Why Therapy Dog Training and Service Dog Training is Different
Therapy dogs and service dogs are both types of dogs that provide assistance to people, but they serve different purposes and have different training and qualifications.
Service dogs are trained to assist people with disabilities or medical conditions. These dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to help their owners, such as guiding people with visual impairments, alerting people with hearing impairments to sounds, and performing tasks for people with physical disabilities, such as opening doors or retrieving items. Service dogs can also provide emotional support and comfort to their owners. Service dogs are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are allowed in most public places, including restaurants, stores, and public transportation.
Service dogs go through extensive training to learn their tasks and must be trained to perform tasks that are directly related to their owner’s disability. They must also be well-behaved and able to follow their owner’s commands. Training for service dogs can take up to two years and is typically done by professionals who specialize in service dog training. In addition, service dogs receive ongoing training throughout their working lives to ensure that they are able to perform their tasks reliably.
Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are trained to provide comfort and support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings. These dogs are typically used to help people who are dealing with emotional or psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. Therapy dogs are not protected under the ADA and are not allowed in all public places. Instead, they are typically invited into specific settings, such as hospitals or schools, to provide comfort and support to people in those settings.
Therapy dogs go through extensive training to learn how to interact with people in different settings. They must be well-behaved and friendly, and they must be able to tolerate a variety of sights, sounds, and smells. Therapy dogs must also be able to follow their owner’s commands and be able to work with a variety of people, including children and the elderly.
Training for therapy dogs can take several months, and it is typically done by professional trainers or experienced dog owners. Therapy dogs also receive ongoing training to ensure that they are able to provide the support that people need in different settings.
In terms of temperament and personality, both service dogs and therapy dogs must be well-behaved, friendly, and calm. However, service dogs must be able to focus on their tasks and be able to perform them in a variety of environments, while therapy dogs must be able to interact with people and provide comfort and support in different settings.
It’s important to note that not all dogs are suitable for service or therapy work. Dogs that are aggressive, fearful, or anxious are not suitable for these types of roles. In addition, dogs that are easily distracted or have a high prey drive may not be suitable for service work, as they may not be able to focus on their tasks in public places.
In conclusion, while both therapy dogs and service dogs provide assistance to people, they serve different purposes and have different training and qualifications. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks to assist people with disabilities, while therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort and support to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other settings. Both types of dogs must be well-behaved, friendly, and calm, but service dogs must be able to focus on their tasks in public places, while therapy dogs must be able to interact with people and provide emotional support in different settings.
