Emotional support animals are the perfect companion for people who suffer from mental illnesses. Not only are they great to cuddle with during the long and cold Canadian winters, but they’re also a comforting presence!

That said, getting an emotional support animal in Canada has plenty of advantages. Whether you live in a big city like Toronto or in a small town such as Jasper, becoming an ESA owner might be just what you need.

But how do you get an emotional support animal in Canada? Keep reading to find out!

See if You Qualify for an ESA in Canada

How to Get an Emotional Support Animal in Canada?

To get an emotional support animal in Canada, you’ll need an emotional support animal letter.

An emotional support animal letter is official proof that your four-legged companion is a real ESA and not just your pet. In other words, emotional support animal letters are used to determine whether or not a pet is simply being passed off as an ESA (which can come with a hefty fine!).

Writing an emotional support animal letter in Canada isn’t something you, the ESA owner, can do. You have to get your letter from a qualified mental health professional who can practice in your province.

The good news is that this letter opens a lot of doors for you. Therefore, it’s important to get yours from a legitimate professional and to always have it on you, especially when traveling!

Canada Emotional Support Animal Laws

The laws surrounding emotional support animals (ESAs) and their owners are quite clear in the United States.

However, navigating Canadian laws surrounding emotional support animals can be tricky.

While travel policies are enforced by the Canadian Transportation Agency and Canada’s Air Transportation Regulations, housing and workplace laws vary from province to province.

Traveling with Your ESA: Canadian Transportation Agency Law

Traveling by plane with your emotional support animal is one of the privileges you have as an ESA owner thanks to the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Furthermore, Canada’s Air Transportation Regulations and the Aircraft Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities Act voluntary code make sure your rights as an ESA owner are being respected. That said, it‘s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of traveling with animals.

The most important thing to know about traveling with your ESA is that you must hold a valid emotional support animal letter. You will need to show the airline this letter as proof that your ESA is an important part of your clinical treatment plan. Usually, you’ll also need to give airlines at least a 48-hour advance notice that you’ll be bringing an ESA to travel with you.

You must also learn if the airline you’re flying with has any other requests. Some airlines only ask for the emotional support animal letter, while others also request vaccination certificates and other paperwork.

WestJet and Air Canada Emotional Support Animal: From Airports to Beyond!

Make sure to check with your airline of choice to ensure they have enough space on the aircraft to comfortably accommodate your ESA. Some carriers, such as WestJet, let you have your ESA on your lap (if they’re smaller than a two-year-old child). Others, however, require that your ESA travel in an appropriately sized carrier.

If you’re flying internationally, you need to keep a few things in mind, too.

There are additional restrictions and laws that apply to your ESA outside of Canada.

Before your trip, make sure the country you’re flying to accepts foreign animals into its borders. There might be quarantine laws you have to obey, which could ruin your trip if you weren’t expecting them!

Housing-Specific Laws Related to an Emotional Support Animal

There is no federal law governing the accommodation of people with disabilities in Canada. The closest thing to consider is the Human Rights Code, which addresses discrimination against individuals with physical or mental disabilities. It states that: “A person must not deny to a person with a disability residential premises advertised or otherwise represented as available for occupancy by a tenant.”

Keep in mind, however, that some landlords simply might not allow an ESA. Make sure that yours is sympathetic before trying to bring an ESA home. Otherwise, look for accommodation where pets are allowed.

Here is a guideline to get you started on finding out more about your ESA rights in your province:

• Alberta: Human Rights Act Section 5
• British Columbia: Human Rights Code Chapter 210
• Manitoba: Manitoba Human Rights Code Chapter H175
• New Brunswick: Human Rights Act of New Brunswick Chapter H11
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Human Rights Act Chapter H14
• Nunavut and Northwest Territories: Human Rights Act
• Nova Scotia: Human Rights Act Chapter 214
• Ontario: Human Rights Code Chapter H19
• Prince Edward Islands: Prince Edward Islands Human Rights Act Chapter H12
• Quebec: The Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
• Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Human Rights Code Chapter S24.1
• Yukon: Yukon Human Rights Act

Exceptions to the Rules

Housing and travel laws might not apply to you in certain situations.

If your ESA acts unruly and puts other people in danger, for instance, then you could potentially lose your rights as an ESA owner.

If your ESA is too large to be carried on a plane, they will also be denied boarding and may have to be placed in cargo.

Punishment for Misrepresenting an Emotional Support Animal

Stories of people passing off a pet as a service animal or emotional support animal aren’t uncommon, sadly.

Some people try to abuse the law for their own gains. This harms those who actually do need a service animal or ESA to live a good life.

Because of this, the judicial system punishes those who misrepresent emotional support animals and service animals. You can be heavily fined if you misrepresent an ESA. We’re sure you don’t want to risk this happening to you!

Plus, getting an emotional support animal in Canada isn’t as hard as you think it is. It all starts with a simple screening test CertaPet offers!

Vital Facts You Must Know Before Becoming an ESA Owner in the Great White North

Having an emotional support animal in Canada is a great idea!

You get the emotional benefits of having one of these companions with you around-the-clock, which can help you live a better life. What more could you ask for?

But it’s very important to know what laws apply to you in your province. Remember, housing laws are drafted and enforced by each individual province. If you’re living in Ontario, you will need to learn about Ontario’s rules. If you’re living in British Columbia, you’ll need to understand the British Columbia laws — and so on.

Also keep in mind that service animals and emotional support animals are not the same thing. Some laws apply only to service animals and not to ESAs. You should fully understand what laws can apply to your emotional support animal in Canada before deciding to get one.

From a Reader: ‘Can you Register Emotional Support Animals in Canada?’

Only a qualified mental health professional who can practice in your province (or a doctor) can issue you an emotional support animal letter.

Beware of untrustworthy websites selling fake certificates and requiring you to register your ESA!

They scam people for their money and these supposed letters do not have any legal value (and so won’t hold up in court).

Where to Find a Suitable ESA!

Since an emotional support animal does not need to be formally trained, you have the freedom to choose the type of animal you want. In Canada, an emotional support animal can be a dog, a cat, or a rabbit.

If you already have a pet at home, they could become your new ESA. In reality, the only requirement for the right emotional support animal is that they share a special bond with you and can comfort you. You’ll need their company and cuddles during the long and harsh Canadian winters!

If you don’t already have a pet, consider going to a local rescue or shelter. There are thousands of dogs and cats out there in need of good homes. By choosing a rescued animal, you’ll be bettering their lives just as much as they’ll be bettering yours.

ESAs in Canada: How to Get Connected Today?

Are you interested in getting an emotional support animal in Canada? To get started, take our free 5-minute pre-screening test. We’ll put you in touch with a qualified mental health professional who can practice in your province. They’ll book an appointment with you, and if you qualify, they’ll issue you an emotional support animal letter!

Get Started Here

We are invoking the Human Rights Code when we issue these letters. The Human Rights Code provides the broadest protections to service animal users, as it extends the right to be free from discrimination, harassment, and reprisal in all of the social areas covered by the Code, including services, goods and facilities, accommodation, contracts, employment, and vocational associations. We are also fully aware and understand that an ESA does not have to be honored and can be denied. We make sure to let our clients know this. There is no legal obligation for the other party to approve an ESA request, but they may be motivated to do so on compassionate grounds. Animals that have little training, are poorly behaved or have damaged property will be rejected.

Common Questions on Getting an Emotional Support Animal in Canada

What are the emotional support animal Canada laws?

Can I fly with my emotional support animal in Canada airports?

What Clients Say About CertaPet

“I got my dog as a Valentine’s Day gift from my abusive ex. When she was a puppy, I protected her from him, and she would lick away my tears when I cried. When I finally left him, I left with nothing: no clothes, no home, and more importantly no her. He refused to let me have her and the cops, despite text messages of him threatening her safety,  wouldn’t let me take her. I fell apart. During that time I suffered from depression, PTSD and anxiety. I was scared of my own shadow. Months went by, and finally, after a long battle, I got her back! She put me back together piece by piece. My ESA is special because she literally saved me.”

– Kailee Biesenbach

“I love my cat -“Hope”. She was named before I got her and she is my Hope!  The previous owner said “She may not come to you at first”. She had been trained by her previous owner’s needs and she had only been with her. I went into the room when I first met her. She came right up to me purring like crazy. It was love at first sight! She is the best PSTD animal ever!!! She calms me right down every time I get near her. She even knows when I need her and she will come to me when I am upset or facing a panic attack. It is an amazing connection!! We clicked right away.  It almost feels like she is human and yes, she is my best friend. God always knows what we need!! Thank You for letting me share!”

– Tracy Huntington

“After high school, I felt like there was nothing left for me. I felt I was living everyday – day by day. I also moved to a new city so had no friends or family to go to. I felt so lost and depressed. Then I got my ESA dog, Chip, and my whole life flipped. I had a reason to be happy, a reason to enjoy life and go out again! Certapet helped make this all happen and thank you guys so much for that!!”

– Lyssa Helton

Frequently Asked Questions about Emotional Support Animals

What is an Emotional Support Animal ‘Certification’? Do I need to get my ESA ‘certified’?

No, you do not need to get your Emotional Support Animal certified. Frankly, it’s not possible. Like the misconception of registering your ESA into some database online, an Emotional Support Animal certification is just a piece of paper with no real use. Unfortunately, there are countless companies online scamming people out of their hard-earned money by advertising fake certifications and registries.

To be a real Emotional Support Animal owner, all you need is an ESA letter. This letter must be written by a qualified mental health professional who can practice in your province. This letter serves as a legal document and stands as proof that your emotional support animal is an important part of your clinical treatment plan. This letter is what gives you the right to travel with your pet without having to pay a pet fee.

Are Emotional Support Animal Registration Sites Legitimate?

We’re often asked if ESA registration sites are real.

The answer is NO.

If you see a site claiming to be a “national service animal registry,” “emotional support dog registration,” “official service dog registry,” “Canada emotional support dog registry,” “Canada service dog registry,” “US emotional support dog registry,” or a “US service dog registry” they’re handing out false information and only wanting you to pay for a “fake” document.

Do emotional support animals require training?

Unlike service animals, ESAs are not required to undergo any sort of formal training.

However, we strongly encourage you make sure your pet understands basic commands, behaves well in public settings, and is trained for traveling if you chose take it on a flight.

Does my dog need an emotional support animal vest to travel or live with me?

There is no law stating your ESA must wear a vest.

Many ESA owners chose to still go with a vest to make their ESA easily identifiable.

Is the ESA letter all I need to become an emotional support animal owner?

Yes! This letter serves as a legal document and stands as proof that your emotional support animal is an important part of your clinical treatment plan. This letter is what gives you the right to travel with your pet without having to pay a pet fee.

What happens when the airline staff or landlord asks to see my proof that I’m an ESA owner? Are they just asking for my ESA letter?

Yes! This letter serves as a legal document and stands as proof that your emotional support animal is an important part of your clinical treatment plan. This letter is what gives you the right to travel with your pet without having to pay a pet fee. In some cases, you may be permitted to stay in certain accommodations even if there’s a no-pet policy.

NOTICE: DECISION NO. 105-AT-C-A-2023

A new ruling on emotional support animals has been published by the Canadian Transportation Agency as of June 23, 2023 and will go into effect immediately.

Dogs will be the only animals accepted as ESAs, and only dogs that can fit in carriers are allowed in the cabin. The animal carrier must meet the carrier’s conditions and restrictions for carriage of animal carriers in the cabin (please see each carrier’s stipulations for sizing of carriers), and the ESD must remain in the carrier for the duration of its time in the passenger cabin.

This law does not affect ESAs for housing.

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Everything you need to know before flying with your dog for free

The post Psychiatric Service Dog appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about service dogs, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal. 

We relay how autism service dogs, also known as an autism assistance dog, can help all people, especially children, who have Aspergers or another Autism Spectrum disorder, or other physical and mental illnesses, how they are specifically trained, and what you can do to acquire one for yourself. 

What is Aspergers?

Asperger’s syndrome, also called Asperger’s disorder, is a type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). PDDs are a group of conditions that involve delays in the development of many basic skills, most notably the ability to socialize with others, to communicate, and to use imagination. There is a spectrum within the PDD disorders.

Many individuals with Asperger’s exhibit serious deficiencies in social and communication skills. Their IQs are typically in the normal to very superior range. They are usually educated in the mainstream, but many require special education services.

They desire to fit in socially and have friends, but have a great deal of difficulty making effective social connections and are frequently a target for bullying and teasing. Many of them are at risk for developing mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression, especially in adolescence. The Different Brains site contains many great resources. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for Aspergers/Autism

Currently, the traditional medical field offers several services for your adult or child with Aspergers or another autism spectrum disorder. They include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy can help address anxiety and other personal challenges.
• Social skills training classes can help with conversational skills and understanding social cues.
• Speech therapy can help with voice control.
• Physical and occupational therapy can improve coordination.
• Psychoactive medicines can help manage associated anxiety, depression and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Autism Speaks’ website has more information here. 

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives for their adult or child with autism, when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as autism assistance dogs is becoming more commonplace.

To evolve with these times, CertaPet has made the process for this revolutionary service completely digital, not to mention easy to navigate. We provide a free, confidential screening test which takes less than 5 minutes to determine your candidacy. From there, you will be matched with a licensed mental health professional in your state and contacted to set up your telehealth appointment. The final step is our therapist’s recommendation, which includes a treatment plan with your particular service dog, and an official ESA letter if you qualify. 

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service dog helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who live with social phobia or other anxiety disorders can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

CertaPet’s Blog page is fully stocked with informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Autism Service Dogs Help with Aspergers?

Autism service dogs, like any others, are trained to perform specific tasks to help their human companions navigate the world. Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by impairments in communication skills and social interaction, as well as by the presence of challenging behaviors, and autism service dogs can be life-changing partners, helping people with autism gain confidence and independence.

Mental Health Benefits

One task unique to autism service dogs is noticing and responding to changes in a person’s sensory levels. Autism impacts the sensory system, and many people with autism become stressed out by uncomfortable sensations. Autism service dogs can be trained to intervene when their handler becomes over-stimulated, helping to alleviate stress and maintain safety.

Physical Health Benefits

According to service dog organization Paws for a Cause, these dogs help to “improve social interactions and relationships, expand verbal and nonverbal communication, teach life skills, increase interest in activities and decrease stress within the family.”

Specific Tasks Autism Service Dogs Can Perform to Support Their Owner

These tasks include:

• Helping their person get ready for school in the morning;
• Picking up dropped objects;
• Alerting passers-by to an emergency situation;
• Simply act as a calming presence in their person’s life.
• Provide comfort and security
• Decrease stress and increase activity

Rover.com has a lot more to say here. 

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference? 

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of assistance animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/

How to Get a Service Dog for Aspergers

In order to obtain an autism service dog, or therapy dog, you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog or therapy dog. Autism Assistance dogs can therefore either be chosen from a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CertaPet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Service Dog for Aspergers

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods of an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of support, therapy, or service dogs.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

The Best Service Dog Breeds for Aspergers

Any breed of dog could be transformed into a mobility service dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

An article from AngelSense contains their list:

1. Golden Retriever
2. Saint Bernard
3. Labradoodle
4. Collie
5. German Shepherd
6. Bernese Mountain Dog
7. Samoyed
8. Newfoundland
9. Beagle
10. Staffordshire Bull Terrier 

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. CertaPet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free. 

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQs

Can you have a service animal for Aspergers?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more physical and/or mental health conditions, including Aspergers or an autism spectrum disorder. 

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can a psychiatric service dog do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations. 

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

The post Aspergers Service Dog appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about service dogs, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal. 

We relay how service dogs can help all people who experience memory and cognition issues from medications, or other physical and mental illnesses, how they are specifically trained to alert to important daily tasks, and what you can do to acquire one for yourself. 

What are Health Disabilities that require Medical Alert?

Dogs play an essential role in our lives: they are our friends and daily companions. But for those with medical conditions, dogs can do much more. A trained service animal can save your life. Whether it’s by catching a whiff of nuts that could kill a person with a severe airborne allergy, detecting low blood sugar, or even recognizing heart abnormalities that could signal a heart attack, the incredibly sensitive canine sense of smell can work wonders.

Medical alert dogs can warn their owners about impending crisis situations in a variety of illnesses. These include diabetes, heart disease, airborne allergies, asthma, illnesses that cause dizziness or potential loss of consciousness when standing, and many others. And whether or not the animal detects the emergency in advance, they can provide a quick, targeted medical response unique to the individual’s needs. The Rover website has more details here. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for Medical Alert Disabilities

The most common treatments for people with health disabilities that require medical alerts are technological devices. Medical Alert providers offer various devices for the home and on the go in the form of waterproof pendants, wrist bracelets, upgraded landline phones, and portable tracking modules. This website gives detailed information about the above discussed devices. 

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as psychiatric service dogs is becoming more commonplace.

To evolve with these times, CertaPet has made the process for this revolutionary service completely digital, not to mention easy to navigate. We provide a free, confidential screening test which takes less than 5 minutes to determine your candidacy. From there, you will be matched with a licensed mental health professional in your state and contacted to set up your telehealth appointment. The final step is our therapist’s recommendation, which includes a treatment plan with your particular service dog, and an official ESA letter if you qualify. 

And that’s all you will need to obtain either a psychiatric service dog or an emotional support animal, based on your situation. Whether you receive a therapy dog, emotional support animal, or any other type of service animal, you’ll be taking the safer, more beneficial route that only modern holistic alternatives can provide.

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs? 

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service dog helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who have one or more health disabilities that require a medical alert can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

Certapet’s Blog page is fully stocked with informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Response Dogs Help Patients with Health Disabilities?

Decades of research support the use of service dogs in assisting individuals with physical disabilities. In recent decades, they have become popular companions for people with less visible ailments, such as mental illness, developmental disorders, and chronic pain. Any dog can boost key neurotransmitters like dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, and serotonin, all of which are “essential to our sense of well-being.”

Trained service animals, such as diabetic alert dogs, are able to go much further with the aid they provide. Extensive research shows how effective they can be in helping people with disabilities achieve greater independence, require less assistance from other people, and improve functioning in many areas–including physical, emotional, social, and economic.

Mental Health Benefits

Dogs are currently on the “cutting edge of science” helping to detect changes, alert to, and provide relief for many mental diseases and disorders including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, seizures, and schizophrenia. 

Physical Health Benefits

Extensive research has been performed over many decades, in many countries, regarding the physical benefits of medical alert dogs, like diabetic alert dogs, and, at this point, they are undeniable and scientifically proven. 

The American Kennel Club dives deep into this topic here.

Specific Tasks Medical Alert Service Dogs Can Perform to Support Their Owner

The site AnythingPawsable has compiled a list of 100 tasks. Here are just a few:

• Laying Across the Chest of a Seizing Handler to Help Reduce Duration of Seizure
• Retrieving Glucose Kit From Fridge
• Retrieving Medication From Designated Spot
• Fetch a Beverage or Snack From Designated Spot
• Bring Phone to Handler
• Alerting Caretaker to Alarms from Medical Equipment
• Alerting Handler to Low Blood Sugar

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference? 

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of assistance animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/.

How to Get a Medical Alert Service Dog

In order to obtain a service dog, also known as response dogs, for Medical Alert you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog or therapy dog. Mobility service dogs can therefore either be chosen from a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CertaPet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Medical Alert Service Dog

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods of an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of support, therapy, or service dogs.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

No matter the underlying causes that require a medical alert, or how it affects which aspects of your life, this two step training process can not only create a service dog out of any dog but tailor their abilities to combat each and every symptom the handler may encounter.

The Best Medical Alert Service Dog Breeds

Any breed of dog could be transformed into a medical alert service dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

1. German Shepherd
2. Golden Retriever
3. Samoyed
4. Border Collie
5. Irish Setter
6. Poodle
7. Labrador Retriever
8. English Setter
9. Gordon Setter
10. Goldendoodle

The site Spruce Pets has more details here.

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. CertaPet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free. 

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQs

Can you have a service animal for Medical Alert?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more physical and/or mental health conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Schizophrenia.

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can a psychiatric service dog do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations.

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

The post Medical Alert Service Dog appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about service dogs, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal. 

We relay how service dogs can help all people who experience balance and stability issues from medications, or other physical and mental illnesses, how they are specifically trained, and what you can do to acquire one for yourself. 

What is a Counterbalance?

Counterbalance is when a mobility assistance dog uses its body weight to brace against their handler or a balance harness to help their owner maintain balance while walking. This is extremely important for people who have trouble walking but can’t use a cane or other device, or people whose legs frequently give out. Having this balance harness on a mobility dog is just an extra safety measure that some handlers choose to use on their bad days.

Read more about the importance of counterbalance here.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for Counterbalance

Traditionally, people with balance and mobility issues would receive mechanical devices like canes, crutches, a wheelchair and walkers to brace against. In many cases, prescription medications would be employed to combat physiological reasons for decreased balance and mobility i.e., vertigo, dizziness, an anxiety attack, adverse fatigue and weakness reactions from other medications.

Mobility service dogs or mobility assistance dogs can help many people suffering from balance or mobility constraints by using their body weight to brace as well as a balance harness or mobility harness. However, they are not meant to replace a cane or crutches as they are not trained or able to provide the constant physical support given by those devices. 

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as psychiatric service dogs is becoming more commonplace.

To evolve with these times, CertaPet has made the process for this revolutionary service completely digital, not to mention easy to navigate. We provide a free, confidential screening test which takes less than 5 minutes to determine your candidacy. From there, you will be matched with a licensed mental health professional in your state and contacted to set up your telehealth appointment. The final step is our therapist’s recommendation, which includes a treatment plan with your particular service dog, and an official ESA letter if you qualify. 

And that’s all you will need to obtain either a psychiatric service dog or an emotional support animal, based on your situation. Whether you receive a therapy dog, emotional support animal, or any other type of service animal, you’ll be taking the safer, more beneficial route that only modern holistic alternatives can provide.

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service dog helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who live with social phobia or other anxiety disorders can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

CertaPet’s Blog page is fully stocked with informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Mobility Service Dogs Help with Counterbalance

Mobility Dogs help people with impaired balance, gait, or coordination to safely walk or regain their footing after a fall, and they help individuals who utilize prosthetics or other assistive devices, including wheelchairs, gain unprecedented levels of independence, freedom and mobility.  They are also frequently trained to help their handler with everyday duties that their human partner can’t readily perform because of their disability, or can only perform with difficulty, like picking up dropped items, retrieving out-of-reach objects, and opening/closing doors, drawers and cabinets. Brace and Mobility Support Dogs (BMSDs), also known as Mobility Assistance Dogs, are highly trained Service Dogs partnered with individuals who have a physical impairment, disability or disorder that affects their mobility, ambulation or maneuverability.

Mental Health Benefits

A handler with balance and mobility issues can easily slip into a mindset of wanting to isolate and generally decrease mobility out of fear of injury, embarrassment, or other mental illness symptoms. A mobility support dog can be trained to build confidence and decrease anxiety by assisting in maneuvering both in and out of the home. Mobility support dogs use a mobility harness to help their owner brace themselves during movement, which adds mental support to the mobility support. 

Physical Health Benefits

The role of a mobility assistance dog starts with physically driven tasks which create both physical and mental health benefits. The main physical benefits have to do with maintaining trust through companionship and the level of movement through exercise while preventing injuries. While focusing on your mobility tasks with your mobility support dog, and seeing how much more can be accomplished with their assistance, your overall physical health will be improving also. 

These two articles round out both types of mobility service dog benefits.

Specific Tasks Service Dogs Can Perform to Support Their Owner 

The human-canine relationship is an incredibly multifaceted one. Many human impediments, physical or mental, can be relieved or reversed by owning a dog. Mobility assistance dogs are trained to support or assist with mobility ailments specific to the owner. And that can make an even greater difference, going above and beyond the baseline benefits. Here are just a few of the tasks mobility assistance dogs can use counter balancing:

• Nosing their handler over onto their side or into a recovery position
• Dragging a handler who has fallen to a safe spot, or dragging a heavy piece of medical gear to the handler
• Supporting an unsteady or injured handler as they struggle back to their feet or into their wheelchair
• Helping someone with severely limited mobility or a significantly decreased level of alertness maneuver into a safer or more stable position
• Brace body weight, using light pressure, against their owner to increase stability or prevent a fall
• Using the balance harness to stop forward motion before a fall, change position, or use the mobility support dog’s inertia to help initiate movement.
• Running to wake up another person who resides or works in the home and return with them to the disabled individual, if their handler is unresponsive, or if their medical equipment is alarming
• Calling an emergency response team on a special phone if the handler is  unconscious, or if the handler’s medical equipment has been alarming for a set time period without being turned off
• Helping someone who has fallen and cannot breathe in the position they’re in (for example, on their back) to turn over or shift positions, or even regain their footing or access to their chair

The site Anything Pawsable has a lot more to say here.

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference?

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of assistance animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/.

How to Get a Service Dog For Counterbalance

In order to obtain a service dog, or therapy dog, for counterbalance you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog or therapy dog. Mobility service dogs can therefore either be chosen from a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CertaPet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Service Dog For Counterbalance

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods of an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of support, therapy, or service dogs.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

No matter the underlying causes of your mobility or balance issues, or how it affects which aspects of your life, this two step training process can not only create a service dog out of any dog but tailor their abilities to combat each and every symptom the handler may encounter.

The Best Service Dog Breeds for Counterbalance

Any breed of dog could be transformed into a mobility service dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

An article from Wag Walking gives their Top 10:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Golden Retriever
3. Standard Poodle
4. Newfoundland 
5. Bernese Mountain Dog
6. German Shepherd
7. Great Dane
8. Rottweiler
9. Mastiff
10. Doberman Pinscher 

To read up more on any of these breeds, look here. 

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. Certapet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free. 

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQs

Can you have a service animal for counterbalance?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more physical and/or mental health conditions, including mobility impairment and balance issues.

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can a psychiatric service dog do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations. 

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

The post Counterbalance Service Dog appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about service animals, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal.

We relay how service dogs can help all people who experience stress and anxiety/panic attacks from a panic disorder, anxiety disorder, or PTSD, how they are specifically trained, and what you can do to acquire one for yourself.

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times. It’s a natural response to stressful or dangerous situations.

But someone with panic disorder has feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly and at any time, often for no apparent reason.

The two components of panic disorder are anxiety, initially, which can quickly turn into a full panic attack or anxiety attack.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease. It can range from mild to severe, and can include feelings of worry and fear. Panic is the most severe form of anxiety. During a panic attack you get a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms. It can come on very quickly and for no apparent reason.

Symptoms Can Include:

• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Racing Heartbeat
• Sweating
• Chest Pain
• Tingling in face, fingers and toes

The NHS website describes this subject in great detail here.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for Panic Disorder

The most common, traditional treatments for people with panic disorder are a combination of prescription medications – like antianxiety and antidepressant medications – and some type of psychotherapy.

Two common forms of psychotherapy for panic disorder include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy (PFPP). The Very Well Mind site has more information to round out the topics at hand.

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as psychiatric service dogs is becoming more commonplace.

To evolve with these times, CertaPet has made the process for this revolutionary service completely digital, not to mention easy to navigate. We provide a free, confidential screening test which takes less than 5 minutes to determine your candidacy. From there, you will be matched with a licensed mental health professional in your state and contacted to set up your telehealth appointment. The final step is our therapist’s recommendation, which includes a treatment plan with your particular service dog, and an official ESA letter if you qualify.

And that’s all you will need to obtain either a psychiatric service dog or an emotional support animal, based on your situation. Whether you receive a therapy dog, emotional support animal, or any other type of service animal, you’ll be taking the safer, more beneficial route that only modern holistic alternatives can provide.

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like a hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service dog helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who live with social phobia or other anxiety disorders can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

CertaPet’s Blog page is fully stocked with informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Service Dogs Help with Panic Disorder

The human-animal bond can impact people and service dogs in positive ways. Research shows therapy dogs can reduce stress, anxiety, and other symptoms associated with a panic or anxiety attack physiologically (cortisol levels) and increase attachment responses that trigger oxytocin – a hormone that increases trust in humans.

Service dogs also react positively to animal-assisted activities. In response to the human-animal bond, dogs produce oxytocin and decrease their cortisol levels when connecting with their owner. Often dogs feel the same when engaging in animal assisted activities as if they were at home, depending on the environmental context.

The Conversation has a lot more to say here.

Mental Health Benefits

The range of benefits a service animal can provide is wide and ecompasses both the physical and mental manifestations of anxiety. A piece from thebark.com gives further insight into what a service animal can do for stress ridden people.

Psychiatric symptoms can include fear, isolation, panic, anxiety, and feelings of having no meaning or purpose to life. Service animals can instinctively provide comfort and support for most any mental health response to a stress reaction.

The methods used by emotional support animals are supported by their keen senses and extensive training. Thereby building a relationship based on tackling anxiety driven symptoms and eliminating them quickly, and safely. This is to create a less overloaded mental space so the owner can not only focus better on the daily tasks at hand but accomplish them as well.

Physical Health Benefits

Studies show that having a canine companion is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, and decreased triglyceride levels, which contribute to better overall cardiovascular health and fewer heart attacks. What’s more, dog owners who do have heart attacks have better survival rates following the events.

Service dogs, as with all dogs, need to regularly be outdoors – and active. Both psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals are able to help you bridge those gaps, by just being themselves and mitigate the physical effects of panic disorder and other mental health conditions.

By going out in the world with your service dog, you will, without realizing it, be keeping active, fit, losing weight and, best of all, more regularly producing those positive neurochemicals and hormones. And all of these small improvements will greatly reduce stress and its associated effects.

Find out more from The Huffington Post, here.

Specific Tasks They Can Perform to Support Their Owner

As we discussed above, an anxiety or panic attack can negatively impact people physically and mentally. Panic disorders carry with them many similarities but also some distinct differences in how they arise and affect the afflicted handler.

We have several articles on our website’s blog page to help gain greater understanding about the lengths service dogs can go towards improving your well being. Here’s a particularly good one.

Some of the best stress relieving examples provided by psychiatric service dogs are:

• Tactile Stimulation, Deep Pressure Therapy, Pressure and Warmth Stimulation

• Grounding, Guiding, Interrupting, and Interacting

• Threat Assessment and Barrier implementation

• Many other supportive, assistive actions.

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference?

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of service animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service animal can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/.

How to Get a Service Dog for Panic Disorder

In order to obtain a service animal, or therapy dog, for panic or anxiety disorder you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog or therapy dog. Your anxiety service dog can therefore either be a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CertaPet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Service Dog for Panic Disorder

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods for an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of support, therapy, or service dogs.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

No matter the underlying causes of your panic disorder, or how an anxiety attack affects certain aspects of your life, this two step training process can not only create a service dog out of any dog but tailor their abilities to combat each and every symptom the handler may encounter.

The Best Service Dog Breeds for Panic Disorder

Any breed of dog could be transformed into an emotional support dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

According to blog posts from K9 of Mine and an article from Medical News Today, the top 10 are as follows:

1. Golden Retriever
2. Labrador Retriever
3. Poodle
4. German Shepherd
5. Boxer
6. Great Dane
7. Border Collie
8. Pomeranian
9. Bernese Mountain Dog
10. Pitbull

The first mentioned post describes the distinct abilities and necessary details about each dog on the list and how well they will perform as psychiatric service dogs.

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. CertaPet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free.

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQS

Can you have a service animal for panic disorder?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can psychiatric service dogs do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations.

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

The post Service Dog for Panic Disorder appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about service dogs, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal.

We relay how service dogs can help all people who experience stress from anxiety attacks and anxiety disorders, adverse life situations, or other physical and mental illnesses, how they are specifically trained, and what you can do to acquire one for yourself.

What is Stress?

Stress is our body’s response to pressure. Many different situations or life events can cause stress. It is often triggered when we experience something new, unexpected or that threatens our sense of self, or when we feel we have little control over a situation.

We all deal with stress differently. Our ability to cope can depend on our genetics, early life events, personality and social and economic circumstances.

When we encounter stress, our body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight or flight response and activate our immune system. This helps us respond quickly to dangerous situations.

Sometimes, this stress response can be useful: it can help us push through fear or pain so we can run a marathon or deliver a speech, for example. Our stress hormones will usually go back to normal quickly once the stressful event is over, and there won’t be any lasting effects.

However, too much stress can cause negative effects. It can leave us in a permanent stage of fight or flight, leaving us overwhelmed or unable to cope. Long term, this can affect our physical and mental health.

MentalHealth.org has much more on this topic here.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for Stress

As stress affects us all, at one time or another, the initial treatments and coping strategies surround taking stock of one’s daily life, re-evaluating certain activities, and gradually changing. Things like getting better sleep, forging more fruitful relationships, eating healthier, and exercising can greatly improve stress level and reduce the risk of long term effects.

For those people suffering from stress due to a mental illness – PTSD, depression, Bipolar disorder, addiction, anxiety disorder, etc., the above discussed strategies become more difficult to put into action.

In order to get folks to a place, internally and externally, where they feel they can accomplish lifestyle improvements, they may benefit from an evaluation by a mental health professional. Treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and interpersonal counseling can help reduce stress by creating coping mechanisms specific to each individual.

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as psychiatric service dogs is becoming more commonplace.

To evolve with these times, CertaPet has made the process for this revolutionary service completely digital, not to mention easy to navigate. We provide a free, confidential screening test which takes less than 5 minutes to determine your candidacy. From there, you will be matched with a licensed mental health professional in your state and contacted to set up your telehealth appointment. The final step is our therapist’s recommendation, which includes a treatment plan with your particular Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) protects Americans with disabilities from discrimination. Disabled passengers have the right to have access to their service dog, and an official ESA letter if you qualify.

And that’s all you will need to obtain either a psychiatric service dog or an emotional support animal, based on your situation. Whether you receive a therapy dog, emotional support animal, or any other type of service animal, you’ll be taking the safer, more beneficial route that only modern holistic alternatives can provide.

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like a hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service dog helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who live with social phobia or other anxiety disorders can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

CertaPet’s Blog page is fully stocked with informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Service Dogs Help with Stress

The human-animal bond can impact people and service dogs in positive ways. Research shows therapy dogs can reduce stress physiologically (cortisol levels) and increase attachment responses that trigger oxytocin – a hormone that increases trust in humans.

Service dogs also react positively to animal-assisted activities. In response to the human-animal bond, dogs produce oxytocin and decrease their cortisol levels when connecting with their owner. Often dogs feel the same when engaging in animal assisted activities as if they were at home, depending on the environmental context.

The Conversation has a lot more to say here.

Mental Health Benefits

The range of benefits a service animal can provide is wide and encompasses both the physical and mental manifestations of anxiety. A piece from thebark.com gives further insight into what a service animal can do for stress ridden people.

Psychiatric symptoms can include depression, isolation, anxiety, and feelings of having no meaning or purpose to life. Service animals can instinctively provide comfort and support for most any mental health response to a stress reaction.

The methods used by emotional support animals are supported by their keen senses and extensive training. Thereby building a relationship based on tackling anxiety driven symptoms and eliminating them quickly, and safely. This is to create a less overloaded mental space so the owner can not only focus better on the daily tasks at hand but accomplish them as well.

Physical Health Benefits

Studies show that having a canine companion is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, and decreased triglyceride levels, which contribute to better overall cardiovascular health and fewer heart attacks. What’s more, dog owners who do have heart attacks have better survival rates following the events.

Service dogs, as with all dogs, need to regularly be outdoors – and active. Both psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals are able to help you bridge those gaps, by just being themselves and noticing the physical effects of stress and other mental health conditions.

By going out in the world with your service dog, you will, without realizing it, be keeping active, fit and losing weight. And all of these small improvements will greatly reduce stress and its associated effects.

Find out more from The Huffington Post, here.

Specific Tasks Service Dogs Can Perform to Support Their Owner

A common symptom of most mental disorders is stress, which can negatively impact people physically and mentally. These disorders, such as PTSD, anxiety, and Bipolar disorder carry with them many similarities but also some distinct differences in how they arise and affect the afflicted handler.

We have several articles on our website’s blog page to help gain greater understanding about the lengths service dogs can go towards improving your well being. Here’s a particularly good one.

Some of the best stress relieving examples provided by psychiatric service dogs are:

• Tactile Stimulation, Deep Pressure Therapy, Pressure and Warmth Stimulation

• Grounding, Guiding, Interrupting, and Interacting

• Threat Assessment and Barrier implementation

• Many other supportive, assistive actions.

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference?

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of assistance animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/.

How to Get a Service Dog for Stress

In order to obtain an anxiety service dog, or therapy dog, you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog or therapy dog. Your anxiety service dog can therefore either be a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CertaPet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Service Dog for Stress

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods of an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of support, therapy, or service dogs.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

No matter the underlying causes of your stress and anxiety, or how it affects which aspects of your life, this two step training process can not only create a service dog out of any dog but tailor their abilities to combat each and every symptom the handler may encounter.

The Best Service Dog Breeds for Stress

Any breed of dog could be transformed into an emotional support dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

According to a blog post from K9 of Mine, the top 10 are as follows:

1. Golden Retriever
2. Labrador Retriever
3. Poodle
4. German Shepherd
5. Boxer
6. Great Dane
7. Border Collie
8. Pomeranian
9. Bernese Mountain Dog
10. Pitbull

The mentioned post describes the distinct abilities and necessary details about each dog on the list and how well they will perform as psychiatric service dogs.

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. CertaPet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free.

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQs

Can you have a service animal for stress?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs, therapy dogs, and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can a psychiatric service dog do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support animal or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations.

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

The post Service Dog for Stress appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about the service dog world, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal.

We relay how they can help all people who suffer from a mental illness, how they are specifically trained, and how we can help you acquire one for yourself.

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.

Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, background or other aspect of cultural identity. While mental illness can occur at any age, three-fourths of all mental illness begins by age 24.

Mental illnesses take many forms. Some are mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as certain phobias (abnormal fears). Other mental health conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital. Psychiatry.org gives great insight into this complicated, yet common, subject.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for Mental Illness

Learning you have a mental health condition can be upsetting and dealing with associated symptoms can be daunting. But there is hope. There are a variety of treatments available for mental health conditions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The most popular, traditional medicine treatments are:

• Psychotherapy or Counseling
• Prescription Medicine
• Support Groups
• Exercise and Creativity Based Therapies
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
• Hospitalization or a Residential Treatment Program

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as psychiatric service dogs is becoming more commonplace. The complete discussion of treatments and alternatives can be found here.

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal/emotional support animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about assistance dog use, service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like a hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service animal helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who live with symptoms like social phobia, depression or other depressive disorders can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

CertaPet’s Blog is updated weekly and full of informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health and professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Service Dogs Help with Mental Illness?

Service dogs are most commonly thought of as helping the physically impaired. However, as mental health becomes a more acceptable topic, psychiatric service dogs are starting to make a public appearance. Psychiatric service dogs help people cope with a mental disorder and improve their quality of life with specifically trained behaviors. From keeping crowds at bay to fetching medication, here are a few ways a service dog can help someone with a mental disorder.

Mental Health Benefits

Just having a dog in your life, through their innate characteristics, can combat your mental  health issues greatly. Certified and trained service dogs are an optimized, personalized version, able to tackle even more problems for you; to name a few:

• Reduce anxiety and Treat Panic Attacks
• Aid children with Autism and ADHD
• Helping people with PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and depression
• Reducing the Risk of Addiction

To find out even more, look here.

Physical Health Benefits

Not only can a psychiatric service dog, or emotional support dog, help reduce stress, improve daily life and decrease mental illness symptoms but, their influence includes the drastic improvement of your physical well being also.

It’s truly remarkable the amount and variety of physical benefits therapy dogs can provide their dutiful owners. The main ones are improved heart health, decreased blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, improved overall health from increased activity and exercise, and less physically isolating and anti-social.

As your training with the chosen service animal evolves into a loving relationship, the cycle of mental and physical improvement becomes second nature and cyclical. With years of scientific research as the proof.

The American Kennel Club compiled this comprehensive list.

Specific Tasks Service Dogs Can Perform to Support Their Owner

We have several articles on our website’s blog page to help gain greater understanding about the lengths service dogs can go towards improving your well being. This one in particular describes in great detail this topic.

A therapy dog, psychiatric service dogs of many breeds, use their bodies, mouths, bark and voice to support their owner in a variety of situations.

Here are just some of the many ways that a PSD can help their owner:

• Tactile Stimulation, Deep Pressure Therapy, Pressure and Warmth Stimulation
• Grounding, Interrupting, and Interaction
• Guidance and Balance
• Medication Alert or Reminder
• And Many other assistive actions

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference?

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of assistance animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized in the United States as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog, or emotional support, animal can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/.

How to Get a Service Dog for Your Mental Illness

In order to obtain a psychiatric service dog, or therapy dog, you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog. Your PSD can therefore either be a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

CertaPet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Service Dog for Your Mental Illness

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods of an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of a service, therapy, or support dog.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

No matter the underlying causes of your mental illness, or how it affects which aspects of your life, this two step training process can not only create a service dog out of any dog but tailor their abilities to combat each and every symptom the handler may encounter.

The Best Service Dog Breeds for Mental Illness

Any breed of dog could be transformed into an emotional support dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

Our blog and Pet Guide’s website have compiled lists and details for you:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Standard Poodle
3. Havanese
4. Miniature Schnauzer
5. German Shepherd
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
7. Lhasa Apso
8. Doberman Pinscher
9. Border Collie
10. Boxer

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. Certapet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free.

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQs

Can you have a service dog for a Mental Illness?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, and/or post traumatic stress disorder.

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can a psychiatric service dog do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support dog or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations.

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

The post Service Dog for Mental Illness appeared first on CertaPet®.

The purpose of this article is to inform and educate people about the service dog world, the differences between a therapy dog, another term for a psychiatric service dog, and a support dog or emotional support animal.

We relay how they can help all people who suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), how they are specifically trained, and how we can help you acquire one for yourself.

What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), very similar to attention deficit disorder, is one of the most common mental disorders affecting people, especially kids. ADHD also affects the mental health of many adults. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting) and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought).

An estimated 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults have ADHD.1,2 ADHD is often first identified in school-aged children when it leads to disruption in the classroom or problems with schoolwork. It can also affect adults with similar symptoms. It is a more common mental health condition among boys than girls.

Psychiatry.org has this great introductory piece on their site.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

Common Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for ADHD

As more and more people seek holistic alternatives when developing their treatment plans, the use of assistance animals such as psychiatric service dogs is becoming more commonplace.

Typically, the most common treatments and coping strategies for ADHD consist of a combination of medications, psychotherapy, and behavioral counseling, following an assessment by a mental health professional. Medications assist with addressing the core neurologic issues surrounding ADHD but, they can be costly.

Psychotherapy and behavioral counseling can help curb ADHD symptoms, in a child or an adult, but those very same symptoms can limit the integration into such programs. Service and emotional support animals will fill in the gaps between treatments and create an environment where healing and improvement occur all the time.

Find more details here.

What are Psychiatric Service Dogs?

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a type of assistance animal/emotional support animal that’s trained to perform specific tasks for individuals living with a mental illness. These unique tasks are directly related to the handler’s disability.

The ADA, Americans With Disabilities Act, has compiled Frequently Asked Questions and comprehensive, revised requirements, specifically about service animals, psychiatric service dogs, and more.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing guide dogs supporting those with physical disabilities like a hearing or sight impairment. However, a psychiatric service animal helps people with typically unseen, unnoticeable disabilities.

For example, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who experience panic attacks or similar challenges can greatly benefit from the service of a PSD. Those who live with symptoms like social phobia, depression or other depressive disorders can also find the service of a PSD to be incredibly beneficial.

CertaPet’s Blog is updated weekly and full of informative articles, testimonials, and data from mental health and professionals. For a more in-depth overview of this complicated subject, read our full article.

Click the below video to learn more about psychiatric service dogs. 

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How Can Service Dogs Help with ADHD?

People with debilitating ADHD can still benefit from a service dog. A service animal can help them regain some control over their life. For example, when a person with ADHD gets distracted from an important task, a service dog can help redirect the owner’s attention back to the task at hand. Dogs require schedules, so having the animal can help serve as a routine for the owner. Every morning you take your dog out, you get the dog food, you take your dog for a walk, etc. Having routine is great for individuals with debilitating ADHD, as it is a way to keep their mind focused and alert.

Additionally, service dogs can help ADHD patients deal with their hyperactivity. Having an animal allows you the opportunity to go for a run, a hike, or even swim together. This can help you or your child stay in shape, while also burning off some of their excess energy.

US Service Animals has many detailed resources to further research.

Mental Health Benefits

As stated previously, service animals aren’t for everyone, and an emotional support dog may be a better option for people with ADHD. Emotional support dogs can offer the following benefits:

• Be an outlet for excess energy
• Be a non-judgmental companion
• Provide social interaction opportunities
• Encourage routines
• Decrease stress
• Offer a healthy distraction

Service Animals grant people with mental limitations the ability to take back control of their lives. Once the individual regains control, both mental and physical improvements will happen more often and impact more forcefully. The Bark has a lot more to add.

Physical Health Benefits

Not only can a psychiatric service dog, or emotional support dog, help reduce stress, improve focus and decrease impulsivity but, their influence includes the drastic improvement of your physical well being also.

It’s truly remarkable the amount and variety of physical benefits service dogs can provide their dutiful owners. The main ones are improved heart health, decreased blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, improved overall health from increased activity and exercise, and becoming less physically isolating and anti-social.

As your training with the chosen service animal becomes a loving relationship, the cycle of mental and physical improvement becomes second nature and cyclical. With years of scientific research as the proof.

The American Kennel Club compiled this comprehensive list.

Specific Tasks They Can Perform To Support Their Owner

We have several articles on our website’s blog page to help gain greater understanding about the lengths service dogs can go towards improving your well being. This one in particular describes in great detail this topic.

Here are just some of the many ways that a PSD can help their owner:

• Tactile Stimulation, Deep Pressure Therapy, Pressure and Warmth Stimulation – Tactile stimulation and pressure therapy can help ground a person and offer a therapeutic distraction from excess energy, restlessness or the inability to focus. PSDs can also be trained to place pressure on their handler’s chest or lap to encourage emotional regulation, bring calm to a situation, or simply offer warmth.

• Grounding – When a person feels trapped by the thoughts in their mind, whether they stem from anxiety, flashbacks, or other types of distress, grounding techniques can be helpful in bringing a person’s focus to their physical body or surroundings. A psychiatric service dog can ground their handler through interaction, tactile stimulation, pressure therapy, or through another therapeutic means that assists their handler.

• Interaction and Interruption – A psychiatric service dog’s companionship can provide therapeutic benefit for those living with feelings of depression, isolation, or tearfulness. Through tactile stimulation, deep pressure therapy, or other means, a PSD can interact with its handler in order to bring comfort and calm. A psychiatric service dog can also initiate desired or needed interpersonal interactions for their owner’s benefit. In other situations, such as in the case of insomnia, a PSD may provide interaction until their handler initiates sleep preparations or another necessary routine.

Sometimes, a psychiatric service dog’s role may be to interrupt their owner from performing a certain action. This is commonly seen in situations when a PSD must interrupt a person’s repetitive or compulsive behavior or when they may need to ground a handler by interrupting a dissociative episode through tactile stimulation or deep pressure therapy. In the case of self mutilation, a PSD may interrupt the act by alerting or by providing tactile stimulation.

Emotional Support Dog vs. Psychiatric Service Dog: What’s the Difference?

PSDs and ESAs are both a type of assistance animal that a licensed mental health professional or doctor can prescribe to someone as part of their treatment plan.

However, only PSDs are recognized in the United States as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As legally recognized service animals, they’re entitled to the following rights:

• Public Access Rights (under the Americans with Disabilities Act they can accompany their owner into grocery stores, restaurants, etc.)
• Travel Rights (under the Air Carrier Access Act, they can accompany their owner in the airline cabin and the owner does not have to pay a pet fee)
• Fair Housing (under the Fair Housing Act, they can live in housing units even if there’s a no pets policy)
• Educational Facility Access (under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, they can accompany their owner into schools, colleges, universities, etc.)

ESAs on the other hand, do not have the same privileges when it comes to public access and travel, due to new DOT regulations put into place on January 11, 2021. Many major airlines now only recognize ESAs as pets, which means owners will have to pay a pet fee. (More information on these regulations and the airlines that have changed the policies here: https://www.certapet.com/new-dot-regulations-for-emotional-support-animals/ ). However, people can still enjoy fair housing rights with their ESAs, even if they live in a no pets unit.

The reason for this difference is that PSDs have to be specially trained to perform a certain task or type of work that helps support a person living with a disability (ESAs on the other hand receive no special training – they’re just meant to offer comfort through their companionship).

To be considered a service dog, a PSD must be trained to perform a specific task (examples here: https://www.certapet.com/how-to-train-a-psychiatric-service-dog/ ), which is why partnering with a professional trainer is the best option.

We’re currently onboarding our professional dog trainers and will be offering this option very soon. In the meantime, those interested in getting a psychiatric service dog, or emotional support, animal can begin the process by seeing if they qualify for a PSD through our free screening here: https://www.certapet.com/psychiatric-service-dog-screening/.

How to Get a Service Dog for ADHD

In order to obtain a psychiatric service dog, or therapy dog, you must receive a recommendation from a licensed mental health professional or a doctor. This ‘prescription’ takes the form of a letter, which will be written on your health professional’s letterhead and include their license number.

There are no limitations to the breed of dog you can use as your psychiatric service dog. Your PSD can therefore either be a dog you already own, a dog you adopt from a shelter or rescue group, or a dog you receive from a service dog organization. Keep in mind, however, that the dog must be specially trained to perform certain tasks in order to be recognized as a service dog under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Certapet wants you to get a service animal as quickly as possible. And we know our services can do just that through our certified telemedicine evaluation and rapidly submitted recommendation letters. If you have additional questions, read these Healthline and Top Dog Tips articles.

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

How to Train a Service Dog for ADHD

In the sections above, we touched on the different training methods of an emotional support assistance dog. Here are some more details, along with a supporting blog post, regarding the typical training of a service, therapy, or support dog.

There are two components of an effective training regimen for all service dogs. First, the General Public Access Test is performed to instill good manners in service animals, ensuring that they behave appropriately in public settings. The second step, the specialized task/work training is done, which satisfies the requirement of all PSDs to be able to perform a specific action that’s directly related to their handler’s disability.

No matter the underlying causes of your ADHD, or how it affects which aspects of your life, this two step training process can not only create a service dog out of any dog but tailor their abilities to combat each and every symptom the handler may encounter.

The Best Service Dog Breeds for ADHD

Any breed of dog could be transformed into an emotional support dog or psychiatric service animal. It could be a dog you have owned for years or one you just picked up from a shelter or adoption agency. But, like with most things, there are a handful of dog breeds that are superiorly adept than the rest.

Here’s two great articles from our own blog library and K9 of Mine which include a top breed list:

1. Jack Russell Terrier
2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
3. Sweet Rough Collie
4. Bernese Mountain Dog
5. Labrador Retriever
6. Golden Retriever
7. Beagle
8. Poodle
9. Boxer
10. Old English Sheepdog

Conclusion

Are you interested in getting a psychiatric service dog?

Here at CertaPet, we can help. CertaPet is an online telehealth platform that improves access to mental health care in the U.S. with a focus on providing services to individuals who are seeking animal assisted interventions as part of their treatment plan.

We are currently coordinating with emotional support dog trainers who specialize in the service animal space and who will soon work in tandem with our network of licensed mental health professionals to make the process of getting and training a psychiatric service dog affordable, convenient, and hassle-free.

We’ll have more information available soon about our Psychiatric Service Dog Training options. In the meantime, you can take our FREE pre-screening below to see if you qualify for a PSD!

Interested in Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog Consultation? Take the FREE Pre-Screening Today!

FAQs

Can you have a service dog for ADHD?

Absolutely, yes. Service dogs and emotional support animals are trained to assist in the activities of daily living for those who have one or more mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

How do you qualify for a psychiatric service dog?

We have a fast, easy, and stress free way to determine just that. We start with a free screening, move on to a telemedicine evaluation from a licensed professional, and finish with a personalized plan and ESA letter of qualification.

What can a psychiatric service dog do?

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Can I use any breed of dog as an emotional support dog or psychiatric service animal?

Any breed of dog can take to the psychiatric service training well and you can even use one you already own. However, there are particular breeds that excel in these kinds of emotional, stressful, and difficult situations.

How are support dogs trained?

Service dogs can be trained by you, the handler, or by you with the assistance of a certified trainer. A third option is to adopt a service animal from an accredited training organization for service dogs.

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