Do you know the answers to these 5 questions about service dogs?

Have you ever seen a dog seemingly out of place - like a grocery store or restaurant? You likely saw a service dog. And while you’ve probably heard of a service dog, do you know much about them? Here are five common questions — and answers — about these important dogs.

1. What is a service dog?

A service dog is trained to perform tasks that aid people with disabilities. Whether a person is physically, mentally or intellectually impaired, a service dog can be trained to perform a wide variety of things for them.

2. What’s the difference between a service dog and emotional support animal (ESA)?

When it comes to service dogs and ESAs, there are three primary differences: the animal’s purpose, legal rights and essential certifications. In a nutshell, a service dog is trained to aid people with disabilities and an ESA can be any type of pet without specialized training. ESAs do need to have a certification proving they offer emotional comfort to their owner.

3. What types of service dogs are there?

There are several types of service dogs used for a variety of reasons. But here are the eight main types of service dogs:

• Guide dogs
• Hearing dogs
• Diabetic service dogs
• Mobility assistance dogs
• Seizure response dogs
• Autism service dogs
• Allergy detection dogs
• Psychiatric service dogs

4. What breeds are the most common service dogs?

Some of the most common service dog breeds are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Poodles. These types of dogs are typically patient, trainable and are willing to please — all essential traits needed to be a service dog.

5. Why can’t you pet a service dog?

Technically, it’s up to the pet owner whether or not you can pet their service dog. However, it’s safer to assume that you should never pet a service dog. It could be dangerous for the pet owner if you distract the dog from doing its job — preventing the dog from aiding their owner who may need them at any given time.