If you live with anxiety, you likely want to do whatever you can to relieve it. For example, maybe you’ve considered using a service dog for anxiety.
Dogs have long been used as service animals for people with disabilities. They can also serve those with mental health conditions like anxiety.
But what qualifies as a service dog, and how do you get one? In this article, we’ll look at service dogs for anxiety and how you can get one.
What Is a Service Dog?
Many people find comfort and joy in having a faithful furry companion. But service dogs are working dogs who go above and beyond to make their handlers’ lives easier.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a service dog has been “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.” A service dog aims to make everyday life easier for people with certain conditions. So, service animals are typically dogs specially trained to assist people with disabilities or other medical needs.
The Americans with Disabilities Act legally requires businesses and organizations to modify their policies or procedures when necessary to accommodate people with disabilities. Because of the ADA, service dogs are allowed in public places or businesses that may not otherwise allow animals. Even most hospitals will allow service animals in facilities where they would normally prohibit animals.
A dog is only considered a “service animal” when it's trained to perform a special action for its owner. Service dogs may perform a wide variety of tasks and can play many important roles. For instance, they may act as seeing eyes for people with blindness or pick things up for someone in a wheelchair.
Dogs can even be trained to detect seizures in people with epilepsy. They often have an uncanny ability to sense when something is wrong, like detecting a blood sugar that’s too high or low in someone with diabetes. Dogs can use their acute senses to anticipate problems and take action.
Difference Between a Service Dog and An Emotional Support Dog
Studies show that being around animals can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and decrease loneliness. You may find that your dog improves your mood and supports you by being present. Pets can be a profound source of comfort and help us stay calm and grounded.
However, a pet is not considered a service animal unless trained to do a specific action. If they make you feel better just by being with you, they may be viewed as an emotional support animal or companion animal. But chances are you won’t be able to bring them with you anywhere in public as you would a service dog.
However, if your dog is trained to stop you from having an anxiety attack by performing a trained action, they likely qualify as a service dog.
Most Common Breeds of Service Dogs
Any dog can be a service dog. There are no requirements regarding specific breeds. Yet, several dog breeds are most commonly used as service dogs. Some breeds are better than others because of temperament, behavior, and trainability.
Labrador and golden retrievers, collies, German shepherds, Saint Bernards, and cocker spaniels are some of the most popular service dog breeds.
Service dogs need several important characteristics. They must be focused and obedient, wanting to please their handler. They must also be trained not to be distracted by whatever is going on around them—they need to be calm in a wide variety of environments.
Service dogs need to be able to socialize quickly in different circumstances. Since they may go into many different public places, they need to remain calm, not reactive. Staying on task is vital for service dogs.
A service dog needs to be intelligent, trainable, and able to retain information easily. The dog’s size could also be significant depending on the tasks it will perform. For instance, if a dog reaches medication on a counter or turns on lights, it will need to be big enough to do so.
Can a Service Dog Help With Anxiety, and How?
Pets are fantastic sources of support for humans. No matter how old you are, interacting with a pet has surprising benefits. Research suggests pets can lower cortisol levels, decreasing stress and blood pressure. Being around animals can also help us practice mindfulness and bring comfort during illness.
Service dogs often assist people with physical disabilities. Seeing eye dogs assist the blind, and some dogs alert deaf people to things they can’t hear. Similarly, psychiatric service dogs provide support, but in different ways.
Psychiatric service dogs offer a comforting, therapeutic presence, but they also take action to help you through a crisis. Whether you’re living with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or another mental health condition, service dogs can be trained to help you through debilitating episodes.
For example, a service dog might bring you your anti-anxiety medication if you have a panic attack. Or, they may just remind you to take scheduled medications. A dog could be trained to lead a support person to you during a crisis or bring you the phone to call someone.
If that's a trigger, a service dog may keep people from coming too close to you. If you have anxiety or PTSD triggered by entering empty rooms, the dog may be trained to go in before you turn on a light. Or maybe they bring you a weighted blanket or a glass of water during an anxiety attack.
The dog can also be trained to sense when you’re about to have a panic attack and take whatever actions it’s trained in to help you.
For example, a dog could lay on your lap or chest to help you break through a crisis moment. Some people find their anxiety worse at night. A dog can be trained to lay at your feet or on your abdomen to provide tactile comfort and soothe anxiety.
They're service dogs as long as the dog is trained to do something that keeps you from harm or helps you get through your everyday life or crisis.
An added benefit of a service dog is it may help you get outside to walk or exercise, which is proven to boost happiness and energy.
How To Get a Service Dog for Anxiety
There are a few steps to getting a service dog for anxiety. First, you’ll need a stable home environment for the dog to live happily. You also need to have patience and good communication skills. You must be able to care for the dog long-term, financially and otherwise.
To qualify for a service dog, you need to be diagnosed with a mental health condition that interferes with everyday life in some way. So, the first step towards getting a service dog is talking to your doctor or a licensed therapist, who can provide you with a recommendation letter.
And remember, even if you don’t meet the criteria for a service dog, you could still qualify for an emotional support or therapy dog. If you qualify for a psychiatric service dog, the next step is to decide where to get one. There are a few different options.
Buy a Service Dog From a Professional Training Organization
One path is to get a professionally trained service dog from an organization. Your licensed therapist may be able to recommend organizations or programs that train service dogs. There are several places to get a service dog, such as Little Angels Service Dogs. Assistance Dogs International is a website that locates reputable service dog organizations.
However, purchasing a professionally trained service dog can cost $25,000 or more. And there’s often a waiting list for one of these service dogs. But it can be worth the cost and wait, as the trainers have extensive experience training dogs for specific needs and disabilities.
They may also spend time with you before and after getting your service dog to help you transition and learn to work as a team.
The good news is that some organizations provide financial assistance or grants to help people get service dogs. NEADS World Class Service Dogs, Canine Companions for Independence, and the American Humane Society are a few examples of organizations that might be able to help financially with the purchase of a service dog.
Additionally, some organizations hold fundraisers and get support from the community to reduce the cost of service dogs. Your family, church, or community organization could also help you raise money for a professionally trained service dog.
You could qualify for a service dog through the VA if you're a veteran. The Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act (PAWS Act) was signed in 2021 by President Biden to reduce the cost of therapy dogs for veterans with PTSD.
Train Your Service Dog
If a professionally trained service dog isn’t an option, you could also train a service dog yourself. Under the ADA, you don’t have to hire any certified trainer to train your dog to be a service dog.
Therefore, you could get a dog from a breeder or an animal shelter or even train a dog you already have.
Be aware that training your own dog can be a steep learning curve. But it could be a good avenue if your dog has the right temperament and you have plenty of patience. Organizations like the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers could also be a resource for finding a trainer to learn from.
Another option is to send your dog to a training organization, where they can stay and receive professional training.
Final Thoughts On How To Get a Service Dog
If you suffer from anxiety or another mental health condition, you may benefit from a psychiatric service dog. A dog could help reduce stress and fear and improve your quality of life.
In addition to a service dog, there are ways to reduce anxiety, such as using daily affirmations or anxiety quotes to relieve stress. Try a mental health app to track your mood, practice mindfulness, or talk to a therapist.
Psychotherapy, medication, yoga and meditation, and a healthy diet can all help reduce anxiety symptoms and help you live a fulfilling life. Service dogs are one of many wonderful resources to help you do that.
Finally, if you want a simple way to reduce your stress and anxiety, then try writing these 35 mindfulness journaling prompts to live more in the present moment.
