Emotional Support Dog or Assistance Dog? Understanding the Difference
- Becki Gude
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
So far this year in 2025 we have seen more and more people coming forward with inquiries and to have their dogs assessed with us - and that’s fantastic! At the Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA), our goal is to make sure that owner-trained teams have every opportunity to be recognised, supported, and assessed fairly. It’s wonderful to see how many people are finding independence and stability through their dogs.
As more applicants come through, we have noticed there is still some confusion and uncertainty about what actually qualifies a dog as an assistance dog. Particularly when it comes to mental health or psychiatric assistance dogs and how these differ from emotional support dogs. Both play important roles - but they are not the same when it comes to training, recognition, and legal rights.
I wanted to write this blog to clarify the difference to help those of you who are considering applying but aren't sure - especially for those whose dogs provide support related to mental health conditions.
Emotional Support Dogs
Emotional Support Dogs (ESDs) do exactly what their name suggests - they offer emotional comfort simply by being there. Their presence can make a huge difference for people who are neurodivergent or living with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health difficulties.
However, the key thing to remember is that emotional support dogs aren’t trained to perform specific tasks related to a person’s condition. Their strength is in their companionship - offering calm, affection, and reassurance - but that doesn’t make them assistance dogs in the legal sense.
Because of this, emotional support dogs:
Do not have public access rights (so they cannot enter places where pets aren’t allowed).
Are not covered under disability or assistance dog laws.
May have limited allowances for things like housing or travel, depending on local or independent regulations.
Their role is incredibly valuable - but it is focused on emotional wellbeing, not on trained, task-based support.
Assistance Dogs
Now, assistance dogs are a bit different. These dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks that directly help a person manage or mitigate a disability - physical, psychological or medical.
When it comes to mental health, a dog may qualify as a psychiatric assistance dog if it’s trained to do things like:
Interrupt or redirect self-harming behaviour.
Apply deep pressure therapy during panic or anxiety attacks.
Grounding during a dissociative episode.
Guide the handler to an exit or to safety during a dissociative episode/anxiety attack.
Remind the handler to take medication.
Because these tasks are directly linked to a diagnosed disability, assistance dogs are recognised and protected under the Equality Act 2010. This means they have legal public access rights and must meet strict standards for behaviour, control, and reliability.
That’s where ADAA assessments come in, for teams that have worked hard to train their own assistance dogs - to make sure dogs performing these important tasks and roles meet the right standards and can safely and confidently work in public.
Why the Difference Matters
The distinction isn’t about one type of dog being more valuable than another — it’s about legal recognition and public access rights.
Emotional support dogs provide comfort, but do not have training or legal status as assistance dogs.
Assistance dogs perform specific, trained tasks that help manage or mitigate a disability.
Understanding this difference helps protect:
Handlers: By ensuring their legitimate assistance dogs are respected and recognised.
Businesses and the public: By maintaining confidence in accredited assistance dogs’ training and behaviour.
The integrity of the assistance dog system: Ensuring that accreditation reflects genuine, evidence-based disability support.
Thinking of Applying?
We encourage anyone applying to have their dog recognised as an assistance dog to consider whether their dog performs specific, trained tasks directly related to a diagnosed disability.
If your dog primarily provides comfort and emotional support through their presence, that is incredibly valuable - but it does not meet the criteria for assistance dog accreditation, or to be considered a candidate for assessment with the ADAA.
We’re here to guide applicants through understanding these distinctions and ensuring that all accredited dogs meet the standards that keep people, businesses, and the public safe and confident in what an assistance dog represents.
For more information about our criteria for assessment, please visit the criteria page of our website:
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About the Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA)
The Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA) certifies and supports assistance dogs and their handlers, providing rigorous assessments and advocacy to enhance independence and quality of life.
Contact:
Assistance Dog Assessment Association
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