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PTSD Service Dogs, Between Statistics and Veterans’ Voices

PTSD Service Dogs, Between Statistics and Veterans’ Voices

Table of Contents

1. An Emerging Complementary Treatment 
2. Veterans’ Voices: Interest in PTSD Service Dogs
3. Recent Research Shows the Benefits of PTSD Service Dogs 
4. PTSD Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs 
5. Specific Tasks Performed by Service Dogs  
6. In Veterans’ Own Words 
7. Conclusion 
8. References 

While service dogs have traditionally been provided to assist veterans with physical disabilities, there has been a growing interest in using service dogs to improve the quality of life of veterans suffering from mental health disorders. This article will explore some of the most recent research on the impact of service dogs in the treatment of PTSD. 

An Emerging Complementary Treatment 

Although PTSD awareness and treatments greatly improved in recent decades, U.S. military personnel have been encountering unprecedented stressors, resulting in an elevated risk of developing PTSD. Soldiers who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) were exposed to the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the strain of multiple deployments. These warfare conditions have contributed to PTSD cases that are often more severe than those observed following the Vietnam War.  

29% of Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans develop PTSD.

2024

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

A 2015 meta-analysis of the studies involving OEF/OIF veterans estimated that approximately 23% of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan had PTSD [1]. The current estimate recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a 29% PTSD rate for the veterans who participated in the operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Consequently, the demand for effective PTSD treatments for veterans has remained high, possibly surpassing that of any previous era in U.S. military history. 

The VA has been providing a range of psychotherapies for PTSD treatment that can be broadly classified into two categories: trauma-focused and non-trauma-focused therapies. Trauma-focused therapies directly address traumatic experiences, requiring patients to actively engage with trauma-related memories, beliefs, and triggers. These therapies utilize various strategies, including behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, and emotion-focused approaches. In contrast, non-trauma-focused therapies avoid direct engagement with traumatic events, instead concentrating on building support, empathy, insight, and adaptive coping mechanisms. 

Research has consistently demonstrated that trauma-focused therapies are significantly more effective. Therefore, the VA primarily offers two trauma-focused psychotherapies: Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). These treatments have a remarkable efficacy in reducing PTSD symptoms and have benefited many veterans. However, their effectiveness hinges on the patient’s consistent and active participation over an extended period, often involving emotionally and practically demanding tasks. Such high level of commitment poses a persistent challenge for many veterans engaging in PE and CPT. [2] 

Analysis of recent studies has shown that trauma-focused treatments have an average dropout rate of 27.1% among enlisted service members [3]. This could be even higher in uncontrolled conditions. Maguen et al.’s (2019) research of a single Veteran’s Health Administration facility under typical conditions, spanning from October 2001 to September 2015, found that only 22.8% of veterans initiated evidence-based psychotherapies like PE or CPT [4]. More concerningly, a mere 9.1% of this group completed the treatment, translating to an attrition rate exceeding 60%. 

Recent research has explored the potential of non-trauma focused interventions that encourage patient engagement and retention while addressing PTSD symptoms. One promising adjunct intervention is the use of specially trained psychiatric service dogs. These dogs are distinct from emotional support, therapy, or companion animals in that they are specifically trained to perform tasks tailored to the psychiatric needs of their handlers, such as interrupting anxiety episodes, waking them from nightmares, or providing a buffer in crowded public settings. 

Note: the VA does not currently provide or support service dogs for mental health conditions, including PTSD, and is still studying the potential benefits of such interventions. 

Veterans’ Voices: Interest in PTSD Service Dogs

In August 2024, Hill & Ponton polled its audience to gauge the level of interest and access to PTSD service dogs. The 678 veterans who answered provide a snapshot of the current landscape regarding PTSD service dogs: 

• 8.25% have at some point had a PTSD service dog
• 2.80% applied to get one but didn’t get it or are still waiting
• 44.39% never had one but would like a PTSD service dog 
• 19.32% don’t want or need one 
• 25.22% don’t know enough about PTSD service dogs 

The answers suggest that there is significant interest among veterans for PTSD service dogs, coupled with a lack of access. Moreover, a quarter of those polled lacked information about this type of treatment.

Comments received from Veterans include:

A private psychologist did testing to support my PTSD claim and recommended that I get a service dog to help me deal with PTSD issues. Archie has been my angel service dog, and truly helps me daily living with PTSD and migraines.

A social worker said a service dog would benefit me but that was a couple years ago, and nothing has been said to me since then.

My personal dog goes everywhere possible with me and can tell when I’m getting uncomfortable. He will get on my lap, paw at me, get my attention. I would love to get him trained and certified to travel with me more places. Would love to get more info on the subject.

I don’t know how to even begin to seek receiving a service dog.

I attended several nonprofit organizations that provide PTSD Service dogs to veterans without success as the dogs were not properly trained. I purchased my own puppy and paid to acquire great training from a for profit organization. My dog is now trained for mobility, PTSD, scent detection, tracking and personal security. She is better than any dog I could get from a non profit for PTSD. Alot of it is because I put skin in the game and was totally committed. I am training another puppy for when my current service dog retires.

Recent Research Shows the Benefits of PTSD Service Dogs 

Multiple studies utilizing the PTSD Checklist (PCL), a standardized self-report scale, have found that being partnered with a service dog is associated with significantly lower PTSD symptom severity compared to not having a service dog. 

Rodriguez et al. (2018) compared 45 veterans with service dogs to 28 on a waitlist and found those with dogs scored significantly lower on the PCL. [5] 

Most recently, Leighton et al. 2024 nonrandomized controlled trial of 156 veterans and military members [6], which is the largest nationwide study to date to compare the use of PTSD service dogs with usual care alone, measured PTSD symptoms after 3 months, with the following results: 

The PCL-5 test 

• Service dog group average score: 41.9 
• Control group average score: 51.7 

The CAPS-5 test 

• Service dog group average score: 30.2 
• Control group average score: 36.9 

The service dog group’s lower scores represent significantly lower PTSD symptom severity. The researchers also looked at how many people still met the criteria for PTSD after 3 months: 

• In the service dog group, 75% (51 people) still had PTSD 
• In the control group, 85% (56 people) still had PTSD

Beyond subjective self-report measures, biological markers also point to the therapeutic effects of service dogs. Rodriguez et al. (2018) examined the cortisol awakening response (CAR) in veterans with and without service dogs. The study found that veterans with service dogs had a bigger morning spike in cortisol compared to those without, which would indicate a healthier response to stress. This biological evidence supports the notion that service dogs may help restore balance to veterans’ stress response systems.  

In 2024 a 3 month clinical trial drew similar conclusions, suggesting that service dog placement could help boost veterans’ morning cortisol response. [7] 

These consistent findings across multiple studies provide strong evidence for the efficacy of service dogs in reducing PTSD symptom severity among veterans.  

PTSD Service Dogs vs. Emotional Support Dogs 

The Richerson et al. (2023) study, titled “Therapeutic and Economic Benefits of Service Dogs Versus Emotional Support Dogs for Veterans With PTSD,” [8] is one of the most comprehensive investigations to date. The researchers conducted a multicenter trial with 227 veterans with PTSD over 18 months, randomly assigning them to receive either a service dog or an emotional support dog. 

Results: 

PTSD Symptoms: Participants with service dogs had a 3.7-point greater reduction in PTSD symptoms compared to those with emotional support dogs. 

Medication Adherence: Veterans with service dogs had an increase of 10 percentage points in antidepressant adherence compared with those with emotional support dogs.  

This study provides strong evidence for the specific benefits of service dogs over emotional support dogs in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving medication adherence.  

Specific Tasks Performed by Service Dogs  

To understand how service dogs alleviate PTSD symptoms, Rodriguez et al. (2020) surveyed a group of veterans’ perceived importance of the trained tasks performed by service dogs: 

• Interrupt/alert – The dog lets the veteran know when they are feeling anxious and interrupts with a nose bump, placing head in lap, or some other behavior.
• Calm/comfort anxiety – The dog performs a calming behavior such as making physical contact (laying on top of handler, placing head in lap, gently leaning against the body) when the veteran feels distress or anxiety. 
• Block (create space) – The dog positions itself horizontally in front of the veteran to create personal space. 
• Block (guard/protect) – The dog positions itself horizontally in front of veteran to guard/protect. 
• Cover (watch back) – Dog positions itself directly behind the veteran to “watch” the veteran’s back. 
• Social greeting – The dog helps greet people in public by sitting/offering a paw. 
• Wake up from nightmare – The dog recognizes that the veteran is having a nightmare and gently wakes them up. 

The study found that the task most frequently performed by service dogs was to calm/comfort anxiety, reported in 52% of daily check-ins. [9] The “cover” or “watch my back” task was the second most frequently used, averaging 4.1 times daily. This task mimics military camaraderie, where soldiers guard each other’s blind spots in combat. Veterans report that this helps them share the burden of being constantly alert in public. 

The social greeting task, while less broadly applicable to PTSD symptoms, was still considered moderately important. It’s especially useful in public interactions and may contribute to reduced social isolation and increased participation observed in veterans with service dogs. 

The nightmare wake-up task specifically targets intrusive memories, nightmares, and sleep disturbances. 57% of veterans found this helpful for trauma-related nightmares, making it a crucial aspect of the service dog intervention for many. 

The two versions of the “block” task – creating personal space and guarding/protecting – were rated similarly by veterans. While some mental health professionals worry this task might reinforce avoidance behaviors, veterans found it moderately to quite important for their PTSD. 

Overall, service dog tasks addressed almost every DSM-5 PTSD symptom, with intrusion symptoms benefiting from the most tasks, particularly calm/comfort and interrupt/alert. The dogs’ calming presence and interrupting behaviors appear to help ground veterans during flashbacks and provide relief from distress. 

In Veterans’ Own Words 

The most helpful thing the dog does for one veteran is to “be able to walk through life knowing that if I were to have an anxiety attack it wouldn’t be the end of the world, I would have my battle buddy [service dog] to get through it.” [10] 

For others, a service dog: 

• “reminds me to take my medication because he senses my mood and work [quality] deteriorates if I don’t take my medication. “  
• “gets me motivated, to get up and get outside” [11] 
• “[gives] constant companionship, I know he is always by my side. We are always together.” 
• “sleeps with me and wakes me up from nightmares” 
• “has allowed me to go to crowded public places to support my children’s activities that I previously would not have gone to” 
• “blocks people from getting too close and forces me to focus on her when I have rage episodes” 
• “has allowed me to become the father and husband I am supposed to be” 
• “has definitely improved my life in so many ways and has given me a better outlook overall” [10] 

For these veterans, service dogs are more than just a treatment option. Their unconditional love and devoted companionship sets service dogs apart from other interventions and enables profound transformation of veterans’ lives. 

Conclusion 

The use of service dogs for veterans with PTSD shows promise as a complementary intervention. Current evidence suggests that service dogs can contribute to reduced PTSD symptoms and enhanced social functioning for many veterans. The high level of interest in PTSD service dogs among veterans underscores the need for continued research, education, and support. 

References 

1. Fulton, J.J.; Calhoun, P.S.; Wagner, H.R.; Schry, A.R.; Hair, L.P.; Feeling, N.; Elbogen, E.; Beckham, J.C. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans: A meta-analysis. J. Anxiety Disord. 2015, 31, 98–107. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887618515000262  
2. Lee, A.J.; LaFreniere, L.S. Addressing Attrition from Psychotherapy for PTSD in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Trauma Care 2023, 3, 274-293 https://www.mdpi.com/2673-866X/3/4/24  
3. Edwards-Stewart, A.; Smolenski, D.J.; Bush, N.E.; Cyr, B.-A.; Beech, E.H.; Skopp, N.A.; Belsher, B.E. Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment dropout among military and veteran populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J. Trauma. Stress 2021, 34, 808–818. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33524199/  
4. Maguen, S.; Li, Y.; Madden, E.; Seal, K.H.; Neylan, T.C.; Patterson, O.V.; DuVall, S.L.; Lujan, C.; Shiner, B. Factors associated with completing evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD among veterans in a national healthcare system. Psychiatry Res. 2019, 274, 112–128. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30784780/  
5. O’Haire, M. E. & Rodriguez, K. E. Preliminary efficacy of service dogs as a complementary treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in military members and veterans. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 86, 179–188 (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29369663/  
6. Leighton SC, Rodriguez KE, Jensen CL, et al. Service Dogs for Veterans and Military Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(6):e2414686 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2819452  
7. Nieforth  LO, Rodriguez  KE, Zhuang  R,  et al.  The cortisol awakening response in a 3 month clinical trial of service dogs for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.   Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):1664 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38238350/  
8. Richerson  JT, Wagner  TH, Abrams  T,  et al. Therapeutic and economic benefits of service dogs versus emotional support dogs for veterans with PTSD.  Psychiatr Serv. 2023;74(8):790-800 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36718602/ 
9. Rodriguez KE, LaFollette MR, Hediger K, Ogata N, O’Haire ME. Defining the PTSD Service Dog Intervention: Perceived Importance, Usage, and Symptom Specificity of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Military Veterans. Front Psychol. 2020 Jul 21;11:1638. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32849004/  
10. Nieforth LO, Rodriguez KE, O’Haire ME. Expectations versus experiences of veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) service dogs: An inductive conventional content analysis. Psychol Trauma. 2022 Mar;14(3):347-356 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33630635/ 
11. Crowe, T. K., Nguyen, M. T., Tryon, B. G., Barger, S., & Sanchez, V. (2018). How Service Dogs Enhance Veterans’ Occupational Performance in the Home: A Qualitative Perspective. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(3). https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/ojot/vol6/iss3/12/  

Written By Holland Webb April 25, 2023

Article compliments of Today’s Homeowner – https://todayshomeowner.com/blog/guides/how-to-optimize-your-home-for-a-service-dog/

Why You Can Trust Us

Service dogs lead their owners into more functional and fulfilling lives. These loving, highly trained animals bear a lot of responsibility as they help perform a variety of day-to-day tasks for people with disabilities.

Most people know about guide dogs, but did you know that service dogs can also watch for signs of seizures, listen for sounds that people with hearing impairments may miss, or help open doors and carry objects for their handlers?

Service dogs are valued working partners and companions to over 500,000 Americans. Welcoming a new service dog is an exciting opportunity for you and your family. 

It’s important to optimize your home for your service dog’s comfort, ease, and security. In this article, we’ll explore how to do that along with how to connect with organizations that provide service dogs and considerations for training your own service dog.

What is a Service Dog?

In addition to being great companions, working dogs perform a variety of jobs. They may aid in search-and-rescue operations, sniff out illegal substances, detect cancer, or provide therapy for people living in institutional settings.

Not every working dog is a service dog, though. The Americans with Disabilities Act specifically defines a service dog as one individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. 

These disabilities may be physical, intellectual, psychiatric, or sensory. To qualify for a service dog, you typically need to work with an organization that serves people who live with your specific disability.

Common Service Dogs

The kind of disability you have partly determines which breed of dog you’ll get. The tiny Pomeranian, for example, lacks the physical strength to pull a wheelchair, but it has sharp hearing, a keen sense of smell, and enough dexterity to open cupboards and doors.

Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Great Danes may be employed for jobs that require physical strength and agility. Poodles are often used for tasks that require keen vision and problem-solving skills. A Pomeranian can work in tight, confined spaces due to its small size. Whatever the breed, a service dog must have qualities like intelligence, friendliness, a calm demeanor, and a love for work. 

It takes about 18 months and can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 to train just one service dog. More than half of service dog candidates do not complete their training. Fortunately, these dogs can find homes as companions for loving families, while service dogs who complete their training programs go on to find work.

Optimizing Your Home for a Service Dog

When your new service dog arrives at your home, you’ll want it to feel welcome. That means optimizing your home and garden to make them accessible, navigable, and easy to work in.

Interior of the Home

Your dog needs clear, wide spaces that are simple to navigate and memorize. If you’ve had a disability for a long time, your home is probably already well-suited to your needs — and probably in good shape for your new dog, too. On the other hand, if your disability is recent, you may need to make some prompt modifications to your home.

Bathroom

The bathroom is probably the most hazardous room in your house. Every year about 235,000 people go to the emergency room because of an injury sustained in the bathroom. Small, slippery when wet, and filled with small objects in out-of-the-way cupboards, the bathroom can be tricky to manage. 

Help your dog out by storing anything it needs to retrieve in a low storage container. If you use non-slip coverings on your floor, make sure they’re well-positioned to avoid either you or your dog getting tripped up.

Living Room

The clearer your floor is, the easier your dog will find it to navigate. Store remotes, magazines, throws, pillows, and other small items in baskets or bins that open from the top. 

Keep personal belongings put away and debris picked up. In case of emergency, your dog will have a much easier time helping you get to safety. 

You’ll also want to keep your living room well lit. If your dog will be turning lights on and off for you, be sure that switches are within easy reach of his nose or paw.

Bedroom

Most likely, your service dog will share your bedroom so it can respond to any nighttime emergencies. If your dog is a seizure detection specialist, it may need to sleep in the bed with you. If it will remain on the floor, however, make sure it has a designated sleeping spot.

You’ll also want to keep cords secured to the wall, slippers put in the closet, and pajamas picked up off the floor. Nothing should be scattered around that could distract the dog from its important job.

Kitchen

The kitchen is the primary workplace for many service dogs. Here, they may put away groceries, operate appliances, or alert their humans to alarms or smoke detectors. You’ll want to talk with your trainer about what your dog needs to do his specific jobs well. 

For example, you might need to install tugs on the refrigerator doors or even remodel your kitchen so that countertops and cabinets are easy for your dog to access. Sometimes installing a lazy susan or pull-down shelf can be a great way to make your kitchen canine accessible without major renovations. 

Doorways

Modern doorways are generally 32 inches wide or more to allow space for wheelchairs to get through. In an older home, however, you may be facing doors that are too small for you and your dog to pass through easily. Check with your dog’s trainer to see if your doors will be feasible for your animal to use. If not, you could have a remodeling project on your hands.

Some doorways are easy for an avid DIYer to enlarge on their own. If a door is part of a load-bearing wall, though, you need a licensed contractor to do the job.

Hallways

Narrow by nature, hallways can be a real challenge for your dog to navigate. Help your dog out by keeping them clean and clutter-free. You’ll also want to relocate furniture or decor that’s currently obscuring any part of the space. 

Finally, keep this space well-lit. Maximize any natural light the space gets, and make sure overhead lights are clean and bright. If you haven’t already painted your hall a light color, now’s a good time to do that, too.

Exterior of the Home

Your dog will spend time outdoors. It’s important to keep your yard, sidewalk, and garage in good shape.

Garage and Driveway

If your dog will assist you in getting into and out of your car, it will need plenty of space to work. Trim any bushes or shrubs that extend into your driveway. You can also keep your space clear by moving other vehicles to another area outside your home. Most importantly, if your driveway is less than 12 feet wide, consider having it enlarged before your dog comes home.

Sidewalks and Pathways

Will your dog walk with you on the paths around your home or garden? If so, your sidewalk needs to be at least 36 inches wide if you use a wheelchair or 24 inches wide if you walk. Here again, you’ll want to trim any shrubs or other growth that may obscure the path or trip up your dog.

Yard

If your home has a yard, your dog needs a fence. A six-foot high barrier that discourages digging is enough for most dogs. You’ll want to check into the policies governing what kind of fence you can have in your area, and consult with the service dog trainer about the right kind of fencing for your dog’s breed and build.

General Accessibility Tips and Emergencies for Service Dogs

As you plan to welcome your service dog, look at your home as a whole space, not just a collection of individual rooms. What could you reorganize or remodel to help your dog live and work comfortably? 

Avoid The Following For Your Service Dog

• Tight Spaces: Like people, dogs can’t work well in confined quarters. Find out your dog’s size, and then look for places that might feel like a tight squeeze.
• Obstructions: Your dog is probably much smaller and closer to the floor than you are. What might seem like a small obstruction to you could be a big impediment to it.
• Situations Your Dog Is Not Accustomed To: Dogs work best in predictable environments. Although service dogs are trained not to react to their surroundings, they will appreciate fewer distractions when working.
• Overstimulating Settings: While service dogs are chosen and trained to be gentle and quiet, they do experience a lot of work-related stress. Build in time for relaxation and exercise, and keep your dog out of intense environments as much as you can.
• Highly crowded Areas: Your service dog may be trained to lead you through a crowd or to provide crowd control if you have PTSD. You’ll probably want to keep your dog away from rowdy, crowded areas whenever possible, though.

Emergency Plan Tips

• Establish a safe spot for earthquakes. Make sure the area includes ample space for yourself, your dog, and any supplies both of you will need.
• Create a flood evacuation plan that your dog can follow.
• Designate an area with access to communication services during tornadoes or storms.
• Plan for power outages with an emergency kit that includes battery packs, medications, and first aid kits that the dog can reach.

Organizations that Help Find and Train Service Dogs

• The Seeing Eye
  • Located in New Jersey, the Seeing Eye breeds and trains dogs to assist blind and visually impaired people. They also instruct dog owners in the proper use of handling service dogs.
  • Good Fit For: People who are blind or visually impaired
  • https://www.seeingeye.org/
• Assistance Dogs International
  • Assistance Dogs International is a clearinghouse of programs that provide guide dogs, hearing dogs, and service dogs. The organization also accredits individual programs around the world. 
  • Good Fit For: Anyone looking for a service dog
  • https://assistancedogsinternational.org/ 
• Leader Dogs for the Blind
  • Fully funded by individuals and nonprofit donors, Leader Dogs for the Blind helps people who are blind or visually impaired live with independence and mobility.
  • Good Fit For: People who are blind or visually impaired
  • https://www.leaderdog.org/ 
• Epilepsy Foundation
  • The Epilepsy Foundation provides resources for people interested in learning more about seizure dogs and their work. The foundation can connect you with an appropriate organization near your home.
  • Good Fit For: People with epilepsy or a seizure disorder
  • https://www.epilepsy.com/ 
• Canine Partners for Life
  • Canine Partners for Life helps match people with disabilities with partner dogs. The organization provides canine partners for people with a wide variety of disabilities as well as people with diabetes and those who need a home companion.
  • Good Fit For: Anyone with a qualifying disability
  • https://k94life.org/ 
• Fidos for Freedom
  • Fidos for Freedom provides trained service dogs, hearing dogs, therapy dogs, and combat-related PTSD dogs for people with disabilities, patients in health care facilities, and children with reading difficulties.
  • Good Fit For: People living in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. metropolitan community
  • https://fidosforfreedom.org/ 
• Guide Dogs of America
  • Based in Los Angeles, Guide Dogs of America breeds, raises, and trains service dogs for veterans, children with autism, and people with visual impairments. The organization also provides highly skilled dogs for jobs in hospitals, courtrooms, or classrooms.
  • Good Fit For: Veterans, individuals with autism, or people with visual impairments
  • https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/ 
• Warrior Canine Connection
  • Using a Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR) model, Warrior Canine Connection helps warriors reconnect with their lives, families, friends, communities, and each other. Warriors both train and use the dogs as service partners.
  • Good Fit For: Veterans, military families
  • https://warriorcanineconnection.org/ 
• Puppies Behind Bars
  • Founded in 1997, Puppies Behind Bars partners with incarcerated men and women to train service dogs and places the animals with qualifying applicants. 
  • Good Fit For: Veterans
  • https://puppiesbehindbars.com/ 
• Canines for Disabled Kids
  • Headquartered in Worcester, MA, Canines for Disabled Kids provides scholarships for children who need service animals. The organization also offers public education and training for families interested in acquiring a dog.
  • Good Fit For: Children and families
  • https://caninesforkids.org/ 

Tips on How to Train Your Own Service Dog

Service dogs do not have to be professionally trained. Anyone has the right to train a service dog. 

However, before you begin training your own dog, make sure that he or she would make a good service dog. To be trained as a service dog the animal should meet the following criteria:

• Younger than six months old
• Spayed/neutered
• Properly sized for your needs
• Calm personality
• Long attention span

If you would like to train your own dog, consider the following best practices: 

House Training

Like other house-dwelling animals, service dogs must be trained to do their business in a designated place outside. Crate-training is an effective approach since most dogs want to keep their crates clean. In the early days of training, reward the dog for going to the bathroom outside so it associates outdoor bathroom behavior with positive reinforcement.

Teaching Focus and Attentiveness Towards Handler

Your dog should focus on you — and only you — while it is working. Start this habit by encouraging the animal to make eye contact with you. Give the dog a treat for staying focused.

Off-leash Training

A service dog must respond to you whether it is on or off a leash. In a safe and controlled environment, you can take off the dog’s leash and give it simple commands. Reward or praise it for obeying those commands. Over time, you can move the activity to more-public situations.

Task-Oriented Training

Your dog is more than a companion. He or she has a job to do, and it’s up to you to train them how to do it. What do you need the animal to do?

• Be alert to seizures?
• Answer the door?
• Be alert to alarms?
• Carry groceries?
• Close doors?
• Guide you through a crowd?
• Be alert to allergens in food?
• Pull a wheelchair?
• Retrieve medication?
• Find help?

Socialization and Task-Focused Training

A successful service dog can stay focused on specific tasks even when it is out in social settings where there are distractions. Puppies should be acclimated to different sounds and people as much as possible and as early as possible. Also, be sure the dog is comfortable staying alone to minimize separation anxiety.

Disability Specific Training

Some service dogs work in disability-specific roles. For example, a hearing dog’s job is to listen for certain sounds and respond to them. A mobility assistance dog helps a human partner with limited mobility. You may want to work with a coach who can help you focus on building your dog’s unique skill set. 

Emergency and Medication Focused Training

Medical alert dogs are trained to get help for those who need it. Some dogs also help manage their human’s medication. These dogs need to be individually trained to meet their job’s requirements.

Offer Relaxation Periods Between Training 

Don’t forget to let your dog have fun. Off-duty time to relax, chew on a toy, get some exercise, or play with other pets is a critical part of training — and enjoying — your service dog.

Whether the dog is a personal pet, a therapy or service animal or even a part of the medical research process, “man’s best friend” can make a difference in the lives of cancer patients.

READ MORE

 

 

From:  https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2019/12/15/emotional-support-animal-certification.aspx

Analysis by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker               December 15, 2019

From www.fearfreehappyhomes.com and Award-winning journalist Jen Reeder 

A service dog named Elmer has made a wonderful difference for a 7-year-old boy named Gavin Swearingen. As a toddler, Gavin fell off a swing and suffered a traumatic brain injury that led to complex medical issues, from strokes and epilepsy to cerebral palsy marked by weakness on his right side.

Elmer, a Labrador-Golden Retriever mix raised and trained by the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence, teamed up with Gavin in November of 2018. The attentive dog assists Gavin in numerous ways: acting as a buffer in public places since Gavin has no peripheral vision on his right side, engaging Gavin with physical therapy tasks (that seem more like a game with a dog) such as throwing a ball or holding his leash, and supporting him through his tenth cranial surgery.

Having a service dog has given Gavin “an independence and a strength,” according to his mom, Amanda Swearingen.

“We’re just grateful,” she says.

The Trouble With Fake Service Dogs

While Swearingen has witnessed the positive effect a trained service dog can have for people with disabilities, she has also learned firsthand that fake service dogs have a negative effect.

For starters, after fraudulent service dogs misbehave in businesses, staff, owners, and other patrons can grow leery of legitimate ones. One woman got “really angry” at the Swearingens for having a dog in a restaurant soon after they brought Elmer home; in another instance, a man asked, “Is your son disabled enough to need a dog?”

Safety is another huge issue. Recently when Amanda, Gavin, and Elmer were trying to enter a hospital, they crossed paths with a woman walking a small dog – clearly not a true service dog – who started barking and snapping at them.

“We couldn’t go in,” she recalls. “And for me it’s scary because I had a child attached to a dog and he’s not a robot. He’s still a dog. He has been through years and years of training, but he’s still a dog.”

Dogs Outside the Law

Service dog fraud has become so widespread that one in five Canine Companions graduates feel their quality of life and independence has been moderately or severely impacted by fraudulent service dogs, according to a 2018 survey by the organization.

“We are committed to the safety and access rate of our graduate teams, which is impacted by the presence of out-of-control dogs, whether they are wearing a vest and purporting to be a service dog, or a pet dog that is in a public place where they are not permitted under the law,” says Wallis Brozman, outreach program specialist for Canine Companions.

It’s a professional as well as a personal issue for Brozman, who is a three-time graduate of Canine Companions.

“I actually had to retire my second service dog after two and a half years because he was attacked so many times that he was completely uncomfortable going into public places and didn’t want to work because he was constantly looking for other dogs to make sure he was safe,” she says. “At that point, if your dog doesn’t feel safe, that’s a safety issue for you as a person with a disability.”

Canine Companions dogs undergo around two years of socialization and training, and the nonprofit invests about $50,000 in each service dog (and provides them free of charge to people with disabilities). A service dog’s early retirement is a significant loss to both the handler and the organization.

Even without an attack, a phony service dog can distract a legitimate, task-trained service dog from his or her job. Fake service dogs can also create a bias against actual service dogs if they have an accident or incident in a grocery store or other business that allows only service dogs, says Brozman.

“I think a lot of people see fraudulent service dogs as not really hurting anyone,” she says. “The reality is that people are actually getting hurt. We have someone like me, who has had to start over and lost a service dog because of this very issue.”

Brozman says it’s important to note that while people might want their pets to go everywhere with them, their pets might prefer to be left at home. When a dog reacts negatively to other dogs or strangers, it’s often a sign of fear or stress.

“I think a lot of dogs love their life of leisure where they’re at home,” she says. “That’s something to keep in mind with any animal in your life: ‘Am I doing what’s best for my animal?’”

For more information or to take a stand against service dog fraud, visit: CCI.org/StopFraud

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Cover photo courtesy Liz Kaye Photography; inset photo courtesy Canine Companions for Independence®

Award-winning journalist Jen Reeder is former president of the Dog Writers Association of America.

By Dr. Karen Shaw Becker