
Service Dog Training in Plano, TX
Looking to shape your pup into a service dog for yourself or someone else? This specialized dog training program teaches critical skills for dogs who are or may become service, therapy, or emotional support dogs. The foundation of service dog training is excellent manners, obedience, and reliability. Our program helps your dogs master these skills and others so they can be on their best behavior in any environment or situation. Looking for something specific? Call us about our service dog training in Plano, TX.
Free Training Evaluation ($95 Value)!
Discount subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers. Applies to first-time training customers only.

What is a Service Dog?
The definitions between “service dogs,” “therapy dogs,” and “emotional support dogs” can get blurry and sometimes confusing. Most people refer to all these roles as “service dogs,” but there are legal definitions and important differences between them.
A service animal is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” Examples of qualifying work are guiding the blind, assisting with mobility, or alerting for seizures. Service dogs are protected under the ADA and are permitted public access. Currently, there is no official national ADA test to certify service dogs. Although there is no official test, certain types of service dogs such as seeing eye dogs take years to train and should be obtained by a reputable company specializing in service dogs. Most of these types of service dogs are carefully bred or selected. As service dogs do have public access, they should be well-behaved and reliable. Undesirable behavior in public can cause difficult or embarrassing situations as well as challenges to the validity of a dog’s service status.
At Cosmic Canine, we provide the groundwork for excellent behavior in a service dog so they can more easily do their jobs in any setting. Other skills can be discussed on a case-by-case basis. However, we’re not able to provide training on specific tasks for a disability such as seeing eye or seizure alert training. If you have a personal dog that is assisting you with your disability and you are struggling with behavior problems in public, we are more than happy to help.



What is a Therapy Dog?
Therapy dogs also require special training, but their role is much different from that of a service dog. Therapy dogs provide psychological or emotional support to people other than their handlers. They may visit hospitals or schools or assist after traumatic events. Therapy dog certification and training does not grant the dog public access rights under the ADA or FHA, but their standards for behavior are very high.
The first step in our therapy dog training is passing the Canine Good Citizen test, which we train for and offer right here at Cosmic Canine. Our basic Stay & Train and Day Training will prepare your dog for that. If you are interested in group classes, our training basics and foundation class is a great place to start.
Free Training Evaluation ($95 Value)!
Discount subject to availability and cannot be combined with other offers. Applies to first-time training customers only.

What is an Emotional Support Animal?
Assistance dogs are not given public access under the ADA, however, they are granted additional rights under the Fair Housing Act. Emotional Support Animals are classified as an assistance dog and can be granted access to housing that otherwise would not allow pets. While Emotional Support Animals do not require specialized training, they should be well-behaved and under control. In order for your dog to qualify as an ESA for housing, you must consult a licensed mental health professional and receive an ESA Letter. We assist with evaluating and training your dog in basic obedience and provide a referral to seek an ESA Letter in Texas. In our program, your dog will be trained in basic obedience skills to pass the Canine Good Citizen exam and proper manners and control in public. Dogs wearing service dog vests should be well-behaved and under control in public at all times. At the end of your program, you can schedule your Canine Good Citizen exam at our facility to get your dog’s Canine Good Citizen certificate. Any dog seeking to be an assistance animal should, at minimum, be able to pass the Canine Good Citizen exam.



Can my dog be a service, therapy, or emotional support dog?
It’s very possible! However, some dogs are better suited for the job than others depending on their confidence, reliability, and personality. We’re happy to evaluate your dog and your goals and give you our expert opinion as to your dog’s suitability for an assistance role. Please schedule your free training evaluation to learn more about our service dog training in Plano, TX!