Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Emotional Support Animals? We work with all three here at Muzzles Up! but there are very specific training requirements for Service and Therapy.
A Service Dog is a dog who performs a task or tasks to mitigate a person’s disability. There are many types of service dogs; medical, mobility, psychiatric, and more. Service Dogs go through extensive training and are allowed special access to all public areas their handler needs to go. For more about ADA requirements for Service Dogs, please click here.
A Therapy Dog is one who is trained to provide comfort to people other than the handler. Therapy Dogs go to nursing homes, libraries, airports, and more. Although they are also extensively trained, they do NOT have access to public areas without authorization through a reputable national organization which certifies and registers Therapy Dogs.
Emotional Support Animals provide a therapeutic benefit to their handler with a mental or emotional issue. They do not perform specific tasks to assist them with a disability. ESA’s do NOT have special access to public areas and require authorization through a letter from their handler’s physician.
Service Dog Training
Before signing up for our Service Dog program, your puppy will be given a temperament assessment. Once they are determined potentially suitable for service work, we begin teaching basic manners and obedience, desensitizing, conditioning, and generalizing in highly active and social situations. Advanced training will consist of task training and practice with the handler in various settings and scenarios both at home and in public. Throughout the course of the program, we will continue to proof behaviors and tasks to ensure your dog retains the information and continues to provide the necessary support they will be entrusted with. Task training will be tailored to the individual’s needs, and will include at least three specific tasks the dog performs to assist their owner.
Upon completion of training, you will be asked to pass the Public Access Certification Test, also observed by another positive reinforcement Service Dog trainer. Your dog will also continue to be tested for temperament, Public Access suitability, and task work annually. Please expect training to take, at minimum, 120 hours over a period of six months or more, with at least 30 hours dedicated to public access preparation outings.
Sessions typically last one hour unless otherwise planned for Public Access practice.
$120/Temperament Assessment
$500/First set of five sessions and $400 for each set of five sessions following
Therapy Dog Training
Before signing up for our Therapy Dog program, your puppy will be given a temperament assessment. Once they are determined potentially suitable for therapy work, we begin teaching basic manners and obedience. Advanced training consists of preparing you and your pet for therapy visits by teaching advanced manners, conditioning, and generalizing in highly active and social situations. Each session includes handling, hugging, and desensitization to gradually increasing stimuli related to therapy work using positive association with high value rewards. Sessions typically last one hour. Upon completion of your training and when your dog is ready, we will help you find an organization for certification and registration that best fits you and your pet.
$120/Temperament Assessment
$500/First set of five sessions and $400 for each set of five sessions following