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Psychiatric service dogs are a great way for people to get the help they need. Instead of relying solely on medications and other means, psychiatric service dogs offer companionship and perform helpful tasks as methods of treatment. Plus, many people prefer working with service dogs over traditional means of treatment. If there is one thing a dog is good at, it’s making people feel happy, comfortable, and even safe.
This is why it’s important to consider working with a psychiatric service dog. If you’ve tried other methods to help with mental health issues, it might be time to consider a service dog. That said, it’s important to know how to register one. The good news is that we’re here to help. Read on to learn more about how to register a psychiatric service dog.
What Is a Psychiatric Service Dog?
Psychiatric service dogs are a subdivision of service dogs. This means that psychiatric service dogs function the same way and adhere to the same rules and guidelines as traditional service dogs. That said, there are some differences between the rules depending on the mental health condition or disability.
It’s also important to note that psychiatric service dogs are different from emotional support animals (ESAs). While there is a lot of overlap in the services that psychiatric service dogs and ESAs provide, ESAs are not protected under the same laws.
Additionally, psychiatric service dogs can provide aid for people in more comprehensive ways than ESAs. This is because psychiatric service dogs require unique training and have to be certified. Furthermore, psychiatric service dogs can perform tasks for people, lead people away from crowds, and more.
Psychiatric Service Dog Rules
There are a lot of laws and regulations you need to be aware of when thinking about psychiatric service dogs. The good news is that most laws and regulations favor service dogs and provide your companion with a spot next to you in most situations. For example, the Air Carrier Access Act permits service dogs to accompany passengers to public airlines.
That said, there are also other laws and regulations to be aware of. While the Federal law has protections via the Americans with Disabilities Act, some states have taken the issue into their own hands. For example, New York protects service dogs under its Civil Rights Law, which gives service dogs the ability to enter private property, live with tenants, and more.
Common Service Dog Breeds
While most dog breeds can become service dogs, not all dogs are made equal. For example, you wouldn’t want a chihuahua to get you out of social situations because they won’t be able to pull you as hard. Still, the basic requirements for a service dog include:
- Intelligent
- The ability to read human emotions
- Trainability
- Responsive to trainers
- Tame demeanor
- Loyal
- Reliable
It’s also important to note that the Americans with Disabilities Act also requires service dogs to be non-hostile in public and trained to help the owner with a specific task. This means that the service dog needs to have specific tasks for the owner – you can’t just say it makes you feel calm, the way you can with an ESA.
While some dogs perform different tasks better than others, any dog that fits these criteria can typically become a service dog. Here are the most common service dog breeds:
- Poodle
- Retriever
- Schnauzer
- German Shepherd
- Boxer
- Yorkie
- Doberman Pinscher
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
While each service dog can be useful, some work better in specific situations. For example, a Yorkie is small enough to accompany someone on an airplane but not strong enough to pull people in public. On the other hand, retrievers are great for navigating crowds and fetching items for their owners.
How Psychiatric Service Dogs Help
Psychiatric service dogs help in many ways, but they’re not always the same as other service dogs. This is because psychiatric service dogs focus more on learning about the emotional needs of humans and how to provide comfort, support, and aid.
Alerts and Reminders
First and foremost, psychiatric service dogs can help learn about their owner and remind them of aspects of their daily routine. This means that psychiatric service dogs can wake you up, remind you when it’s time for a meal, and nudge you to take your medication.
These dogs can also alert others if you’re in danger and help you with emergency medications to prevent serious health complications. If it has to do with reminding you about something, a psychiatric service dog can do it.
Therapy
Another task psychiatric service dogs can help you with is therapy. While they won’t sit down and have a heart-to-heart with you, they can use pressure therapy. This model of therapy has the dog apply pressure to areas of your body to distract you from issues and take your mind off things. The method is evidence-based and works well for panic attacks, PTSD, and anxiety.
Detection
Psychiatric service dogs can also help people with detection in public. This is helpful for people that have anxiety or PTSD and have negative reactions to crowded areas or paths. The service dog can take the lead and provide someone with comfort as they navigate unfamiliar areas or surroundings.
Friendship
Finally, psychiatric service dogs can provide you with friendship and companionship. As you build a rapport with your dog, trust starts to develop, which boosts your confidence. This companionship can ease stress, anxiety, and other issues when you start to feel uncomfortable.
While these are a handful of things psychiatric service dogs can help with, there are many more. It all comes down to what your specific needs are and if the dog can be trained to carry out that task.
The Conditions That Psychiatric Service Dogs Help With
When it comes to psychiatric service dogs, it’s important to know what conditions they can help with. This can help you determine if you need a psychiatric service dog or a different method of treatment. That said, there are many things service dogs can help you with, so we’re going to take you through a handful of mental health disorders that qualify.
Anxiety
We’ll start with anxiety. There are millions of people around the world that suffer from anxiety disorders. While the severity of each condition varies from person to person, psychiatric service dogs can provide many methods of treatment. They can help you manage panic attacks and make you feel comfortable on airplanes, on the bus, or even in the car. This is typically accomplished through pressure therapy to take your mind off the issue.
Psychiatric service dogs can also help you if you have social anxiety. This is because people tend to be receptive to dogs, so they can act as a buffer between you and other people. Additionally, they can promote conversation.
For this reason, these dogs are equipped to help you manage most situations that anxiety stems from. In fact, they can even remind you to take certain medications, like Xanax, if you’re on a plane.
Depression
Depression is another condition that impacts a ton of people. The condition can leave you feeling empty, alone, sad, and even scared. The good news is that psychiatric service dogs can help you boost your mood and even regulate your hormones.
This is accomplished by making you feel like someone has your back. Even if you don’t want to interact with people, service dogs provide a listening ear and comfort.
PTSD
PTSD is a condition that can change the way you see the world. When these symptoms get intense, you can hallucinate, have nightmares, and even have panic attacks. With PTSD, service dogs can learn to read your body language and determine if an attack is coming.
Furthermore, service dogs can retrieve your medication to prevent an attack from happening. This is why PTSD is one of the most common conditions service dogs help with.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can impact people differently. That said, service dogs can help by reminding you about the condition and breaking the cycle before you start. The dog can stop you from repeating tasks by giving you a nudge or tugging you in a different direction.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a challenging condition to manage because it distorts reality. While this is the case, service dogs can use detection to help you feel safe and secure. This works because it can alert you to your surroundings. Additionally, service dogs can provide you with comfort and an outlet you can trust.
Keep in mind, psychiatric service dogs can help with many mental health disorders. Even if you didn’t see a specific condition here, there is a good chance that a service dog can help if the condition is severe.
Registration for Service Dogs
Now that you know the basics it’s time to get into registering your service dog. While the process takes time and requires training, the result is always worth it. We’re going to take you through the steps.
Training
To begin, we’re going to talk about training. When registering your service dog, it all starts with training. First and foremost, your service dog needs to pass a temperament test. The test is designed to determine if your dog can behave in public and remain docile in certain situations.
Once your service dog passes the test, the responsibility of training falls on you. The good news is that there are many ways to get started, and you have many options. Here are some common ways to proceed with service dog training:
- Reputable service dog organizations or trainers
- Service dog training academies
- Training the service dog on your own
While training a service dog is one of the best routes to go because you develop a relationship early, you can also purchase a service dog that’s already trained. It might take longer to build a relationship with the dog, but it’s an easier process.
Check out Dog Academy’s online Psychiatric Service Dog Training Course. With this course, you can train your pup to become your own PSD.
Registration
Registering your service dog is just as important as training your service dog. This is because you might need documentation in some situations. While people in public can’t legally ask you for paperwork at the park or a restaurant, there are situations where landlords or companies can require documentation or a label.
This occurs at places where no pets are allowed, like renting from a landlord that doesn’t allow pets or on airlines. For example, airlines will require you to bring the proper paperwork. Therefore, we always recommend registering your service dog with a reputable organization to ensure you don’t run into any issues.
Questions to Prepare For
Another thing to be aware of is that people will likely ask you questions. Human beings are curious by nature, so you might get questions about your service dog and its purpose. In most cases, this is harmless, and you don’t need to answer anything you’re not comfortable talking about.
That said, some people who own businesses or public property do have the right to ask you a few questions. While they can’t ask you for paperwork unless it’s a specific situation that requires it, they can ask you if the dog is required for a disability – you might also be asked about any tasks the dog performs so that people around you are aware.
Even if you’re asked questions, always remember that they can’t ask you for documentation. Plus, if you feel uncomfortable, you can always have your service dog get you out of unwelcoming environments.
Find Out If You Qualify for a Psychiatric Service Dog
Working with a psychiatric service dog is a great way to find relief for millions of people around the world. Even in severe cases, service dogs can reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.
When it comes to psychiatric service dogs, the hardest part can be figuring out the guidelines for registering them. Luckily, if you know what qualifies, getting your furry friend registered is hassle-free.