Pros and Cons of Dogs for People with Psychiatric Disabilities
Just By Being a Dog, a Pet, Emotional Support, or
Service Dog Can...
Get you out of bed in
the morning
Help you keep more
regular hours
Get you to exercise
every day
Provide company and
affection
Give you a sense of
accomplishment
Distract you from
obsessive or negative thoughts
Make you feel more
confident / less vulnerable
Help you meet and
talk to people
Make you more
appealing to others
A Psychiatric
Service Dog Can Also Be Trained To...
Remind you when to
eat or take meds
Let you know when
it's time for bed or time to get up
Keep track of keys,
phone, etc.
Actively encourage
you to play or exercise
Carry your wallet and
ID for safekeeping
Lead you out to a
safe place when you are overwhelmed
Pretend to need to go
out when you need an excuse to leave
Turn on lights and
check a room before you go in
Keep you from
unwanted physical contact or proximity, e.g:
Hand money or card to
cashier
Walk on right to keep
right hand in use (you can't shake hands)
Put body between you
and nearby people
Protect, comfort, and
calm (or stimulate) you during an episode
Alert you to people
approaching
Wake you from a
nightmare
Interrupt repetitive
or compulsive behavior
Provide a reality
check when hallucination is suspected
Interrupt
dissociation, self-mutilation, or other unwanted states and
behaviors
Assist with side
effects or symptoms, e.g.:
Brace you when dizzy
or unsteady
Help you get up after
fall or collapse
Bring meds, water,
etc.
Bring phone
Get help, e.g.:
Bark to attract
attention to you
Go for help
Dial 911
Cons
with Any Dog...
It
needs to be cared for properly and on time, no matter how sick you
get, e.g.:
It
must always have access to clean water
It
must have appropriate food and regular mealtimes
It must be taken out
multiple times a day
It must get exercise
every day
You must have
someone lined up to take care of the dog when you can't
It is not cheap:
Basic vet care
(vaccinations, neutering, etc.) can be expensive
Accidents and
illness WILL happen and may require emergency after-hours care
and/or hospitalization
Pet insurance
typically covers only a fraction of medical expenses
Even healthy dogs
need heartworm, tick, and flea medication most or all of the year
Professional
grooming or grooming tools and lessons are required for
some breeds
You'll probably need
help training the dog (classes, books, etc.)
Dog food and
equipment (crate, leash, collar, toys, etc.) can be a significant
expense
It
limits your freedom, e.g.:
You've got to keep
reasonable hours; going out right after work may not be possible
(less so with a service dog)
Spur-of-the-moment
trips are dependent on your dog sitter's availability and
flexibility (less so
with a service dog)
It will make
emotional and time demands on you and will suffer greatly if you
cannot meet those demands
Dog poop is
nauseating and you'll be picking up pounds of it every week
Even the best dog will shed, poop, pee, and/or
vomit in your house at some time (but then again so will a child or
a significant other or you!)
Cons of a
Psychiatric Service Dog...
If your disability was not apparent before you
got a service dog, it will be after you do so. Even if it was
apparent, you'll be spotted sooner and get more attention with a
service dog. (However, access will get easier over time and as local businesses begin to recognize you -- see Maeve's business honor roll)
You WILL be challenged about the dog frequently
when you enter premises where pets are not allowed.
You will be challenged by a law enforcement
officer at some point. Chances are good that he or she won't do so
entirely appropriately.
Disability gets discussed on or before the first
date if you are single and have a service dog.
Some people will pay more attention to the dog
than to you.
Every public errand takes much longer with a
service dog.
People may assume you are training for someone
else
Stress on relationships
Even the best-trained dog will eventually do
something embarrassing in public