At Humble Dog, we are committed to supporting the legitimate use of service dogs and ensuring the integrity of service dog handlers. With more awareness around service dogs and their important role in supporting individuals with disabilities, it’s crucial to distinguish between Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs).
As part of our commitment, Humble Dog will soon be offering Service Dog Vests and Service Dog in Training Vests—designed to provide essential gear for those working with service dogs and those in training. But before we get into that, it’s important to understand what sets service dogs apart from other types of working dogs.
🦮 What is a Service Dog?
A Service Dog is a highly trained working animal that assists a person with a disability. In Canada, service dogs are recognized as a medical aid, similar to a wheelchair or hearing aid, and are specifically trained to perform tasks that mitigate their handler's disability.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Trained to perform specific tasks that help a person manage their disability (e.g., guiding a visually impaired person, alerting to seizures, providing mobility assistance).
- Granted public access rights under provincial human rights laws.
- Must remain calm, focused, and under control while in public spaces.
⚠ Important:
Canada does not have a national service dog certification program. Each province has its own regulations about service dog access and identification.
🐕🦺 What is a Therapy Dog?
A Therapy Dog provides comfort and emotional support to multiple individuals in specific settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are not trained to perform tasks related to a disability. Their primary role is to offer companionship and emotional support in environments where people need it the most.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Trained for social interactions with people but does not perform disability-related tasks.
- Works in volunteer programs alongside its handler to bring comfort to others.
- No public access rights outside designated therapy visits.
⚠ Important:
Therapy dogs are NOT service dogs, and should not be given access to public places unless specifically invited by the therapy program.
🐶 What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an animal that provides emotional comfort and support to its owner. While ESAs are beneficial for individuals with emotional or psychological challenges, they do not receive specialized training to assist with specific tasks related to a disability.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Provides comfort and emotional stability.
- Not trained for specific disability-related tasks.
- No public access rights (businesses and airlines are not required to accommodate ESAs).
⚠ Important:
In Canada, ESAs are considered pets and are not protected under service dog laws. Unlike in the U.S., airlines, housing providers, and businesses are not obligated to accommodate ESAs.
🔹 Why This Matters
Understanding these differences is essential in maintaining the respect and public trust for service dogs and their handlers. Misrepresenting a pet as a service dog damages the credibility of the service dog community and can lead to stricter regulations that make it harder for those who truly rely on service dogs to function in society.
By clarifying these roles, we can all contribute to a more inclusive and respectful environment for those who depend on service dogs for assistance with their daily lives.
Stay Tuned for Our Upcoming Service Dog Vests
At Humble Dog, we understand the importance of proper gear for service dogs and their handlers. Soon, we will be offering Service Dog Vests and Service Dog in Training Vests, designed to assist you as you navigate public spaces with your working dog.
If you are considering purchasing a vest for your service dog or service dog in training, please stay tuned for more information, or feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
For any inquiries about our upcoming products or to discuss responsible service dog ownership, you can always reach us at Nancy@HumbleDog.ca. We’re here to help!