introduction

What are they, and why are they important?

If you live with a psychiatric illness or disorder, you are not alone. In the United States, it is estimated that about 1 in 5 adults live with mental illness. Mental illnesses can make even simple, everyday tasks such as taking medication, going to the doctor, or even leaving your home become daunting or impossible tasks.

Unfortunately, it is incredibly common for those with mental illness to be unable to receive treatment for variety reasons, including financial constraints or lack of options in their area.

Training a psychiatric service dog (PSD) can be an excellent solution, allowing them to receive care tailored to their needs and to live a more independent lifestyle.

What is a psychiatric illness or disability?

According to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), a person with a disability is «a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more important life activities.» Some of the conditions that may qualify are depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders (ADS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

A Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) can help its handlers with crucial day-to-day activities, including taking medication, assessing direction in a new location, or calming its owner in a stressful situation. For many people with disabilities, getting on a plane, getting from point A to point B, or working in an office can be impossible without the help of a psychiatric service dog.

These limitations may lead one to suffer from low self-esteem and, in turn, worsen symptoms of the psychiatric disorder. For this and many other reasons, a PSD can be the difference between a life full of problems and a simple and quiet life.

What is a psychiatric service dog?

According to ADA laws, to be a service dog, the handler must have a disability, and the dog must be trained to perform tasks that help mitigate the handler’s disability. In other words, a psychiatric service dog helps improve the performance and abilities of a person with a disability.

It is common to be confused between the different types of animals that can serve people, as is the case with an emotional support animal (ESA) or a therapy dog.

Although the purpose of all these animal types is to improve the quality of life of their handler, the actions they perform are different, as are the rights granted to them.

See the figure below:

Emotional support dogs

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) provides support and comfort to alleviate the symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. For example, people with depression may feel that their isolation symptoms are reduced with the presence of an ESA.

However, ESAs are not trained to perform particular tasks such as deep pressure therapy at the moment when their handler needs it.

As their function is general and is not intended to serve specific tasks, ESAs do not enjoy public access rights; it is possible that they may be prohibited from entering limited places such as supermarkets or libraries. That said, ESAs do have protection under the Fair Housing Act, so you would be allowed to live with an ESA even if animals are typically not allowed in your building.

Therapy dogs

Therapy dogs resemble an ESA in that their job is also to provide emotional support, comfort, and joy to those who need it. The difference is that they are used in group situations such as hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc.

Therapy dogs are usually specifically trained to behave well in social situations and often have a therapy dog record. Like ESAs, therapy dogs do not have public access rights and are not considered service dogs.

Psychiatric Service Dogs

Psychiatric service dogs are trained in tasks that help people with a psychiatric disability, and are trained to detect the onset of psychiatric episodes such as flashbacks or panic attacks, and mitigate their effects.

While they provide a sense of companionship, comfort, and support, they also help with tasks that would otherwise be impossible for their owner. These tasks can range from getting out of bed to reducing the symptoms of a panic attack.

Psychiatric service dogs are considered a medical necessity and, therefore, are granted public access rights. They are also protected by the Fair Housing Act and are considered service dogs.

What makes a PSD a good treatment option?

Not only can a PSD help guide perform tasks that would otherwise be impossible, but several other features make them unique and valuable treatment options.

Since you can train a psychiatric service dog yourself, this becomes a less costly option for many. It also allows people living in an area with limited options to receive the assistance they need easily.

A psychiatric service dog can be trained to help with multiple symptoms and tasks. They are especially useful for those with comorbid disorders, for example, people with PTSD and depression.

Unlike most psychiatric medications, a psychiatric service dog produces no side effects.

Psychiatric Service Dogs in Public Spaces

Since PSDs are protected by the ADA, they must be guaranteed entry to businesses, including restaurants, taxis, supermarkets, government agencies, and nonprofits that provide services to the public.

For access to successfully be granted in these public places, the PSD must be completely under owner control. It must be concentrated only on its guide and can not behave aggressively with those present. A PSD must always have its strap on unless it prevents the dog from performing a required maneuver..    

In addition, the guide must be granted the same access rights as those who do not have service dogs. It means that you will not be charged a fee for your dog’s entry or access to a place or service, and you cannot be forced to be segregated from the general public (e.g. you cannot be forced to sit in a separate section of a restaurant), nor can you be questioned about your disability.

Legally, a company can only ask you two questions:

1. «Is your dog a service animal required because of a disability?»

2. «What specific tasks has the dog been trained to perform?»

You will not be required to answer questions other than the two questions above. In the case that the person asking you becomes confrontational, you should request to speak with a different staff member.

If the confrontation unleashes any symptoms of disability, do whatever it takes to manage your symptoms, including letting your psychiatric service dog perform the necessary tasks to help you, asking others for help, performing grounding techniques like deep breathing, and possibly leaving the situation.

 

Do all service dogs have access rights?

Access rights are the same for all PSDs, regardless of the disability the guide may have. Unlike other disabilities, psychiatric disabilities can be «invisible,» and therefore, getting access rights can be more complicated.

What do I do if access to my PSD is denied?

If your PSD is well trained, there are no justifiable reasons to deny access, and you are still not allowed entry, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. You can also charge the institution with discrimination under the ADA through a private lawsuit in federal court. Typically, the threat of such action and a statement of your rights will be enough to allow entry of your PSD.

Does my PSD need special identification?

Many guides choose to have their PSD wear a vest that identifies it as such. However, this is not a legal requirement, and they cannot deny you access for not having it.

In any case, your PSD must be free of external distractions such as food, caresses, and the attention of the people around you, so a vest can help others understand that your dog fulfills a particular function and that they should not interrupt it.

How can a PSD help?

PSDs provide their guides with the necessary support to make their days more bearable. They can provide a sense of calm and anticipate anxiety attacks, avoid self-harm, etc.

With proper training, a psychiatric service dog can help you in multiple ways. PSDs perform tasks that are specifically adapted to your needs and can also be trained in additional duties as needed.

Here are some of the tasks that a PSD can perform for its guide.

• ● Deep pressure therapy during panic attacks or to prevent the guide from self-harming.● Alert the guide about strong emotions, such as anger or an upcoming panic attack.● Push or rest its head on the guide’s lap to ground the guide and help calm a psychotic episode.

  ● Apply gentle pressure with its teeth to the guide’s forearm to stop episodes.

  ● Wake up in moments of night terrors, disruptive flashbacks, and help to redirect the guide’s thoughts to the present.

  ● Remind guide when to take medication.

  ● Perform security checks on rooms or homes, especially for those with hypervigilance due to PTSD.

A PSD can lead you if you are dizzy from medication and can interrupt panic attacks or help mitigate symptoms in crowds with maneuvers such as–circling you so that you don’t feel trapped or guiding you to an exit route.

But how is this achieved?

 

How do you train a psychiatric service dog?

To train your dog in these specialized tasks, your dog must have a solid foundation in basic obedience training. Your dog needs to be able to perform some commands, such as sitting, lying down, walking, and staying near you without a leash.

It can complement other obedience courses.

What kind of dogs can be psychiatric service dogs?

In theory, any breed or type of dog can be a PSD. However, when choosing a dog for this job, there are characteristics to consider.

The dog must have the following characteristics:

● Great capacity for concentration
● Not easily distracted
● Not aggressive
● Not too submissive nor too stubborn
● Energetic
● Calm temperament.
● Enjoys being surrounded by people
● Stays calm if touched by strangers, especially children

In general, a psychiatric service dog should be very trainable, emotionally balanced, and able to focus on their work.

When choosing a dog to be your psychiatric service dog, you’ll also want to consider your specific needs. For example, you may need the dog to physically counter or direct your movement. You may want to choose a larger dog to perform these tasks.

In short, the dog must be very obedient, emotionally stable, and able to concentrate and learn.

Also, consider the tasks you plan to give the dog. If you need them to perform physical manuevers, such as directing or being able to counteract actions, they should have the ideal size and strength to perform those tasks.

Continue with a short quiz.