Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs), also known as mental health service dogs, are trained to help their human companions with symptoms of mental illness and neurodevelopmental disorders. These canine constellations provide invaluable support and assistance, improving the stability, safety and independence of their companions as they go about their daily lives.
Psychiatric service dogs should not be confused with emotional support animals (ESAs), which provide comfort and companionship, but are not required to undergo training and do not perform specific tasks. Emotional support animals can be any age or breed. They are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and do not have the same legal protections as service dogs. But under US law, they can move into “no pets” housing as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability.
The best species
Any suitable dog, from a small chihuahua to a giant mastiff, can be a PSD. However, the four most common and popular service dog breeds include golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, poodles, and rough or smooth coat collies. These are favored because they are known for their character, intelligence and work ethic. They also tend to accept human leadership and prioritize human friendships. All of these good qualities improve a dog’s chances of completing rigorous training, and then serving the handler as a legally recognized canine partner.
How to train PSDs
Psychiatric service dogs undergo careful training to ensure they are fully prepared to support their companions. They may be professionally trained, proprietary trained, or both. The evaluation and training process includes several steps.
- Professional evaluation of character and suitability. These reviews are important to all PSD prospects. The evaluator evaluates the dog’s general behavior, including its non-aggression, confidence in unfamiliar situations and settings, agility, functional ability (willingness and motivation to learn new behaviors), and physical health.
- Basic obedience. Like all service dogs, PSDs must demonstrate basic obedience skills in order to reliably follow necessary commands and behave appropriately in public.
- Practical training. In addition to basic obedience, PSDs receive specialized training in the tasks they perform to assist their partners. For example, if a handler is confused by a PTSD flashback, the dog may lie on their lap or lick their hands or face and distract them from memories of the traumatic event.
- Public access training. PSDs and all service dogs are trained to navigate public spaces confidently and safely. They should be calm and relaxed among people. Most learn to sneak into small, inconspicuous places like under the conductor’s seat, in restaurants, and on public transportation. They should be patient, quiet and gentle around people and other animals.
What functions can PSDs perform?
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog must perform at least one task to minimize the handler’s disability. A task is a trained behavior in which the dog responds to a specific signal. In particular, a task that any dog naturally does is not something like comforting or companionship.
For example, if a person has difficulty following a daily schedule due to dementia, the dog can be trained to respond to alarms that remind him to wake up, bathe, eat or walk. Providing snacks can interrupt self-injurious behavior and guide the caregiver to a safe place if they are in the throes of a mental health crisis. It may also alert the handler to the presence of others, ask for help from others, or provide deep pressure therapy, which one handler described as “laying under a warm, lifelike, weighted blanket” in response to the stress of impotence.
How to get PSD
Two main ways to get PSD are adopting a trained dog through a program or self-training. Neither option is fast, and both can be expensive. Assistance Dogs International is the first stop when searching for program-trained PSDs, a coalition of programs that set standards of excellence for organizations that train and serve dogs for people with sensory, physical, neurodevelopmental, and intellectual disabilities.
Although there are many well-known and well-established dog organizations, it is important to exercise caution and caution when researching programs. Unfortunately, fraudulent organizations have been accused of placing disabled children and adults with sick or untrained dogs.
Program-trained service dogs can be expensive, and a prospective handler’s health insurance is unlikely to contribute or reimburse the associated costs. Although some organizations offer sliding scale payments or scholarships, handlers can pay up to $20,000 for an extensively trained dog that performs personal tasks to improve the handler’s independence and daily functioning. The price varies according to the training organization and the complexity of the dog’s tasks. Finally, maintaining a trained service dog program can last for years, depending on the size of the organization and the specific tasks required of the handler.
Owner training is another option, though it’s not faster or much less expensive than getting a dog trained by a program. Handlers who develop their own PSD spend years and up to $15,000 on practical activities and professional consultation throughout the dog’s life. Self-training should not be taken lightly. It can be extremely challenging for people with mental health struggles to focus and keep up with the advanced training needed to prepare their dog for successful action and public access.
Essential readings of psychiatry
Legal rights and protections
Service dog teams are afforded rights and protections under the ADA. These include access to public places including restaurants, hotels and shops where pet dogs are prohibited. They are entitled to a “no pets” policy in rental properties or condos. Also, in most cases, supervisors are eligible for academic and career positions that allow them to take their PSDs to college or work.
PSD user views
Rebecca, who lives in Canada, says that before she got her psychiatric dog, she only left the house once or twice a year. Rebekah’s health care providers, recognizing the severity of her symptoms, suggested she could benefit from a service dog. After joining an assisted training program, she accepted the responsibility and energy of raising and training a puppy with professional support.
Eventually, she gained more independence and increased confidence working with her canine companion, who she became proficient enough to join on outings away from home. The dog is multitasking, including retrieval, hyperventilatory response, and nail biting and skinning.
Rebecca knows some of the disadvantages of working with a service dog. She says service dogs attract unwanted attention when working in public. People often invade her personal space and fail to respect her boundaries because of their curiosity about her dog. This can be a trigger, especially when people startle her by approaching or touching her without permission.
How to help
Rebecca’s experience is a good reminder that when we notice service dog groups in stores, libraries and other places, we need to continue our activities. Above all, don’t talk to the handler or try to get the dog’s attention, even to give praise; Distractions can put them at risk. Providing space and privacy is the best way to show respect for the effort, expense and courage you put into being a team. Service dogs are so much more than furry friends that they and their handlers deserve the public’s full support and understanding.