the attention and is given the chance to be petted by all members of the group, even though some participants aren’t on keen on dogs they soon warm to her gentle nature, if they have treats for her as do she’s your best friend. I would love her to become a registered therapy dog.
Hi im need a esa certificate for my dog that I’ve had for 10 years she is my sleep dog my husband is a truck driver and isn’t home at night and she sleeps with me but we want to caravan and I need to take her with me and if its a public holiday there is no dogs allowed without a certificate this is cause ing me a lot of stress hoping you can help
To qualify for an emotional support animal, you will need to obtain an ESA letter. Please visit this link for more information: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
I have a corgi cross foxy girl name Lilly she will be 9 year old this year she helps me with my depression and anxiety because I suffer from disability. And I’m trying to get her to be come a therapy dog because she has helped me through a lot over the years
I suffer from chronic anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. My dog is an emotional support to me when I enter buildings. She stops me from feeling anxious and is a support in getting me to and from the shops and appointments.
That’s wonderful to hear! We would clarify however that ESAs do not have public access rights in places like shops. Some shops may however allow them as a courtesy.
I have been having anxiety attacks for a couple of years now and extreme stress my dog is comforting to me in relaxing me so as to controlling my anxiety. I have felt less anxiety and stress since getting my dog. Would he be considered a emotional support dog?
We suggest speaking to a licensed healthcare professional to see if an emotional support animal is right for you. For more information on how to qualify for an ESA letter, please see this link: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/