What is an Emotional Support Dog?

Many people who struggle with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other mental health concerns explore the benefits of an emotional support animal (ESA) with their therapist or doctor. If you believe that an emotional support dog for anxiety or another mental disorder could be a suitable part of your mental well-being plan, talk to your licensed healthcare provider about how to get an ESA.

What is an Emotional Support Animal?

Emotional support animals are pets that provide specific benefits to the owner. People with depression may find a sense of purpose after getting an ESA dog, as the animal needs to be fed daily and taken for a walk. Finding comfort in their pet and having the animal respond may help individuals with depression find motivation for other tasks in their life.

Or those who have an anxiety disorder, the quiet comfort of an emotional support dog can help ease swirling thoughts or anxious feelings. Petting their animal can be soothing, and walking outdoors may calm their mind or lift their spirits. Many people who successfully integrate ESA support into their life report a reduction in their symptoms and enjoy the companionship the ESA provides.

Specific Benefits of an Emotional Support Dog

An emotional support animal doesn’t have to be a dog — some people may prefer a cat, bird, or hamster — but most ESAs are dogs. Dogs are easier to train and loyal to their owners. All pet owners agree that their furry family member is comforting and makes them smile. Still, emotional support dogs provide more specific benefits to their owners than just regular pets.

Emotional support dogs for anxiety, depression, and other mental or emotional disorders reduce stress and offer comfort to their owners. They have been shown to help people cope with the symptoms of a wide range of mental illnesses, including:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Social anxiety
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Panic disorders
• Adjustment disorders
• PTSD
• Agoraphobia

Although any breed of dog can be an emotional support animal, not every pet can be considered an ESA if they do not have the temperament to be a safe and dependable companion. There are a few specific actions that an ESA does that have a direct impact on a person’s mental health:

• Provides a calming presence
• Distracts from anxious or circular thoughts
• Offers affection and cuddles
• Encourages healthy physical activity, like walking outside

You may find other benefits from your ESA, like gaining a sense of purpose and accomplishment in caring for an animal that depends on you for its well-being.

Want to know if you qualify for an ESA? We can connect you with a licensed therapist online for your legitimate ESA letter consultation.

The Difference Between Classifications of “Helper Animals”

Different types of assistance animals have different forms of legal protection. Service dogs, for example, are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and permitted anywhere the owner is, including areas where pets usually would not be allowed. 

By contrast, emotional support animals only have legal protection for policy exemptions under the Fair Housing Act, permitting ESAs to live in leased housing where their owner does, regardless of the property’s pet policies.

Service Dogs

Service dogs are the most hard-working type of assistance animals. Owners of service dogs have protected rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including access for the service dog into all public and business areas and riding in the cabin alongside their owner while flying.

A service dog is specifically trained to perform a particular task for their owner. They help people with disabilities live more independently. Common types of service dogs are:

• Guide dogs: help visually impaired or blind owners navigate around places safely
• Hearing or signal dogs: trained to alert the owner to important sounds like a fire alarm, doorbell, or a crying child
• Mobility dogs: help people who struggle with balance or the ability to walk
• Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD): help deal with symptoms of more severe emotional or mental disorders

Psychiatric Service Dog vs Emotional Support Dog

Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) are a type of service dog trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with emotional or mental disorders. Both, PSDs and ESAs, benefit people with mental illness, but only PSDs are covered under ADA protections. Unlike ESA, a PSD may be needed if one or more disorder symptoms interfere with major life activities. They, therefore, have specific training, which can include:

• Reminding the owner to take medication at specific times
• Soothing their owner during a panic attack
• Interrupting self-harm behaviors
• Detecting an imminent panic attack and following the owner’s alert procedures
• Preparing a room for an owner with PTSD (turning on lights, checking for safety issues)
• Calling for or fetching help during a panic attack

Emotional Support Dogs 

Emotional support dogs provide companionship and a sense of purpose for owners. Unlike service dogs, which are trained to perform specific tasks, the benefits for ESAs are less regimented. Many people who incorporate an ESA into their mental well-being plan often note that the symptoms of certain mental illnesses seem lessened. 

ESAs are only protected under the Fair Housing Act and may be denied entry into public and business spaces.

Therapy Dogs

A therapy dog is a dog that accompanies its owner into care facilities, such as assisted living care homes or hospitals, to improve the lives of facility residents. Many people with cognitive decline or long-term illnesses may benefit from pet therapy. 

However, therapy dogs are not service dogs and therefore do not enjoy the same protection as service animals. Their function is similar to that of an ESA, but unlike an ESA, which lives with the owner and accompanies them, therapy dogs only visit pet therapy participants and return home with their owner after the therapy session. 

How to Get an ESA Dog

Getting an ESA requires a diagnosis by a licensed healthcare professional (LHCP). The positive impact of an ESA may be something the two of you consider together. 

After you’ve gotten an ESA or had your current pet accepted as an ESA by your LHCP, the two of you review the animal’s effectiveness on your mental condition. Some people may see adverse effects from an ESA, as the animal’s care could be overwhelming or trigger anxious thoughts.

If you wish to obtain a dog to be your ESA, you may adopt a dog from a local shelter or acquire a canine from a breeder. Whichever path you choose, ensure the dog has the temperament and characteristics you need to feel positive. Also, always consider your living environment to select a breed that fits your lifestyle.

Best Breeds for Emotional Support Dogs

Golder Retrievers and Labradors are the most common ESA breeds, as they are friendly, intelligent, and usually good with children. Other good ESA breeds include:

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Corgi
• Great Pyrenees
• Great Dane
• Standard poodle
• Maltese

Any dog breed can be an emotional support animal, though, as long as the pet is providing mental health benefits for you.

ESALetters.com

Cautions and Concerns About ESAs

To have your ESA live in a leased residence that prohibits pets, limits certain breeds for residents, or charges pet fees and deposits, you need a legitimate ESA letter. 

This signed document, drafted by your treating licensed healthcare professional on their letterhead, provides protection under the Fair Housing Act and allows the emotional support dog to live with you.

However, be wary of scams on the internet. You may find a site offering registration or certification of your ESA, such as an emotional support animal registration “database.” These are false. ESAs are not required to be registered anywhere, and no certification exists. For FHA protection and ESA privileges, the legitimate signed ESA letter from your therapist or doctor is all you require.

Need help finding an LHCP to qualify for an ESA?

ESA Letters is a nationwide service that helps individuals who struggle with mental health navigate life with an emotional support dog. We can help you get in touch with a healthcare provider with the proper license who can see if an ESA is right for you. If you qualify, they will write a legitimate ESA letter for you to use for housing. 

See if you qualify for an ESA — Start your ESA Letters Assessment now.