About Service Dogs for People With Mental Disabilities

When most people hear the term "service dog," they probably think of a dog helping a visually impaired person cross the street, or a canine companion aiding someone who is hearing-impaired. Service dogs are available not only to people with physical disabilities, but also to those who suffer from mental disorders such as autism or post-traumatic stress disorder.

  1. Definition

    • The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a disability as a "mental or physical condition which substantially limit's a major life activity." These activities may include working, learning, or simply performing the basic tasks associated with taking care of oneself. The law also says a dog may be considered a service dog if it is "individually trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability." Service dogs are not considered pets or companion animals, which are not subject to the same rigorous requirements and do not have the same legal rights.

    Rights

    • Dogs certified to aid people with mental disabilities are called psychiatric service dogs. Like other service dogs, they are protected under federal law from being excluded from public places from which most dogs would be barred. Psychiatric service dogs may accompany their owners into restaurants and other businesses, as well as on public buses and in taxis. Health codes do not apply, and these dogs can be asked to leave the premises only if they become aggressive or are bothersome to other customers. Owners do not have to prove their need for psychiatric service dogs, nor do they have to provide information on the dog's training or certification.

    Technicalities

    • Within the broad definition of "service dog," there are some finer nuances governing whether a dog is or is not a psychiatric service dog. For instance, if a dog's primary purpose is to provide comfort or emotional support for its owner or another person, that dog is not defined as a psychiatric service dog, and its entry into public areas is not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In some states, these dogs are defined as therapy dogs. Some dogs are classified as social/therapy dogs, and though there is no legal definition for these canines, they are most often dogs who have begun service dog training but failed to complete it. Instead, they have become pets for the disabled.

    Tasks

    • Service dogs for people with mental disabilities are trained to perform some of the same tasks as are assistance dogs for the physically disabled; the tasks are simply performed for a different purpose. For example, both dogs may be trained to help a person balance on the stairs, but for a psychiatric service dog, the need for this task may stem from the side effects of the owner's medication rather than any physical problems with the legs. Psychiatric service dogs also are trained for tasks that relate to mental disorders, such as licking the face to bring an owner out of a night terror or flashback associated with post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Training

    • It takes a special dog to become a psychiatric service dog because, like all other assistance animals, the dog must complete a rigorous course of training and meet certain standards. The standards may vary a bit from one organization to another, but Assistance Dogs International, for example, requires the dog to respond to commands 90 percent of the time, the first time it is asked. The psychiatric service dog must also demonstrate basic obedience training and carry out at least three tasks associated with aiding its owner's disability. Owners must prove that they know how to provide the care their dogs need and demonstrate knowledge of local laws and public behavior. If you need a psychiatric service dog, be sure the animal has been trained by a qualified professional organization.