Psychiatric service dog

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A psychiatric service dog is a specific type of service dog trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability, such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia. Although assistance dogs classically help with physical disabilities, there are a wide range of psychiatric issues that an assistance dog may be able to help with as well.^[1]

Contents 1 Training 2 Accessibility 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Training

Like all assistance dogs, a psychiatric service dog is individually trained to perform tasks particular to their handler's disability. Generally, the majority of the dogs' work is to provide environmental assessment, in such cases as paranoia or hallucinations, or "alerting" behaviors, such as interrupting repetitive or injurious behaviors or reminding the handler to take medication. The dogs may also be trained physical tasks, such as retrieving objects, guiding the handler from stressful situations, or acting as a brace if the handler becomes dizzy.^[2][3]

Psychiatric service dogs may be of any breed or size suitable for public work. The majority of psychiatric service dogs are trained by the person who will become the handler- usually with the help of a professional trainer. However, assistance dog organizations are increasingly recognizing the need for dogs to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities.^[4]

[edit] Accessibility

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual,"^[5] and therefore allows handlers of psychiatric service dogs the same rights and protections afforded to those with other types of assistance dogs.^[6] Some individual state laws may also provide additional guidelines or protection.

[edit] See also

• Guide dog
• Hearing dog
• Mobility assistance dog
• Seizure response dog

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.bazelon.org/issues/disabilityrights/resources/lmtslist.htm Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law - List of Limitations on Major Life Activities. Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
2. ^ http://www.psychdog.org/tasks.html Psychiatric Service Dog Society - Psychiatric Service Dog Tasks. Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
3. ^ http://www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html International Association of Assistance Dog Partners - Service Dog Tasks for Psychiatric Disabilities. Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
4. ^ http://www.adionline.org/MemberDirectory/StatesandCountries100406.htm Assistance Dogs International - Membership Directory by States and Countries. Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
5. ^ http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/ofccp/ada.htm Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - A full text. Retrieved on January 31, 2007.
6. ^ http://www.servicedogcentral.org/PSDandADA.html Service Dog Central - Psychiatric Service Dogs. Retrieved on January 31, 2007.