Your Rights in 2026: Assistance Dogs Compared to Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs

This guide explains the legal differences between assistance dogs, emotional support dogs, and therapy dogs in the UK as of 2026. The rules come mainly from the Equality Act 2010, and they haven't changed significantly in recent years. It's aimed at anyone who relies on a dog for support or wants to understand the law better.

Many people get confused about these types of dogs because they all help in some way with health or wellbeing. But the law treats them differently, especially when it comes to going into public places like shops, restaurants, or taxis. This matters a lot if you depend on your dog every day.

We'll break it down step by step so it's clear what each type of dog does and what rights come with them.

Table of Contents

• Why Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs Don't Have the Same Rights as Assistance Dogs

• What Counts as an Assistance Dog?

• Emotional Support Dogs and Therapy Dogs Explained

• Access Rights: Assistance Dogs Versus Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs

• Will the law change soon to include emotional support and therapy dogs?

• Where to Find More Help and Advice

Why Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs Don't Have the Same Rights as Assistance Dogs

This is the main point many people get confused about, so let's cover it first.

All these dogs can help people feel better or cope with daily life, but the law in the UK draws a clear line between them. Assistance dogs get special legal protections because they are trained to carry out specific tasks that directly help with a person's disability. Think of them as essential equipment, much like a wheelchair or a hearing aid – something the person needs to manage their condition day to day.

Emotional support dogs and therapy dogs are great for providing comfort and companionship, which can make a big difference to someone's mental health. The key difference is that they usually aren't trained to perform those specific tasks. Because of this, the law doesn't give them the same automatic rights to go everywhere with their owner.

The rules come from the Equality Act 2010, which protects disabled people from unfair treatment. Service providers – such as shops, restaurants, hotels, taxis and public transport – have to make "reasonable adjustments" for disabled customers. Allowing an assistance dog is often one of those adjustments.

What the law says about assistance dogs

• Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses and services must usually allow assistance dogs on their premises, even if they have a no-dogs policy. This applies to the whole of the UK (with similar rules in Northern Ireland under separate laws).

• Refusing entry to an assistance dog without a very good reason (like a genuine health and safety risk in a sterile area) can count as disability discrimination. The owner could take legal action if this happens.

• These rights cover dogs trained by recognised charities, organisations or even owners themselves – as long as the dog is properly trained to do tasks, behaves well in public and helps with a disability.

Why emotional support and therapy dogs are treated differently

• Emotional support dogs mainly provide comfort just by being there. They help with things like anxiety or low mood through their presence and affection, but they don't have special training for particular tasks linked to a disability.

• Therapy dogs often visit groups of people (such as in hospitals, schools or care homes) to offer comfort to others. They aren't usually living full-time with one person to help with a specific disability.

• The Equality Act 2010 does not mention emotional support dogs or therapy dogs at all. This means businesses and services are not legally required to let them in. They can treat them like any other pet and say no – and this isn't discrimination under the law.

An important exception for mental health

If a dog is trained to carry out specific tasks for a mental health condition, then it can qualify as a psychiatric assistance dog. These dogs have the same full legal rights as other assistance dogs.

Here are some common examples of the kind of specific, trained tasks that can make a dog qualify:

• Interrupting a panic attack by nudging the person or bringing them back to the present – the dog is taught to recognise signs of an attack and respond in a trained way.

• Reminding the owner to take medication at set times – for instance, by bringing a medication pouch or pawing at the person when an alarm goes off.

• Providing deep pressure therapy during distress – the dog is trained to lie across the person's body on command to help calm overwhelming feelings.

• Alerting to dissociative episodes or nightmares – the dog learns to wake or ground the person by licking, pawing or fetching help in a reliable, trained manner.

These tasks must be reliably taught and performed. The training makes the dog an active helper that directly reduces the day-to-day effects of the disability.

Just providing general comfort or companionship – no matter how much it helps emotionally – isn't enough to meet the legal test. A dog that simply sits with you, cuddles or makes you feel less alone through its presence alone does not qualify for the extra public access rights.

The training is what matters most. It doesn't have to come from a big charity; many people train their own dogs successfully. But the dog needs to prove it can do the tasks consistently and behave perfectly in public places.

Why does the law make this distinction?

Many people find it hard to understand or accept, especially when a dog helps so much with mental health. The law focuses on task-trained dogs because it sees them as a practical tool that replaces or reduces the need for human help. This helps justify requiring businesses to change their usual rules.

As of 2026, there have been no major changes to these rules. The Equality Act 2010 is still the main law, and courts continue to follow the same approach.

If your dog only offers emotional support through its presence, it won't have public access rights. Some places might still allow it as a kindness, but they don't have to. This can feel disappointing, but understanding the difference helps avoid difficult situations.

What Counts as an Assistance Dog?

Now that we've cleared up why emotional support and therapy dogs don't get the same rights, let's look at exactly what makes a dog an assistance dog under UK law.

An assistance dog is one that has been trained to carry out specific tasks to help a person with a disability. These tasks must directly reduce the day-to-day effects of that disability. The law sees the dog as an important tool – similar to a wheelchair or crutches – that helps the person live more independently.

The main law is the Equality Act 2010. It doesn't give a full list of every type of assistance dog, but it protects dogs that are trained to help with disabilities, including physical, sensory, medical and mental health conditions.

Common types of assistance dogs

Here are some examples of the kinds of dogs that usually qualify. Each one is trained for particular jobs that make a real difference:

• Guide dogs for blind or partially sighted people. These dogs learn to navigate safely around obstacles, stop at kerbs, find crossings and guide their owner through crowded or unfamiliar places. This training helps the person move around confidently without relying on someone else.

• Hearing dogs for deaf or hard-of-hearing people. They alert their owner to important sounds like doorbells, alarm clocks, smoke alarms or even a baby's cry. The dog might nudge the person or lead them to the source of the sound, allowing quicker and safer responses.

• Mobility assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities. They can pick up dropped items, open or close doors, help with balance to prevent falls, or even assist with undressing by pulling off socks or sleeves. These tasks reduce the need for human help and lower the risk of injury.

• Medical alert or detection dogs for conditions like diabetes or epilepsy. The dog is trained to notice subtle changes in the person's body (such as scent changes for low blood sugar) and alert them early. This can prevent serious medical emergencies by giving time to act.

• Psychiatric assistance dogs for mental health disabilities. These dogs perform trained tasks like interrupting panic attacks or self-harm behaviours, providing deep pressure to calm distress, reminding the owner to take medication, or creating space in crowded areas. The key is the specific training – not just comfort from being there.

What about training and behaviour?

The dog must be reliably trained. This means it can perform its tasks consistently and behave calmly in all sorts of public places.

Good behaviour includes:

• Staying focused on its handler and ignoring distractions like other people, food or animals.

• Sitting or lying quietly without wandering or barking unnecessarily.

• Being toileted on command so it doesn't have accidents indoors.

Most assistance dogs wear a harness or jacket to show they're working, but this isn't required by law.

Do you need official papers or registration?

No. There is no legal requirement for ID cards, certificates or registration in the UK. The law focuses on what the dog actually does and how well it's trained – not on paperwork.

Many people get their dogs from accredited charities that are members of Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). These organisations provide fully trained dogs and often give ID booklets, which can make things smoother when out and about.

But owner-trained dogs have the same legal rights. If you train your own dog to perform tasks that help with your disability, and it meets high standards of behaviour, it qualifies as an assistance dog too.

What can staff ask?

If someone questions whether your dog is an assistance dog, staff in shops, restaurants or taxis are only allowed to ask two questions:

• Is this dog required because of a disability?

• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

They cannot ask for proof, certificates or a demonstration. They also can't charge extra or refuse access without a very good reason (which is rare).

Thousands of people across the UK rely on assistance dogs every day. These dogs open up opportunities for independence, safety and confidence that might otherwise be hard to achieve.

Emotional Support Dogs and Therapy Dogs Explained

We've already covered assistance dogs in detail, so now let's turn to emotional support dogs and therapy dogs. These dogs offer important emotional benefits and can make a huge difference to people's lives, but they work in different ways from assistance dogs – and the law treats them differently too.

Many people rely on these dogs for comfort and wellbeing, especially with mental health challenges. They are wonderful companions, but it's helpful to understand exactly what they are and where they fit under UK rules.

What is an emotional support dog?

An emotional support dog lives full-time with one person and helps mainly with mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD or loneliness.

Their presence alone can reduce stress, provide a sense of routine and help ease feelings of isolation. Just having the dog around for cuddles, walks or company often makes daily life feel more manageable.

No specific task training is required – a calm, affectionate and well-behaved dog is enough. Many are simply family pets that naturally offer this kind of support.

Owners often find them life-changing at home, helping with motivation to get up in the morning or feeling safer in their own space. However, they do not have the same public access rights as assistance dogs.

• Emotional support dogs are not mentioned in the Equality Act 2010. This means businesses, shops, restaurants, taxis or public transport are not legally required to allow them in. They can be treated like ordinary pets, and refusal isn't discrimination under the law.

• Some places might let them in out of kindness or their own policy, but there's no legal right to this.

What is a therapy dog?

Therapy dogs are different because they usually provide comfort to groups of people, not just one owner.

These dogs are taken by their handlers (often volunteers) to visit settings like hospitals, care homes, schools or hospices. They might let people stroke them, join group activities or simply sit with someone to lift their mood and reduce anxiety.

The dogs are assessed for a friendly, calm temperament and good behaviour around strangers. They need to enjoy attention from lots of different people without getting overwhelmed.

Visits are always arranged in advance with the facility. The dog goes in as a visitor, not as a permanent companion for one person. These dogs do not live with or support a single individual full-time.

Like emotional support dogs, therapy dogs have no special legal rights for public access. They must be invited to places and can be refused anywhere else.

Organisations like Therapy Dogs Nationwide or Pets As Therapy coordinate these visits and ensure dogs meet temperament standards, but this doesn't give them the protections of assistance dogs.

Why the legal difference matters

Both emotional support dogs and therapy dogs do valuable work for emotional wellbeing and mental health support. They can lower blood pressure, encourage social interaction and bring real joy.

The key legal difference is the lack of specific task training tied directly to mitigating a disability. Assistance dogs qualify for protections because their trained tasks act like essential equipment, helping the person function independently.

As of 2026, the Equality Act 2010 remains the main law, and it still focuses on task-trained dogs for full public access rights.

Could your dog qualify as something more?

If your mental health condition counts as a disability under the law and you train your dog to perform specific tasks (like those we mentioned for psychiatric assistance dogs), it could become a full assistance dog with legal protections.

Just the comfort from presence or general companionship isn't enough for those rights – the training has to be reliable and targeted at the disability's effects.

Many owners start with an emotional support dog and later add task training to gain more access. If that's something you're considering, organisations like Assistance Dogs UK can point you in the right direction.

Access Rights: Assistance Dogs Versus Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs

The biggest difference between these types of dogs shows up when you go out in public. Assistance dogs have strong legal protections for access, while emotional support dogs and therapy dogs do not.

The rules are based on the Equality Act 2010, which is still the main law in 2026 with no major changes affecting these rights.

In shops, supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, pubs and hotels

• Assistance Dog: Must usually be allowed in, even where there's a no-dogs policy. This is a reasonable adjustment under the law. Staff cannot refuse just because of general pet rules, and doing so could count as disability discrimination. The dog can stay with you at your table or in your room to help manage your disability.

• Emotional Support / Therapy Dog: Can be refused entry without any legal issue. Businesses treat them like ordinary pets, so they might say no to avoid hygiene concerns or complaints from others. Some places with dog-friendly policies might let them in, but it's entirely up to them – no law requires it.

In taxis and private hire vehicles

• Assistance Dog: Must be carried without extra charge. Refusing without a valid medical exemption (like a severe allergy certified by a doctor) is a criminal offence, with possible fines up to £1,000. This ensures disabled people can travel independently with their dog's help.

• Emotional Support / Therapy Dog: No legal protections – drivers can refuse them just like any pet. Some drivers might not mind, but others will say no to keep their car clean or follow company rules.

On public transport like buses, trains, trams and planes

• Assistance Dog: Must be welcomed on board. They travel for free with their owner, and staff cannot refuse them without a strong reason. This applies to most UK flights too, making longer journeys easier for people with disabilities.

• Emotional Support / Therapy Dog: No legal right to board. Operators can treat them as pets, which might mean extra fees, special carriers or outright refusal on busy services. Some train companies allow small pets in carriers, but larger dogs could be turned away – it varies by provider.

In venues like cinemas, theatres, gyms and doctors' waiting rooms

• Assistance Dog: Should be allowed to enter and stay with the owner throughout. The dog can lie quietly under a seat or beside you, providing support without disturbing others. Refusal here could lead to a discrimination claim, as the law sees the dog as essential for access.

• Emotional Support / Therapy Dog: Not covered by the law, so venues can refuse them. They might allow therapy dogs for organised visits (like in a hospital setting), but for everyday access, it's not guaranteed. Many gyms or theatres cite space or distraction as reasons to say no.

Exceptions and behaviour rules

• Assistance Dog: Exceptions are rare, mainly in sterile areas like operating theatres where hygiene is critical. General "no dogs" signs or other customers' allergies do not count as reasons to refuse. But the dog must behave well – if it barks a lot, fouls or causes issues, access can be denied that time for safety.

• Emotional Support / Therapy Dog: No structured exceptions because they lack rights to begin with. Businesses can always refuse, though some might make allowances if the dog is calm and leashed.

This clear difference all stems from the task training that makes assistance dogs essential equipment for managing a disability in public. Emotional support and therapy dogs offer great comfort, but the law doesn't require places to adjust for them in the same way.

Many places are becoming more understanding, and problems often arise from staff not knowing the rules rather than deliberate refusal. But only assistance dogs have the legal duty behind them.

In the final section, we'll point you to reliable places for more help and advice if you ever need it.

Will the Law Change Soon to Include Emotional Support Dogs?

Many people feel frustrated that emotional support dogs and therapy dogs don't have the same public access rights as assistance dogs. This is especially true for those who rely on their dog for mental health support, such as help with anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It's a common hope that the rules might update one day to make things fairer.

Here's the current situation as of January 2026:

• No changes are planned or proposed to the Equality Act 2010. The government has not announced any reviews, consultations, or new laws that would give emotional support dogs automatic rights to enter shops, restaurants, taxis, or public transport.

• The law still focuses on dogs that are trained to perform specific tasks directly linked to a disability (for example, guiding a blind person or alerting to a seizure). General comfort or companionship, no matter how helpful it is for someone's mental health, does not meet the legal test for full protections.

• Courts and official bodies like the Equality and Human Rights Commission continue to apply the existing rules without any shift towards recognising emotional support dogs or therapy dogs separately.

Some individuals, mental health charities, and campaign groups do call for change. They argue that mental health disabilities deserve broader recognition and that the presence of a dog can be a vital part of managing conditions like anxiety or PTSD.

However, these calls have not led to any active consultations, bills, or reforms at the moment. The UK approach remains different from places like the United States, where emotional support animals once had more protections (though even there, rules have tightened in recent years, especially for flying).

For now, many places might still let a well-behaved emotional support or therapy dog in if you explain politely, but it's up to them—there's no legal right.

Where to Find More Help and Advice

If you still have questions after reading this guide or need extra support with your situation, there are reliable places to turn. These organisations know the law well and can offer clear, practical advice tailored to you.

Here are some of the best starting points:

• Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK): A coalition of accredited assistance dog charities. Their website has straightforward guides on rights, what qualifies as an assistance dog, and tips for owners and businesses. They also list member organisations you can contact directly. Visit www.assistancedogs.org.uk

• Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): The official body responsible for the Equality Act 2010. They provide free guidance for dog owners and businesses on access rights and handling refusals. It's a good place to check if you've experienced unfair treatment. Visit: www.equalityhumanrights.com (search for "assistance dogs")

• Specialist charities for different conditions: Many people get targeted help from organisations that focus on specific disabilities:

  • Guide Dogs (for sight loss): www.guidedogs.org.uk

  • Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (for hearing loss): www.hearingdogs.org.uk

  • Medical Detection Dogs (for medical conditions like diabetes): www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

These charities often supply trained dogs, offer training advice, or support owner-trainers.

If you're interested in a dog for mental health support, remember that specific task training is what can turn an emotional support dog into a psychiatric assistance dog with full rights. Some organisations specialise in this area and can guide you on the process, even if you plan to train the dog yourself.

Knowing where to look for trusted information helps you plan confidently and handle any issues calmly. If an assistance dog is refused unfairly, you can politely explain the law or reach out to one of the groups above for next steps.

The rules remain consistent, so these sources stay current and reliable.

Published: 3 January 2026