Emotional support dog training: what to know and expect

What is an emotional support dog?

An emotional support dog (ESA) is a prescribed pet that provides comfort to its owner. They are not service dogs, so an ESA does not require any specialized training – their companionship is the treatment.

An ESA is assigned to one owner, unlike therapy dogs, which are trained to provide healing contact to all kinds of people in institutional settings like schools, courthouses and hospitals.

While an ESA can be any breed, dogs that are calm and gentle do well with emotional assistance work. An ESA must also be responsive and attentive to the emotional changes and needs of its owner.

What legal rights do ESA dogs have?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), your emotional support pet cannot qualify as a service animal. However, some state and local governments have laws that allow people to take ESAs in public places, so it’s important to check local regulations.

Service dogs – like guide dogs, medical alert dogs or psychiatric service dogs – are allowed anywhere their handler goes, but ESAs are not federally protected in public spaces like restaurants or shopping malls.

There are federal protections for ESAs in housing and air travel. Per the 2020 Air Carrier Access Act, stricter rules now apply to ESAs. To prove your ESA is medically necessary, owners will need to provide the airline with documentation, including a letter from a licensed medical professional.

ESAs are also federally protected by the Fair Housing Act (FHA). With the proper medical documentation, landlords must allow your dog into apartments and homes with no-pets policies.

» READ MORE: Emotional support dog vs. service dog

How to train an ESA dog

Your ESA should be trained to have excellent manners, especially if they will be accompanying you in public places. A training program will begin with the basics like obedience and potty training, then expand into socialization and even deep pressure therapy (DPT) tactics.

The earlier you can start training your ESA, the better, as they will be more adaptable and faster to absorb information.

The earlier you start, the more able your puppy will be to handle training. Discipline teaches your ESA how to avoid bad public habits like barking, jumping or begging for food.

Basic training

Training for ESAs begins with house training and then expands into teaching your dog commands like “sit” and “stay.” They will also need to learn how to walk well on a leash without pulling or getting distracted.

If you choose to train your own ESA, you’ll need to stay consistent and avoid negative reinforcement. Positive techniques like treats, praise and toys work best.

Socialization training

Early, consistent socialization is vital to an ESA’s adaptability in public spaces. From a young age, a dog will need to be exposed to different environments, people and animals to broaden its experiences and ensure it can remain calm in future scenarios. A well-socialized ESA is more likely to be accepted in public places like cafes, breweries and local bars.

Deep pressure therapy

Deep pressure therapy (DPT) is a tactic taught to ESAs in which they provide their owners with calming pressure during moments of stress or pain. Training involves using treats to encourage your pet to climb and lay on you, gradually getting them used to this action until they can do it on command.

Other advanced techniques that ESAs can learn to assist their owners include interruption behaviors to stop harmful actions and crisis responses such as fetching medication or seeking help during severe emotional episodes.

Do ESA dogs need special training?

ESAs are not legally required to have special training because providing comfort is their primary therapy. However, when in public spaces, an ESA is expected to be well behaved, potty trained and able to provide reliable emotional assistance.

If you plan to travel with your ESA, the dog will need training to become well socialized and comfortable in unfamiliar settings.

Certification through a reputable program can go a long way to show landlords and the public that your ESA is well behaved and able to provide support. This is not a legal requirement but can be considered a responsible part of ESA ownership.

» COMPARE: Best ESA letter websites

What makes a good emotional support dog?

Calm, gentle and tolerant dogs that remain calm in stressful situations are ideal ESA trainees. To provide the most thoughtful care, an emotional support dog should be able to stay in tune with their owner’s emotional states and mood changes.

An ESA should not react negatively to strangers or loud noises, and they will need to remain calm even when accidentally hurt or startled so they can be reliable companions in unpredictable situations.

Bottom line

Emotional support dogs offer comfort and reassurance to many people who are managing emotional or mental health challenges.

Unlike service dogs, ESAs do not require specialized training to perform specific tasks. However, an ESA is still expected to be well behaved, house-trained and able to remain calm in public, especially while traveling and in housing situations.

While ESAs are not federally protected in public spaces like service dogs, they do have legal rights in housing scenarios and some air travel with proper documentation.

Training your ESA through a reputable program, though not mandatory, can help show your dog’s ability and experience in providing reliable support.

» MORE: What disabilities qualify for an emotional support animal?