[Dolcesmama_xoxo]

Sorry for posting again, but I also wanted to share some information that was part of my research in finding out that I actually NEEDED a service dog and could benefit from one. This might benefit someone out there on YT. YES a small dog CAN be a service dog. They are not ALL big dogs, seeing eye dogs, etc. as some people may think.

What tasks do psychiatric service dogs perform?
Psychiatric Service Dogs are like any other service animal. They are individually trained in obedience, performing tasks, and working in distracting public environments to mitigate their partner's psychiatric disability. Their function is not to provide emotional support, but to perform tasks which enable their partner to function in ordinary ways the non-disabled take for granted.

Find a person or place... Example: A person becomes separated from his family in a crowd. As the crowd closes in around him, he experiences a panic attack and difficulty breathing. He cannot call out to his family. He gives his dog a signal to locate his family who will help him, or to locate an exit where he can escape the crowd and get fresh air.
I am currently in the process of training her to find my fiance if we are seperated. I currently can't go anywhere without him or another person, for fear of having an attack and being alone, but hopefully in the near future, I will feel safe going with just myself and Dolce and know that she can take care of me.

Signal for certain sounds... Example: A person heavily sedated, in a flashback, or in a psychotic episode fails to respond to a smoke alarm. His dog is trained to persistently and very firmly signal him until he responds.
I take medications that cause me to be heavily sedated at times. When I take my anxiety meds I am usually useless since I don't take them on a regular basis, only when I have an episode. I can't get up and do anything for hours and probably would not hear a smoke alarm, an intruder, or sense anything is wrong.

Bring medication in an emergency... Example: A person with an anxiety disability experiences severe gastric distress when overstressed. The resulting nausea causes him to become disoriented and dizzy. He falls to the ground and cannot rise. His dog is trained to retrieve his anti-nausea medication and bring it to him.
I stated before, that Dolce is trained to get my medication from my purse, when she knows I am having an attack. Sometimes she will even sense it coming on before it actually does and will bring me my meds. The first time she did that it stumped me. I thought she forgot how to do the task correctly and then an episode hit. I was so surprised and SO glad that I have her.

In addition to tasks, psychiatric service dogs can be trained to perform emotionally comforting behaviors, such as licking or snuggling with their disabled handler on command.
Dolce would lick me to death ever since I first got her. At first I thought it was cute. Then I realized how calm I was while she was doing it. Now this is part of our "episode ritual".

Some feelings of isolation or of being unloved can be relieved by unconditional positive interaction with another living being. While these bonus behaviors are not true tasks, in the sense that they alone would justify the animal as a service dog, they can be very beneficial to the handler in times of stress. Handlers also report that the tactile stimulation of petting their dog or being nuzzled can help them to reorient during a dissociative episode or panic attack.
There are many psychological benefits to being partnered with a service dog separate from the tasks they perform. A dog depending on them for care can force a person to get up out of bed to take the dog out to walk and to give the dog food and water. The simple act of getting up and moving around, especially getting fresh air, can help relieve some of the symptoms of depression. The routine of caring for the dog can help the person get on a routine for feeding and caring for themselves at the same time, i.e. when the dog eats, the person also eats a meal.