How to Train Your Dog to Be a Therapy Dog for Anxiety

by admin · April 15, 2019

Train Your Dog to Be a Therapy Dog for anxiety

by Mike Stiven

A dog is regarded as man’s best friend. Dogs make the best pets and provide us with companionship. The good thing about having dogs as pets is that they develop a close bond with us and want to please us. If you are a person who experiences anxiety, and enjoy the company of dogs, you may want to consider how an emotional support/therapy dog may help you lessen or eliminate your anxiety.

There are different triggers and environments that can cause you to have anxiety. People express anxiety in different ways which include shortness of breath, leg bouncing, racing heart, muscle tremors and other involuntary movements.

For your dog to be an emotional support animal, it doesn’t have to be a highly trained or a certified service dog. Before you start to train your dog, it is a great idea to find out if you really qualify to have an emotional support dog. This guide provides you with more details on how you can train your dog to be a therapy dog for anxiety. Read on to find more detailed information.

What Exactly Is A Therapy Dog?

Before we dig deeper, it is great to know what exactly a therapy dog is. In simple terms, this is a pet that a doctor or licensed therapist can recommend for a person dealing with anxiety. These dogs provide support and comfort through companionship for people who are suffering from emotional or mental issues. The dog is trained to give you support if you show signs of anxiety or panic.

If you qualify for a therapy dog, it is important to learn the qualities that your dog should have and then know how you can train the dog to provide emotional support.

It is important to note that there is a difference between therapy dogs and service dogs. For example, a service dog is trained to do some specific tasks such as helping people with disability or guiding the blind among others. These dogs enjoy privileges like public places, restaurants and planes. On the other hand a therapy/comfort dog doesn’t have any exceptions to public places that bar dogs.

Benefits of Having a Therapy Dog

Research shows that having a trained dog to comfort someone who suffers from anxiety makes the problem much more manageable. According to RedBarn inc , a therapy dog can provide you with the following physical and mental benefits.

Lowers physical pain
Lowers blood pressure
Boosts cardiovascular health
Releases calming endorphins
Provides comfort
Reduces anxiety and boredom

Step By Step Guide On How to Train Your Dog to Be a Therapy Dog for Anxiety

Can trained dogs help with anxiety? This is probably what you are asking yourself and the answer is yes. Before you train your dog, it is important to find out if it has the qualities of an emotional support animal. Dogs are devoted to their owner, however timid dogs cannot help you when you need them.

If your doctor recommends you for an emotional support dog to help with your problem, you can look for a dog that is around one year old and it is calm in nature. You should have a connection with your dog just like you need to do with any pet so that it can always be there for you when you need it. Here are some of the ways you can train your dog.

Step 1: Find the Right Dog

You need to begin by finding the right puppy. Look for traits such as being social, alert and confidant.

Step 2: Basic Training Skills and Develop Socialization Skills

You need to train your dog for good behavior and other basic skills if you intend to bring it to public places. Basics include: leave, stay, sit, drop, come, heel. More advanced training includes not to react to things around you. This includes other dogs, approaching strangers, loud noises and that sort of thing.

When you get your dog, keep it well socialized with other dogs and people. A dog that is stressed or frightened all the time can not do it’s job. Introduce the dog to different people and situations outside of home.

Step 3: Individual Response Training

Training your dog to alert you before you get a panic attack can be quite hard. However, if you have a close bond with your dog it is much easier. Fido can learn your body language and chemicals changes in your body. When your dog appears to come to you when you start to feel anxiety symptoms, reward the dog with treats, praise, and affection.

Cuddling with your dog when you are stressed will help you feel better and give the dog the ability to recognize tell signs. It is crucial to invest in the right dog that you can train to help you deal with anxiety and panic attacks.