{"id":5199,"date":"2026-08-25T04:49:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T04:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/summitservicedogs.com\/?page_id=5199"},"modified":"2026-08-25T05:39:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T05:39:33","slug":"service-dog-vs-therapy-dog-alberta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/summitservicedogs.com\/index.php\/service-dog-vs-therapy-dog-alberta\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog vs. Facility Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Service\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog vs. Facility Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

 <\/span>Service dog vs. therapy dog \u2014 what’s the difference?<\/span> While these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, service dogs, therapy dogs, facility dogs and emotional support animals have very different roles, training requirements and access rights. <\/span>Understanding these differences is especially important in Alberta, where qualified service dog teams have specific protections under the <\/span>Service Dogs Act<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What Is a Service Dog?<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A service dog<\/strong> is specially trained to perform specific tasks or behaviours that help mitigate a person’s disability.<\/p>

Service dogs may support people with both visible and non-visible disabilities. Depending on the individual’s needs, trained tasks may include retrieving items, assisting with mobility, responding to medical events, interrupting disability-related behaviors, creating space around a handler, or other specifically trained behaviors.\u00a0Service dogs require much more than task training. They must also be able to behave safely and appropriately in public environments and remain under the control of their handler.\u00a0<\/span>In Alberta, qualified service dog teams have protected access to places where the public is normally permitted, including restaurants, stores, hotels, schools, hospitals, public transportation and other public areas. Certain restricted or non-public areas are excluded.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Learn more about Summit Service Dogs Fully Trained Program here<\/a><\/p>

Learn more about Summit Service Dogs Owner Trained Program here<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What Makes a Service Dog Different?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A service dog is trained to support a particular person with a disability<\/strong> through specific disability-mitigating tasks. Providing companionship or emotional comfort alone does not make a dog a service dog in Alberta.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What Is a Therapy Dog?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A therapy dog<\/strong> generally visits other people with its handler to provide comfort, affection and positive interaction.\u00a0You may encounter therapy dogs in environments such as hospitals, schools, seniors’ facilities and community programs.\u00a0<\/span>The important distinction is <\/span>who the dog is there to support<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

A service dog primarily works for its handler. A therapy dog is brought by its handler to interact with and provide comfort to other people<\/span>.\u00a0Therapy dogs can provide tremendous benefits, but they are <\/span>not considered service dogs under Alberta’s Service Dogs Act<\/b><\/span> and do not receive the same protected public-access rights as qualified service dog teams.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What Is a Facility Dog?<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A facility dog<\/strong> is a specially trained dog that works alongside a trained professional or volunteer in a professional setting.\u00a0Unlike a therapy dog whose primary role may involve visits and interaction, a facility dog is trained to perform <\/span>specific skilled tasks or structured interventions with multiple clients<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Facility dogs may work in environments such as:<\/p>