Today, we’re talking emotional support dogs and laying out who they are, what they do, and how they help people get through life a little bit easier.
What is an emotional support dog?
Emotional support dogs provide comfort and companionship to people who experience emotional, psychological, or social challenges. Unlike service dogs, which are specifically trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities, emotional support dogs primarily offer affection and support through their presence.
Dogs are proven to help with anxiety and depression by increasing dopamine and serotonin production in the brain. With the increase of remote work, a lot of people have adopted emotional support dogs to combat feelings of loneliness and to help them socialize through walks and trips to the dog park.
What kinds of dogs can be emotional support dogs?
Almost any breed or mix of dog can serve as an emotional support dog as long as they have the right temperament and can provide the emotional comfort their owner needs. They need to be friendly, calm, sociable, and provide tons of love and comfort. There isn’t any formal training like service dogs, but they should have good manners in social situations.
Some popular breeds are: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Poodles and Doodles, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Beagles, or Bulldogs.
How can my dog become an emotional support dog?
Similar to how there is no formal training for emotional support dogs like there is for service dogs, there is no official registration, but you will need documentation supporting that your pup is an emotional support dog. What you will need to do is get a letter from a licensed mental health professional, like a therapist, social worker, or psychiatrist. They will be able to provide a letter outlining the emotional and physiological benefits your emotional support dog offers you. It’s important to keep this letter on you in case you are asked for it. The biggest impact this will have will be on housing laws; if your apartment doesn’t allow dogs you can prove the necessity of your emotional support dog with your letter. A big reason people get emotional support dogs is to help with flying anxiety, but in 2021 the Department of Transportation updated its regulations to not require airlines to allow emotional support animals on flights, so if you are planning to fly be sure to check with the individual airline’s policies!
If you have been feeling lonely or anxious lately, or for a long time, talk to your mental health care professional about seeing if an emotional support pup might be right for you.
