PTSD and anxiety are two mental health disabilities that can reduce someone’s quality of life. What’s more, they can cause stress in social situations, lead to self-harm, and a wide variety of additional problems. Unfortunately, these conditions can also lead to depression and loneliness.
While anxiety and PTSD can be debilitating, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer, and the solution may be simpler than you think. In fact, you might be able to find a solution of the canine kind.
This is where the psychiatric service dog can be of help. It’s important to choose the right breed when looking for a service dog for PTSD and anxiety. Thankfully, in this guide we cover everything you need to know.
What Is a Service Dog?
Before we cover the best service dog breeds for anxiety and PTSD, it’s important to understand what a service dog actually is. Service dogs are assistance animals that are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).
Guidelines in these acts allow dogs that are trained to help someone with a specific disability to accompany their handlers in public, on airlines, and just about anywhere else. That said, service dogs need to have the necessary training; otherwise, they won’t be able to follow their handlers in public without causing issues.
Does PTSD and Anxiety Qualify for a Service Dog?
If you’re worried about whether or not PTSD and anxiety qualify for a service dog, don’t fret, because both conditions do. Whether you have just anxiety, PTSD, or both, you may qualify for a service dog.
This is because there is a subcategory of service dogs, known as a psychiatric service dog (PSD), which helps people who struggle with mental health disorders. In fact, depression, chronic stress, schizophrenia and other mental health conditions also qualify for a service dog.
The Best Service Dog Breeds for PTSD and Anxiety
When looking for a service dog to help with anxiety and PTSD, it’s important to find a breed that’s smart, the right size for your home, and emotionally intelligent.
Trainability is also something you should look for, and for these reasons, you’ll find that only some dog breeds are the best for anxiety or PTSD. Learn more about the best options below.
1. Labrador Retriever
First and foremost, we have to start with the labrador retriever, which is usually the best dog breed for just about anything. These dogs are medium-sized to large dogs that can help with physical tasks, but they’re also smart enough to help notice triggers of PTSD before they become a problem.
Due to their size, they can also escort you to safety and keep you away from danger. Labrador retrievers are also easy to train, especially when you start during their puppy years.
2. Golden Retriever
Like the labrador retriever, it’s tough to find something the golden retriever isn’t good at. These medium-sized to large dogs are known for their loyalty and eagerness to please their handlers, which is one of the biggest reasons they make good PSDs.
Golden retrievers will have no issue fetching medications, escorting you away from danger, or even finding help during panic attacks.
3. Poodle
One of the smartest dog breeds in the world, you can rarely go wrong with the poodle. These dogs are some of the smartest and most trainable dogs you can find, so you shouldn’t have any issues teaching them tasks to help you manage stress, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders.
Poodles are also large enough to fetch medications, open doors, and help you avoid any PTSD triggers. Poodles have the added benefit of coming in a variety of sizes without sacrificing their intelligence. They are also more allergen friendly than the other breeds listed here because they have hair instead of fur.
4. Pomeranian
If you’re just looking for a PSD that will provide you with emotional support when you need it, and you live in a smaller space, you can’t go wrong with the Pomeranian. Despite their adorable fluffy coats and teddy bear-like features, Pomeranians are easy to train, respond well to emotions, and can keep you away from PTSD triggers.
While Pomeranians are great for mental health disorders, if you need physical assistance, you may want to consider one of the larger breeds we covered.
Our Verdict on the Best Service Dog Breeds for PTSD and Anxiety
These are just a few of our favorite psychiatric service friendly dog breeds. If you have experience training certain breeds or feel joy when you see a certain dog breed, follow that instinct. They should be friend shaped to you. If you hate a certain breed, don’t pick a dog you don’t enjoy being around.
At the end of the day, the best service dog breeds for PTSD and anxiety are the breeds that work best for you.