How do I get my Dog Certified?

I've been diagnosed with severe depression, and have suicidal tendencies as well as problems hearing. I'm currently a college student preparing to transfer to a four year university. The only thing that calms me is the companionship of my puppy, though I fear that the school or the apartments near school would not allow for my puppy. Thus I'm wondering how I would be able to bring my best friend with me. How would I have my dog either certified as a Therapeutic Dog, Service Dog, or Emotional Support dog? I'd be grateful for information on all three as I can also better understand for myself.It is to my current understanding that Therapy Dogs are used to take care of people for example in nursing homes or retirement homes. Service dogs are used to help people like me with problems hearing. Emotional Support Animals are also used for people like me who have severe depression and suicidal tendencies.Would it therefore be recommended that I have him certified for my university and future housing situation?

The ADA does not cover service dogs for the hearing impaired. It is a shame but they are not yet there. Emotional support animals have no legal rights its just a suggestion from your doctor. Your doctor would be the one that you should talk to about this. Therapy dog cert. is just if you want to volunteer with your dog. Talk to your doctor.ADD- CGC is not the therapy dog test! It is the first part of the TDI (therapy dogs international). CGC by no means means a dog is a therapy,service or working dog. It only means they are a good citizen. My own dog has his CGC and therapy dog certified by delta society.

I would go to the Humane Society and take a class in CGC, which is the Canine Good Citizen. Once your dog passes that class, he will become a therapy dog. And you might take a look at other classes that you and your best friend can take, in order to meet your needs for when you go to college. Best of luck and wishes for you and your dog.

In part, this depends on where you live. Below is a link that says what the rules are in Massachusetts. As the previous person said, Therapy Dogs are just dogs that you take to hospitals or nursing homes as a service to those people - the dogs do not have any special rights in public places. Service Dogs generally have to be able to provide specific services to be certified - your doctor may be able to provide a list of things the dog will need to be trained to do. (For instance, reminders to take medication, or stopping you from hyperventilating by putting paws on your chest, etc.)Follow the second link below for more specific information.

You cantYou are not disabled so you can not have a service dog. Having a problem with hearing when you can still hear means you can't have a service dog becouse you are not disabled. A therapeutic dog and ESA is te same thing, neither has any special privileges and you can't haul it around in public and can't take it to school becouse you want to. Its just a pet. A service dog is only for people who are disabled. You are not. ESA are just pets. They can't be in public places, they can't be taken into the school, and they can't be in rentals that do not allow pets. The school has every right not to allow your dog since its just a pet. Same with the apartments. Please stop trying to pass you pet off as something it is not. Its only a pet that you want to haul around and claim its something it is not. Just accept the fact you can't haul your dog around in school just becouse you want to use it as a crutch and lie about it being something its not. People like you make it harder for people who really are disabled

In the U.S. to have and use a service dog, the person must meet the legal definition of "disabled" as set forth by the U.S. Department Of Justice contained in the Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act.No legal determination of disability = no service dog.Simply having a "disorder" does not mean one is disabled. Having a medical problem or condition does not mean one is disabled. Having depression does not mean one is disabled.Having severe anxiety and agoraphobia does not mean one is disabled. "Lack of social skills" does not qualify as a disability. Because one has had anxiety and panic attacks does not mean they are disabled. Being "impaired" is not the same as being disabled. Having a doctor give one a "diagnosis" is not the same as being disabled. Being too lazy to properly monitor ones blood glucose and insulin levels or choosing not to take prescribed medication properly is not a disability. Having problems hearing does not necessarily constitute being disabled.The person MUST meet the ADA legal definition of disabled. A simple "doctors note" or a mere diagnosis of a condition is not legal proof of a disability. Neither is being a recipient of SSI, SSDI or the use of any other definition. The only definition of "disabled" which matters for service dog use is the USDOJ definition.There is no legal "certification" of any type of service dog in the US. All the websites who say they can "certify" or "register" a pet as a service dog are frauds and scams designed to separate stupid people from their money.Then the dog must be individually trained in work or tasks which directly mitigate the effects of the qualifying disability (the dog must do something that the person is unable to do for themselves because of their disability).The simple presence of the animal is not a legal task or work under the law. Because one is more comfortable with the dog around is not a legal task or work under the law. "Feeling better" because the dog is there does not qualify as a task or work under the law. "Helping me stay calm in the stores and other places" is not a legal task or work under the law. "Because he gets me out of the house" is not a legal task or work under the law. "I don't panic as much when the dog is with me" is not a legal task or work under the law. "She also seems to act weird before I begin to feel bad or have any episodes" is not a trained work or task under the law. "When I am near him and when I can hug him I feel almost whole" is not a legal task or work under the law. The dog must actually be trained to do something you cannot do for yourself, which is related to your qualifying disability. The dog must also be trained to behave properly when in the public venue, and be under the handlers control at all times. The work or task MUST be related to the qualifying disability.The first thing you must do is to be certain you meet the ADA legal definition of disabled. Begin there.

*Sigh*You can't.There is NO certification, registration or licensure required by federal law for service dogs, nor is there any certification required for ESA's. ESA's are essentially affectionate pets - what real certification could be given for just being itself?Definitions of Therapy dogs, Service dogs and Emotional Support Animals:Therapy dogs help many people, NOT their owner. For example, they visit those in hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort, companionship and to just lighten their day. They are legally considered nothing more than pets. Having one certified won't enable you to being it into dorms or to college. Service dogs help ONE person. Service animals MUST be dogs except, under special circumstances, miniature horses can be used for guide work. You must be legally disabled under ADA standards to have one. There must be something that the disabled person cannot do, that is directly related their disability, that the dog can be trained to do. The dog must be specifically task trained to perform a task that you cannot perform yourself. They also must be highly obedience trained, potty trained, socialized with pets, people and environments, well behaved, quiet and calm. Service dogs and their handlers are generally given all access where the public is permitted to go. A doctor cannot write you a note to get a service dog. If you're not qualified under ADA standards you cannot have a service dog. Having one under false pretenses is Federal Fraud punishable by high fines, jail and confiscation of the animal. There's also no certification, registration or license required for one. All the registries that you see on the Internet are complete scams. The paper is worthless.Emotional support animals help ONE person. ESA's can be ANY domestic animal. You must be mentally disabled or elderly to have an emotional support animal and you must be under the care of a mental health professional. The mental health specialist must write a letter, on their stationary, stating what your condition is, that it appears in the DSM IV and what benefit an emotional support animal would give you. The letter must be updated yearly. ESA's are not given all access in public and cannot go where pets are not permitted. The only special considerations are in no pets housing and flying in cabin on an airplane.Some answerers here need to do their homework before answering these questions. They shouldn't give uninformed answers and mislead people. BTW - there ARE hearing alert dogs and deafness IS identified as a disability under the ADA - and has been for YEARS. But if your hearing loss can be improved with the use of hearing aids, you wouldn't qualify for a hearing alert dog.Sadly, most doctors don't even know the difference or what the qualifications are before they tell patients that they should get either an ESA or service dog." The only thing that calms me is the companionship of my puppy, though I fear that the school or the apartments near school would not allow for my puppy. "Since "companionship" isn't a qualifiable task, or trainable for that matter, you wouldn't qualify for a service dog. If anything you'd POSSIBLY qualify for an emotional support animal. But your suicidal tendencies and severe depression would literally have to be so severe to qualify you as mentally disabled to have one." Would it therefore be recommended that I have him certified for my university and future housing situation?"As I previously mentioned, there is no certification. You'd have to be under the care of a mental health professional to have an ESA and turn the afore mentioned letter from your treating mental health professional, along with a request for accommodation, to get permission to have it in the dorm. But again, as previously mentioned, ESA's don't have public access with their owner. It can't go to class with you, no matter how well trained.Do your research here.Http://www.servicedogcentral.orgThis is the website with the most accurate information. The vast majority of others websites are full of you know what..