What is the difference between a Therapy Dog, an ESA Dog, and a Service Dog?
Therapy dogs are special pets that have been certified to visit various locations and provide comfort and joy to individuals who are in need of emotional support. While therapy dogs aren’t typically allowed in public places without specific permission, they are welcome in settings where they are actively engaged in providing pet therapy.
An example of this would be a dog that is allowed to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and libraries to provide comfort, peace, and social interactions. Therapy dogs require permission from the establishments.
On the other hand, Emotional Support Animals are pets that offer crucial assistance to individuals dealing with disabling mental health disorders, helping them feel comforted and calm in challenging situations.
An example of this would be a dog that is allowed to fly in the cabin of an airplane, and allowed to live in housing that would otherwise typically not allow animals.
An ESA Dog can be very beneficial to those who struggle with anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, certain phobias, etc.
A letter from a Doctor is needed for an ESA Dog to have these privileges.
A Service Dog is defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform task(s) for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.
The Americans With Disabilities Act protects the rights of people with disabilities to access public places, including stores, restaurants, hotels and hospitals, with their service dogs.
For example, more and more hotels are becoming pet friendly. Guests are even encouraged to bring their pets (for an additional fee of course), and often provide special accommodations for the pet such as a dog bed and treats in the room. Some hotels continue to prohibit pets.
The pet friendly hotel CANNOT charge an additional fee to a guest accompanied by a service dog.
The hotel that prohibits pets CANNOT deny access to a service dog nor can they segregate a guest and their service dog to sub-standard accommodations. They must provide the same quality accommodations to a guest with a service dog that they would provide to a guest without one.
Therapy, ESA, and Service Dogs
River
River is an incredibly smart, loving, and personable guy, with a very willing-to-pleae personality. He is currently being offered at our High School training level, with an expected completion date of October 1st, 2026. He has also been carefully evaluated and would make a wonderful Therapy Dog with the Masters level of training. He will be ready to go at this level by May of 2027.
Adoption fee:
High School level: $8,500
Master Level with Therapy Dog Certification: $21,000
Ridge
Ridge is a handsome, incredibly intelligent, sweet, and loving boy who is currently being offered at our High School level of training. He is expected to complete this training program by December 1st, and will be ready to join a new home at that date, or will be ready at the Master level of training with his Therapy Dog certification by May of 2027.
Ridge has been carefully evaluated and would make a wonderful Therapy Dog for in-home use, or inside a facility.
Adoption fee
High School level: $8,500
Master Level with Therapy Dog certification: $21,000
Finn
Finn is a gorgeous, male Golden Mountain Doodle, born on 3-13-2026. He has a very sweet, gentle, and out-going personality. He will be approximately 22 pounds at his full adult weight. He is currently at our Grammar level of training, with an expected completion date of end of October, 2026. There is also the option for him to stay and go on to the Master level of training with Therapy Dog certification, with an estimated completion date of May, 2027.
We have carefully evaluated Finn, and feel as if he would be a wonderful Therapy dog.
Please refer to our training information page for more information, or reach out to us directly.
Adoption fee:
$6,000 Grammar level
$21,000 Master level with Therapy Dog certification
Murphy
Murphy is a gorgeous, male goldendodle, born on 3-12-2026. He has a very loving, and out-going personality. He will be approximately 20 pounds at his full adult weight. He is currently at our Grammar level of training, with an expected completion date of mid-October, 2026. There is also the option for him to stay and go on to the Master level of training with Therapy Dog certification, with an estimated completion date of May, 2027.
We have carefully evaluated Murphy, and feel as if he would be a wonderful Therapy dog.
Please refer to our training information page for more information, or reach out to us directly.
Adoption fee:
$6,000 Grammar level
$21,000 Master level with Therapy Dog certification
Chance
Chance is a gorgeous, multi-gen, male Goldendoodle with a gentle, calm, and loving personality. He has an extreme willingness to learn, and a very attentive personality. He was born on 12-08-2024, and he is at his full adult weight at 25 pounds.
Chance has completed our Bachelor level of training, and is currently in our Therapy Dog program, expected completion date is end of February, 2026.
Chances adoption fee is $21,000 at the Therapy Dog level.
Chance has been adopted and is working as a facility Therapy Dog at Deaconess Health Care Systems in Evansville, IN.
Liza has one beautiful blue eye and a gorgeous cream colored, non-shedding coat. She is at her adult weight, weighing approximately 32 pounds.
We chose Liza to be offered at our Therapy/Service Dog training level because of her intense motivation to learn and willingness to please. She is very confident in her soundings, loves meeting new people, and is very affectionate. She rides in the car wonderfully, doesn’t mind grooming or bath time, and takes everything in stride.
Liza has been adopted and is working as a Therapy Dog at Every Survivor Counts in western IL.