Traditionally, service dogs are known for helping individuals who suffer from physically disabled ailments. However, we easily forget about those millions of people who suffer from mental disabilities. Service dogs are not only trained to help people with physical disabilities, but are also trained to help those individuals who cannot complete everyday activities due to their mental illness.
Common mental disabilities that a service dog would be needed for include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and Autism. These service dogs are trained to meet the needs of the handler's mental disability just like traditional service dogs are trained to meet the needs of those who have physical disabilities. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to assess their handler's environment. Assessing an environment is needed for handlers who suffer from hallucinations or paranoia. They are trained to interrupt repetitive behaviors and keep their handlers on task, and stop handlers from injuring themselves. These trained dogs also remind handlers to take their medications, retrieve objects, guide handlers out of stressful situations, and are able to recognize if their handler is disoriented and guide them back home. Psychiatric service dogs have the ability to give individuals with a mental illness the chance to live on their own in an everyday environment without the fear of their disability hanging over them.
Psychiatric service dogs can be any breed and any size. They may wear the same service dog vests when in public so their owners can bring them into all general public areas. These dogs are not to be confused with Emotional Support Dogs. Emotional support dogs are not trained to aid their handler's illness. Emotional support dogs do not wear gear such as service dog vests and are only used to act as a type of security blanket for mild disorders or for the elderly.
Common mental disabilities that a service dog would be needed for include post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and Autism. These service dogs are trained to meet the needs of the handler's mental disability just like traditional service dogs are trained to meet the needs of those who have physical disabilities. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to assess their handler's environment. Assessing an environment is needed for handlers who suffer from hallucinations or paranoia. They are trained to interrupt repetitive behaviors and keep their handlers on task, and stop handlers from injuring themselves. These trained dogs also remind handlers to take their medications, retrieve objects, guide handlers out of stressful situations, and are able to recognize if their handler is disoriented and guide them back home. Psychiatric service dogs have the ability to give individuals with a mental illness the chance to live on their own in an everyday environment without the fear of their disability hanging over them.
Psychiatric service dogs can be any breed and any size. They may wear the same service dog vests when in public so their owners can bring them into all general public areas. These dogs are not to be confused with Emotional Support Dogs. Emotional support dogs are not trained to aid their handler's illness. Emotional support dogs do not wear gear such as service dog vests and are only used to act as a type of security blanket for mild disorders or for the elderly.
0 comments:
Post a Comment