PTSD Service Dogs
PTSD Service Dogs help manage symptoms by offering emotional support and a calming presence, aiding individuals in navigating daily life more confidently.
Training Timeline
The process of training a PTSD Service Dog is meticulous and involves multiple stages to ensure the dog can meet the handler’s specific needs.
Evaluation and Selection
2–3 months
Potential service dogs are carefully evaluated for temperament, intelligence, and adaptability. Only dogs with calm, trainable, and focused personalities are selected for training.
Basic Obedience Training
3–4 months
During this phase, dogs are taught fundamental commands like sit, stay, heel, and recall. This provides the foundation for advanced service tasks.
Specialized Task Training
4–6 months
Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks tailored to PTSD symptoms, such as interrupting anxiety episodes, providing tactile pressure during panic attacks, or alerting to environmental triggers.
Public Access Training
3–4 months
Dogs are trained to stay calm and focused in public settings, navigating crowded spaces, loud noises, and other distractions to ensure they can support their handler anywhere.
Handler Integration
1–2 months
Once training is complete, the dog is paired with their handler. Together, they undergo additional training to build a strong bond and learn how to work effectively as a team.
