Can You Have a Pit Bull as an Emotional Support Dog?

Although pit bulls are wrongly notorious for aggression, they are actually smart, playful, and generally obedient. They also strongly desire to please their owners, making them suitable candidates for emotional support animals.

This guide will help you decide whether getting a pit bull as an emotional support dog is a smart move for you by discussing:

• Types of pit bulls
• ESA rules you should be aware of
• General characteristics of pit bulls
• Steps to make your pit bull an official ESA

Clarifying the Pit Bull Confusion

You may be surprised to learn that pit bulls aren’t a dog breed. “Pit bull” is typically used to refer to American pit bull terriers, which are the only dog breed with “pit bull” in their name, or to breeds with similar physical characteristics:

• Muscular and agile appearance
• Medium size
• Strong jaw
• Curved and muscular neck
• Square-shaped head

There are several pit bull-type breeds typically labeled as pit bulls:

1. American pit bull terrier
2. American Staffordshire terrier
3. Staffordshire bull terrier
4. American bully

All pit bull-type breeds were bred in the 19th century and used for various roles, from guarding homes to working on farms. Unfortunately, many of them were used for dog fighting and bull-baiting, which is probably what earned them their bad rap.

Can a Pit Bull Be an Emotional Support Dog?

Pit bulls are controversial, so it’s natural to wonder whether keeping one as an emotional support dog is even an option. The answer is yes; pit bulls can be emotional support dogs and thrive in this role due to their fierce loyalty to their owners and affectionate personalities.

As they’re able to form deep bonds with their owners, pit bulls can:

• Provide companionship and support
• Relieve loneliness
• Reduce anxiety and depression
• Help you establish a healthy routine

It’s important to understand that emotional support dogs differ from service dogs and therapy dogs. 

Emotional support dogs (like other ESA types, including cats, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, etc.) are regulated under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). When you get proof that your dog is an ESA, you can move into housing units that usually aren’t pet-friendly and avoid paying pet rent and extra fees or deposits. ESAs don’t need specific training and should offer comfort and keep you company, not perform specific tasks.

Service dogs undergo specialized training to assist and support their owners in their daily activities, from fetching meds to opening doors and even warning about seizures. Therapy dogs “work” at hospitals, nursing homes, or schools to provide comfort.

Can Pit Bulls Be Rejected as ESAs?

Dog breed discrimination is, unfortunately, real. Your pit bull could be the goofiest, most wonderful furball, and some people on the street could still behave like you’re walking a wild beast waiting to attack.

Due to the stereotypes, landlords may think twice before letting you keep a pit bull as an ESA. And, considering they’re often featured on “dangerous breeds” lists along with cane corso, German shepherd, Rottweiler, and Doberman, landlords can say no to you keeping your pit bull as a pet. 

But, if your pit bull is an official ESA and you have proof of it, they can’t reject you or your four-legged buddy. The FHA clearly states that all ESAs, regardless of their breed or type, have a crucial role in helping individuals with mental health conditions and can’t be discriminated against because someone thinks they’re dangerous. 

That doesn’t mean you and your pit bull are untouchable, though. In some situations, your landlord can reject your pit bull ESA and even evict you from the apartment. Check out the details in the following table:

What Makes Pit Bulls Excellent ESAs?

Despite their reputation, pit bull-type dogs can be the gentlest souls you’ve ever met. Here are a few characteristics that make them ideal ESAs:

1. Strong desire to please
2. Playfulness
3. Affectionate nature
4. Medium energy levels

Strong Desire To Please

Pit bull-type dogs are incredibly loyal and form deep bonds with their owners. Your pit bull will prioritize pleasing you and will become incredibly in tune with your emotions, which is exactly what you want from an ESA. If you’re feeling down, your pit bull will be happy to spend the day lounging on the couch and probably try to cheer you up with a round of tug-of-war. If you’re happy, they’ll make you even happier with their goofiness.

Pit bulls are the perfect example of velcro dogs. They’ll follow you around and do their best to bring sun to the cloudiest days.

Playfulness

Pit bulls are all bark, no bite (and often not even bark). They have an incredibly playful personality and are down for whatever, from chasing a ball in the park to finding hidden treats. This playfulness is bound to cheer you up whenever you feel down and bring a new level of happiness into your life.

Affectionate Nature

Their exterior may not give this away, but pit bull-type dogs are incredibly affectionate. They love nothing more than cuddling with their owners (and other people they know). As petting a dog can reduce anxiety and boost the level of feel-good hormones like oxytocin, you’ll appreciate the affectionate nature of pit bulls.

Best of all, pit bulls are especially affectionate and extra gentle toward children, with patience levels many can only dream of. This trait makes them wonderful companions to families with kids.

Medium Energy Levels

Unlike huskies, Weimaraners, and border collies, pit bull-type dogs don’t require huge amounts of exercise or 1000-hour walks. A few walks a day, combined with daily playtime, is enough to keep them happy and in shape. Of course, you can expect zoomies and random bursts of energy throughout the day, especially if you have a young pup.

If you are or want to be active but don’t wish to climb mountains or run marathons every weekend, a pit bull can be your perfect companion.

How To Make Your Pit Bull an ESA

If you want to make your pit bull an official ESA, you’ll need to go through several steps:

1. Find a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) and schedule an appointment
2. Undergo an assessment of your mental health
3. Obtain an ESA letter

Find a Licensed LMHP

You may see online ads for services that promise to get you an ESA letter without a consultation with an LMHP. This is always a red flag and a sign of a scam. An appointment with an LMHP who practices in your area is a must for obtaining a valid ESA letter and ensuring your pittie becomes an official emotional support dog.

The following LMHPs are qualified to evaluate your mental health and issue an ESA letter:

• Therapists
• Primary care physicians
• Psychiatrists
• Clinical social workers
• Nurse practitioners

The potential issue is that, depending on your location and the availability of LMHPs, you may have to wait a long time to get an appointment, and this could prevent you from landing the apartment you like.

Undergo an Assessment of Your Mental Health

ESAs can be recommended only to individuals with mental health conditions outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, such as:

• ADHD
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• OCD
• Schizophrenia

Note that there’s no guarantee you’ll get the green light for an ESA. If the LMHP doesn’t think you’ll benefit from an ESA, they can deny your request.

Obtain an ESA Letter

If your LMHP confirms your eligibility for an ESA, they’ll issue you an ESA letter. It should include relevant details about your LMHP, such as their name and license number. The letter doesn’t contain info about your exact mental health condition as you’re not legally required to share these personal details with your landlord.

Your Service Animal—Get Your ESA Letter ASAP

Your Service Animal makes getting your ESA letter smooth and straightforward. The service connects you to vetted LMHPs in your area to help you obtain your letter without long waiting times.

The service offers numerous benefits to ensure you have the best experience possible:

Get Your ESA Letter Now

Your pit bull may be your faithful sidekick for months or years and successfully help you go through the hard days. To make it official and promote your pittie to an ESA, complete the following steps:

1. Find out if you’re 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. Attend the online call and receive your ESA letter if clinically appropriate
4. Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects your letter