“What kind of dog is Hershey?”
Hershey’s long, floppy ears often have people confused as to the type of dog he is. When I share that he is a lovable Yorkie who is a therapy dog, I’m often asked to explain what exactly a “therapy dog” is. I love when I am asked this question because it provides an opportunity to share information about the types of dogs that fit into four categories: therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, service dogs, and working dogs. Each type of dog serves a specific purpose and is trained accordingly. In this blog, I’ll share with you these distinctions, their designated roles, and their impact on human beings, especially children.
Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, ease, and affection to people in many ways. They don’t differentiate between people with disabilities and those without them. Their purpose is to provide basic emotional support and comfort in group environments. These dogs undergo training where they learn how to deal with human beings and how to be around them while also interacting safely and calmly.
Reading therapy dogs are basically a subcategory of therapy dogs; they deal with children and help them develop their reading skills. They create a safe space for children and make them feel supported and protected. Having reading therapy dogs around children has shown improved results and boosted confidence in children.
Emotional Support Dogs
Emotional support dogs are trained to deal with people who have mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other severe conditions. They don’t help people heal or recover entirely from their mental health issues but provide the comfort they are always looking for. Emotional support dogs are there for people to feel better about themselves and relieve their pain.
Emotional support dogs are legally allowed to live with their owners in housing areas that typically do not allow pets because of their purpose. However, they do not have the same public access rights as service dogs may have.
Service Dogs
Service dogs are highly trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities. These tasks include guiding visually impaired individuals or alerting deaf individuals to sounds. They can also help pull wheelchairs, fetch items, and provide stability for those with mobility issues. The training for service dogs is specialized and personalized to meet the needs of their handlers.
Service dogs are granted extensive legal protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They are allowed to accompany their handlers in almost all public places, including restaurants, stores, and public transportation, to ensure their handlers can function independently and safely.
Working Dogs
A working dog is a specially trained canine that helps humans by performing various tasks. Examples of working dogs include those used for detection, herding, hunting, search and rescue, police work, and military duties. They often rely on their keen sense of smell to do tasks that humans cannot.
Because they are trained for specific roles in specific locations, working dogs usually don’t face legal issues. However, when they are working, they should not be approached or petted as they need to stay focused without distractions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to understand the differences between therapy dogs, working dogs, emotional support dogs, and service dogs because it helps in recognizing their unique roles and the specific types of support they provide. If you want more information on therapy dogs, consider reading my book, “The ABCs of Hershey the Reading Therapy Dog,” which provides an inspiring realistic fiction story about the substantial benefits reading therapy dogs provide to improving students’ literacy skills.
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