When talking to other dog pawrents I’ve noticed that there is a lot of confusion about what is authentically a service dog, a therapy dog, or an emotional support dog. Have you ever wondered if a chihuahua can be a service dog?
So, I thought it would be a good time to clear up the confusion so we can celebrate the lives of all three and what they do for their humans each day! These selfless dogs deserve our respect and appreciation. Many people who are disabled depend on them every single day just to live their lives. So let’s break down the differences!
what is a service dog?
First an authentic service dog is a highly trained dog that performs certain tasks for their owner (or handler) that is disabled in one way or another. They may be physically or mentally disabled or have a life-threatening medical issue.
Physical Disabilties:
A person with physical disabilities may be blind or unable because of their disability to perform everyday tasks for themselves.
A service dog may guide a blind person or open doors, turn on and off lights, and retrieve items for their owner. A service dog may assist a hearing-impaired person by alerting them to certain sounds such as a phone ringing or a fire alarm for instance.
A service dog may be required to help someone who has a life-threatening medical condition. For instance, someone who has epilepsy or frequent seizures. A service dog may be trained to alert the person before the event so they may get to a safe place or position before the event takes place.
Many are trained to calm a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Before a dog can be considered and certified as a genuine service dog to perform these tasks they go through rigorous training at a service dog training facility and then they are matched with the person that may need what the dog has been trained for or trained to do. So, can a Chihuahua be a service dog?
The Law Regarding A Service Dog
A service dog is registered and protected under federal law. By law service dogs are allowed in public places that do not ordinarily allow dogs. These include restaurants, hotels, housing and air travel.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has a very specific definition of a disability. Basically, it is an individual that is physically or mentally impaired and is substantially limited in major life activities.
Service dogs will have identification cards, other written documentation, the presence of a harness, tags, etc. that identify that the dog is indeed a service dog.
It has been reported that 43 million Americans with disabilities have service dogs. There are approximately 387,000 service dogs and 10,000 guide dogs in the US.
There are a lot of laws regarding service dogs or animals, both federal and state. Be sure to learn the specific federal laws regarding service dog and animals and behavior as well as the state laws in your area.
what is a therapy dog?
A therapy dog is a pet that has been trained to accompany their owner to facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes to comfort and cheer up patients. They can go to schools to teach children about dogs and what to do when they encounter a strange dog. These dogs are trained, tested, registered, and insured.
A well-behaved pet can typically complete training in about 8 weeks. The therapy dog is a pet and is not permitted in any other public place where dogs are not allowed. The reason for the registration is to assure the facilities’ owner or manager that this dog is well-behaved and safe to be around people and that they are insured against liability.
The Laws Regarding A Therapy Dog
Therapy dogs are not considered service animals under the ADA and don’t have the same legal rights as service animals in public spaces. However, there are some laws and guidelines that apply to therapy dogs. These laws can very from State to State. Be sure to learn what the laws are in your state if you are considering registering your dog as a Therapy Dog.
what is an emotional support dog?
An emotional support dog is a dog that belongs to a person with an emotional disability and that person’s doctor has determined and written a prescription stating that the dog is necessary for the person’s home despite any “no pets” policy.
These dogs are pets and the only protection their owner has is to be able to have them in their home regardless of the home owner’s pet policy and to fly with them in a cabin when pets are not permitted.
The Law Regarding An Emotional Support Dog
Conclusion
Service dogs work to help the owner perform tasks that they cannot perform on their own because of a disability, either physical or psychiatric.
An emotional support animal works to improve the health of his owner who is disabled. The therapy animal works with his owner to improve the health of others.
Disability advocates are upset by what they call “fake service dogs” and that many exploit the fact that most staff in public places don’t know the difference. As you can see, each type of service dog must have documentation and in some cases visual proof such as vests, tags, etc.
In one way or another, these dogs (or other types of animal in some cases) help their owner or handler each and every day in one way or another. I for one am very grateful to these amazing dogs.
Let’s all give three cheers for the service, emotional support, and therapy dogs around the world!
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Thank you!
So, can a Chihuahua be a service dog? What do you think?
Want to know how to train a Chihuahua? CLICK HERE
