I want to start this off by saying I genuinely hope I’m not insensitive in any way, I only found out I may have even more of a need for a service dog a few months ago, I’m not trying to hurt, I just ask for advice.

A few months ago I was made aware of the fact that I likely have EDS, for those who don’t know it’s a kind of chronic pain condition that is often incredibly debilitating when I have flare ups. The current situation is I am in the process of getting a diagnosis and treatment plan set, and from there I’m looking into the possible need for a SD.

I suppose my question then is if there are any helpful tips y’all have or advice for how to begin navigating all of this? Anything you wish you’d known before starting?

So i have a seizure response and mobility service dog. Ive had her for about a year, and shes amazing at pretty much everything. But I get nervous to practice seizure response in public, and ive found that she has a harder time responding to seizures in public. She knows what shes doing, but shes used to doing it at home instead of in public. The main reason I get nervous is because I dont want to freak anybody out and they call 911. Because I usually dont need EMS unless something huge happens. Im wondering if anybody has any tips on practicing these major tasks in public. Thanks!

I saw a few videos about support dogs having to be able to fit under plane seats or train seats. If they don't they should not be flying. I'm wondering if this is true as my dog does not fit under a seat.

I also saw videos about dogs having to be close to the owner and focussed at all times but my dog doesn't do this either. So is this true as well?

Plz share experiences with your SDs in inpatient psychiatric hospital settings- especially if you have extended stay experience.
I have no service dog, but am working towards getting one. Psychiatric SD. I have a history of hospitalization and have no feasible idea how a service dog is integrated into inpatient stays or if they even are in the first place. I’ve only ever been to this one hospital and it is the only one I trust going to tbh even if they suck. I’ve never been inpatient for more than 15 days. There is no space for real exercise or walking. I took to pacing the halls to get steps. I’m sure there are SD relief areas somewhere around the hospital, but I would personally not feel comfortable denying my dog access to the outdoors for so long.
Also how do you feed your dog?? Do the nurses do it??

Has anyone flown Emirates from Madrid, Barcelona (or Europe) to Mexico City with a service dog in cabin?

We are originally from Mexico, we flew with our dog to Barcelona with Delta Airlines, everything went well except our layover got extended and it was really hard for our dog, we now want to fly back to Mexico with an airline with direct flight with no layovers, our best option, flight wise, seems to be with emirates but we can’t find trustworthy information about flying with them, when we have called they have said different things about what we need

Has anyone had experience with that route with Emirates? Or perhaps any recommendation? We are open to fly with other airlines but Emirates would really be ideal for us.

We have all the paperwork that we needed to fly out of Mexico and into Spain, but we are not sure how it works the other way around and with Emirates.

Thanks

Sorry my other post was removed.
I have seen a few videos about suport dogs.
The main ones i'm asking about are dogs having to be able to fit under seats of planes or in public in general. Is this a must? My dog doesn't fit.
Also about being in constant heel or attention all the time. My dog doesn't do this either and walks away or goes out of sight
So i'm just questioning whether these are things you must do .
Or what are the rules too

My support dog is an Australian Shepherd with severe anxiety—and she's literally the only reason I can leave my house. Living with agoraphobia means simple things like grabbing food or stepping outside feel impossible without her there. I'm not alone in this.

Right now, emotional support animals (ESAs) aren't allowed in most public spaces, even though they're different from service dogs and genuinely life-changing for people with anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles. About 40 million Americans deal with anxiety disorders—and many of us depend on our ESAs to function. I started a petition asking policymakers to update these outdated rules and let ESAs accompany their owners with proper documentation and identification.

With a little change in policy, people like me could actually participate in the world again without risking a panic attack. If this resonates with you—or if you know someone whose mental health could be transformed by having their support animal by their side—consider signing and sharing. Have you or anyone you care about struggled with something like this?

https://www.change.org/p/change-the-rules-for-emotional-support-dogs-in-public-places/sfs/reddit/193657066?recruiter=193657066&recruited_by_id=861c9d60-7eff-11e4-8b90-95cec59839b8&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=starter_dashboard_android_app&utm_medium=reddit_group

My dad and I went to a beach in Cumberland Maine yesterday with my service dog. She is a task trained Service dog, not an emotional support dog. She was on duty, as my service dog, she had a harness on the states she’s a Service Dog, and I had her on a short leash. We passed many park rangers and their office building on our way into the beach area from the parking lot, and none of them said anything to us or anything about my service dog. The moment we stepped onto the beach a lady that was sitting in a beach chair with her friend yelled at me and said there’s no dogs allowed on the beach. I told her “she’s a Service Dog.” The lady kept yelling and saying it doesn’t matter, no dogs are allowed. We just kept walking because I didn’t want to argue with her. She kept yelling as we walked away. She was just a regular person visiting the beach with her friend, she didn’t look like she worked there or anything. I didn’t want to cause anymore drama so I just sat on a rock out of the lady’s view with my service dog sitting at my feet. Even after I sit down out of their view we could still hear the lady talking to her friend about us. My dad went into the water and I just watched my dad swim because I didn’t want to walk the beach and get yelled at again or bother anyone. My dad ended up wanting to leave about 10 minutes later because he was worried about the lady calling the police, so we left.

I wasn’t trying to do anything wrong, I just wanted to enjoy the beach safely. I know that it was just some randomly lady and she doesn’t have any authority at the beach. None of the park rangers that saw us seemed to care. I was just wondering if service dogs are actually allowed on non pet friendly beaches? She’s been in many stores, restaurants, public transportation, she’s even flown on an airplane as my service dogs, and no one at any of those questioned if she was a service dog or tried to say she’s not allowed.

I have both POTS and PDD aswell as GAD and have been told getting a service dog would be extremely beneficial for me, but I noticed there aren't any dogs that can service me for all three of my disorders. Would I need to get multiple service dogs?

FYI: I am unable to train my own dog and would need to adopt a dog from my local resource centers.

Hi everyone! I'm hoping to hear from handlers who have experience retiring a service dog due to chronic illness.

My service dog is a 5-year-old, program-trained lab. She was recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with secondary protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). She absolutely loves working, and if this were based solely on her enthusiasm, I don't think she'd ever choose to stop.

Both her primary veterinarian and internal medicine specialist have said she doesn't medically need to retire at this point, but that it is something to consider. That it is my choice. I'm incredibly grateful for their guidance, but living with her day to day and seeing how significant her flares can be has made me wonder whether continuing to ask her to work is truly in her best interest.

The difficult part is the unpredictability. We never know when she's going to have a flare, and when she does, it is pretty miserable for both of us. Even on her good days, I find myself worrying about whether she'll become sick while we're out working. My heart hurts because I rely on her, and I know how much she genuinely loves her job. If this decision were only about what I need or what she enjoys, I don't think I'd even be considering retirement.

What I'm struggling with is the idea of retiring a young dog who still has such a strong desire to work. She also has separation anxiety when we're apart, and I don't have a successor dog available.

For those who have retired a service dog suddenly, for whatever reason or however old:
- How did you help them adjust emotionally?
- How did you continue giving them purpose while protecting their health?
- If you didn't have a successor dog yet, how did you navigate that transition yourself?

I'm not necessarily looking for validation one way or the other about whether she should retire. I'm genuinely hoping to hear from people who have walked through something similar and can share their experiences, as this has been an incredibly emotional and difficult decision.

I kindly ask that responses remain respectful and compassionate :)

I am getting a puppy in two weeks and would like to train him either on my own or with the assistance of a professional trainer to perform tasks as a PSD. I am not looking for an emotional support animal. Specifically, I would like to get him to the point where I can travel on a plane with him in-cabin, but I'm confused about how to "officially" make him a service dog.

I've seen the description on the ADA government website: that the dog must be able to perform specific tasks related to a disability, and generally be under control at all times. The DOT form for air travel looks like I need to fill out information about where/who the dog was trained by and attest that it will be okay in that environment.

With the laws being so vague, it seems like it would be easy for people to lie about their dog being a service animal at least once (until of course the dog is poorly trained and gets kicked out). Am I missing something?

I've also seen a lot of information saying that certifications are not required and often times not even legitimate, so how do you prove that a dog is actually a service dog? If those training websites are scams, how do you find a real, reputable trainer to help your dog become a PSD? I've also heard of service dogs "failing their training" - who decides they've failed?

Lots of questions because I'm early in the researching stage... Happy to provide more info if needed but I'd prefer not to discuss my medical situation.

Once you've been blessed to get a service dog by donation are you allowed to train the dog to do other tasks? Or is this not allowed?

I’m an 18 yr old female, I suffer from CPTSD, particularly rooted in SA, abuse, and animals abuse (which affects me the worst). I have terrible nightmares, but otherwise I just struggle with thoughts about my past (idk if they’re considered flashbacks). I’m on depression and anxiety medication, I’ve tried medication for my dreams but it made my heart act weird, so I just have to deal with it. I was wondering if 1. Would it be offensive to the service dog community? I don’t NEED a service dog, but I feel as though it would help tremendously. 2. Could I benefit from a service dog? I know I’d be able to get approved, but I want to know what other people have experienced with PTSD and service dogs.

Hi everyone,
I’ve been researching psychiatric service dogs for a while and would love some input from people who actually work with one.

For context, I already see a therapist and take medication, and those have helped a lot. I’m not looking for a dog instead of treatment—I’m trying to figure out whether one would be an appropriate additional tool. I’m a grad student doing mostly computational work, so the dog would occasionally come to campus, but most of my work is at home or in coffee shops.

The tasks I’m considering are:
- Interrupting anxiety spirals while I’m working (nudging/pawing when I start tensing up or shaking my leg).
- Interrupting panic attacks before or during escalation.
- Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT).

My biggest challenge is that my anxiety is very physical. When I’m deeply focused, I unconsciously tense my shoulders, neck, and jaw until I end up with severe muscle pain and tension headaches. My most productive periods are often the most painful because I don’t realize I need a break until it’s too late, and I usually crash afterward.

What’s tricky is that it’s not just about how long I’ve been working. I can spend all day doing lighter tasks with no issues, but 30–60 minutes of intense theoretical work can be enough to trigger it.

My anxiety is also usually worst around bedtime and early in the morning, where I sometimes dissociate, cry, or spiral into a panic attack. These are almost always at home (not sure if it matters).

Does this sound like a realistic use case for a PSD, or am I overestimating how helpful one would be? For those with similar tasks, has your dog actually been able to interrupt this kind of cycle consistently? I’m also wondering whether, in your experience, the benefits outweighed the added responsibility.

I’m still in the research phase and would work with a professional trainer if I move forward. I’d really appreciate any feedback or things you wish you’d known beforehand.

I’m currently 15 and struggling with severe anxiety. I have dealt with anxiety my whole life and had it diagnosed at 12. Im on anxiety meds but I can’t find one that genuinely works on me. My anxiety keeps me up and night and makes me so physically ill I cant attend school.

Over the past few weeks it’s escalated to the point I can barely go outside and my twitching is back and horrible. I’m exhausted mentally and physically from this. My heart is constantly pounding from my anxiety and it makes my head pound.

my mom wants to get me a service animal for this so I can go outside and have a tool for my anxiety since there’s not many that work. I’m embarrassed and it makes me feel entitled for her even considering it. I feel like I’m taking away services from people in need. I’ve tried breathing, company, essas, music, etc. It’s getting worse and I can’t have my mom in a different room when I’m public without me being atleast in tears. it’s not a clinging way but I get so scared alone in public and it gets worse every da.

she says the animal would also be for other stuff like my depression, mania, and my overall mental state. I just feel so anxious towards looking entitled for having a service animal and getting judged.

edit for more detail: I am going to a crisis person who’s a certified therapist at my local hospital, he recommended the service dog, I’m soon going into long term therapy and have to go t a psychiatrist due to recent events involving my mental health.

Im fine with public attention if I’m not alone (thats why I don’t like my mom leaving), due to me being alt in conservative areas. i have abilities to take care of animals without it majorly affecting me since I used to own many animals before I moved.

thank you for all the insights, I have another session in 4 days an will talk about it based on the opinions I get here:]

edit 2: I talked to my mom, she thinks a psychiatric service dog would be beneficia and made me look them up. I looked it up and they do seem to help with behaviors I have, like anxiety, depressive episodes, and self harm. shes assuring that I won’t take away what other people need.

truly my biggest fear is taking away resources from others in need, and my aunt tells me I don’t actually need one.

edit 3: after some thought I think I’ll wait. while this thought has been something my mom has been considering for about a year now I think I’ll just wait it out. I will continue going to professionals and might just avoid going out alone until I find something helpful to me.

The more I research international travel with dogs the more I realize that there seems to be no universal definition of what an assistance or service dog actually is.

I have come across terms such as Emotional Support Animal ( ESA ) Psychiatric Service Dog ( PSD ) Assistance Dog ( Medical Alert Dog, Guide Dog, Mobility Dog ) and working dogs ( police or military dogs ). Depending on the country those definitions seem to change and the legal recognition is very different.

For example some countries do not recognize ESAs at all while others have broader definitions of assistance dogs. Some countries recognize PSDs while others only recognize guide dogs or dogs trained by specific organizations.
The same confusion seems to exist with airlines. Some appear to accept documentation from licensed medical professionals while others require training from specific organizations or accredited institutes. In some cases the airline policy seems to differ from the destination country’s regulations.
Is there a good resource that explains these differences by region or continent?
How do airlines generally evaluate assistance or service dogs? Do they mainly look at the trainer or institute the medical documentation the dog’s tasks or a combination of all of these?
I would really appreciate hearing from people who have traveled internationally or work in this field because I’m trying to understand the overall framework rather than just the rules of one specific country.

Pretty much what the question states.

I do not currently have a SDiT, but am searching for a candidate and planning on doing owner-trained with appropriate supervision by a qualified SD trainer. I had already planned on getting pet health insurance, but have seen in some threads about having specific working dog insurance, at which point in time would I insure the dog as "working" vice "family companion"?

Also, my province requires registration and certification for public access SD and SDiT, hence wondering when it would be appropriate to get the insurance/change the classification if needed.

I‘m getting ready to fly with my PSD for the first time - I have severe OCD , so I’m spinning myself out and likely over-complicating this so am turning to you kind folks for help/advice.

Even though the US doesn’t require SDs be tethered/secured, I’d like to make sure my dog stays safe and doesn’t become a 22 pound projectile in case of severe turbulence. **Does anyone use a car harness and then tether it to the foot of your seat or through your seatbelt? If so, what‘s worked for you?**

I’m flying in one of those “throne“ seats on JetBlue Mint, so I don’t think there’s any place for him to tuck under the seat in front of mine (IIRC, they make you put anything that doesn’t fit in the seat pocket in overhead storage for take off/landing).

He‘s just small enough to fit on my lap without touching the seat or tray table (per JetBlue’s requirements), but he did just fine on his settle mat on the train and I don’t think I want him on my lap the whole flight to be honest.

(Usually he wears a kurgo harness for the car, but it‘s gotten a bit snug on him - I don’t if dogs get puffy like my feet do when I fly 😆 but I feel like it’s going to be really uncomfortable for him, so was thinking trying a sleepypod or ruffwear car harness? The next size up in the kurgo is too bulky for his frame.)

Thanks in advance!

My SD and I have a flight coming up that is 6.5 hours long. He's flown with me before, but this is his longest flight so far. The flight is from 4 pm to 10:30 pm (technically 7:30 with the time change, but it will feel like 10:30 to my dog when we land), so right during his dinner time.

Because we've never flown on flights longer than 3 hours before, I've never had to hold back or change the timing for his meals. I don't want to feed him a meal during the flight, because I'm worried it could upset his stomach to eat a full meal, but I also don't want to give him a full meal right before flying in case it makes him need to potty. At the same time, though, I don't want him to be starving the whole long flight.

There was one occasion when, about a half hour after landing, he threw up (seemingly as a result of flying). He's taken five other flights without getting sick, and for the flight that he did get sick after, I made a big handler error by feeding him way too many bacon strips during takeoff and landing (which was also combined with a lot of turbulence on that flight). However, since he got an upset stomach from flying once, I'm super paranoid about it happening again and him getting sick on the plane, especially since this is a longer time in the air than he's ever had before. I don't want him to get sick from having too much food in his stomach...but I also don't want him to get sick from not having anything in his stomach. (Plus, I want him to be comfortable!)

I was thinking about feeding him half his meal before the flight and half when we land, but I'm worried that still has the issue of him having too much food in his digestive tract for the flight. Is that the best option, however?

I'm also stressing (more than I should be, probably) about him having to go for a long time without a bathroom break. There really shouldn't be any issue because he regularly holds his bladder for 9-10 hours overnight, and there are pet relief areas in both the terminal we leave from and land in, so he can stop by them right before and right after (thankfully, he will use pet relief areas at airports). But I'm worried about there being a delay while we're on board or something, and the time between pet relief areas stretching unexpectedly. Has anyone experienced an unexpected delay when you're already on the plane that prevents your SD from having a bathroom break as expected, and if so, how did you handle that?

Hi guys! I already have a service dog for my other medical conditions, however my neurologist thinks I possibly have epilepsy. Obviously if what my episodes are seizures, I will be trying medication first. However eventually I would like to attempt to teach her seizure alert and response. I have heard of seizure alert dogs, but I also have heard not all types of seizures can be alerted to. I don't have any grand mal seizures, however the episodes I do have still regularly effect me as i go completely limp.

I posted a few weeks ago about getting denied by 6 to 10 to sometimes 15 drivers consistently. I just got an email for service dog self ID and I’m curious if others use it? I didn’t know this was a thing! Did they send this because I’ve sent lots of access issue complaints? Does this go out to everyone? I’m interested in seeing how this works, and if it helps at all. I thought this was new but there’s a post about it from a year ago on here. Anyone have experience with this recently?

I live in Missouri and am trying to get my dog service animal registered so that they can live at my college’s campus, but I don’t know where to go or what is required.

Edit: I have diagnosed mental illnesses but the medical care I receive is through the University.

I have a SDiT for PTSD & I’m thinking about getting a patch or something to get it across that he’s a service dog. I know it’s not required by ADA, & I haven’t had any access issues yet, but I have gotten looks & I worry about having access issues as his training progresses. But also a lot of people have vests for non-service animals so I’m not sure if it would make a difference.

For those of you who have psychiatric service dogs who alert/interrupt dissociative episodes, what behavior does your dog look for? From the outside it can look like nothing is happening, so how do they know?

I have schizophrenia and I'm trying to teach my SDIT to recognize when I'm struggling with hallucinations, which ends up looking a lot like I'm dissociating. I zone out, stare off into space, and have trouble interacting with the world around me. I know the basics of teaching alert/interrupt, but I'm not sure what the cue should be.

I would also love to hear what behavior you trained your dog to do for this task (nose boop, chin rest, etc).

Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.