Psychiatric assistance dog facts for kids

A psychiatric assistance dog is a special type of assistance dog. These dogs are trained to help people who have certain mental health conditions. Some examples include OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety.

These amazing dogs can help their handlers feel safer and calmer. Sometimes, the dog might lean on their person. This can provide a comforting pressure that helps the person feel more grounded.

How Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Are Trained

A psychiatric service dog in training.

This service dog is learning to lie in its handler's lap to help them feel calm.

Just like other assistance dogs, psychiatric assistance dogs learn specific tasks. These tasks are chosen to help their handler with their unique challenges.

What Tasks Do They Learn?

A psychiatric assistance dog might learn to do many helpful things. For example, they can:

• Check a room for their handler if they feel worried.
• Remind their handler to take medicine.
• Bring objects to their handler.
• Guide their handler away from stressful places.
• Help their handler stay steady if they feel dizzy.
• Interrupt actions like repetitive behaviors.

Dogs can also be great companions for training exercises. For instance, walking a dog can help with focus and routine.

Who Trains These Dogs?

Many psychiatric assistance dogs are trained by the person who will own them. Often, a professional trainer helps them. Other dogs are trained by special organizations. These groups focus on training service dogs. More and more, these organizations are helping people with mental health needs. Some groups even focus only on psychiatric assistance dogs.

Rules for Psychiatric Assistance Dogs

In the United States, there are rules about where service dogs can go. These rules help people with disabilities.

Traveling on Airplanes

For a while, rules for psychiatric service dogs on planes changed often. In the US, the Air Carrier Access Act lets service dogs fly in the cabin with their handler. Before December 2020, psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals were treated the same. Handlers needed to show paperwork for their dog.

But in December 2020, the rules changed. Now, psychiatric service dogs are treated like all other types of service dogs. This means they have the same rights to fly with their handler.

Do They Need Special Papers?

In the US, there is no official government certification for service dogs. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require service dogs to be registered. Handlers do not have to carry special ID cards for their psychiatric service dogs.

However, some people choose to get identification for their dog. This can be helpful when traveling or going to public places. It can make it easier to show that their dog is a trained service animal.

See also

• Assistance dog
• Autism assistance dog