tips for training your large breed dog

Registered Companion Vs. Emotional Support Animals

6 October 2016 by Aiden Hill

There are an increasing number of pet owners who wish to certify their animals in a service capacity, often for emotional support. There are various levels of certification, from a professional guide dog, to emotional service animals. These are commonly referred to as working dogs.

While they are not as rigidly trained as guide dogs, companion and emotional support animals, must be permitted to enter a number of public venues just as disability service dogs would be, and they can also be an animal other than a dog. Here are some distinctions between a registered companion animal and one used for emotional support.

• Registered Companion Animals

This class of companion animal is almost exclusively dogs. The level of training and the skill difficulty are simply too difficult for other types of pets to master.

A dog that has been rigidly trained to meet the strict criteria of a skilled companion animal is very close to a fully licensed service dog. The only difference is that the owner and a facilitator, not the staff at a service dog school, train the companion dog.

It is imperative that the facilitator, licensed in companion training, maintain a bond with the animal, but the owner will need to gradually take over as the primary command-giver for the dog. The two operate as a team to perfect the skills the dog will be required to master so they can meet certification criteria. This type of companion dog can be trained to do intricate tasks like open and close doors or provide other types of physical assistance for their owners.

• Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals are frequently referred to as psychiatric service dogs. Oddly enough, this category does not necessarily have to be a dog at all. A cat, horse, rabbit, guinea pig, or any other type of trainable animal can qualify in this class of support animals.

To qualify for an emotional support animal certification, you must have a prescription written by a licensed therapist. You will need to prove that you require this animal be in your presence in situations where you have to cope with everyday stress. Common conditions that warrant the use of a full-time support animal include depression, bipolar disorder, hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, or behavioral personality disorder.

If you experience any of these issues, talk to a service like Next Generation Psychology that can instruct you on the steps you need to take to secure the necessary certifications for a companion animal.

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