Service dog, emotional support dog or a therapy dog?

There is no such thing as a dog that doesn't shed AT ALL. Some "supposedly" hypoallergenic dogs shed far LESS, but no dogs are truly non-shedding OR truly hypoallergentic -to all people.

You have not talked about your son's needs, so nobody can make that evalaution FOR YOU. Perhaps you should consult with your son's doctor(s).

Therapy dogs are owned by others & simply come for visits, you do not have to live with the dog or have care of it. That's VERY different from a dog living in your home, 24/7. Perhaps you could try OUT certain breeds by having them visit, to see if your son does well around that breed of dog. I've seen some people allergic to salvia or nose mucous of the dog, NOT the hair or coat. That type of skin allergy can be very specific to that particular dog, not ALL dogs of that breed.

All dogs shed hair and dander so there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that even the FDA's definition of the word is invalid and it is not an accurate description of whether a substance, object or material causes allergies or other negative outcomes. Unfortunately a lot of children on this site think they know better than the Court of Appeals and the FDA. Having said that, some dog breeds shed less hair and dander than others, so a person with a mild allergy may get on well with some dogs. However, there are individual variations even within litters, never mind breeds, so the individual dog should be tested for the prospective owner's reactions.

As Amos explained, a therapy dog is used for different purposes entirely. If a dog can be trained to perform specific tasks that substantially mitigate your son's disability (making him feel good doesn't count) then that dog is a service dog and - providing its behavior and hygiene are impeccable - it can go almost anywhere with him. No certification is required. Refer to the Americans with Disabilities act for confirmation.

An emotional support animal is a companion animal, i.e. a pet, and has no access rights whatsoever except in certain housing situations under the Fair Housing Act. Even then, an emotional support dog requires a letter of support from a psychiatrist, not a respiratory or immunological specialist.

Please bear in mind that if you get a puppy it will be for a lifetime, and if your son has the opportunity for a lung transplant once he reaches puberty, his post-transplant immunosuppressant medication may make it unsafe to keep a dog, so you could be faced with a young man trying to recover from major surgery while dealing with the forced rehoming of his beloved pet. This is a very complex issue and I can only implore you to discuss this in depth with other CF parents and patients rather than a bunch of random strangers on Y!A.

"what people like to call a "hypoallergenic" dog. One that doesn't shed or leave the dog dandruff behind. Called it what you will, there is no such thing! All dogs shed, have dandruff and saliva, just as people do. Daily brushing keeps it somewhat under control.

Depends, why a dog is required and if a doctor says a dog is required. Service dogs perform specific tasks that the owner can not do for themselves. Like a specific disability, ie blindness. Just being disabled does not qualify. I have to agree with Nekkid Truth! I also agree with MacBryan kudos to both!

I've been buddies with a child who had CF throughout all years in school, including pre-school & kindergarten. He functioned as any other child without assistance. This child played lots of sports like others with CF. It was simply harder for him to breathe. CF doesn't disable everyday functions.There's nothing a dog can do to clear your child's mucus buildup.

"Emotional support" dogs are simply pets. Therapy dogs are trained pets who occasionally visit nursing homes, schools, hospitals, disaster sites, etc for people to pet. Service dogs assist 1 person's disability.

Service dogs are specifically trained to assist someone with a disability. Being disabled does not automatically qualify anyone for a service dog. Your disability has to prevent you from being able to perform daily life skills independently, and a dog has to be able to assist with that. Most children do not qualify for a service dog because they have an adult to assist them anyways.

Therapy dogs are pets that are trained to visit nursing homes and such.

ESA are pets, no special training.

ESA are only pets and can't be taken into stores or other public places and can't be in pet free rentals and there is no magic note from a doctor that will let you keep it and no register since an ESA is a pet that will let you keep it if you are in a rental that wont allow pets

A service dog is a dog TRAINED from a puppy by company that trains them and they are very expensive. Since you chidl is not disabled he can't have one

A threpay dog is a pet. It can't be in pet free rentals and can't be taken to stores and the like

And there is no such thing as hypoallergenic. ALL dogs shed dander. If he's allergic then no dog is best

A service dog would be more so if he could not walk well, needed help moving around, etc. Where a support dog is similar to a therapy dog where they would be there to support, and overall be friends with him. Seeing as how this is a lung issue, i think any would be an alright option. If he has a more serious case and could pass out or be injured at any moment, a service dog trained to get medical things for him, or to learn to run to someone if the kid is in danger would be the best option.

In any given situation, focus on what you do want your dog to do instead of on whatever he’s doing wrong. Learn how to train your dog https://tr.im/trainanydog

For example, suppose that on many evenings, your young dog gets busy looking for trouble just as you’re digesting your dinner. He grabs a boot from the mat by the front door and gallops through the house with it. You yell at him and take it away. He grabs its mate. You yell and take it away. He heads for the kitchen and starts checking out the counters in case something tasty’s been left behind. You chase him away. And on and on, until you’ve lost your temper and torn out clumps of hair you can ill afford to lose.

And how exactly is the dog assisting him? Has your doctor said a dog would be of great assistance to him? You can't just call a dog one of those without certification, a genuine need and training. WHY does he need the dog? Or are you just like the countless others that wants to rent in a place that doesn't allows dogs so that is why you want this?

Service dogs go to those people who have a physical disability that needs their help. It must be documented and "prescribed" by the doctor, and then applied for by an agency that trains and supplies them. This also includes people like our war veterans who are legitimately suffering from PTSD from their combat experience. If your son doesn't have a physical disability then he can't qualify for one. ESA's are only for people with a documented mental illness. Therapy dogs are privately owned and certified dogs that their owners take to places like assisted living homes for the elderly, group homes for the mentally disabled, trauma victims and so on.

Step one is to contact your doctor, and have them refer you to a place that supplies these dogs. There are of course the Seeing Eye dogs for the blind, but other similar organizations raise and train dogs for the physically disabled.