Can a Child Have an Emotional Support Dog? Rules, Benefits, and Steps

A child can have an emotional support dog as long as they have a qualifying mental health condition. As a parent or legal guardian, you can get a dog or another emotional support animal (ESA) on their behalf to protect your little one’s well-being from no-pet policies.

That said, getting an emotional support dog is a big step that requires preparation. To help you make the process fast and smooth, this guide will cover:

• Legal protection and limitations related to emotional support dogs
• Qualifying mental health conditions
• Benefits of getting your child an ESA
• A step-by-step process for doing so

Legal Considerations for Getting an Emotional Support Dog for Kids

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), individuals (including minors) are eligible for an emotional support animal if their mental health condition or disability warrants one. If a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) diagnoses your child with a qualifying condition, they can prescribe an ESA letter.

When you submit the ESA letter to the landlord, they’re obligated to accommodate your child’s condition by letting the ESA live with you regardless of the general pet policies. An emotional support animal isn’t considered a pet in the eyes of the law, so the ESA letter overrides no-pet policies.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Have an Emotional Support Animal?

There’s no minimum age for getting an ESA. If the LMHP determines your child can benefit from the calming presence of a fluffy friend due to their diagnosis, you can obtain one on their behalf.

If your child is a minor, you’ll need to schedule a visit with an LMHP and accompany them to the evaluation. Your child can get the letter on their own if they’re of legal age and their condition doesn’t prevent them from doing so.

Can You Bring an Emotional Support Animal to School?

Unless the school allows animals on the premises, your child can’t bring their ESA with them. The FHA mainly protects your child’s right to an ESA when it comes to housing, so the protection doesn’t extend to public places, including:

• Restaurants
• Malls and shops
• Hospitals

This may not be a major obstacle if you live in an area with many pet-friendly places. If that’s not the case, you may want to consider an alternative like a service dog.

Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs for a Child

While our four-legged friends can wear many hats, it’s important to know exactly which supportive role they play in your child’s life. Misinterpreting an ESA for a service dog is more than an honest mistake—it can even be illegal in states like California.

Unlike ESAs, service dogs are approved for adults and children with specific disabilities outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), such as:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression
• Autism
• Bipolar disorder

Besides being governed by different laws, service dogs and ESAs are not the same. Here’s how they differ :

If you want your child’s furry companion to follow them wherever they go, a service dog is a better option (provided that the child qualifies for one). If the comforting presence of a dog in your home is enough, you should start familiarizing yourself with the conditions that make your child eligible for an ESA.

Qualifying Mental Health Conditions for an Emotional Support Dog

An emotional support dog is approved for many conditions, most notably:

• Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, etc.)
• Depression
• Attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Autism
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• PTSD
• Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
• Specific phobias (e.g., agoraphobia)

Your child must receive a formal diagnosis from a licensed professional to qualify for an ESA. You can’t obtain an ESA based on a self-diagnosis or for mild childhood challenges—they’re reserved for children with significant emotional, psychological, or personality disorders.

To determine if your little one qualifies for an emotional support dog, an LMHP will assess whether their presence can alleviate the symptoms of your little one’s condition. They might prescribe an ESA as a part of a more comprehensive therapy, especially in cases of more severe conditions like psychiatric or psychotic disorders.

How Emotional Support Dogs Improve Your Child’s Well-Being

The main purpose and benefit of getting an emotional support dog for your child is to alleviate the symptoms of their mental health condition. Think of the dog as a furry therapist who may not have formal training but has plenty of love to give. As such, your child’s dog can bring many universal benefits, most notably:

1. Easing stress and anxiety
2. Enhancing social skills
3. Providing safety and comfort
4. Improving mood and motivation

As these benefits can be especially valuable for children with specific mental health disorders, we’ll explain them in a bit more detail.

Easing Stress and Anxiety

Petting a fluffy corgi or curling up with a husky is bound to bring some peace and calm to even the most stressful times. It doesn’t come as a surprise that anxiety relief is among the most commonly demonstrated benefits of an ESA.

In a study including participants as young as 14, 100% of respondents said their ESA dog improved their quality of life and cited benefits like:

• Lower stress levels
• Fewer panic attacks
• Better sleep quality

For many kids with anxiety, a dog’s nonjudgmental companionship acts as a soothing anchor that helps them weather daily challenges.

That said, you need to choose the right breed that fits your little one’s needs and conditions. If your child is young and fearful, a large dog might not be a good idea. In such cases, you’d be better off with a goofy pug or a cuddly chow chow.

Similarly, you can consider a larger breed if your child can benefit from a dog’s sense of safety more than calming activities like petting. If possible, talk to your child, see what they’re most comfortable with, and let them choose their companion.

Enhancing Social Skills

If your child is on the autism spectrum or lives with another condition that makes socialization challenging, a dog can be an excellent social bridge and a conversation starter. A simple “What’s his name?” can mean the world to a withdrawn child and ease the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

If your child still isn’t ready to socialize with other kids, a dog can also be a valuable stepping stone. Children on the spectrum generally form bonds with animals more easily than with people, mainly because of their accepting and non-judgmental nature.

According to one study, 94% of dog owners and parents of children with autism reported that their kids formed strong bonds with their dogs. They also said owning a dog helped teach their kids responsibility and fostered companionship.

For a kid who may struggle to connect with peers, the consistent friendship of a pup can be profoundly validating and increase their confidence. According to more recent research, it also improves:

• Independent functioning
• Educational experience
• Overall family life

Providing Safety and Comfort

The world can become scary after a child goes through a traumatic event. If your child lives with PTSD or another trauma-related condition, a four-legged pal can be a grounding, comforting presence that reminds them they’re safe.

Specifically, research shows that animal-assisted interventions for children with PTSD help with:

• Building trust
• Restoring emotional balance
• Establishing a sense of safety

Better yet, the healing power of a pet’s love kicks in almost immediately. According to a study on the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy, the anxiety levels of trauma survivors dropped by half after only one week.

The safety benefits of an emotional support dog also extend to specific phobias like agoraphobia. A walk around the neighborhood or a visit to the park will seem much less scary to your kid with a watchful buddy by their side.

Improving Mood and Motivation

An emotional support dog can do wonders for symptoms of mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder. When your child feels down, a wagging tail and a pup’s adoring eyes are bound to boost their mood at least a bit.

Of course, a mood disorder is much more than a fleeting sense of sadness. Your child may be dealing with severe anhedonia, avolition, or mood changes that make daily life that much more challenging. Luckily, a dog’s presence can greatly improve these symptoms, especially when used as a part of a broad treatment strategy.

With their undying passion for playtime, a dog can motivate your child to leave the house and spend some fun time outside. Sometimes, even a heartwarming puppy look can be enough to brighten your child’s day and bring more color when they’re feeling blue.

How To Get an Emotional Support Dog for a Child

To get your child a friendly, furry companion, you should follow these steps:

1. Talk to an LMPH
2. Obtain an ESA letter
3. Choose the right dog

1. Talk to an LMPH

The road to an emotional support dog starts at the doctor’s office. This can be a therapist, psychiatrist, or another licensed professional authorized to evaluate your child’s condition. The only thing that matters is that they practice in the state where you want to obtain housing.

The assessment can happen in person or online, depending on your child’s needs and available professionals in your area. Either way, they should diagnose your child with a condition that qualifies for an ESA.

If your child doesn’t have an existing LMHP, you can ask their pediatrician for a recommendation. Keep in mind that in some states, your child will need to develop an ongoing relationship with the LMHP before they can get an ESA letter. For example, Arkansas, Iowa, and California require a 30-day relationship as proof that your child’s condition is being actively managed.

2. Obtain an ESA Letter

If your child’s LMHP determines that they can benefit from some puppy love, they’ll prescribe an ESA letter. While the letter doesn’t need to include the child’s condition, it must contain at least:

• A recommendation for an ESA based on the evaluation
• The LMHP’s signature and licensing details
• Date of issuance

The ESA letter also typically includes a housing disclaimer explaining that the ESA is needed for housing purposes as per the FHA. When you submit the letter to the landlord or housing provider, they must allow your child to bring their furry companion with them.

While the ESA letter doesn’t have an expiration date, some states like California require annual renewals. Ask your LMHP about any applicable state-specific laws to make sure you follow them.

3. Choose the Right Dog

Your child’s emotional support dog doesn’t need to be of a specific breed, but their temperament must match their condition and needs. While you might enjoy the excitement of a hyperactive dog, they might be too much for a child with anxiety or sensory issues.

If you or your child doesn’t have a specific breed in mind, you can consider some popular family choices like:

• Golden retrievers
• Labrador retrievers
• Beagles

You should also consider a dog’s age. If you don’t believe training a puppy is what your kiddo needs, getting an older, house-trained dog might be a better option.

How Quickly Can Your Child Get an Emotional Support Dog?

The time it takes to obtain an emotional support dog mainly depends on:

• Your existing relationship with an LMHP
• Evaluation type (online vs. traveling to the doctor’s office)
• State laws (e.g., Iowa’s 30-day relationship rule)

Unfortunately, the process can be pretty extensive sometimes, especially if you’re starting from scratch. Like every parent, you’d want your child to receive the best possible care quickly, so you might try to expedite it through online services promising a quick turnaround time and guaranteed results.

Beware of such services and remember the age-old rule—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Nobody can guarantee that your child will qualify for an ESA before an official evaluation. Also, you can’t sign up or get certified for an ESA—it must be prescribed by a licensed professional.

If you want to avoid guesswork and make sure the ESA letter process doesn’t get “ruff,” Your Service Animal is here to help.

Your Service Animal—The Simplest Way to a Puppy’s Love

To help your child bring home their new friend as quickly and effortlessly as possible, Your Service Animal connects you to carefully vetted professionals in your state. You don’t need to shop around and waste time, or even travel to the LMHP’s office—the entire process happens online.

After completing the quick and free qualification quiz, you and your child will be connected to an LMHP that understands all state-specific legal nuances and will give you all the information you need. If the evaluation shows that your child can benefit from an ESA, you’ll get your ESA letter digitally within 24–48 hours.

Additional benefits you get with YSA include:

Get Your Child an ESA Letter Without Hassle

While a dog’s love is unconditional, ESA letters aren’t—get a fully compliant letter without setbacks by following these simple steps:

1. Find out if your child’s a good fit for an ESA letter with our online quiz
2. Schedule an online appointment with a licensed mental health practitioner in your state
3. Have them attend the online call and receive an ESA letter if clinically appropriate
4. Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects the letter