A Little Info About These Special Dogs
Hi, all!:hello:
One can find quite a bit of information about different kinds of service dogs, including psychiatric service dogs, by googling and searching online. There are different levels and kinds of service dogs for psychiatric conditions, and all can be used by PTSD or C-PTSD survivors. The most common and most accessible category for most survivors would be the "Emotional Support Animal" which is a legal designation doctors, clinicians, and therapists can give to an animal. This allows you to have some concessions - like having your support animal in an apartment that normally has a "no pets" rule; being allowed to bring your support animal into a building with you to therapy and counseling; and to have your support animal fly for free on airlines with you (and on any other public transportation). This category is sometimes also referred to as a "animal support companion".
There are also several levels and certifications of the psychiatric service dog. At the highest level, where the dog is allowed entrance everywhere by law, requires over a year of training for the dog to be certified. These dogs are amazing and often work with very severe psychiatric disorders that are disabling, which can include PTSD. They are especially helpful with dissociation and disorientation and are trained to know when their person is experiencing a crisis. These dogs are trained what to do to make sure their person is safe - like guide them back home or to safety and/or shelter during a period of dissociation or panic. Some agoraphobics use psychiatric service dogs to help facilitate their being able to be out in public.
Some people have a type of service dog which is used only for 1) specific fears in their person such as airplanes, heights, or elevators or 2) to help facilitate specific tasks or jobs. These kind of psychiatric service dogs are used only in specific circumstances and may be emotional support animals the rest of the time. That is the kind of designation my psychiatric service dog Milo has been given. I have disability accommodations to bring Milo to school and all my classes and academic events. Milo goes most everywhere with me. He alerts me early in the triggering stages of panic, so that I can be mindful of myself and center and calm myself down. I overall don't feel so isolated or alone with Milo by my side, and Milo actually helps to encourage my socialization with other humans by being so darn cute that he draws attention!
He sleeps curled up next to me, and if I have a bad dream, Milo is right there awake with me to help me calm down and feel better. Although Milo has had some training, Milo had not been trained to the full extent that some psychiatric dogs are trained; therefore, we do not have access to everywhere like a fully trained psychiatric dog does. Most of the time, Milo's level of certification has been accepted, but no one is required to give him full access to all places legally. Its a lot more complicated at the higher levels of training and certification than most people probably realize. Although for those who qualify, an emotional support animal designation is fairly easy.
And that is my "little" info for you all concerning these special dogs!
On the Outside Looking In
