Training & Certification
We offer AKC Certified training courses through our sister company - Golden Puppies. After training is complete, Arizona Therapy Dogs will conduct evaluations and certify your dog as a Therapy Dog and official member of ATD.
understanding the difference
Therapy Dogs vs Service Dogs vs Emotional Support Dogs
At Arizona Therapy Dogs, we believe in the power of dogs to support, comfort, and change lives. But it’s important to understand what a Therapy Dog is. Here’s a simple breakdown of the three most common types of service animals & how they are different:
Therapy Dogs (that’s us!)
- Purpose: Provide comfort and emotional support to groups or individuals in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc.
- Legal Rights: Do not have public access rights like service dogs. They visit by invitation only.
- Training: Basic obedience and temperament training. Must be calm, friendly, and well-socialized.
Service Dogs
- Purpose: Trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities (like guiding someone who is blind or alerting to a seizure).
- Legal Rights: Protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); allowed in public places like restaurants, airplanes, and stores.
- Training: Extensive, task-specific training. Only dogs (not other animals) can be service animals under ADA.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
- Purpose: Offer emotional comfort to one specific person with a diagnosed mental or emotional condition.
- Legal Rights: Not recognized by the ADA. They are not allowed in most public places but may have housing protections under the Fair Housing Act.
- Training: No special task training required, though basic behavior training is important.
DONATE
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so every donation goes directly toward supporting our therapy dogs and the hearts they touch.
Your gift is tax-deductible and helps bring comfort, calm, and unconditional love to those who need it most.
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