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How to Train a Service Dog for Anxiety – 6 Important Steps

We’ve probably all seen a service dog helping to guide a person that is physically challenged but did you know you can also have a service dog if you suffer from anxiety?

Dogs can be especially helpful to those that suffer from any number of mental or emotional issues such as PTSD or social anxiety. However, unlike a service dog that has been trained by professionals to work with their owner, you can train your own dog to help you cope with your emotional trauma. Here are some basic steps on how to train a service dog for anxiety.

Step #1 – Choosing the Right Service Dog

Puppy service dog in trainingIt is highly recommended to start out with the right breed for being a service dog. Some canines just do not exhibit the right temperament to do this important and demanding job.

To ensure you are getting a pup that can be trained for service, it’s advised to look to those reputable breeders that are raising dogs for this specific purpose. You can also find great service dog candidates at your local shelters too!

According to Psychiatric Service Dog Partners when choosing a puppy for service work, look for these qualities;

  • Social – quick to greet
  • Does not startle easily
  • Follows
  • Eager to be held
  • Alert

Step #2 – Determine the Service Dog’s Job 

Once you have your puppy you must determine what you will need the dog to do for you in order to guide its training. Once this is established you can begin bonding with your puppy. This helps create a baseline for your dog to recognize when you are in a relaxed state and when you are beginning to experience anxiety – dogs are very intuitive so the right dog will pick up on this naturally.

Step #3 – Develop Socialization Skills

Reputable breeders will have already started the socialization process with their puppies. This means the puppy has been handled extensively, been introduced to new people and new situations as well as being taken outside of the home.

When you get your puppy, it’s important that you keep up the socialization. The last thing you want is a dog that is frightened or stressed each time it encounters something new.

Step #4 – Start Basic Training Skills

Service dog basic training steps

All dogs should have the basics of training and good behavior, but it is doubly important if you plan to bring your dog with you into public areas. These skills include;

  1. Sit
  2. Stay
  3. Drop
  4. Heel
  5. Leave
  6. Come

If you feel you cannot teach your canine companion the basic obedience skills needed, then enlist the help of a professional trainer. These people have the knowledge to, not only teach your dog, but also teach you how to continue the training outside of the weekly sessions.

Step #5 – Fine Tune Public Access Skills

Once your service dog-in-training has mastered his/her basic commands, then you can begin to work on public access skills. Use those pet-friendly areas like retail pet stores, outdoor cafes etc. to help your dog become accustomed to the hustle and bustle of public places.

Step #6 – Individual Response Training

It may be difficult to train a dog to alert a person before a panic attack, but with a close bond, your dog may pick up on your different body language and, if you are completely fear-stricken, the chemical changes in your body.

Some people who suffer from anxiety and stress have reported that giving the puppy/dog a treat when they are experiencing the symptoms is a helpful way to teach your dog to respond; however, not everyone is capable of this type of action when in the midst of anxiety, stress or fear.

Cuddling your dog close when you feel stressed is not only a great way to help bring relief to you, but will also allow the dog the chance to pick up on your “tell” signs. This is why it is crucial to find the right breed and/or temperament of your canine service dog.

Training a Service Dog for Anxiety

When training a service dog for anxiety you will have to have patience and persistence, especially with puppies. Begin with the basic training skills and socialization, then work your dog up for public access. Having a dog that helps with severe anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks and so on is a therapeutic way to get your life back on track.

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75 comments

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  1. Victoria says: May 21, 2021

    try to get him used to people slowly, ex. when people come t yuor house, indroduce him to them and start taking him out into more and more public areas slowly so as not to freak him out.

    Reply
  2. brielle says: January 29, 2021

    my nana might breed her sheltie dog named daisy i know that not most shelties make it to be a service dog because they heard sheep and bite ankles but maybe if i can train it as a puppy just maybe it might work i pray ive always wanted a service dog cause ive been strugaling with mental health since 2020 and my nana wont let me get one cause there 20,000 $ to 15,000 $ and she thinks i dont need one but shes rong i have break downs almost every single day maybe one day i will get one im thinking a lab yellow or white or my dream dog a golden retriver i remember crying for 2 hours cause almost every one i know and dont really no has one i have asheltie named timmy i dont really like him hes a sheltie he pulls at cars bites people lunges and pulls because my nana wouldnt let me train him to do proper stuff when he was a puppy someday i wish i had one you guys are so lucky to have a dog that loves and helps you but i have to strugle maybe one day

    Reply
    • A says: April 5, 2021

      Never too late to try w Timmy? Maybe he feels the sameness you do? Hang in there. Sometimes shelters offer low cost placements to good homes. Also, you might be able to start a “dog grooming or walking services?” Wishing you all the best! Try to cheer up. Look for the silver lining!!!

      Reply
  3. yellow says: November 22, 2020

    An ESA is not a service dog and does not have the same public access rights as service dogs do!

    Reply
    • Haylee says: December 15, 2020

      There’s a difference here, a ESA doesn’t do much but be there. A psychiatric service dog can do things like bring them pills or lots of other things. My PSD knows when somethings going on and puts pressure on my lap, this helps lower MY stress and anxiety.

      Reply
  4. Kimber Perkinson says: September 22, 2020

    My dog is almost perfect he has already started training before we got him, however he is a little bit shy when it comes to new places. Does anyone know how to help with that?

    Reply
    • Kayley says: November 5, 2020

      Try to introduce him slowly to new places and things. Lots of dogs are often fearful when faced with new challenges. I looked to this page once before when I had to train my old service dog on detecting my anxiety attacks and she started out fearful of going out and being in new places and a car, which I suspect is mainly because we rescued her from a shelter.

      Reply
    • Jennifer Chambliss says: November 8, 2020

      Everything i read was to give treats,treats, treats. Like you are trying to teach the calm settle. Kikopup has some awesome videos. The most amazing thing is that she has Australian sheep dogs.

      Reply
  5. Michael Marino says: September 15, 2020

    Why is this topic such a secret? The question is how to train the dog to react to the cues for anxiety? Can you provide the answer?

    Reply
    • SDC says: October 15, 2020

      Unfortunately, we don’t offer any training programs nor are we professional trainers. We suggest reaching out to a professional dog trainer that has experience with psychiatric service dogs.

      Reply
  6. Kendalyn Lapointe says: August 6, 2020

    Hi so I was wondering if I can train my French bulldog to be an anxiety service dog. I have Health Anxiety, would that even qualify me to allow her to be one?

    Reply
    • Peter says: September 16, 2020

      Yes, if your dog can pass a public test (follow basic commands and behave appropriately in public) and can perform a task that is directly helping your disability – any task which you cannot perform yourself in times of need – then your bulldog can become your service dog. You can read more about the requirements of a service dog here https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-requirements/

      On the other hand, if your dog mainly provides support and comfort and doesn’t need to perform any specific tasks, you may consider applying for an emotional support animal. You may find this article on requirements for emotional support animals interesting https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/emotional-support-dog-requirements/

      Good luck, I’m sure your Frenchie will become an awesome assistance animal to you.

      Reply
    • Wendy says: September 24, 2020

      My dog is a JRT/ chihuahua mix and my doctor is writing his ESA letter right now. If he’s good in public just do what I did. Bought my dog a service dog vest harness. Now me personally I will NOT take him out in public cause he don’t know how to act and I have paranoia that he will catch something beinf outside our yard. But as wrong as it is, if you get one they can only ask two questions and that’s it.

      Reply
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