Psychiatric Service Dogs

The role that dogs play in medical science has greatly expanded since the concept was first introduced into society. Indeed, there are several ways to maximize the potential of each dog to make reliable companion for people who are suffering from either physical or psychiatric conditions.

What Are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

Among the line of various types of service dogs, a psychiatric service dog offers a unique form of service. These are trained dogs that provide assistance to handlers or individuals suffering from psychiatric disability. Cases like stress disorder following a trauma or schizophrenia are entirely different from the capabilities of people with any form of physical impairment.

A psychiatric service dog is trained specifically for responding to the needs of their handler.  Each individual will require different things from their psychiatric service dogs. Some dogs will be trained to respond in ways to alleviate stress, others may be trained to give an alert when medications are needed.

In relation to psychiatric service dog, there are also emotional support dogs sometimes referred to as comfort dogs. As the name implies, these type of service dogs offer companionship and emotional relief to the individual concerned. Even though it is generally recognized that these comfort animals provide much needed support, they  are not granted the same coverage to grant public access under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

PSD Specifications

When it comes to choosing a dog to train as psychiatric service dog, it does not require a specific breed or size. There are a wide range of PSDs available nowadays, however some breeds offer far more advantages over other types of breed.

When it comes to the size of the dog, again there are no specific requirements. For better idea on what size of dog to choose, consult with several PSD experts in your area so you know what considerations to make.   Small dogs are quite capable of doing many psychiatric service dog tasks.  Large dogs would generally be preferable if the dog is going to be doing any type of mobility assistance or needs to  help with carrying larger items.  Many people have a combination of physical and psychiatric requirements - so choosing the right size dog is an important consideration.

You need to pay a lot of attention to dog temperament though. If you are not skilled at assessing a dog's temperament, it is best to consult an expert or professional on this matter. You need to have a clear idea of a dog's disposition and attitude to ensure that it is compatible with yours.  The dog needs to be very even tempered, able to handle stressful situations.  Remember since the dog will be with their handler everywhere, a timid dog will generally not be of much value, however a dog can not exhibit any form of aggressive behavior. A confident dog is important.

Use of Psychiatric Service Dogs

Psychiatric service dogs will carefully assess the environment and the behavior of their handler to alert or warn. This is most especially true in situations wherein the handler's behavior become injurious and providing threat to others and their own safety. Apart from 'alerting', they could also perform physical tasks for those with psychiatric disability.

As opposed to becoming dependent, the use of psychiatric service dogs will actually allow you more independence. Provided that you combine it with the approved treatment plan by a medical professional, a psychiatric service dog can provide an individual valuable assistance in dealing with their disability.

Dog Training

There are a set of trainable tasks provided for psychiatric service dogs to provide the type of assistance needed by their handler. The overall training procedure for PSDs are constituted by three basic elements: basic obedience, disability-related tasks, and public access skills.

The following are tasks given to psychiatric service dogs that focus on the unique needs of the various cases of psychiatric disorders suffered by an individual. The tasks given to dogs as part of their training to become psychiatric service dogs include the following:

*Tactile stimulation – to help the individual cope with anxiety, unnecessary fears, restlessness, or high levels of distress

*Initiating play and petting – this is most suitable for individuals who are suffering from depression or isolation

*Remaining focused on handler – when the person displays compulsive or distressful behavior

*Providing security for handler – when the person feels constantly threatened as a result of the trauma encountered

*Assistance with chores at home – when the person develops a sense of disorganization

Among the cases of psychiatric conditions to which most of these trainings will be able to provide assistance to include major depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, schizophrenia, among others.

Importance of Self-training

Conducting your own psychiatric service dog training is beneficial both for you and the dog. When a handler is forced to teach a dog basic tasks, it enables you to assume a behaviorist perspective. By applying basic training principles for your dog, you are able to enhance your dog's capacity to provide assistance for you.

While training, you will also get the opportunity to bond with your dog. Moreover, it reinforces the trust of the dog on you, as well as your dog's reliability. Since your PSD will provide warning during the onset of your symptoms, you'd be able to find the security you need. The handler and the psychiatric service dog form a partnership, being dependent upon each other.