Differences among Service Dog, Facility Dog, Therapy Dog, and Emotional Support Animal.

What is a Service Dog? 

A Service Dog is trained to assist ONE person to mitigate a disability.

They are protected by the ADA and have the right to enter all public spaces.

Examples of Service Dogs

  • Diabetic Alert Dog

  • Seizure Response

  • Mobility Assist

  • Hearing Assist

  • Seeing Eye

Training for Service dogs

Due to the high demand and the inherent difficulty involved in training a service dog, it is highly recommended that you engage the services of a professional trainer, even though it is not mandatory.

This is crucial in ensuring the successful development and training of your service dog to meet your specific needs and requirements.

Our Process for Service Dog Placement

We take pride in our exceptional track record when placing service dogs. Of the many puppies we have nurtured and placed as service prospects, only one did not meet the requirements to become a service dog. Our success can be attributed to our careful breeding practices, meticulous matching of aptitudes, and unwavering commitment to enforcing strict policies that ensure the excellence of our service dog program.

Families/Individuals seeking a service dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:

  • We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

  • You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing service dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for service work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.

  • We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training service dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your service dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting USA Service Dog Registration to find a trainer near you.

  • Service dog clients are always given priority pick (after Valaurah Farms). This is to ensure that when a service prospect is identified, that puppy is matched to the right client immediately.

What is a Therapy Dog?

 A Therapy Dog is trained to assist others and must be certified by an organization that carries the insurance on the dog. A therapy dog must comply with the regulations of the insuring organization and visit the organizations covered by that insurance company. Limited working hours are allowed and generally, the owner is the trainer and handler.

Examples of Therapy Dogs

  • Therapist Office

  • Hospitals

  • Nursing Homes

  • Funeral Homes

Training for therapy dogs

If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success

Our Process for Therapy Dog placement

We have placed several therapy dogs over the years with great success.

To be considered for a therapy placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application.

Families/Individuals seeking a therapy dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:

  • We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

  • You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing service dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.

  • We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training therapy dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your service dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting AKC’s Recognized Therapy Dog Organizations page to find a trainer near you.

  • Therapy dog seekers are not given priority pick at this time unless explicitly stated.

What is a Facility Dog

 A Facility Dog is trained to work as a “therapy dog”, but works only in one location.

Full-time working hours are common and generally, the owner is the trainer and handler. The question of who carries the insurance is variable.

Where are Facility Dogs found?

  • Schools

  • DA Offices

  • Nursing Homes

  • Funeral Homes

Training for facility dogs

If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success

Our process for Facility Dog placement

To be considered for a facility placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application.

Individuals seeking a facility dog from us must understand and accept all of the following:

  • We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

  • You cannot be picky about sex or coloring when discussing facility dog prospects. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive). If you are more concerned about looks than about ability, then you may be waiting a loooooong time for a prospect to come around that meets your needs.

  • We recommend you have a professional trainer who is versed in training therapy dogs. This is important for several reasons including the navigation of business tasks (like procuring insurance for your dog) and increasing the success of your dog in completing the training program. If you are looking for a trainer near you, I recommend visiting AKC’s Recognized Therapy Dog Organizations page to find a trainer near you.

  • Facility dog seekers are not given priority pick at this time unless explicitly stated.

What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

 An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is not a Service Dog. There is no universalized training and the dog is not trained for specific tasks. Instead, ESAs help their owner with depression, anxiety, and/or other psychological disorders by providing companionship. They are not protected by the ADA but can fly on airlines and live in otherwise dog-prohibited HOA’s.

Training for ESA dogs

If not an established trainer, it is a good policy to consider having private lessons to achieve success

Our process for ESA placement

To be considered for an ESA placement, please be sure to notate your desire on the puppy application.

Please explicitly describe the type of help you are seeking from your dog.

Individuals seeking an ESA from us must understand and accept all of the following:

  • We are committed to the success of your puppy meeting your needs. This may mean it can take a few litters before an excellent prospect comes along. Your patience, communication, and dedication are an absolute must. We want you and the puppy to succeed, so making the RIGHT match is vital.

  • You can be picky about sex or coloring when discussing ESA dog prospects, however, I may deter you from one dog or another due to temperament evaluations. This is about life-saving/life-changing ability and some dogs are just not suited for therapy work (too tenderhearted, too drivey, not enough drive).