Although emotional support animals (ESA) do not have to be as highly trained as a certified service dog, there are some things you will want to consider when choosing a dog intended for emotional support. Emotional Support Animals are pets that a licensed therapist or doctor recommends for an individual. Before you dive into training, you should first see if you qualify for an emotional support animal.
If you do, please read on as we delve into the realm of emotional support dogs. We will include the qualities your dog should possess and how to train your canine to perform a specific emotional support technique.
See if you qualify for an ESA letter today!
What Qualities Should an Emotional Support Dog Possess?
Most dogs possess the natural tendency to be devoted to their pet parent; after all, that’s what makes them man’s and woman’s best friend. However, some dogs may be too rambunctious, overly excitable, or just too timid to help people in their darkest moments. That isn’t to say that these pup-personality-types can’t or will never be able to be an emotional support animal, it just means they may take more training to do so.
If your therapist has recommended an emotional support dog to help with your diagnosis, you will want to look for a canine around a year-old and is calm and laid-back in nature, as well as responsive to you. Making a true connection or an instant bond with any pet is one way to ensure your dog will be there when needed the most.
Puppies and Emotional Support
Some people want to take a puppy and teach it to be an emotional support animal. This is a great way to train the dog up “in the ways” of this important duty.
For this, you will, once again, want to find a breed of dog that tends to be more people-orientated and eager to learn. Such breeds include the Labrador or Golden Retrievers, Poodles, and the ever-gaining in popularity Goldendoodle. Of course, any breed or mixed breed can certainly offer the qualities you are searching for; just be willing to research and visit individual puppies to find the best candidate.
Once you have chosen your puppy, start with the basics of obedience training; sit, stay, down, come, heel, etc. The younger you start with these lessons, the more likely your dog will be a suitable emotional support companion. If you don’t know where to start with the training, this online training class may be useful.
In addition to obedience, your dog will also need to be well socialized. This means no barking, jumping, lunging, begging for food, or other annoying habits some dogs can exhibit when out in a public setting.
This is not only for your benefit — it’s hard to be unstressed if you have to be constantly looking out for your dog’s unruly behavior —, but your dog will be expected to be well-behaved when out-and-about.
If you feel you are not up to the task of training your dog, enlist the help of a professional trainer, a family member, or a friend that may want to do the training or go to the training classes for you.
The First Step to Having an ESA is Qualifying for an ESA Letter.
A Quick Trick to Teach Your Dog to Calm Your Anxiety
Studies have shown that a technique called Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) can help calm those who suffer from anxiety, autism, self-harming behaviors, and stress in general. This type of non-medicated treatment has been proven to help reduce the duration of the condition and make it easier to bear.
The principle behind DPT is to have the dog apply gentle pressure to your body, chest, or affected body part (as in self-harming) depending on the size of the canine. For smaller dogs, you can teach them to lie directly across your chest or along the front of your body, while larger breeds can be taught to place their heads or feet across your lap or legs — whatever is most comfortable for you.
Here are the steps to teaching your dog Deep Pressure Therapy:
- On the Sofa & Paws Up Command
If your dog isn’t used to being on a sofa, you may have to coax him up using some treats. This is as simple as showing your dog the treat, then slowly moving it to the back of the sofa while excitedly saying his name and “paws up” (example, “Toby, paws up!”)
Depending on your dog’s reluctance to join you on the sofa, you may have to reward him each time he gets closer to being on the sofa. - Practice
If you have a smaller dog, the main goal is for your pooch to have all four paws on the sofa, then be in a “down” position. If your dog is larger — that you don’t want to or can’t bear his weight — this “paws up” command will be with his front paws or head on the sofa.
Keep practicing the “paws up” command with treats until your dog knows what it means. Once this is accomplished, you can practice it without the aid of treats — you want your dog to do this because you need it to, not because there is a food reward at the end of the session. - Paws Off Command
Next, you will want to teach your dog the “paws off” command. This is the same as “paws up,” but in reverse. To practice, call your dog off the sofa with the command “paws off.”
Remember to reward each time he follows through. - Laying/Sitting on Sofa
Ideally, for the DPT to work, you want your small-to-medium-size dog to lie vertically along your body with his paws on your shoulders and his head next to yours. If you have a large dog, he will put his paws across your legs or lie his head on your lap when you are in a sitting position.
To train your dog to do this, use the “paws up” command, then the “down” command once he is vertically in place or along your lap. When your dog accomplishes this task, give him a treat, followed by the “paws down” command.
You have to practice this training in order for your dog to do it on command, without a food reward at the end.
If you are teaching a larger dog the DPT technique, he will have to lean into your lap for the pressure to be applied properly; however, once your dog relaxes, he should naturally put his weight on your lap. - The Signs of Anxiety Training
Once your dog has mastered the above techniques, take the training further by mimicking the symptoms you experience during a stressful situation. By practicing this while you are calm and able to reward your dog for following the commands, it will be better when you are in real need.
Emotional Support Dogs Help
Emotional support dogs have a special way of calming people down. Whether your dog instinctively picks up on your needs or it requires a little training along the way, the support is a true step in healing for those who may otherwise suffer in silence.
Make your Dog an Official Emotional Support Dog
Get your ESA Letter from a Licensed Mental Health Professional
Hi.. i have pdd/persistent depression im getting meds soon i also have anxiety really bad and im wondering if i can train my puppy neko he is hyper like really hyper?
An ESA does not require any specific training, but you should explore whether a hyperactive dog would help with your anxiety. We suggest speaking to a licensed mental health professional about your condition and whether an ESA could help.
Hi, I am Whitney and I have ADHD, anxiety, and depression. i want to train my dog to be an ESA dog but he is very nervous in public and gets bitey when he is scared.
An ESA does not need specific training to qualify as an emotional support animal. However, all ESAs should be well-behaved and not pose any health or safety threat to others. We suggest consulting with a professional trainer who could help your dog with behavioral issues.
Hello! I am looking to get an emotional support dog for my hyperthyroidism, which causes anxiety as well as many other things. I wasn’t to bring it up to my doctor, but don’t know how. Any tips?
We wrote an article about this topic, please click here: https://esadoctors.com/ask-doctor-emotional-support-animal-letter/
Hello. I have depression (amongst other diagnoses), but depression is what I need an ESA for. I have other animals registered already to help with my adhd and accountability, but I was wondering how a dog might help with depression. We recently got a puppy and I would love for her to be trained to help me during particularly bad episodes.
You may find this post helpful: https://esadoctors.com/emotional-support-animal-depression/
I have depression and anxiety and my husband has anxiety as well. I would like to get at least one if not both of my dogs trained but they are kind of hyper when we take them out she we get them basic training and then Esa trained?
An ESA does not require any individualized training to assist with a disability. That is the primary difference between an ESA and a service dog.
Im hannah and I have ADHD and other things as well, when I get anxious I pick my nails often o the point of bleeding, Medication causes bad side effects which have lead to mental instability, harmful thoughts and unusual daily mood. I also have a great difficulty making and sustaining friends. Do you think an ESA could help me with these symptoms from an objective view?
A licensed healthcare professional would have to make that determination. If you would like to be assessed for an ESA, you can get started here: https://esadoctors.com/esa-questionnaire/
Hi im Amber, i have anxiety and depression and i get panic attacks quite often and the only thing that helps me is my 4 year old Chi-Spaniel. I was wondering if i could certify him as a ESA or if i shouldn’t.
You should speak to a licensed healthcare professional who can help evaluate and determine whether an emotional support animal is right for you.
I have an Emotional Support trained dog alreay and the previous Veteran threw away his papers. How do I continue her training and commands and re-certify her. She is an 8 month old 9yrenees mix and extremely smart.
Emotional support animals do not require any training. You may be thinking of a service dog. ESAs are also not “certified”. The only way to qualify for an ESA is to have a letter from a licensed healthcare professional.
Hello, I’m Tyla, I have severe Obsessive Compulsive disorder, Anxiety and depression. I have extremely severe accidental self harm (such as picking my wrists to the point of bleeding when I am anxious) and the only thing that calms me down slightly is my hyperactive Dog. He is a husky and therefore very energetic, is it at all plausible to expect him to become an emotional support dog or am I in over my head?
Emotional support animals are commonly used for conditions like anxiety and depression. A licensed healthcare professional can help determine whether an ESA is right for you, and whether you qualify for one. If you need a licensed professional to help you, we can connect you with one: https://esadoctors.com/esa-questionnaire/
Hi, my name is Fatima. I have Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD, I was also diagnosed a Compulsive because I’ve self harmed a lot, and I tried too many times to kill myself. I have a kitten, she’s a year old, but isn’t well with the outdoors unless I carry her. I always wanted a puppy and thought, why not have him as an emotional support animal? I need it anyways with all the panic attacks I get in public. But I was wondering if he would still fall under ESA with all the things wrong with me? or would I need a Service Dog since I have a tendency to faint and collapse in public and at home, and I also do stuff impulsively sometimes (self harm and stuff like that).
Also are there any small breeds that are a good fit? My home is a bit small for a big dog. And I stuggle financially since I don’t have a job, so would I have to provide for my ESA or would a check come in for his food and stuff like a disability check?
Just a bunch of questions I always had. And yes, I have a therapist that can vouch for me to get an ESA!
We recommend discussing this with your therapist to see what makes the most sense for you. Good luck!
I have suffered Anxiety/depression from a young age, I have had abandonment issues as well. I was diagnosed with anxiety/depression in 2010 and have been on medication since. My doctor I believe can write a recommendation letter for my dog to be an ESA. She isn’t trained but has been with me through a bad relationship which was toxic, she helped me get out of that relationship and continues to give me stability and support.
Is the recommendation letter for her to be my ESA from my doctor enough to qualify that she be with me all the time inside a rental property? She is a Bulldog if this also helps. And also will this letter always have to be updated by my doctor every year if I live in Australia?
Unfortunately, we are not familiar with how ESA rules work in Australia. In the U.S., a letter from a licensed healthcare professional is the documentation you need for an ESA in housing.
Hey I’m Stephanie I have Terrible Anxiety And sone other stuff so I I have a dog and I want it to be a emotional Support Animal but how do I do it
We recommend you visit this link for more information on how to qualify your dog as an emotional support animal: https://esadoctors.com/how-it-works/