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Service Dogs for PTSD

13 February, 2019

According to the American Disabilities Act, or ADA for short, service animals must be trained to work or perform tasks for a disabled person to qualify as a service animal. PTSD dogs are a type of service dog that specializes in handling a person with any significant trauma. These dogs have rights to all public access areas and are individually trained to work with people with PTSD. Trainers authorized by Assistance Dogs International and organizations that follow the standards set by the ADI train these dogs with specific requirements in mind. Each dog is trained according to these standards, and those who will work with people with PTSD will need additional training according to the person’s needs. These dogs provide a lifetime of support, helping ease people with PTSD.

What kind of services do PTSD Dogs provide?

Service dogs handle people with disabilities by acting concerning that person’s needs, whether that person is blind, deaf, or severely disabled. PTSD Dogs bring a sense of love, provide good companionship, take orders when trained, help reduce stress, and help the individual meet new people. These dogs can individually act, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs, by:

Assisting in medical crises
Assisting in treatment by subtle reminders
Giving the individual a sense of security
Helping the individual handle emotional trauma through companionship

According to researchers in the Department of Defense, this is believed to be caused by the presence of oxytocin. Oxytocin promotes bonding and trust, as it occurs when people come in contact with babies, dogs, and other cute creatures. This boost of oxytocin can help people living with PTSD by putting them at ease and making them more responsive to therapy as a result. PTSD dogs can be beneficial, but whether or not these dogs align with emotional support dogs is still being questioned, according to the VA.

How effective are PTSD Service Dogs at treating PTSD?

Many studies related to service dogs show the benefits service dogs have regarding physical disabilities. However, studies on how beneficial service dogs are for mental health are still being determined through various studies. For instance, studies from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense suggest that service dogs can benefit traumatized soldiers. However, those results come with limited validation, and future trails can only further help negate the questions that remain and give a better understanding of the psychology of how PTSD dogs treat people with PTSD. Studies from Purdue University show that there is a lack of empirical research on the effectiveness of PTSD service dogs, resulting in mixed model results. However, the conclusion of the study proved that PTSD dogs could serve as a “meaningful improvement” for those with PTSD.

Are PTSD Dogs just for Veterans?

A service dog can be any breed. You can either train your own service dog or work with an accredited trainer.

Most studies involving PTSD dogs centralize around veterans. However, experts in the field state that these service dogs can be beneficial for those with non-military related PTSD, including sexual-assault victims and those who have experienced significant traumas such as car accidents and accidental fires. However, official studies have been limited in results and need further trials to prove useful. While the ADI has specific instructions for military veterans to gain access to service dogs, those who are non-military can apply for a service dog through any approved service dog training organization that has taken the ADI standardization test. You can also adopt a dog from a shelter and train them yourself to provide a service for your disability if you do not have the means to apply through a service dog training organization.

Even with the research involving veterans, PTSD dogs don’t earn the same VA coverage as other service dogs would. While the VA covers veterinary care for service dogs that assist veterans with physical disabilities, the VA doesn’t do that for PTSD service dogs. Any treatment within the VA only includes therapies such as exposure therapy, cognitive therapy, and desensitization therapy. As for others with PTSD, those who have the medical documentation can receive a specially trained service dog for PTSD through applying at any chosen trainer organization.

How do I gain a PTSD Dog?

Any service dog, including PTSD service dogs, follow under the guidelines of the ADA, which state that service dogs have legal access to all public areas as long as they are appropriately leashed and controlled by their handler. PTSD service dogs usually cost on average $20,000 or more, depending on the organization, and finding the right organization to purchase a service dog can be difficult due to the lack of federal regulation on training and accreditation. While the ADI does not provide trained service dogs, it only provides guidelines for trainers and individuals to follow and a database for accredited members to search. Once you find the right organization or trainer for you, you can go through their application process and work with the trainers to help you find the service dog for you. You may also train your dog yourself if you are unable to pay the fees to specially train your dog through a trainer.

19 comments

Candy Coon says: February 20, 2019

What if you know of some one who say there dog is a service dog, but there dag was aggressive torrid a other dog. what do you do or who do you contact about it.

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- joe says: March 21, 2019
  
  I would mind your business.
  
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  - JOE says: April 3, 2019
    
    That’s what you should do!
    
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  - Tonia Martinez says: July 17, 2019
    
    Does va pay to train the dog for PTSD anxiety if you have a dog u are wanting to be trained
    
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- Alura Pierce says: May 2, 2019
  
  If you are in a public store/ amusment park I would contact the manager, and in hopes have the dog removed for it is danger to people and real service dog teams. If you wish as long as you are polite and make sure (if you have a service dog) your service dog will not be in danger, then mabey you could let them know about the laws and how it is illeagle to fake a service dog. But defintely contect the manager and or any other higher figure.
  
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- Jack Morris says: July 16, 2019
  
  I flew 850 helicopter missions in Vietnam in ’67 & ’68. I was then placed in a moi class to become an instructor pilot. Three weeks into that program my instructor sent me to beach army hospital to see the shrink. The Major grounded me for ” combat neurosis” gave me a copy of catch 22 and told me his job was to ground the sane and clear the insane to fly in combat. I just had a guy threaten to ‘beat me down’ if I proceeded to bring my dog into the grocery where I always take it. He scoffed at my dog as a service dog because ” the cost thousands of dollars and your card is bogus and it is not wearing a vest “. I trained Fred myself and he has given me 2 years of service after a couple years of training. ???
  
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Linda says: March 1, 2019

I am bipolar. My dog, Ariel, a multipoo, helps me by giving me companionship and emmotional support, without her my disorder is worse and harder to control. I get out more among people when I have her with me. Because of her, I get up everyday. Bipolar is something you are born with. It doesn’t go away. You just need to learn ways to cope with it. Everyone’s different, so, it has to be dealt with individually. It is not always diagnosed right away. The sooner it is , the better because the sooner you learn about it and learn to deal with it the better your life can be and for those you live with. They, too, will learn and know how to live with you. Love.

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- Maegan says: April 25, 2019
  
  I have no money and my.puppy is 5 months that old I want her to be a PTSD service dog
  
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  - Tim Dorrell says: May 13, 2019
    
    Have you found anything out about your question?
    
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Katrina Rollins says: March 6, 2019

How would I go about training my own dog to be my service I suffer with hearing loss and Deperstion anxity and i am just wondering how to train a dog on my own i am low income

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- Abbeys rights says: March 20, 2019
  
  I would research ways to teach your dog how to alert you to sounds (phone, doorbell etc). I was in a similar situation. I trained my dog myself as I could not afford the $25,000, or the 6-8 months to take off work and travel across the country for one. I have had 2 service dogs trained myself. Both rescues from high kill shelters. The first one, Abbey (-RIP sweet girl) had an immediate connection with me that took years to realize on my own. I was diagnosed with dibilitating migraines since I was 7 years old, I am now 35. No medicine, therapy or tests have yet been able to determine why. I’ll have about 15-18 per month. Abbey picked up on my elevated blood pressure that would occur a few hours prior to me feeling any symptoms. Once I finally realized this, I taught her to signal by sitting at my feet and pawing my right knee. She was by my side every day for 14 years. About 4 months ago I found Kismet at a shelter and have trained her to perform the same task. Whenever I had a migraine I would take a saliva swab and place it in an airtight container. I would have jars marked “migraine” “headache” and “none”. With a few months of “Good girl! That’s the right one”! she is able to smell the slightest elevation in my stress, blood pressure or heart rate, or a change in my behavior not noticed by myself or others. Sometimes up to 36hrs before the headache arrived. Now I’m able to take my medication beforehand to prevent the migraine from even happening.
  
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sarah w kelley says: March 22, 2019

I have just lost my service dog, she was my heart and soul. The reason I lost her was because I was taken for two years and she had to stay with a best friend. His elderly mother grew fond of her and has a heart condition and lost her own dog. My dog Muppet was there..They bonded. Plus my best friend grew to love her too. I just cant see myself coming i n after two years an ripping her away..I want too..God help me I want to ..But I hardly survived without her… I have severe Major Depression, Severe PTSD, A brain injury and a panic disorder and OCD. I cant hardly survive without her..but I dont want to hurt anyone. Please Please Help me,. I know Muppet has become Happy there,,thre treat her well and love her…but this is breaking me heart and soul. I felt if I could get a new Puppy and try again I could maybe move on…but i cant take this pain.

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- Liz says: March 24, 2019
  
  Take her back. She’s your service dog. Imagine how she’s feeling not having you around. Wondering if you’ll ever come around to get her.
  
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Brenda Garcia says: March 27, 2019

Hello my name is Brenda Garcia. I have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression disorder. I own a German Shepherd jog that’s 3 years old. His name is Max. I really would like for him to be my service dog for me
I do not know what to do how to get him registered. how much would it cost me to get him trained. Please call me.
Can someone please assist me in this situation. Thank you..😁😁😁

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Bianca says: April 8, 2019

Hi, I am wondering is I could get a service dog. I have ptsd from previous abuse. I am going through therapy right now tho for the next month or month and a half. I am super scared around in crowded areas, and people of the opposite gender. I still have some flash backs, and am scared of sudden movements and sounds. I can’t get one now, but I am thinking of getting one later. Does it sound like I qualify?

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- Alura says: May 2, 2019
  
  I would talk to your therepist, service dogs are not for eberyone however you may qualify. Please keep in mind if you owner train you will have to over come walking through crowded areas, and you will have to overcome certin sound to desensitized your dog. However in the end it is worth it.
  
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Jorden Lewis says: April 24, 2019

Hello i was wondering if there are any uK acredited organisations that text trained dogs for non military ptsd service dog

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Brianne D Grose says: May 28, 2019

I have many severe traumas including ptsd n was in marines n need a therapy dog??.

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Roberta Tolnai says: June 19, 2019

I also have major depressive disorder, anxiety, and OCD, and trauma.
Take the dog back. You said you dont want to hurt anyone. YOU ARE SOMEONE.
What YOU NEED MATTERS. Sometimes its very important for people to put their own needs first.
Im betting your friend would be DEVASTED if something happened to you because you couldnt handle the seperation or simply because that dog wasnt there when YOU needed her.
Thats just my opinion. Is there a medical proffesional you could ask?
Wish you all the best!

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