Psychiatric
Service Dogs
Dogs that serve as Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSD's) go through extensive training and public exposure processes to become Assistance/Service Dogs. These are special, sensitive and well-rounded dogs that come from shelters and rescues, private homes or reputable breeders and are invaluable at creating independence and confidence for mentally compromised adults and youth in the community.
Berrygrove provides consulting services, behavior and temperament evaluation, training and behavior services, and conducts public access testing. Berrygrove provides a certificate of completion of the individualized training and access program, ID cards as requested, and resources for equipment and information.
(Please note: Certificates, vests, ID cards and special service dog tags are currently not required to legitimately have access with a Service or Assistance Dog in public venues. This requirement may be subject to change. Check the DOJ and/or ADA website, to see current rules and regulations. A Therapy dog is not an Assistance or Service dog, and does not have the same access and/or rights.)
Service Dogs Ease the Mind
PSD's are trained to work with handlers that have disabling mental illnesses (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990). These illnesses may include, but are not limited to:
* Major Clinical Depression
* Bipolar Disorders
* Panic and Anxiety Disorders
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
* Schizoaffective Disorders
* Social and Other Phobias
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorders
These dogs may perform a variety of tasks which can be individualized for the handler's personal needs. Sample tasks may include:
- Alerting to mood changes - Interrupting repetitive behaviors
- Medication reminders
- Carrying necessary items, such as medications, water, etc..
- Retrieving needed objects
- Summoning Emergency assistance with a special
"dog-dialed" 9-1-1 phone pad
- Balance support (due to medications)
and more...
Gail S. Green, CPDT, CDT, APTI, ISDT
Berrygrove Dog Training and Behavior
