Service Dogs for Depression

A service dog is an animal that has been trained to assist a disabled person with certain daily tasks. The most commonly thought-of service dogs help with blindness, hearing problems, and medical alerts such as seizures. Rarely to people consider that a disability can be mental too. Severe depression is disabling, and studies have started to show that having a service dog can drastically improve the disabled person's life in many many ways!

Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. It can be passed down through generations, caused by hormone changes or medication changes, or triggered by events in the person's life or their environment. It is characterized by many behavioral issues like constant sadness, irritability, insomnia, hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, and a loss in interest regarding things the person once enjoyed. Physically the person may be fatigued, have a sudden uncontrollable weight shift, experience physical pain with no apparent source, and their immune system will be weaker, leaving them open to other somatic illnesses.

A proper treatment plan is essential to recovery or regaining control. Medication is essential to help balance the brain. A person truly needs to develop a decent relationship with his/her doctor or psychiatrist and make sure they get the proper dose of the proper medication, and ensure that the dose is adjusted properly as life changes. Therapy or psychology sessions are essential as well. Many times proper counseling can help put a person on the right track to recovery and help them lead a more structured and pleasing life.

Unfortunately, sometimes that just isn't enough. I see it every day at home. Someone I love fights depression tooth and nail, and makes progress, but when you're down it's very hard to pull yourself up. Family support helps, but it's still an internal battle. This is where a service dog comes in...

Psychiatric service dogs can help with a wide variety of disabilities from Bipolar Disorder to Schizophrenia to PTSD to Depression. The physical effects of a dog are out of this world! It can physically relax you and in most cases lower your heart rate. (I'm sure if you're afraid of dogs it might do the opposite... but if that's the case a service dog is not for you!)

A few of the trainable tasks accepted by the ADA for depression are give tactile stimulation (or touch in a specific trained way), wake up a handler who sleeps too much, cuddle and kiss to help bring the handler out of feelings of isolation and hopelessness, remind the handler to take medication, and to find keys or other items lost (depression or certain medications can cause problems with a person's memory).
[Check out PsychDog.org listed below for a more comprehensive task list]

Those are very important life tasks that a service dog can do, and it makes day to day life seem less intimidating. There's nothing like a warm body to snuggle when you feel like just sitting down and crying! They do more than just trained tasks though. Owning a dog and being in control of something new in life offers an even wider array of positive results!

According to Eagle's Wings Service Dogs people can gain confidence and become more assertive, have more freedom and independence, have fewer problems with loneliness, and receive more positive reactions from people in conversations as they're rebuilding their lives! It's also shown to improve concentration, moderate stress, lower blood pressure, and improve or increase social interaction!

With the world at your fingertips by simply searching with Google or Yahoo, feel free to check it out yourself! I'll also leave a few resources at the bottom of the page for further reference. I know my service dog has worked wonders for me, but be sure it fits your or your loved one's lifestyle.

Breed is a HUGE factor in choosing a service dog. Not only are you looking for what makes you happy, but you're also looking for a trainable dog. You should look at your lifestyle and be honest with yourself. Are you willing to take a dog for two walks a day or should you look for a low energy breed that will be more happy sitting in your lap or at your feet? Another thing to consider is size. When most people think service dog they thing Labrador retriever or German shepherd, but large dogs make some people uncomfortable. If a small dog is right for you, go for it! There are no breed restrictions, so as long as the dog can perform the tasks required it can wear a vest proudly and be a service dog!

I also must insist that you work with a service dog organization. Some organizations require you to purchase one of their dogs, but many will help you have your own dog trained. Either way, if you're going to purchase a dog specifically to be a service dog, make sure someone knowledgeable goes with you to choose the puppy. The cutest one isn't always the right one!

I wish everyone out there the best of luck handling the problems they have, and if I can answer any questions I'll be happy to!

(Please remember that the e-mail feature doesn't allow me to respond, but I do reply to comments.)

there is no official certification required by law to have a service dog. Let me repeat that...

THERE IS NO OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION LEGALLY REQUIRED!

But PLEASE don't go out and buy a vest for your puppy who's not housebroken yet so you can take him to the mall! It's still illegal and unethical! To be a service dog, your companion needs to perform a few tasks that help you function in public. Start with the basics: sit, stay, down, etc. Move on after that to more specific training. That will depend on your needs, and I suggest working with a trainer. As said in one of the comments, you can find a trainer at a chain pet store, the phone book, or even an internet search. If you aren't comfortable with a trainer you can try to do it yourself, but I personally wouldn't recommend it.

After training, I suggest going to Psychdog.org and looking up the Public Access Test to see if your dog is ready. Also, Take the Canine Good Citizen test offered by the AKC. In my opinion, this shouldn't be optional. It will give you a certificate that says your dog can handle behaving properly in a variety of public situations. I also suggest recertifying your dog every few years afterwards, just to make sure you're not slipping up and your dog maintains a standard of behavior that represents you and others with service dogs appropriately.

There are several books you can use to get started in your own home. .I've pointed out a few, you're welcome to find one you like more and get started asap!