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Know the Difference - Psych SD vs. Emotional Support Dog


A Psychiatric Service Dog and an Emotional Support Dog (ESA) can both assist individuals with mental health conditions, but they differ significantly in their training, legal status, and roles.


A psychiatric service dog is trained to perform specific tasks that help manage symptoms of a psychiatric disorder, such as alerting to panic attacks, providing grounding during an anxiety episode, retrieving medication, and/or interrupting behaviors.


An emotional support dog provides comfort and emotional relief to individuals with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD, primarily through companionship. These dogs do not require formal training to perform specific tasks. While they are protected under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), they do not have public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).


Psych Service Dog

  • Has Public Access Rights

  • Has housing rights (FHA)

  • Tasks:

    • Panic attacks alerts

    • Behavior interruptions

    • Deep Pressure Therapy

      • DPT directly reduces the impact of the handler's disability on their daily life

    • Other tasks that directly reduce the impact of handlers disability on their daily life


Emotional Support Dog/Animal

  • The presence of the animal alone is comforting

  • Does not have Public Access Rights

  • Has housing rights (FHA)

  • Does not have tasks




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Service Dog Training
Medi-Dogs LLC
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