Service dog vs therapy dog

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Hi everyone!!! I am new and I got my first Goldendoodle over the weekend. I always had poodle. I have a question is a service dog the same/or similar as a therapy dog? Thanks

[Linda Brodt]

Malenie HI,  this is Linda Brodt.

 

The two are two different services.  Peaches is a trained therapy dog and a service dog.  One thing to be a service dog you need to pass a public access test and then your service dog test.  Service dogs are required to do many more things for the human.  Therapy dogs are "warm fuzzes" that you can teach tricks to for the clients you visit or not.

 

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Thank you

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Hi Malenie! There is a huge difference between therapy and service dogs. Simply put, service dogs are highly trained to help out and/or preform duties for the owner (a guide dog for the blind people, etc.). They have a job to do that they went through an extensive training to perform it.

Therapy dogs, on the other hand, are household pets who are friendly towards strangers and their main duty (after the certification) is to bring happiness to strangers.

Service dogs assist their owners to overcome a disability and are allowed to accompany the owner to pretty much everywhere. Therapy dogs make other people happy, but are not allowed at public places where dogs are normally not permitted.

You can find more info here:

http://pleasedontpetme.com/differences.php

http://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/volunteering-w...

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Thank you so much. I am going to get a training for 4 steps and then she is going to service dog training. At night I am deaf and I don't hear anything especially my husband will be travel 12 days each month.

[Adina P]

A service dog 'works' for his owner to help with a medical need (sniffing out low/high blood sugars in a person with diabetes), being the 'eyes' for a blind person, providing alert for someone with seizures, sniffing out allergens for someone with severe allergies, etc.

A therapy dog is a pet who is trained and approved to provide 'feel good' services to others on a volunteer basis.
-- A therapy dog might go (with the owner) to a library program to encourage kids to read by laying quietly while kids 'read' to the dog. 
-- A therapy dog might visit hospitals or nursing homes (with the owner) to brighten patients' day.
-- A therapy dog might visit colleges/universities (with the owner) during finals week to help students destress by petting a friendly dog.

Can you see the difference?

[Malenie Piscetelli]

Yes, I can see the different. Thank you. :)