It used to be that service dogs were only trained to help the visually or hearing impaired. But today, more people are relying on service dogs to meet their mental or psychological needs as well.
Service dogs have proven invaluable in the treatment of serious mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD). People who have suffered abuse, been involved in major disasters, or have served in the military (particularly those who participated in combat situations) may experience PTSD. For many of these people, everyday activities can become difficult if they encounter a stressor that may increase their PTSD symptoms.
Benefits of a Service Dog for PTSD
Service dogs trained to assist with PTSD can help their owners feel more secure, deal with medical emergencies, and provide emotional support. These dogs go through extensive training to handle any situation their owners may encounter.
They also get trained specifically for their owner’s needs, since not everyone needs the same support.
Tasks a PTSD Service Dog Can Do
There are lots of different tasks that a PTSD service dog can do to help mitigate symptoms of this condition. This is not an exhaustive list of PTSD-relevant tasks, and what tasks you need from your service dog will depend on what your symptoms are.
Some of the most common PTSD service dog tasks include:
- Deep Pressure Therapy: This can ground individuals who are experiencing flashback or panic attacks. Our full guide on deep pressure therapy service dogs gets more into how to know if this is right for you.
- Fetching Objects: Service dogs can be trained to fetch comfort objects, phones, or medications.
- Waking from Night Terrors: Nudging the handler awake can interrupt night terrors or nightmares. Service dogs may also be trained to lick their handler until they wake up.
- Blocking: This is a technique used in crowded public places to create more space for the handler. Blocking is a task best performed by medium-to-large sized dog breeds.
- Anxiety Alerting: Service dogs can be trained to detect rising cortisol levels and alert their handler to interrupt rising anxiety.
How to Get a Service Dog for PTSD
If you want to explore the option of getting a PTSD service dog, set up time with your healthcare team to have an open and honest conversation.
This may include both medical and psychological professionals who can help you create a treatment plan, including reviewing your symptoms and stressors to determine how a service dog can provide the best assistance.
This could be turning on the lights so you never enter a dark room or helping you stay calm in large crowds. Once this plan is in place, you can work with an organization trained in this area to find the right dog and begin partner training.
Alternatively, you can consider training your own service dog if you have the capacity to. At US Service Animals, we have an online service dog training program that covers all the fundamentals, including public access skills and task-specific training.
A Service Dog Can Help Those With PTSD
Using dogs to aid in the treatment of PTSD may still be a relatively new concept, but the benefits are quickly becoming evident. These specially trained companions provide many with PTSD peace of mind and the freedom to live a fulfilling, complete life.
If you suffer from PTSD, now is the time to learn more about how a service dog may be able to help you. Our team here at US Service Animals can help guide you throughout the process, from determining eligibility to identifying the best service dog tasks for your needs.
Service Dog for PTSD Frequently Asked Questions
Does PTSD Qualify You to Have a Service Dog?
Yes, post-traumatic stress disorder is a recognized mental health disability and qualifies you to have a service dog. However, this isn’t the only eligibility requirement.
Your disability must be officially diagnosed and affect one or more major areas of your life. You must also have both the mental and physical capabilities to properly care for the dog.
Can I Train My Dog to Be a PTSD Service Dog?
Yes, any handler is able to train their own dog for service work. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) explicitly states that service dogs do not require professional third-party training.
However, training a service dog can be difficult and time-consuming. Consider speaking to our team at US Service Animals for guidance on whether self-training is a viable route for you.
What Service Dog Breed Is Best for PTSD?
Breeds like the Labrador retriever, golden retriever, and standard poodle are known to pair well with PTSD. These breeds tend to have traits that allow them to perform PTSD tasks with ease, such as a confident disposition, alert nature, and high trainability.
They are also highly perceptive and often able to pick up on minute changes in a person’s physical or emotional state. This allows them to react to symptoms like hypervigilance and provide prompt support, even without an immediate cue. Our service dog breed guide covers more suggestions based on the tasks you need.
Why Do People With PTSD Have Service Dogs?
People with PTSD have service dogs to help them manage symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, and nightmares. PTSD service dogs are also often trained to perform grounding tasks like deep pressure therapy.