Best Service Dog Breeds
There are certain traits that make particular dog breeds really stand out when it comes to helping with various emotional or physical traumas and illnesses. Your specific needs will help you to determine what type of service dog breed is the best fit for you.
Heres our list of the top 10 best service dog breeds, along with their common characteristics and the type of service they typically provide.
Determine Whether A Service Dog Would Benefit You
Service dogs are not the best option for every veteran, and their suitability largely depends on your personal needs and temperament. For example, if you travel a lot by plane, owning a service dog may be less convenient for you than it would be for someone who stays close to home. Your service dog would still be allowed on an airplane, but managing the logistics and additional pressure may present a stressor for some people. On the other hand, the service dog can be helpful for tasks like navigating the airport or balancing while boarding the plane.
A service dog may be especially helpful if you suffer from the following:
A service dog is an excellent option for someone who has trouble navigating typical situations in their daily routine. If you are looking for a dog for therapeutic reasons or to help you cope with emotional trauma, a support dog may be a better option for you.
Acquiring A Service Dog For Anxiety
There are significant benefits to having a service dog if you suffer from anxiety. If you are looking for a way to feel a bit more independent, a service dog is a major step in the right direction. Additionally, service dogs can perform vital tasks such as retrieving items, alerting others in the event of an emergency, and perhaps most importantly, providing companionship and emotional support.
That said, not everyone who has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder will qualify for a service dog. You will first need to consult with a physician who is familiar with your condition to determine if a service dog is the right treatment option for you. If not, you might also consider an emotional support animal, as they can provide similar assistance, without the high costs and training process.
If you and your doctor agree that a service dog or emotional support animal could benefit you and help alleviate some of the suffering caused by your anxiety, then you can continue the process of obtaining your animal. Thats where we come in. The experts at know how much a service dog or ESA can mean to someone in need. Additionally, we understand the legal process that you must go through to qualify for one of these animals, and we can help you every step of the way. To learn more about qualifying for a service dog or emotional support animal, or if you simply have questions about how these animals can benefit you or a loved one, feel free to contact us directly at this link.
Also Check: Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia Definition
Who Is Eligible To Get A Service Dog In Florida
Anyone with a disability, which the Americans with Disabilities Act defines as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities, is eligible to use a service dog. One can have a record of such an impairment, or be regarded by others as having one. It is then up to the individual to seek out an organization and follow the application process.
How Should I Interact With Someone With A Ptsd Service Dog Or Emotional Support Dog
Because PTSD is an invisible disorder like diabetes or hearing loss, seeing an individual with a service or emotional support dog who seems perfectly healthy on the outside might be confusing in public. For military veterans suffering from PTSD, it is often very hurtful and personal to be asked what the dog “does” for them. In order to respect the privacy of the handler, it is poor etiquette to ask personal questions about their disability.
If you see a service dog or emotional support dog working in public, be respectful and do not approach or pet the dog without permission. Many veterans with a service dog are willing to answer respectful questions about their dogs, but you should not assume that this is always the case. Those with a service or emotional support dog out in public are just going about their business like anyone else and might be too busy or unwilling to engage with everyone who approaches.
For service dogs only, the ADA states that employees of public areas may ask only two specific questions to a service dog handler:
- “Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?”
- “What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”
Staff are not allowed to ask for any documentation, ask for the service dog to demonstrate any tasks that they are trained to do, or ask about the handler’s specific disability.
Also Check: What Is The Meaning Of Phobia
Ptsd Rates Vary Among Veterans Of Different Wars
Crenshaw says because of Doc, he no longer takes any of his PTSD medications and he no longer uses alcohol to self-medicate. Clark-Gutierrez says Lisa, too, has helped her to quit using alcohol she long-relied upon and to stop taking VA-prescribed medications for panic attacks, nightmares and periods of disassociation.
“Lisa checks on me all the time,” Clark-Gutierrez says. “If she sees that I’m just kind of out of it, she’ll whatever she has to do to bring me back. I can’t even put into words how helpful that is.”
“We actually save the VA money over time,” Diamond says. “Our warriors are far less likely to be on expensive prescription drugs, are far less likely to use other VA services and far more likely to go to school or go to work. So it’s a win, win, win across the board.“
The number of veterans with PTSD varies by war with up to 20 percent of those who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq having the condition in any given year, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
This story was produced as part of NPR’s health reporting partnership withKHN , a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues.
Effects Of Ptsd Severity Veteran
Surprisingly, results showed that PTSD severity was not an important significant predictor of task importance or frequency of use among those with a service dog. Specifically, the severity of a veterans PTSD did not have a significant relationship with how important the veteran perceived his or her service dogs trained or untrained behaviors, nor how often he or she used most trained tasks on a daily basis. These null findings may be partially due to the wide variety of experiences from those with a service dog. For example, one might assume that veterans with more severe PTSD both use trained tasks more frequently and view those tasks as more important. However, some veterans with severe PTSD may infrequently leave their house or engage with strangers resulting in less use of tasks that are most suited to being in public, such as the cover or block tasks. On the other hand, one might assume that veterans with sub-clinical PTSD may use their service dogs trained tasks less often due to decreased need. However, veterans who are actively reintegrating into society may be using their service dogs tasks more often to help mitigate symptoms . Thus, these individual variances may have diluted any clear relationship on a population level.
Also Check: Schizophrenia Age Of Onset Males
Expenses Covered By Va
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs helps servicemembers when they come home. Although the VA does not provide service dogs to veterans, they will cover some of the expenses related to them.
To determine whether you are eligible for a service dog, visit the VAs online benefit page. If you are eligible for benefits, the VA will help with the following expenses:
- Veterinary care
- Necessary equipment, including harnesses and backpacks
- Medical procedures
How Long Does It Take How Much Does A Service Dog Cost
Different organizations will take different amounts of time to match a client with a service dog. Most reputable service dog organizations in Florida have a wait list of 2-5 years for service dogs. A client may be matched earlier or later than the date provided to them by the organization.
How to get a free service dog
Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. and most other non-profit organizations place our dogs at no charge to the client. You are encouraged to explore other organizations to see how they handle placement fees, etc.
You May Like: Pristiq Maoi
The Different Types Of Support Animals
It is important to note that since the process for obtaining a service dog has a tendency to get drawn out having an idea of what support animal is precisely right for your individual circumstances goes a long way. For example, if you are deaf there is absolutely no question a service dog is required. However, if you are suffering from a mental disorder a therapy dog is a more appropriate solution. There are many instances where people, unfortunately, confuse the different types of support animals. Service dogs sound practical so they expect one even though the condition may get partially alleviated through another source. Lets examine the different types of service animals:
Finding the right type of support animal for your individual circumstances is crucial. A service dog may or may not represent the most appropriate animal for you.
Types Of Service Animals
PSDs are trained animals that arenât to be confused with other types of service animals.
âEmotional support animals.Emotional support animals are pets or animals that can provide you with emotional support during difficult times. Unlike PSDs, ESAs donât need any special training. They can be any kind of domestic animal, not just a dog. However, dogs and cats are the most common choices when it comes to emotional support animals.
ESAs arenât trained to do specific tasks in the way that service dogs are. They can simply offer you comfort and help you relax during stressful situations.
Service animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act says that service animals are dogs that are trained to work with people who have disabilities. Each dog is individually trained to help people with tasks that they might not otherwise be able to do. Service dogs can help guide people with vision, mobility, or physical difficulties.
Psychiatric service dogs. PSDs are trained to work with people who have certain mental health issues rather than physical disabilities. These dogs have the same rights as service dogs do, meaning they can go with you in places where pets usually arenât allowed. PSDs also can travel with you on planes without any additional cost.â
Read Also: Pristiq For Panic Disorder
How To Get A Psychiatric Service Dog For Anxiety Or Depression
A psychiatric service dog can be obtained through a service dog organization, or an individual may train their own service dog themselves.
However, its important to note that training your own service dog can be tough, much more so than people initially imagine, and far more complicated than regular dog training.
Let’s look at both of these options.
New Law Provides For Service Dogs For Veterans With Ptsd
Malinda Larkin
Researchers have been studying in recent years whether trained service dogs can help war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Some results indicate that these working dogs can help lessen symptoms. Others have found that service dogs at least did not worsen or interfere with PTSD recovery in their owners. This growing body of evidence, along with ongoing advocacy efforts, has helped pave the way for recently passed legislation that creates a pilot program in which veterans struggling with PTSD will train and later keep service dogs.
President Joe Biden on Aug. 25 signed into law the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act that requires the secretary of veterans affairs to establish a five-year program to provide service dogs to veterans with PTSD. The AVMA supported the legislation.
We know service dogs are a proven life-changing and life-saving form of therapy for our veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress, said U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey in a statement.
With this new law, we are addressing the high-cost barrier that prevents many from accessing these incredible dogs, added Sherrill, a Navy veteran.
Recommended Reading: Can Dehydration Cause Anxiety
Outfitting A Service Dog
There is a common misconception that a service dog must somehow be marked as a service dog either with a harness, a vest, or some other type of identification. This is untrue, and there is no official requirement to outfit your service animal: The ADA does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.
That said, you may still choose to pick up a service dog vest or other supplies with a few features that allow you for better control of the dog or for the dog to assist you better.
Fear Allergies And Other Pet Limitations
Neither fear of dogs nor allergies to dogs are acceptable reasons to bar a service dog team from an establishment. In the case of a severe allergy and a shared space, accommodations must be made for both parties, separating the two as much as possible.
The no pets signs in establishments do not apply to service dogs as they are not pets. Establishments may not cite the right to refuse service as an excuse to refuse access to service dog teams any more than it could invoke it to refuse service to a person based on race or gender, as people with disabilities are considered a protected class.
Also Check: Can High Blood Sugar Cause Anxiety
Other Ptsd Service Dogs Tasks
PTSD service dogs can assist their partners in a number of different ways. Some more tasks they are trained to do includes:
- Bringing their partner their phone in a crisis or retrieving an emergency phone
- Answering the door to let emergence personal or support staff into the property
- Bring help to their partner and provide speech impairment assistance
- Summon help
- Provide balance assistance on stairs
- Bring water or beverages to their partner if they are suffering with a dry mouth following medication
- Provide excuse to leave upsetting situation
- Assist in finding building exits
- Crowd control for panic prevention in public
- Keep suspicious strangers away
- Increase safety in public
Its worth remembering that each persons experience with PTSD is different, so each service dogs responsibilities will be unique.
Break The Spell Strategy
Sometimes, the tactile stimulations wont be enough for a service dog to nudge someone out of an emotional overload episode. If that is the case, a dog will perform the break the spell strategy.
When someone is experiencing night terrors, hallucinations, sickening memories or suicidal thoughts that cant be shaken, research has shown that quickly changing the scene can break the spell.
Service dogs will be trained to turn on bedroom lights and other lights if needed. This is particularly useful when someone is experiencing a night terror, as a dog will use this as part of a wake up routine.
They can also be trained to bring the TV remote to their handler on command, which will enable them to be able to turn on the set. The sudden audio and visual stimuli, accompanied with the dogs assistance, can help get rid of any distressing thoughts, feelings and images.
PTSD service dogs will also be able to fetch a drink or medication so that this will draw their handlers attention away from what is causing them distress. It will help strengthen their handlers ability to remain in the here and now.
Also Check: Pristiq Long Term Side Effects
How To Get A Service Dog For Ptsd
Berry LawMental Health
It is no surprise that animals are being used to help veterans with PTSD. These dogs could be used to help a veteran with significant hearing loss or vision loss, or performing a task that the individual cannot perform because of a disability. Or, these animals could be used as a means to provide significant emotional support to its owner. But, how do you get a service dog for PTSD and its many symptoms? If you are interested in a service animal for yourself or a loved one, please keep reading.
State And Federal Laws For Service Dogs
Regardless of what specific tasks a service dog performs, once it can reliably perform at least one disability-mitigating task, it is considered a service dog. That means the provisions of the ADA apply and need to be enforced.
Any state or local law that attempts to countermand, or make more restrictive, any provision of the ADA is essentially unenforceable because when state or local laws do not align with federal law, federal law takes priority.
However, state police officers are only charged with enforcing state, not federal, laws. Therefore, if an establishment refuses a service dog team entry, and the situation is not covered by existing state laws, the only recourse available is to file a complaint with the Department of Justice, or file a suit in federal court.
If there are state laws in place to protect the rights of service dog teams, it is possible that the employee or establishment has in fact committed a misdemeanor and can be fined. This is why knowing applicable state laws, as well as the ADA, is imperative.
Read Also: Charles Manson Schizophrenia
Visitors To British Columbia
Certification under the GDSDA is voluntary. Valid guide and service dog teams exist outside of the GDSDA certification process. Persons with disabilities, including visitors from outside of the province, who rely on a guide or service dog, are protected from discrimination under the BC Human RightsCode and have an equal right to access and use of all public places and services.
Visitors who wish to apply for the GDSDA certification can find more information at Guide Dog & Service Dog Team Certification