PSD (psychiatric service dogs)??

[2xand2y]

My husband and I are beginning the process of looking into getting a PSD for me. I have a lot of anxiety going out in public alone. Since my kids are all in school now this is becoming more of an issue. I also have safety issues due to the fact that my mother was murdered when I was 18. So basically I'm looking for an "emotional security blanket" (stolen term from a forgotten website) and a security/protection dog and family member. The idea is to train this dog and have it be with me 24/7.

I'm wondering if anyone here has a PSD or has any experience with them.

I am thinking I want a large dog (maybe even intimidating in appearance), with a short coat, and a low to moderate activity level since he/she would maybe even attend college classes or go to work with me (if I get that far). Obviously, a dog that is protective but would still be child/family friendly (is that a contradictory)? Any breed advice would be appreciated. I've actually got one breed in mind but I want to see if it comes up here.

Thank you!

[greenmagick]

I know of great danes and mastiffs that serve as assistance dogs.....their life span can be kind of short compared to others, but they have a lot of the qualities you are looking for. They tend to be friendly, laid back gentle giants but are impressive to look at.

[Proxi]

Most places that train any services dog have specific breeds they generally work with. When you apply for one, you may not even get a choice.

However, I think it is an excellent idea. I got a dog because of my anxiety (not a PSD, just a companion that would get me out of the house more and exercising) and he has made a HUGE difference. He also gives me an excuse to get out of social situations if necessary (oh look, my dog is getting all insane, I better go.... the joy of having a hyperactive dog lol).

[Oubliette8]

I would look into psychiatric assistance dogs quite carefully. I've considered one myself and its a tricky definition. The dog actually has to be trained to perform a task that helps you. For instance, if you forget your medication often, the dog reminds you. If you have a flashback, the dog performs an action that helps ground you in the present, maybe leads you to a safe place, or forces you to sit down until you come back to reality. If you are prone to getting lost due to your disorder, the dog may be trained to help you find your house. etc. Its not enough that merely having a dog comforts your anxiety. Nor, generally, do personal protection dogs qualify. Indeed, I've found several informational sites that state specifically that protection or attack training should NOT ethically be given to PSDs. You can train "bluff" commands- ie tell your dog to protect you, but what the command really means is, "stay close to me, and stay alert". You cannot teach you dog a command that actually means attack though. Once a service dog proves itself a disruption- such as by attacking, or even barking, it is no longer protected by law. A dog that is perceived as dangerous or disruptive can legally be asked to leave and banned from the premises.

It sounds like you are looking for what is termed a "comfort animal" or an "emotional support animal" That is, a dog that, by the nature of its presence, provides comfort to you. It is not trained to perform a specific task that aids your disability, but rather just having the dog helps you remain calm and feel safe. ESA's have some rights- you can keep them in otherwise pet free housing, they may be allowed on public transportation or hotels etc. But they do not have the same rights as service animals- they are not required entrance to stores, restaurants, or public places.

I would make absolutely sure you know which category your dog qualifies for. As someone else with a psychiatric disability, I think the responsible thing to do is to be sure you are completely and legitimately within the law. for what its worth, in the end, I decided on an ESA.

The other thing to do is to make sure you have a doctor who wil back up your need for a service dog. If you ever got into a legal tight spot, you would need a doctor who could say, this is my client, this is her disability, and this is why she needs a service dog.

As far as breeds, from your description, I'm thinking Rottweiler or maybe Bullmastiff. I suppose a Doberman could fit the bill. Some giant breeds come to mind (Danes, Mastiffs) but they are really a bit large for assistance work- particularly as you would want to bring the dog to school and work, where hopefully it could curl up under a desk or out of the way. A bit difficult when you have a 3 ft high, 200 pound dog, you know? A shiloh shepherd might be another possibility. Keep in mind that having a non-traditional breed might mean you have to do more education and fight for access more often than someone with say, a labrador might. Would your anxiety prevent you from doing that? If so it might be easier to go with, say, a black lab, who can still look intimidating, but is also more widely recognized as a service dog.

[2xand2y]

Thanks Oubliette for your comprehensive reply. We are debating PSD vs. ESA at this time. One of the most compelling reasons for me right now to get the dog is actually to have it perform a home search to ensure there are no intruders. My mama was killed in our home (at the time) and I really struggle with coming back to a house that is supposed to be empty. Of course an ESA could still be trained to do this task but I live in an area where we have four seasons and I need to make sure I can always take the dog with me and not need to leave it in the car. I also need an "exit" task to be lead out of stores if I start displaying to many stress cues. I've also talked to my counselor about a "phone" task since I often feel too panicky to get my phone but once I have it I can call someone I know and it reasures me.

So while mostly all I need is a ESA there are a few things that would tend to be more PSD. I don't want to take liberties with the system but I need to make sure that I have the dog when I need it too.

I am looking at Cane Corsos right now. The seem more compact that some of the other mastiffs.

[Oubliette8]

Sounds like you have some excellent tasks in mind. If it would help, I've also read that you can train the dogs to do tactile stimulation to help with panic- with a large dog it might be something like leaning into you, nudging you hand, etc. Whatever might help.

As far as Cane Corsos, I would look very hard into the temperaments and do a lot of research into your breeder. I would not think of them for service work right away because they can be very wary of strangers. I understand that is a trait you like, but the dog will also have to be out in public and you need to know he has a rock solid temperament that can handle it. In my experience with them, most don't have the right temperament for the work. Thats not to say there isn't one out there somewhere though. With any service dog, but particularly with this breed, early socialization is a must.

[mama_daba]

i know this is an old thread. i am wondering what happened if the op got a service dog or not? this is something i am looking into. i have a 3 year old and am about 12 weeks pregnant though. it seems like a bad time to get any dog. my therapist didn't agree with me and seems to think all the benefits i could have from a service dog would make it a really good thing to have at this point in my life. i don't know if i would be capable of doing the level of training required though so i am also considering an esa that is trained in doing some tasks but i would not be able to have it with me  always when away from home.

[2xand2y]

I did not get a service dog.  I did tons of research and read message boards.  There is so much hard work that goes into having a service dog.  Getting a PSD specifically is a very daunting process since most organizations won't train them.  I continued to work with my therapist and I'm doing much better now that I've separated from my husband (who it seems was part of the problem instead of being part of the solution).  Thank you for asking.  Best wishes finding the solution that is best for you and your family.