Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Emotional Support Animals and Facility Dogs

These terms describe different roles. A dog's friendly behavior, vest or registration does not establish a legal category.

Kea Grace
Published February 10, 2022

Service-Dog Behavior in Public: Practical Expectations and ADA Rules

Public work requires a dog that can remain under effective control and perform its trained assistance.

Kea Grace
Published December 20, 2021

Service Dogs in Hospitals: Access and Care Planning

Service dogs generally may accompany people with disabilities in hospitals and other healthcare settings, including patient rooms and inpatient stays.

Kea Grace
Published January 2, 2020

Five Questions to Consider Before Partnering With a Service Dog

These questions can help you compare a service dog with other assistance options.

Kea Grace
Published May 15, 2019

Trained Service-Dog Tasks and Natural Behavior

The ADA requires individually trained work or tasks related to a person's disability. Comfort from a dog's presence alone does not meet that definition.

Terry McCormack, CDT
Published May 10, 2019

Five Benefits That Are Different from Trained Service-Dog Tasks

Living with a dog can offer companionship, a comforting routine and enjoyable time together. Those benefits alone do not establish service-dog status under the ADA.

Kea Grace
Published April 22, 2019

2017–2018 Service-Dog Travel Guide: Current Rules

This guide retains its original publication date. Use the current guidance below rather than the airline policies that applied during 2017–2018.

Kea Grace
Published November 22, 2017

Voting With a Service Dog: 2016 Article Updated

This article originally concerned the 2016 election. Those dates and deadlines have passed.

Kea Grace
Published September 26, 2016

Service Dog Acclimation Training at Tampa Bay’s Lowry Park Zoo

This article describes the acclimation project as AP reported it in 2016. It does not confirm current exhibit access.

Kea Grace
Published September 16, 2016

Top Service Dog News in 2015

2 015 was an eventful year in the Service Dog world. Here are some of the top news stories and developments in the Service Dog and working dog community from this…

Kea Grace
Published December 31, 2015