What are Emotional Support Dogs (ESA)?

At Stokeshire, we're intentionally breeding doodles well suited for therapy and service in addition to being life-long family pets. Under U.S. law, an emotional support animal is not a pet and is generally not restricted by species. An emotional support animal (ESA) is a type of animal that provides comfort to help relieve a symptom or effect of a person's disability. In our case, an emotional support dog differs from a service dog. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks such as helping a blind person navigate, while no training is required for emotional support animals and they need not be formally trained to perform many tasks to mitigate mental illness. Any dog that provides support, comfort, or aid, to an individual through companionship, unconditional positive regard, and affection may be regarded as an emotional support dog.

In the U.S., people with mental health disabilities can be exempted from certain federal housing and sometimes travel rules if they own an emotional support animal. To receive that exemption, they must meet the federal definition of disabled, and the animal must provide emotional support that alleviates some symptoms or effects of the disability. The person must usually present a letter from a certified healthcare provider, stating that the animal provides emotional support that alleviates one or more of the symptoms or effects of the disability.

“Animals are an excellent source of nurturance and companionship. Creating additional yet responsible opportunities for human-animal interaction enhances people’s lives. Movement toward greater integration of well-behaved animals into our daily lives at home, school and work is a reflection of enlightened social evolution.”

— Cynthia Chandler

There are service dogs, known as psychiatric service dogs that require extensive training to work specifically with people whose disability is due to mental illness. These dogs detect the beginning of psychiatric episodes and help ease their effects. Although this sounds similar to the role of an ESA, the difference between a psychiatric service dog and an ESA is again in the tasks performed by the dog and the training received to perform these tasks.

Psychiatric service dogs (recognized by the ADA as service dogs) have been trained to do certain jobs that help the handler cope with a mental illness. For example, the dog might remind a person to take prescribed medications, keep a disoriented person in a dissociative episode from wandering into a hazardous situation such as traffic or perform room searches for a person with post-traumatic stress disorder. If it is simply the dog’s presence that helps the person cope, then the dog does not qualify as a psychiatric service dog.

There is no requirement under federal law for emotional support dogs to wear a tag, harness, or clothing of any type indicating they are emotional support animals.

There are no training requirements for emotional support animals, however, we believe some dogs are better suited than others based on their breed, personality, and development. Emotional support animals typically have no training beyond what would be expected for the same type of animal. Emotional support animals need not perform any tasks other than what a pet of the same species would perform, and may display unwanted behaviors, such as defecating or urinating in inappropriate places, growling and barking at people, or biting them.

We believe both poorly trained emotional support animals and poorly trained pets that are being fraudulently passed off as emotional support animals represent a threat to the health, safety, and function of both people and trained service animals.

To qualify for an emotional support animal in the US, its owner must have an emotional or mental disability that is certified by a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other licensed mental health care provider. These may be invisible disabilities.

The owner's mental health impairment must be substantial enough to produce disability, rather than discomfort or a desire to have a pet. Furthermore, for the provider to certify the animal non-fraudulently, the emotional support animal's presence must provide a significant benefit that makes the difference between the person functioning adequately and not.

Research has revealed both through experimental and correlational methods that dog owners exhibit greater benefits than non-owners on dimensions as far-ranging as self-esteem, physical fitness, sociability, happiness, and overall health (McConnell et al., 2011). Moreover, dog ownership has also been implicated in helping to alleviate symptoms of depression among terminally ill patients, the elderly, and veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In fact, many innovative therapies today targeting our returning veterans specifically integrate canine therapy, with some resources referring to the presence of dogs as “life-savers” for these veterans (e.g. Colin, 2012). (SOURCE)

Emotional support dogs are available to individuals that are suffering from a disability, which can be in the form of a mental illness or emotional distress condition. According to federal law, an ESA recommendation letter must come from a licensed health care provider, but recognizing that you may have a condition that could benefit from professional help is always the first and most important step of addressing a potential mental or emotional illness.

There are several conditions recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM V) for which an emotional support animal can be beneficial. These include:

• Learning Disabilities

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

• Anxiety Disorders

• Depression

• PTSD

• Phobias

An emotional support animal letter, or an ESA letter, is a document that qualifies people to be accompanied by a support animal in contexts in which pets might not be permitted, such as in rental housing. The letter must be issued by a psychologist, psychiatrist, qualified mental health professional, or physician.The professional who issues an ESA letter need not be the recipient's primary care physician, and some doctors may refer patients who are seeking an ESA to psychologists or other professionals.

Under US Department of Transportation, rules, the doctor or mental health professional who issues the letter must be currently providing treatment to the passenger. Airlines are not obligated to accept certificates or letters that are more than one year old, and may require that the certification be provided on the letterhead of a licensed mental health professional or doctor who is specifically treating the passenger's mental or emotional disability. It is unclear whether these rules still stand when accepting ESAs after the newest revision.

In canine-assisted therapy, therapy dogs interact with clients in animal-assisted interventions, to enhance therapeutic activities and well-being including the physical, cognitive, behavioral, and socio-emotional functioning of clients. Well-trained therapy dogs exhibit the behavior that human clients construe as friendly and welcoming. They comfort clients via body contact. Therapy dogs are also required to possess a calm temperament for accommodating contact with unfamiliar clients while they serve as a source of comfort. They promote patients engaging in interactions that can help the patient improve motor skills and establish a trusting relationship with others. The interaction between patients and therapy dogs also aids in reducing stressful and anxious feelings patients have. Due to those benefits, canine-assisted therapy is used as a complement to other therapies to treat diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and dementia.

Canine assistance can also be used in the classroom for promoting the development of creative writing and living skills and the participation of children in group activities. There are programs called canine-assisted reading programs which facilitate children with special educational needs. These programs utilize the calm, non-judgmental, happy characteristics of canines to let the process of reading become more meaningful and enjoyable for children. With these benefits, researchers suggest incorporating dogs into assisting learning and educational programs.

In recent decades, an increased amount of research indicates the social, psychological, and physiological benefits of animal-assisted therapy in the health and education field. Although the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy is still unclear due to the lack of clarity regarding the degree to which the animal itself contributes to the recovery process, there is a growing awareness that the therapy may be effective in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and dementia.

Animal-assisted therapy may reduce the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder such as aggressiveness, irritability, distractibility, and hyperactivity. In one review, five out of nine studies reviewed showed positive effects of therapeutic horseback riding on children with an autism spectrum disorder. Canine-assisted intervention provides a calmer environment by reducing the stress, irritation, and anxiety that children with autism spectrum disorder experience.] Playing with dogs increases the positive mood in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Animals also can serve as a social catalyst. In the presence of animals, children with autism spectrum disorder are more likely to engage in social interactions with humans.

The World Health Organization considers mental well-being as an integral component of health. A positive state of mental well-being allows individuals to recognize their potential, cope with normal stresses, work productively and contribute to society. Many common stressors such as long working hours, poor economic conditions, and low physical activity patterns can reduce mental well-being Further, mental illness is one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease.

Dog ownership is common worldwide. For example, over 50% of households in the United States and 39% in Australia have dogs. It has been suggested that dog ownership can improve human mental well-being through several possible pathways. Dogs may provide their owners with social support and companionship and they may also act as catalysts for increased human social interactions. Acute human-dog interactions have been shown to elicit positive hormonal effects including reduced cortisol concentrations, a biomarker of stress, and increased oxytocin concentrations. Dog owners may also be more physically active than non-owners, as a result of dog-walking, with a well-established link between physical activity and positive mental well-being. (SOURCE)

WISCONSIN SERVICE DOG LAWS

“Service dog” means a dog that is trained for assisting a person with a sensory, mental, or physical disability or accommodating such a disability.

Public accommodation:

No person may refuse to permit entrance into, or use of, any public place of accommodation to a person with a disability with a service animal, with exceptions.

Provisions only apply to service animal trainers if the animal accompanying the service animal trainer is wearing a harness or a leash and special cape. (https://usaservicedogregistration.com/service-dog-state-laws/)

If your licensed practitioner determines that you qualify for an emotional support dog, they can write an ESA letter for you. You will submit this ESA letter to your landlord to obtain reasonable accommodation for your emotional support dog.

A typical ESA letter will be on the professional’s letterhead and contain the following information:

1. Contact information of the provider.

2. The date the ESA letter was issued.

3. The provider’s license information

4. A statement establishing you have a disability for purposes of the Fair Housing Act.

5. A recommendation for you to have an emotional support animal to help address symptoms of your disability.

6. The provider’s signature.

The ESA letter must contain the provider’s contact and license information. Landlords are not allowed to request detailed information regarding your condition, but they can verify that the letter was written by an actively licensed professional. It is important to note that things like registrations, certifications, and IDs are not sufficient to establish your need for an emotional support animal. Landlords will insist on seeing an ESA letter for your emotional support dog from a licensed professional.

According to ESADoctors.com, Golden Retrievers and Old English Sheepdogs are two of the most affectionate dog breeds for Emotional Support making Goldendoodles and Sheepadoodles a win for those looking for Emotional Support Dogs with mild allergies. Sheepadoodles have earned a reputation for being a good choice for therapy dogs. These canines are trained to provide affection, comfort, and love to people, whether it be at the hospital, in nursing homes, or in rehabilitation centers. Sheepadoodles can be prone to separation anxiety. This is a condition that comes to the fore when your dog is left alone. It could be for a matter of minutes or hours. Symptoms of separation anxiety include persistent barking or howling, destructive chewing or digging, and even defecating inside the home. Using a dog camera can help to soothe separation anxiety as pet parents can talk to their distressed pooches. Other potential aides include aromatherapy, playing specific music for dogs with separation anxiety, or crating your dog in their safe space.

Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide comfort and support to people with emotional or mental disabilities. They are not service animals, and they do not have the same rights or privileges as service animals under the law. However, they can still provide valuable emotional support and companionship to their owners.

When considering a doodle as an ESA, it's important to choose a dog that is calm, friendly, and able to adapt to new environments. Some doodle breeds that may be suitable for this role include the Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, and Bernedoodle. It's also important to consider the size of the dog, as smaller dogs may be more suitable for people living in apartments or with limited space.

Ultimately, the best doodle for an emotional support animal will depend on the individual needs and preferences of the owner. It's important to do your research and spend time with the dog before making a commitment to ensure that the dog is a good fit for your household and lifestyle.

There are many dog breeds that are known for being affectionate and loving toward their owners. Some breeds that are known for their affectionate nature include:

• Labrador Retrievers: Labs are known for their friendly and outgoing personalities. They are often very affectionate with their owners and love to be around people.

• Golden Retrievers: Like Labs, Golden Retrievers are also known for their friendly and affectionate nature. They are often very loyal to their owners and love to cuddle and be close to them.

• Poodles: Poodles are intelligent and highly trainable, and they are also known for their affectionate nature. They are often very loyal to their owners and enjoy spending time with them.

It's important to remember that every dog is an individual, and some dogs within a breed may be more affectionate than others. It's also important to socialize and train your dog to be affectionate and well-behaved.

Animal temperament evaluations

Animal temperament evaluations assess the animal’s social attitude and behavior toward both people and a neutral test dog. In addition, the evaluation assesses the animal’s ability to walk politely on a leash, interact with a small crowd of people and respond to a variety of basic obedience commands by its handler. Failing a temperament evaluation would not interfere with the right of an individual to have the pet live in the home in the role of an emotional support animal. Federal law protects this right. Qualified animal temperament evaluators can be found through national organizations such as the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program and the national Pet Partners program.

The AKC website (akc.org/dog-owners/training/canine-good-citizen/) provides information about the CGC evaluation, which is best suited for the simple purpose of determining if a pet is well-behaved enough to be around the general public. However, it is designed solely to evaluate the temperament of dogs, not other species. 

“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face”

— Quotations About Dogs