How to Register Your Dog as a Psychiatric Service Dog

Do you struggle with a psychiatric disability that significantly impedes your daily life? Do you need a dog at your side to help with your condition?

If so, you might be eligible for a psychiatric service dog (PSD). In this guide, we’ll provide a quick overview of qualifying your canine companion as a PSD and explain what registering a PSD means and whether you need to do it. 

Background

A PSD is a specialized service dog trained to perform specific tasks that assist individuals with mental or emotional disabilities. These tasks could include alerting the handler to an impending panic attack, calming the handler during periods of distress, retrieving medication, or waking the handler up.
In order to qualify for a psychiatric service dog, you need to meet two conditions: 1. You must have an ADA psychiatric disability, and 2. You must have a dog that has been fully trained to perform a job or task that directly helps with that disability.

The Benefits of Registering Your Psychiatric Service Dog

navigating public spaces. While not a legal obligation, registration, along with identifiers like an ID card and a vest, communicates that your dog is more than a pet – it is a crucial working animal that should remain by your side.

Final Thoughts

If you’re unsure whether a psychiatric service dog could help you, talk to your mental health professional or doctor. You can also consult a professional trainer if you have questions about the training process.

Psychiatric service dog owners are allowed to train their dogs without any external help, but for novice trainers getting the advice of a professional can be invaluable.