03/25/2025
Thinking About a Service Dog, Therapy Dog, or ESA? Here’s What You Should Know…
There’s a lot of confusion about what it takes to turn a dog into a working service dog, therapy dog, or emotional support animal (ESA). It’s not as simple as buying a certificate online—real training, time, and the right dog make all the difference.
Here’s the breakdown:
✅ Service Dogs are highly trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with disabilities. They must have the right temperament, focus, and working ability. The process can take 1-2 years and cost $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the type of service dog needed. Not every dog is suited for this work.
✅ Therapy Dogs provide comfort in places like hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. While they don’t have the same legal protections as service dogs, they still require structured training, a solid temperament, and certification through reputable organizations.
✅ Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) offer companionship and emotional comfort to their owners. They don’t require specialized training but must be well-behaved and have a letter from a licensed mental health professional to qualify.
Before making a decision, we highly recommend watching Inside the Mind of a Dog on Netflix. It provides great insight into how dogs think, learn, and interact with us—helping you better understand what’s truly possible for your dog.