Archive for the ‘Training’ Category
Mar 02
Anxiety Service Dog Tasks
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are common within the U.S. About 18% (about 40 million) of all adults in the country have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety, if left untreated, can cause distress, depression and interfere with work and relationships. Treatments for anxiety include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, lifestyle changes, and service dogs. Learn how an anxiety service dog can help and what kinds of tasks they can do in this article.
Anxiety and Service DogsAll of us experience stress. Stress is a normal part of life and can even motivate us to better ourselves and make progress. When stress becomes overwhelming and uncontrollable, however, it turns into an unhealthy form of anxiety.
An anxiety disorder can become persistent and excessive, making everyday situations challenging—maybe even impossible. People who have anxiety might avoid important social events due to their fears. They experience panic attacks or become overwhelmed in crowds, preventing them from having a healthy social life. Anxiety can impede work and school performance, limiting a person’s ability to succeed.
What Tasks Can a Service Dog Do for Someone with Anxiety?In all the situations mentioned above, anxiety service dogs can offer vital assistance. More than a supportive presence, anxiety service dogs carry out essential tasks that help manage a person’s anxiety. The following are a few examples of the many tasks these dogs can offer:
Tactile StimulationAlthough many dogs lick their owners or perform nose bumps as a sign of affection, anxiety service dogs can do these actions on command in the presence of numerical distractions. Tactile stimulation—like repetitive licking—can change a person’s focus away from their anxiety, prompting them to use their own positive coping mechanisms and regain composure.
Deep Pressure TherapyThe body’s central nervous system manages sensory integration, processing information from the senses to respond appropriately. Unfortunately, anxiety can cause sensory overload, disrupting the central nervous system’s ability to react logically to the outside world.
A service dog can perform deep pressure or deep touch pressure therapy (DTP) to calm the nervous system down, enabling them to manage their anxiety.
Find an ExitBecause an anxiety attack can occur at any time, it helps if the person undergoing the attack can leave the area whenever necessary. An anxiety service dog can receive training to find the nearest exit upon command or cue, leading a person away from a distressing or embarrassing situation.
Crowd ControlPeople who have anxiety may experience claustrophobia in crowded situations. However, they can also feel boxed in even if only one or two people are in their personal space. An anxiety service dog can serve as a buffer between their handler and the people around them by placing itself between their handler and someone else.
An anxiety service dog can help their handler control their fears in crowded situations. Obtaining Emergency Phones or MedicationAnxiety service dogs can receive training to fetch emergency cell phones and medication. For example, an emergency telephone (designated for use only in emergencies) can help a person to obtain help as soon as possible. Additionally, anxiety service dogs can receive emergency medication to help their handler calm down.
Turning on the LightsPeople who struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a type of anxiety disorder, are sometimes afraid of the dark. An anxiety service dog can enter the room first and flip on the lights, keeping their handler from suffering through being in the dark.
Performing Safety ChecksAfter experiencing a traumatic event, like a robbery or home invasion, a person can develop PTSD. An anxiety service dog may receive training to investigate an area or room before they enter, reassuring their handler that they’re safe. For many people with PTSD, getting affirmation of their safety is of utmost importance.
Hyper-Vigilance ReductionAnxiety can trigger hyper-vigilance, making a person feel unsafe even in typical environments. A state of perpetual hyper-vigilance becomes distressing and disabling without treatment, making daily activities nearly impossible. An anxiety service dog can serve as a reality check for a person with anxiety. The dog can be a source of reassurance, allowing them to concentrate on their daily lives without worrying about unrealistic dangers.
A Calming InfluenceWhen looking for the ideal anxiety service dog, temperament is critical. An intelligent dog who is gentle, calm, and not prone to agitation is the perfect candidate. A dog that’s anxious themselves can still function as an excellent pet but wouldn’t make for a good service dog in general.
In short, an anxiety service dog should be an overall calming influence to someone with anxiety. The tasks listed in this article are only a few examples of the many ways an anxiety service dog can help manage anxiety disorders. They serve as a stabilizing influence and are vital to their handler’s state of mind and well-being. More than a pet, an anxiety service dog allows individuals with anxiety to live a safe and happy life.
Jan 09
PTSD Service Dog Tasks
Psychological trauma occurs when a person witnesses a highly stressful event, like a car accident, school shooting, combat, sexual assault, or extreme violence. How an individual reacts after an event varies from person to person, some experiencing more extreme emotions than others. Coping and managing after a traumatic experience is difficult, and for some, the memory of a traumatic event remains fresh and can impact day-to-day activities. A PTSD service dog may offer help and relief for individuals by taking on specific tasks to help cope with the symptoms of PTSD.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)When memories of a traumatic event make daily life challenging, a person may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 8 million adults struggle with PTSD. PTSD can happen to anyone and doesn’t indicate character weakness; it shows that a person with PTSD needs some type of support to help overcome their traumatic experience.
Symptoms of PTSDBecause memories of traumatic events and personal emotions are subjective, the symptoms of PTSD are different from person to person. The symptoms are often persistent, cause a significant amount of discomfort, and affect work, school, and relationships. Possible symptoms of PTSD are:
Recurrent and intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event. Avoidance of places, people, or objects that bring to mind the event. Changes in sleeping habits. Irritability, mood swings, tearful episodes, or angry outbursts. Negative thoughts, sometimes suicidal. Dissociation or confusion. Routinely feeling unsafe and in danger. Feeling detached or alienated from friends and family. A trained PTSD service dog can provide tasks to alleviate symptoms of PTSD. Service Dogs for PTSDOne type of psychiatric service dog is a PTSD service dog. Like all service dogs, a PTSD service dog performs one or more tasks that the individual with PTSD cannot do on their own. Most people who have dogs know the feeling of security and comfort a dog can provide, and for a person with PTSD, that feeling of security can change the course of their disorder. PTSD service dogs, however, do much more than make their owners feel safe. These service dogs may help with a variety of physical interventions, depending on their owner’s needs, which may include:
1. Provide Tactile RedirectionService dogs receive training on how to sense anxiety or a change in emotions in their owners. If a person with PTSD becomes anxious or fearful, a PTSD service dog can give their owner tactile intervention. Whether it’s stroking their fur or touching their nose, a PTSD service dog can redirect their owner’s attention, allowing them to manage their emotions.
2. Act as a GuardPeople with PTSD, especially those who experienced an assault, may experience feelings of danger, even when the environment is inherently safe. A PTSD service dog can give a person a sense of security by assuring their owner that there are no intruders into their home. A PTSD service dog can also alert its owner to strangers, act as a guard, and give its owner a much-needed sense of peace. PTSD service dogs may also receive training to enter rooms before their owner and then return to their owner to let them know the space is safe.
3. Guide their OwnerWhen a person experiences a panic attack or flashback, they can become disoriented or dissociate from their environment. When this occurs, they can get lost, unable to find their way in their state of mind. A PTSD service dog can guide their owner home or get assistance, all the while making sure that their owner is safe.
PTSD Service Dogs are Not Pets or Emotional Support AnimalsPTSD is considered an invisible illness. PTSD cannot be spotted right away; therefore, it might be hard for the public to understand why a PTSD service dog is necessary. Nevertheless, a PTSD service dog is a legitimate service dog and is not a pet, emotional support animal (ESA), or therapy dog. A PTSD service dog can accompany its owner anywhere the rest of the public is allowed and is protected under federal laws. PTSD can have a physical and emotional toll on someone, but a PTSD service dog can help to mitigate the negative symptoms of PTSD, enabling an individual to overcome trauma and feel a sense of security.
Let everyone know your PTSD service dog is an indispensable part of your life. Get your PTSD service dog ID by registering below.
Do psychiatric service dogs need training? Yes, they do. But because psychiatric service dogs (PSD) often are confused with emotional animal support animals (ESA), people sometimes assume that PSD’s aren’t trained. While psychiatric service dogs help people with mental or emotional disorders, just like ESAs, they receive extensive training to learn vital skills that will enable them to assist their handlers with particular, often life-saving tasks. Read on to know what that entails and how to train a psychiatric service dog.
What Is a Psychiatric Service Dog?Psychiatric service dogs, a specialized sub-category of service animals, are all trained in a variety of functions specifically for their handlers’ disabilities. In the case of psychiatric service dogs, they assist people with psychological or emotional disorders. For example, a psychiatric service dog who helps a child with autism might perform the following tasks:
Flip on light switches before a child enters a room to reduce fears of the dark. Place his head against the child to provide comfort during an outburst. Bark for assistance is a child begins to self-harm or starts to wander away.Unlike ESAs, psychiatric service dogs undergo months—sometimes years—of training to perform these tasks that keep their handler safe.
Training a Psychiatric Service DogAlthough psychiatric service dogs can receive training through outsourced professional trainers, a handler can choose to train a dog themselves. Training a service dog independently, though time-consuming, can reduce overall costs and create a stronger bond between the service dog and its handler. Here are a few basic steps on how psychiatric service dogs are trained:
1. Determine What Tasks Are NeededBefore starting on the journey of training a service dog, it’s important to assess what tasks are necessary to perform. A physician or a licensed mental health professional can determine if a psychiatric service dog is necessary and what tasks a handler might need to be accomplished. Once there’s an idea of what skills are required, finding the right service dog comes next.
2. Find the Right DogMost professional service dog organizations breed dogs for the right temperament and intelligence. Because a service dog’s job is critical to a person’s health, and the tasks are so demanding, not every dog can become a service dog.
No matter how excellent a dog’s training might be, they won’t succeed as a service dog if they don’t have the ideal temperament. When looking for a dog to train as a service dog, look for reputable breeders who specialize in service dogs. When choosing a dog, the following traits are an advantage:
Social with people and other dogs Alert and attentive Does not startle Likes to be held 3. Encourage Socialization SkillsOnce the right dog is found, it’s essential to socialize them with people and other animals. By exposing a dog to new environments prepares them to tolerate different scenarios. This means interacting with the dog extensively, taking the dog outside, and getting them comfortable in different surroundings. Dogs that are anxious or agitated, especially around new people and places, typically do not make good service dogs. Fostering a dog’s comfort levels in varying locations encourages the making of a successful service dog.
4. Begin Training for Basic SkillsStarting a dog on basic skills provides a good foundation for more in-depth tasks. These beginning commands also give the trainer a good idea of how well a dog takes direction. Basic obedience commands for a dog to follow include:
Stay Heel Sit Come Drop Leave Training a psychiatric service dog starts with basic skill training and is completed once the dog masters specific task training. 5. Hone Public Access SkillsAfter a service dog-in-training understands basic obedience commands, it’s time to practice public access skills in random environments. These areas include parks, pet stores, outdoor restaurants, and other places to acclimate the dog to a broad range of external stimuli. Allowing a dog to get used to new surroundings helps keep a service dog calmer in the long run.
Because service dogs follow their handlers everywhere, it’s essential that a dog be well-behaved in public—for the sake of the public and the dog. Also, every service dog is a representative of service dogs everywhere. Service dogs are well-regarded because of their exemplary public access skills, and having a well-behaved service dog honors that tradition.
6. Individual Response TrainingOnce a service dog-in-training is ready to start their psychiatric task training, they already have their basic skills and public access fine-tuned. This way, they can utilize their public access and basic skills while using their individual response skills. Repetition and positive feedback help to make the process flow much more smoothly.
Of course, this stage of training depends entirely on the tasks required for the dog to fulfill. Here are a few examples of tasks:
If the dog needs to obtain medication during a psychiatric emergency—like a panic attack—the dog can obtain a bag or pouch containing the medication. Ensure the bag is always easily recognizable and that the medication is kept in the same bag at all times. A dog can help a person during an autistic outburst in a case of sensory overload by performing reality affirmation tasks like nudging a person or patting a person’s leg during an attack. The dog must learn to recognize cues when such a situation occurs, depending on its handler’s needs. People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may need help to leave an area that overwhelms them. Dogs can receive training to find and lead their handler to the nearest exit. Progress of Training a Psychiatric Service DogsWhen working with any service dog-in-training, it helps to keep a training log. Training logs enable a trainer to review a dog’s progress and address any problem areas. These logs can also serve as proof that the psychiatric service dog has received training.
Just like other service dogs, psychiatric service dogs improve the longer they remain with their handler. Dogs are intuitive and enjoy repetition, making them natural ideal animals to work closely with humans. As “man’s best friend,” there’s no better animal than a dog to help someone through tough times. But it may take time and patience to fully train a psychiatric service dog to assist their handler at their best.
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