Emotional support dogs (ESD) are helpful companions that bring benefit to their owners simply with their presence and the routine that caring for them brings. Emotional support dogs can help with a number of mental health conditions, though they are most notably used for relieving the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and chronic stress.
Emotional support dogs can be any breed and age, and they have certain rights that are protected by both federal and state laws. If you are dealing with an anxiety or depression diagnosis, an emotional support dog might be the right option for you and your treatment plan.
Below, we discuss the breeds that make the best choices for anxiety and depression ESDs due to their temperament, size, and care needs.
Do Emotional Support Dogs Really Help With Anxiety and Depression?
Emotional support dogs can be somewhat of a controversial subject, as some people may not believe that ESDs truly provide benefits to their owners. However, there are many studies, with more being conducted every year, that show the many benefits support animals have for their owners.
Overall, owning an emotional support animal can result in decreased stress, an increase in happiness, and relief from negative emotions or symptoms that are associated with anxiety and depression. Emotional support dogs can encourage their owners to be more social, develop a daily routine, and provide comfort to their owners when they are showing signs of negative emotions or high stress levels.
For many, adding an emotional support dog to their treatment plan can make a major difference in how they feel in their daily life and the long-term treatment of anxiety and depression.
Are Emotional Support Animals Service Animals?
Emotional support animals are not service animals, as service animals are dogs that are specifically trained to perform tasks related to an individual’s disability. For example, a service animal may be trained to help guide someone who is visually impaired, or they may perform medical alerts to an individual with a blood pressure condition.
Emotional support animals are not trained, and they only provide comfort and companionship to their owners. The presence of an emotional support animal helps the owner find relief from the symptoms of their mental health condition, and while an emotional support animal can be a trained dog, the dog is not required to perform tasks that directly relate to an individual’s disability.
How Do I Get an Emotional Support Dog?
If you wish to add an emotional support dog to your treatment plan, your first step is to speak to a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state. Your provider can discuss your symptoms and needs, and they will evaluate your suitability for an emotional support dog. Once you are approved for an ESD, your provider will write you an ESA letter stating your need; you can use this letter to request housing accommodations so that you and your support animal can live together without issue.
What Makes a Dog a Good Emotional Support Animal?
While any dog can be an emotional support animal if you receive comfort and companionship from the dog that helps with your mental health condition, some breeds are better suited to emotional support dog work than others.
The most important things to look for in an emotional support dog are a calm and gentle temperament, moderate exercise needs (depending on your preference and physical abilities), and grooming needs. In general, a lower maintenance dog is better for certain individuals who do not have the ability to undertake a huge amount of exercise daily; smaller dogs are also better suited for small spaces and city living.
Keep in mind your preferences, ability to train and care for a dog, and any financial restraints you may have in caring for your emotional support animal before adopting a dog as your support companion.
Best Emotional Support Dog Breeds for Anxiety and Depression
The following dog breeds are some of the best breeds for anxiety and depression, as they are gentle, loving, and lower maintenance than some high-energy dog breeds.
You can look into purchasing a purebred dog from a breeder to act as your emotional support dog, though there are plenty of mixed and purebred dogs in shelters that would love to be your supportive companion.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The cavalier King Charles spaniel is one of the best emotional support dog breeds for anxiety and depression due to their gentle disposition, sweet and loving nature, and desire to be around their owners. These dogs are fairly empathetic, and they easily become attuned to their owner’s emotions and form strong bonds with their family.
This dog breed has lower maintenance needs when it comes to exercise, but they do need to be groomed regularly to ensure that their silky fur doesn’t get tangled. The cavalier King Charles spaniel is also a smaller dog, which makes them a good fit for someone living in a smaller apartment.
Corgi
Corgis are some of the most playful and fun-loving pups out there, and these dogs have quite a personality. Corgis are considered medium-sized pups, and they can be suited to living in an apartment, a city, or a more rural area. Your corgi is likely to help you with anxiety and depression by always wanting to play and cuddle up with you.
These dogs always draw attention when you are out and about, something that can encourage positive interactions with others. Corgis are intelligent and they love having things to do, so this breed is perfect for an individual that loves to spend more time outdoors or has more time for exercising adventures with their pup.
Poodle
Poodles are one of the most well-rounded service and support dogs around, and you will often see standard poodles or miniature poodles providing comfort to their owners. These dogs are very intelligent, eager to please their owners, and easily trainable, making them the perfect addition to any individual’s treatment plan.
Your poodle will form a strong bond with you, and they are both calm and adaptable. Poodles have moderate exercise needs, and they will enjoy accompanying you outside the home or cuddling up with you after a long day.
Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are another dog breed that is commonly seen working as service and support dogs due to their temperament, size, and intelligence. These dogs love people, and they love to be involved in their owner’s day. You can expect your golden retriever to be playful, affectionate, and silly, all things that can greatly help you manage the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Keep in mind that golden retrievers are larger dogs, and they do have higher maintenance and exercise needs than smaller breeds. Your dog will need regular grooming in addition to several walks and dedicated playtime sessions throughout the day.
Labrador Retriever
Similar to golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers are equally as popular when it comes to service and support dog positions. These pups love to learn new things, and they love to be involved in whatever it is that their owner is doing. You can expect your Labrador retriever to be empathetic and to form a strong bond with you, following you around the home and wanting to come on outdoor adventures.
Labrador retrievers are also larger dogs, and they do need a fair amount of exercise and outdoor activity. You should only adopt a Labrador retriever as your emotional support dog if you can keep up with the more extensive exercise and play needs of this breed.
Pug
Pugs are smaller, playful, and goofy dogs that bring lots of personality to your life. These dogs are a good size for individuals who live in smaller spaces, and they have less intense exercise needs due to their small size and couch potato nature.
Your pug will enjoy cuddling and spending a lot of time at your side, making them perfect for a person who needs comfort and companionship routinely throughout the day. These dogs are intelligent and fun-loving, and you can expect every outdoor adventure with your pug to be a fulfilling one, as long as it isn’t too long or strenuous for their shorter legs.
Shih Tzu
Shih tzus were bred to be companion animals, and these dogs truly embrace what it is to be a lap dog. With their smaller size, sweet dispositions, and love of their humans, there’s no better emotional support dog for anxiety and depression. These dogs will provide plenty of support through cuddles and playtime, and they know how to help their owner deal with stress and negative emotions.
Your shih tzu will need a strict grooming routine to keep their fur in good condition, though this is their most extensive maintenance need. These dogs are playful, but they don’t need a huge amount of daily exercise.
Do I Need to Train My Emotional Support Dog?
While you don’t need to train your emotional support dog, especially not in the sense that service dogs are trained, it can be beneficial for your dog to have good manners and be able to get along well in public. When your emotional support dog is well-behaved, you can more easily take advantage of pet-friendly spaces, and you are unlikely to have any issues living alongside your emotional support dog in spaces such as apartments.
We recommend using a basic obedience training course or taking your pup to socialization and training classes in your area to ensure they develop the good manners they need to be an exemplary emotional support dog.
What Rights Does My Emotional Support Dog Have?
Emotional support dogs have certain protected rights under the Fair Housing Act, a federal U.S. law. This law protects housing rights for individuals with ESDs, and under this law, landlords are required to accept emotional support dogs into housing along with their owners.
You will not be charged additional fees for your emotional support dog, nor will you need to adhere to pet restrictions or pet fees. Landlords cannot charge you for pet security deposits, though if your emotional support dog damages the property you are living in, you will be required to pay for these damages.
If you have questions about your ESD rights, consult the Fair Housing Act or reach out to a local legal aid clinic in your area to make sure you understand what you and your emotional support dog are entitled to.
Receiving the Support You Need
Adding an emotional support dog to your treatment plan can make all the difference when it comes to handling the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Emotional support dogs are loving, comforting, and ready to stick by your side no matter how you are feeling.
When it comes to adopting an emotional support dog, make sure to speak to your mental healthcare provider to understand what adding an emotional support dog to your treatment plan might look like for you, and to start the process of making sure your ESD is valid.