What defines an assistance animal in terms of its training?

An assistance animal is specifically defined by its ability to perform certain tasks that aid a person with a disability. These tasks are directly related to the individual's disability and can include guiding individuals who are visually impaired, alerting those who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, or alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure. This definition distinguishes assistance animals from other animals, such as those that simply have been trained to perform tricks or are kept as pets for companionship.

In contrast, while emotional support animals can provide comfort, they do not perform tasks that are directly related to a disability, which is why they do not fall into the same category as assistance animals. Additionally, the term "any domesticated pet" does not encompass the specific training and role of assistance animals, as many pets do not have the training necessary to assist individuals with disabilities. Thus, the essence of defining an assistance animal lies in the specific tasks it is trained to perform that provide support to individuals with disabilities.