A therapy dog and a service dog look similar from the outside, but legally they’re entirely different categories. Picking the wrong one costs handlers real money and access.
Therapy Dog vs Service Dog: The Critical Differences
Category: Blog
Service Dog Tasks: Complete List by Disability Category
Comprehensive reference catalog of trained service dog tasks organized by the disability category they serve. 50+ tasks across 12 disability categories.
What Disabilities Qualify You for a Service Dog?
The ADA defines who qualifies for a service dog using a functional test, not a fixed list of medical diagnoses. Here’s how that plays out across 12 disability categories.
Emotional Support Animal ID Card: What It Is and Why You Might Want One
Most experienced ESA handlers carry a printed ID card and Wallet pass even though the FHA only requires the LMHP letter. Visible documentation accelerates landlord conversations.
Psychiatric Service Dog vs Emotional Support Animal
A psychiatric service dog is a full ADA service dog. An ESA is not. Side-by-side comparison of the legal rights, training requirements, and which fits which handler situation.
Service Dog for Autism: Tasks, Family Use, and How to Qualify
Autism service dogs serve children and adults — with specific legal nuances for child handlers via the family-handler model. Tasks, qualification, and how to navigate the school accommodations process.
Service Dog for Depression: Qualification, Tasks, and the Path Forward
Depression qualifies for a psychiatric service dog under the ADA when the dog is task-trained for symptom mitigation. Here’s the qualifying criteria, specific tasks, and how training-to-documentation works.
Service Dog for Anxiety: Real PSD Tasks vs ESA Comfort
Anxiety qualifies for a service dog under the ADA — but only when your dog is task-trained for specific anxiety mitigation. Here’s the legal line between PSD and ESA, and what trained tasks look like.
Service Dog for PTSD: Tasks, Training, and Qualification
A PTSD psychiatric service dog has the same legal status as a guide dog. Here’s what tasks PSDs perform for PTSD, how to qualify, and the training-to-documentation path for veterans and civilians.
Fake Service Dogs: State Penalties + How Legitimate Handlers Can Self-Distinguish
Most US states have criminal penalties for misrepresenting a pet as a service dog. State-by-state penalty map, why fakes hurt real handlers, and how legitimate handlers can self-distinguish honestly.