Therapy Dog Disclaimer
* Please Read Disclaimer Below Regarding Therapy Dogs vs. other Service/Guide/Special Needs/ Emotional Support Dogs *
DISCLAIMER:
A 'Therapy Dog' IS NOT a 'Specials Needs Assistance', 'Emotional Support Dog', 'Service Dog' or 'Guide Dog'. Graduates of the Delightful Dogs 'Therapy Dog Training Program' program will be certified by Delightful Dogs as 'Therapy Dogs', meaning these dogs have been trained by their owner/handler to ensure the sound temperament, proficient training skills and reliable behaviour that is required for visiting the elderly and/or disabled in nursing homes/health care facilities. If you are looking for a program to train your dog for 'Special Needs Assistance', 'Emotional Support' or 'Service/Guide Dog' work, etc., please contact National Service Dogs, Canada Dog Guides, Cope Service Dogs or other associations that will help you meet these needs. Any graduate of Delightful Dogs claiming accreditation for Special Needs Assistance, Emotional Support Dogs, Service Dogs or Guide Dogs, is doing so without support, recognition or certification of Delightful Dogs. Delightful Dogs denies association with any such dog and will not be held responsible for any associated problems.
A 'Therapy Dog' IS NOT a 'Specials Needs Assistance', 'Emotional Support Dog', 'Service Dog' or 'Guide Dog'. Graduates of the Delightful Dogs 'Therapy Dog Training Program' program will be certified by Delightful Dogs as 'Therapy Dogs', meaning these dogs have been trained by their owner/handler to ensure the sound temperament, proficient training skills and reliable behaviour that is required for visiting the elderly and/or disabled in nursing homes/health care facilities. If you are looking for a program to train your dog for 'Special Needs Assistance', 'Emotional Support' or 'Service/Guide Dog' work, etc., please contact National Service Dogs, Canada Dog Guides, Cope Service Dogs or other associations that will help you meet these needs. Any graduate of Delightful Dogs claiming accreditation for Special Needs Assistance, Emotional Support Dogs, Service Dogs or Guide Dogs, is doing so without support, recognition or certification of Delightful Dogs. Delightful Dogs denies association with any such dog and will not be held responsible for any associated problems.
TO EXPLAIN/CLARIFY:
'Specials Needs Assistance', 'Service Dog' or 'Guide Dog' are dogs trained and certified to perform a function or job to assist a specific person who can not perform that task on their own.
‘Therapy Dogs’ are those that have been trained by their owner/handler to visit the elderly and/or disabled in nursing homes/health care facilities and bring joy to them.
An ‘Emotional Support Dog’ are pet dogs that give their owner emotional companionship and do not require specific training for that role. There are many grey areas when it comes to “Emotional Support Animals”. Often people confuse them with either a Service Dog or a Therapy Dog but they fall into an entirely different category all on their own.
This is where people often get confused about all three. While Therapy Dogs do give ‘emotional support’ to someone, there is a great deal of training beyond this specific to their varying roles and the public areas they encounter and it is not specific to an individual.
Emotional Support dogs are companion animals that give emotional support usually for their owner or a family member. There is no specific training involved and it is not recognized as a job/service to assist which is why they do not qualify in the same category as a Service Dog either.
Here’s a great link that explains all three in further detail:
https://www.caninejournal.com/service-dog-vs-therapy-dog-vs-emotional-support-dogs/
You can get a letter by a licensed mental health professional disclosing information about why you or a family member needs an emotional support animal (Not a Therapy or Service Dog). However, even with that, unfortunately in most Countries Emotional Support animals are not allowed the same access as as Therapy or Service Dogs.
For Ontario, refer to the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act) at the following link:
ttps://aoda.ca/service-animal-laws-for-ontario-workplaces/
'Specials Needs Assistance', 'Service Dog' or 'Guide Dog' are dogs trained and certified to perform a function or job to assist a specific person who can not perform that task on their own.
‘Therapy Dogs’ are those that have been trained by their owner/handler to visit the elderly and/or disabled in nursing homes/health care facilities and bring joy to them.
An ‘Emotional Support Dog’ are pet dogs that give their owner emotional companionship and do not require specific training for that role. There are many grey areas when it comes to “Emotional Support Animals”. Often people confuse them with either a Service Dog or a Therapy Dog but they fall into an entirely different category all on their own.
This is where people often get confused about all three. While Therapy Dogs do give ‘emotional support’ to someone, there is a great deal of training beyond this specific to their varying roles and the public areas they encounter and it is not specific to an individual.
Emotional Support dogs are companion animals that give emotional support usually for their owner or a family member. There is no specific training involved and it is not recognized as a job/service to assist which is why they do not qualify in the same category as a Service Dog either.
Here’s a great link that explains all three in further detail:
https://www.caninejournal.com/service-dog-vs-therapy-dog-vs-emotional-support-dogs/
You can get a letter by a licensed mental health professional disclosing information about why you or a family member needs an emotional support animal (Not a Therapy or Service Dog). However, even with that, unfortunately in most Countries Emotional Support animals are not allowed the same access as as Therapy or Service Dogs.
For Ontario, refer to the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act) at the following link:
ttps://aoda.ca/service-animal-laws-for-ontario-workplaces/
For more information on Special Needs/Emotional Support/Service/Guide/ Dogs, visit the following;
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides
National Service Dogs
COPE Service Dogs
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides
National Service Dogs
COPE Service Dogs