Therapy Dog Training vs. Service Dog Training: What’s the Difference and How to Get Started
Key Takeaways
Therapy dogs and service dogs both provide vital support but play different roles.
Therapy dog training focuses on emotional comfort; service dog training teaches task-based assistance.
A strong foundation in obedience, socialization, and human bonding is essential for both.
Not every dog is suited for therapy or service work—temperament matters most.
Start slow and expose your dog to new situations positively.
Therapy dogs and service dogs play meaningful roles in supporting people, but their responsibilities, training, and legal rights are very different. If you’re exploring therapy dog training to help your dog comfort others, or service dog training to assist with a disability, the first step is understanding what each role requires.
The Difference Between Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs
A therapy dog provides emotional comfort to groups of people in settings like hospitals, schools, and disaster relief centers. Therapy dogs do not have special legal rights and only enter facilities by permission.
A service dog, on the other hand, is trained to assist one person with a disability. They perform specific, often life-saving, tasks and are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), giving them legal access to most public places.
Does My Dog Have What It Takes?
Therapy and service dogs both require the right temperament. Dogs who succeed in these roles are typically calm, people-focused, and confident in busy environments. While different skills are needed for therapy dog training and service dog training, both begin with the same qualities: a gentle personality, a strong connection with their handler, and a willingness to learn.
Building a Strong Foundation for Success
Whether you’re interested in therapy dog training or service dog training, your first steps are the same. These foundational skills prepare your dog for the work ahead.
1. Basic Obedience
Your dog should reliably perform sit, down, stay, come, and leave it—even in distracting places. Calm leash walking is essential, and your dog should stop and stay when asked.
2. Socialization
Expose your dog to all kinds of environments:
People of all ages and abilities
Wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility aids
Noisy places and sudden movements
Different surfaces, such as tile, carpet, and outdoor walkways
Pair these new experiences with positive reinforcement so your dog builds confidence.
3. Human Bonding
A dog’s ability to trust and follow its handler is what makes therapy dog training and service dog training possible. Build this bond through consistent training, clear communication, and rewarding shared activities.
Therapy Dog Training: Comforting Communities
Therapy dog training prepares your dog to bring happiness and calmness to people in need. Their main job is to be present, friendly, and composed during visits to hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and more.
Common Therapy Dog Training Steps:
Master Basic Obedience: Calm leash manners and reliable responses to commands.
Pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test: This AKC test is a standard requirement for many therapy dog programs.
Complete a Therapy Dog Certification: Organizations like Pet Partners and Alliance of Therapy Dogs evaluate your dog’s manners, obedience, and temperament.
Begin Facility Visits: Once certified, therapy dog teams volunteer at approved locations to brighten people's days.
Therapy dogs do not have public access rights and are only allowed into facilities with permission.
Service Dog Training: Life-Changing Partnerships
Service dog training is highly specialized. These dogs learn to perform practical tasks that directly support their handler’s disability.
Phases of Service Dog Training:
Foundation Work: Start with obedience, socialization, and building confidence in public places.
Public Access Training: Teach your dog to remain focused in busy places like malls, airports, and public transportation.
Task Training: Train your dog to perform specific skills, such as:
Guiding a person with visual impairments
Alerting to seizures or blood sugar changes
Retrieving dropped items or opening doors
Providing stability during balance issues
Interrupting anxiety or PTSD episodes
Some service dog handlers work with professional programs, while others dedicate themselves to training their own service dog with expert guidance. It takes time, patience, and commitment.
What About Emotional Support Animals?
Therapy dogs, service dogs, and emotional support animals (ESAs) are sometimes confused—but they are not the same.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs):
Provide comfort and emotional support to one person dealing with mental or emotional challenges.
Do not require specific task training.
Have no public access rights, though some housing protections may apply depending on your location.
Should have basic manners but are not evaluated like therapy or service dogs.
We’ll be covering emotional support animals in more detail in our upcoming blog: Emotional Support Animals: What They Are and How They Help. (link coming soon)
Certifying Your Dog as a Therapy or Service Dog
Therapy Dog Certification
Therapy dog certification is required by most organizations and facilities. Certification confirms your dog’s ability to remain calm, friendly, and responsive around people in need.
The process typically includes:
Completing the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test.
Applying through a recognized organization such as:
Pet Partners
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs International
Passing an evaluation where your dog demonstrates calm greetings, tolerance of touch, and confidence in new environments.
Completing required health screenings and volunteer registration.
Once certified, therapy dogs visit approved facilities—but this certification does not grant public access rights.
Service Dog Certification (or Lack Thereof)
In the U.S., there is no official certification for service dogs. Public access is granted based on the dog's trained tasks and the handler's disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). There are several popular companies that if you register with them, they offer a service dog certificate but it is not legally required.
However, most responsible service dog handlers:
Train their dogs to reliably perform disability-mitigating tasks.
Ensure their dogs are calm, focused, and unobtrusive in public.
May carry identification from a training program for convenience, though it’s not legally required.
Beware of online companies selling fake service dog certificates—legitimate service dogs are defined by training and behavior, not paperwork.
Preparing for Therapy Certification: What to Practice
Therapy dog certification exams go beyond basic obedience. They assess how your dog responds to real-world therapy situations.
Key Areas to Prepare:
Polite Greetings: Calm, controlled behavior when meeting strangers.
Tolerance for Handling: Comfort with people petting them in unusual ways, including on their head, tail, or feet.
Mobility Equipment: Confidence walking near wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches.
Noise Tolerance: Remaining calm around dropped objects, beeping equipment, or sudden loud voices.
Handler Focus: Maintaining attention on you in busy, stimulating environments.
Calm Settling: Relaxing quietly at your side when needed.
Cleanliness and Grooming: Therapy dogs should be well-groomed and wear appropriate, comfortable gear.
Therapy work is a partnership. Handlers must give calm cues, protect their dog’s comfort, and maintain control at all times.
Tips for Introducing Therapy or Service Work
No matter which path you choose, follow these tips to help your dog succeed:
Start with Short Sessions: Keep early training fun and positive.
Practice in New Places: Work on skills in dog-friendly stores, outdoor spaces, and public parks.
Reward Calm Behavior: Reinforce your dog for staying relaxed around distractions.
Respect Your Dog’s Limits: Therapy and service work aren’t the right fit for every dog, and that’s okay.
Work with a Professional: A qualified trainer can help you build a customized training plan.
Final Thoughts
Therapy dog training and service dog training both begin with the same essential ingredients: obedience, socialization, and a strong human-canine bond. But the paths they take—and the roles they serve—are very different.
Whether your dog is bringing comfort to a hospital patient or helping someone navigate daily life, their work is meaningful. And along the way, you’ll build an incredible partnership based on trust, understanding, and shared purpose.
