Psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform specialized tasks for those who suffer from mental illnesses.
Tasks performed by psychiatric service dogs
Specialized tasks that a service dog performs are determined by what type of difficulties a person has. If a person’s quality of life is negatively impacted as a result of a mental illness, specialized tasks can help mitigate that disability.
These are some of the tasks that psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform.
1. Alert
Alert is trained when a person suffers from frequent panic/Anxiety attacks. Dogs are able to detect changes in body language, which enables them to interrupt behaviors. We look for actions like, excessive scratching, nail biting, or any other nervous ticks that are present. When the trainer has determined this cue, they can start to pair it with a form of alert. The command must be something that is successful in disrupting negative behaviors like pawing at the persons leg or nudging with their nose.
Another way to train this task is if a dog is naturally inclined to want to interrupt negative behaviors like self-mutilation. What we want to do in this case, is to nurture that action by treating and praising the dog for disrupting an episode. Because dogs love praise (and treats), there is an incentive to continue this behavior. Training is successful when a dog automatically performs the tasks without treats as a primary incentive.
2. Boundary control
Boundary control is a useful command for those who suffer from any level of social anxiety. If a person needs space, this command creates a barrier between the handler and everyone else. A service dog creates enough space for the person to feel comfortable in any setting.
3. Retrieval
This tasks is helpful for a person that takes medication for their condition. When a panic attack is about to take place, it can often disrupt critical thinking. A dog can be trained to retrieve medications and other important items like water bottles or cell phones. They are also taught to perform complex tasks to get to these items. For example, they can be able to retrieve water out of the refrigerator and/or open cabinets to take medications and other important items to their handler.
4. Deep pressure therapy (DPT)
Deep pressure therapy is used when a person needs to calm increasing anxiety. The command also works as a grounding method to prevent dissociation. DPT involves a dog using their body weight to relieve tension. They act as weighted blankets putting your nervous system in a resting state. This stimulates the production of serotonin and reduces cortisol (the stress hormone). A service dog will be trained to respond to a DPT command, and depending on the size of the dog, either rest their two paws on their handlers lap, or jump on.
Psychiatric Service Dogs Vs. Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
Gaithersburg, Maryland
One of the major distinctions between psychiatric service dogs and ESA’s is public access. Under federal law, service dogs are allowed public access because they fulfill a critical role. Emotional support animals are not afforded the same rights, because they aren’t required to have any specialized training. In addition, service dogs are held to a higher standard. For example, they cannot show any aggression towards humans, dogs, or other animals. Trainers most often follow a set of guidelines to train a service dog. click here for more information on IAADP standards. The ADA law is another great resource and that can be found by clicking here.
How to train your dog to become a service dog
SeaWorld San Diego
Although you can train a dog on your own, it is advised you seek professional help. There are undoubtedly, many nuances that go into this type of training. In addition to learning tasks, dogs will need to pass the public access test before they can be service dogs. DO NOT fall for the websites that sell certifications without ever meeting your dog. They are not legitimate and their “certification” is not real. A service dog database is not a real or necessary thing. Be advised that taking a dog who is not trained to be a service dog into public, is a crime. You will be liable for any problems your dog causes out in public as a result. I have personally seen fake service dogs out in public who have tried to attack real ones on the job. Not only does this put the public in danger, but it creates a negative stigma around legitimate service dogs.
If you are interested in getting started with service dog training in California, check out my dog training business here. If you are in any of the U.S. states and are looking for general dog training, click here.
How to determine if your dog is a good candidate for service dog work
Old Town San Diego, CA
Before you start investing in training your dog for this type of work, it is imperative you ask yourself some very important questions.
Is your dog attentive and do they notice when you are gone?
Does your dog exhibit aggressive behavior towards: Children, adults, dogs or other animals?
Do they have any fears that he/she is not able to recover from?
How old is your dog?
Are they in good physical health?
Because this type of training is a long and expensive process, I advise you to think about investing that energy on a younger dog. The average working life for a service dog is about 7.
These are just some of the preliminary questions that should be considered when choosing a dog that is right for the job.
Do you think your dog has what it takes? Comment below.
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Whether you realize it or not, emotional intelligence skills are a valuable in any interpersonal dynamic. It enables us to effectively communicate with our co-workers, bosses, friends and family members. We’ll discuss 10 skills that can help develop the emotional intelligence to be successful in life.
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional Intelligence, or the emotional quotient (EQ), refers to the ability to be self-aware and understand how to process your emotions as well as how to empathize with others. There are four major components of emotional intelligence. These include:
Self-Awareness: The ability to recognize your emotions and understand how those emotions affect every aspect of your life. Those with self-awareness, understand what motivates them and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Self-Management: The ability to self-regulate emotions and process them in healthy ways. People with this skill can control impulsivity, take initiative when needed, and maintain a positive outlook during difficult times.
Relationship management: The ability to develop and maintain relationships through good communication and proper conflict management.
Social Awareness: The ability to recognize and empathize with others. People with social awareness can pick up on social cues and take others feelings, concerns, and perspectives into consideration. They can recognize relationship dynamics and adapt accordingly.
We all view life from our own perspective. The following empathy video illustrates this point:
Why are having emotional intelligence skills so important?
As you probably have gathered by now, emotional intelligence skills are useful in many interpersonal relationships. A high EQ opens doors to promotions and career opportunities. Many employers value excellent communication skills over practical skills. Adding to a positive work environment is more desirable than a skill per se. After all, those skills can be easily taught but emotional intelligence skills are much more difficult to obtain. Not only do these skills help further career goals, they also facilitate healthy romantic and platonic relationships. Having the ability to understand others emotions and properly communicate yours, is the foundation to any successful relationship.
This is a list of ways you can improve on all 4 of the pillars of emotional intelligence.
1. Reflect on how your behavior affects others.
A great practical way to reflect on your behavior is to journal daily. Journaling in the morning can help you set an intention for the day, while journaling in the evenings help you evaluate your day. Was there anything you could’ve done better? How did you feel today? etc. Viewing your actions and behaviors outside of yourself can sometimes provide the clarity needed to make better, more informed decisions.
2. Practice identifying your emotions.
Try to identify your emotions in real time. It is helpful to name your emotions and look at them objectively. Try reframing the way you identify with the emotion. Instead of saying, “I’m sad,” say “I feel sad.” It’s helpful to create a separation between you as a person and a temporary emotion. When you look at feelings objectively, it helps process things more rationally instead of the emotions overpowering and overwhelming you.
3. Use active listening
We’ve all participated in one-way conversations at least once in our lifetime. We don’t usually befriend people who only talk about themselves and never hold space for anyone else. Make sure you are listening to the other person and engaging in the conversation. Ask questions, give feedback, and give them your attention while they are speaking. If you are interested in further sharpening your skills as an active listener, this book is a great resource.
4. Empathize with others.
Inquire about others. People with empathy care about others interests and feelings. Find similarities with people that you can bond over, and make an effort to see things from their point of view. This article discusses the many different types of empathy, and how to approach them in a work setting.
5. Respond to conflict instead of reacting.
A sign of high emotional intelligence is most demonstrated by the familiar saying “think before you speak.” We may say things in the heat of the moment that aren’t necessarily conducive to a positive environment. When we respond with out emotions we damage relationships instead of communicating clearly. Make sure to respond from a rational place. If you need to take some time to cool down, do it. After all, the goal is to be heard, and that won’t happen when things escalate.
6. Take responsibility for your words and actions.
One of the toughest things for many people is apologizing when they are wrong. Admitting you were wrong is not a weakness, on the contrary, it is an opportunity for reflection and growth. Those with high emotional intelligence want to continue to grow both mentally and emotionally.
7. Accept constructive criticism and seek feedback.
One aspect of self-awareness is to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Receiving honest and constructive feedback allows you to work on things that you may not have been aware off before. It can be hard to hear that you are lacking in certain areas, but those with high emotional intelligence welcome the challenge and embrace the feedback to become better version of themselves.
8. Practice assertiveness when communicating.
Of course empathy and holding space for others is important, but don’t forget to do that for yourself too. It’s important to note that assertiveness doesn’t equate aggressiveness. When you have something important to say or if you want to communicate boundaries, say it tactfully.
9. Motivate yourself.
Bet on you. Many people wait for something to happen, when the reality is, we are in control. Those with emotional intelligence are confident and continue to challenge themselves in different ways in order to learn and grow. Reflect on what motivates you and implement that into your lifestyle.
10. Always maintain a positive attitude.
When we focus on all of the negative aspects of our lives, we condition ourselves to only see the negative. Negativity weighs you down and makes you lose motivation. When you find positive things to be grateful for, it changes your mood and the way you see others. People that possess emotional intelligence skills maintain a positive attitude even through hardships and challenges.
Gaining emotional intelligence skills take time
Although you can certainly start implementing these skills today, emotional intelligence isn’t learned overnight. We have a lifetime of patterns wired into our brain so we’ll need to undue those by practicing these skills everyday. If this is all too overwhelming, don’t worry. Start with a few these suggestions and go from there. Remember we are all a work in progress and this is a life long process. What’s important is taking that first step and deciding that it’s time to become a better version of you.
It happened. Life has finally made it impossible to continue to ignore our childhood traumas. No matter what age we are, and whether we realize it or not, childhood traumas dictate who we are and how we connect to others. The key is to Identify what those traumas are so that we can begin our healing journey.
What are childhood traumas and how are they formed?
Childhood traumas are experiences we lived through in our childhood that caused us to have long-term disturbances. Trauma not only shows up in the way we interact with others and ourselves, but it can also affect our physical health. Studies show that those with more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are at greater risk for heart disease, depression and suicide.
Some of these ACEs include:
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Neglect
Divorce
Substance abuse in the home
Domestic Violence in the home
Parent or Sibling with mental illness in the home
There are also many “smaller” or non-traditional traumas that we sometimes fail to recognize and those can come from the way we form our first relationships to our caregivers. When a child suffers from constant traumas like these, they develop childhood stress which form anti-social behaviors. Irritability, anger, and the need to withdraw are just some examples of those.
To heal from childhood traumas, we must first Identify them
People who have experienced horrific childhood traumas, often suffer from memory loss. The memory loss can either be permanent or momentary, and occurs so that the person can cope with traumatic events. Because trauma and memory loss go hand in hand, it can sometimes be impossible to pin point their origins. Identifying traumas however, are less about searching for what happened and more about the negative patterns that have been established over the years. Toxic patterns tend to repeat themselves throughout our lives and they often hinder our relationships to people and to ourselves.
How to Identify childhood traumas
Observe:
Patterns that keep causing trouble in your life. For example, ending up in a relationship with someone who is emotionally unavailable, abusive, and/or narcisstic is a clear sign there is some work to be done.
Routines and things that are happening seemingly on autopilot. For example, over-eating or over sleeping.
Negative thoughts as they come into your awareness. Sometimes negative thoughts are so commonplace, that they aren’t acknowledged or questioned.
Emotions and how they affect overall mood. It is important to question them as they arise, to be able to find the root of the problem.
Identify your attachment Style:
Are you dismissive-avoidant? Those with an avoidant attachment style, run from disagreements, avoid arguments and anything else that causes them discomfort. People with this attachment style, avoid relationships and closeness.
Are you anxious? People with this type of attachment style are often described as needy and have low self-esteem. They have a strong desire for relationships and tend to become dependent on them.
Are you fearful-Avoidant? Fearful-Avoidants didn’t have a consistent attachment style as children. They want relationships but they are frightened by them. They have a deep fear of getting hurt by those they love, and often sabotage relationships.
Are you secure? People with a secure attachment style, are confident and have healthy relationships with others. They do not fear closeness and have a general positive view of themselves.
Healing from childhood trauma is a journey
While there are no quick fixes in life, we can certainly take the first step and start to do the work. Luckily, there are many approaches to healing that will surely be beneficial.
Stop self-judgement. Learn to see things objectively instead of believing all of the negative things your brain is saying.
Practice grounding techniques. Live in the moment and smell the roses. Engage all of the senses by practicing mindfulness.
Check in with yourself. Ask yourself questions about what your are feeling? What caused those feelings? What can you do about those feelings? Address things as they happen so that they do not fester.
Seek help. Whether it be with a therapist or opening up to a loved one, seeking support and guidance will keep you focused and on the right track.
Don’t be afraid of your feelings. Embrace all of it.
Reclaim your life. You are in control. Let go of feeling helpless. Control your present and don’t let the past control you.
Create new, healthier habits. Be okay with being uncomfortable.
It happened. Acknowledge it. Sit with it. Stare it in the face. Don’t minimize it and know that what happened was not your fault.
When we are victims the past controls us
Acknowledging that trauma happened, is the first step. Minimizing trauma instills self-hatred, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. When we are victims, the past is in the drivers seat, but when we are survivors we control our present.
*Nubehavioral is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
So you’ve decided to start the dog training journey and are looking for some guidance. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll walk you through the top 9 dog training commands that you absolutely need for obedience in the home. Whether you have a senior dog or a puppy, it is never too late to teach any dog new tricks.
We know that beginning this journey can be overwhelming and you’ll undoubtedly make mistakes along the way, but don’t worry, you are not alone.
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks
It’s important not to buy into the misconception that old dogs can’t learn. As a dog trainer, I’ve come across many clients that have been successful in teaching basic obedience to their senior dogs. Before we start to teach them however, we must take in to account their overall health. For example, if a dog has arthritis or any type of joint issues, we would want to modify commands to accommodate those. After all, I think it would be cruel to tell a dog to sit when it is painful for them to do so. Keep this in mind when teaching your dog these commands.
Although puppies are often eager and excited to learn, they tend to always want to jump from activity to activity. For this reason, it is suggested that your training sessions with your dogs be kept down between 5-15minutes. We want a dog to be happy and interested in training. If it becomes a chore then they’ll lose interest, which will hinder their willingness to learn.
Dog training: Puppies
Why are dog training commands important
Dogs do not speak our language. They don’t know what it is we want them to do. Dog training commands are a way to communicate with our dogs in a fast and efficient manner. They can be given by hand gestures and/or vocal cues. It is important that when we teach a dog a specific command, we keep everything looking and sounding exactly the same. A common example of this is interchanging “Down” and “Lay down.” This simple and seemingly insignificant change can really confuse your dog.
Items needed to start training
High-Value treats – These are special treats that your dog doesn’t commonly get at home. Although pet stores do sell training specific treats, it is best to use food like boiled chicken so that your dog stays engaged longer.
My favorite treat to use during training sessions are beef liver treats. I stick to one ingredient treats as they are packed with nutrients and won’t fill the dogs up with unnecessary preservatives.
6 ft and 15 ft leashes
6ft leashes are the standard size. Try to stay away from retractable leashes until your pup has an understanding of proper walking on leash. Slip leashes are a great starting point because it allows more control without hurting a dogs neck. 15 ft leashes are great for controlling your environment in terms of safety, and it also guarantees success for your pup when introducing the recall command.
Here is your list for the top 9 most essential dog training commands.
1. Sit
“sit” dog training command
Sit is most often the first dog training command learned and it is one that will be useful on an everyday basis.
Take your dog’s favorite treat and hold it near his/her face.
Slowly start moving it up and over their head. You’ll notice that their eyes will start to follow it until their body naturally sits.
As soon as your dog sits, mark the action with a verbal “Yes” and follow it with the name of the command “sit.”
Lastly, reward and repeat until your dog starts to understand what the word “sit” means.
DO NOT say the word “sit” before the action until they understand what it means. Doing this will confuse your dog, and it will take longer for them to learn the command.
2. Down
“down” dog training command
The “down” command is a submissive position for your dog, so it’ll take longer for a dog to willingly go down on command. Patience is key. Remember that making the experience a positive one, will not only teach your dog the command, but establish a good relationship between the two of you.
We’ll start by having a treat near your dogs nose, and slowly start moving it down toward the ground. Make sure your dog’s nose is moving with you as you move. If you move too fast, they will not follow.
Once all of your dogs body parts are on the ground, mark the action with a “yes” and name the action “down.”
Don’t forget to reward and repeat
3. Stay
“stay” dog training command
The “stay” command will teach your dog patience and self-control, which is why it’s an important command to teach puppies early on. Staying for long periods of time is something you’ll need to build up to, so be patient. Don’t expect your puppy to stay for minutes at a time in the beginning, let’s make sure we set them up for success. Repetitions are the key to success here.
Once the dog has learned the “down” command, start there.
You’ll use the palm of your hand in front of their face while on a “down” position so it is a clear indication for them that they should not move.
Reward immediately and restart.
Begin with small increments at a time. Then, work for longer and longer stays as the dog starts understanding the game.
DO NOT skip steps. If your dog is getting up from a “stay,” you’ll need to go back to basics until they have them down.
4. Stand
“stand” dog training command
Stand is a helpful command to use when you need your dog to move around. Using it during bath time for example, enables you to move your dog around without using force.
Start in either a “sit” or “down” position.
Hold a treat to their nose and slowly start moving it towards you.
As you are moving, make sure you take a step back so that your dog has enough space to stand. If your dog doesn’t have ample space, they will not be able to follow through.
Once your dog is standing mark the action with a vocal “yes” and name it “stand.”
Reward and Repeat.
5. Look
“look” dog training command
“Look” is an extremely important command outdoors. Dogs (especially puppies) will inevitably get distracted by a myriad of things. The world is full of sights, scents, and sounds so this command allows them to refocus and get back in tune with you.
Slowly start moving the treat up between your eyes.
When the dog looks into your eyes and not at the treat, mark the action with a “yes” and name it “Look.”
Reward and Repeat
NOTE that a dog may not start off by staring into your eyes for long periods of time. This is something you will need to build up to. What’s important is that you mark and reward IMMEDIATELY after, even if their eyes only met yours for a split second.
6. Come
“come” dog training command
Recalls can be life saving as it allows you to reliably call your dog in any situation and have them return immediately. A reliable “come” command can prevent a dog from running off and getting lost, or being in danger of getting hit by a car.
First, start by clipping a 15ft leash on to your dogs collar.
Then, put them in a “down/stay” and hold on to the leash as you begin to walk backwards.
Stop at 5ft and say “come.” Ifthey do, reward and treat but If they don’t, gently nudge them with the leash to come your way. Do not drag them towards you, it is important they do it learn to do this on their own.
Once they are reliably coming from a 5ft distance you can increase it while still holding on to the leash.
Lastly, make sure you make the experience as exciting as possible. Your dog should love coming to you EVERY TIME. This will make for an extremely dependable recall.
7. Heel
“heel” dog training command
The heel command will likely be the most time consuming dog training command to teach. It takes practice, repetition, and proper guidance on your part but if you stick with it, the results will be rewarding. You and your dog will be enjoying walks in no time!
Start with a 6ft leash and focus on your dogs engagement. Dogs will likely be interested in everything they come across in the environment, so it’s important they maintain some type of focus on you.
To get engagement, you’ll need to start making directional changes on leash. This means that you will start walking in one direction and when the dog hits the end of the leash, go the opposite way.
You can use treats as a reward, but I believe praise is more effective in this situation.
Below is a video demonstration of what these steps should look like:
8. Wait
“wait” dog training command
Unlike the “stay” command which requires a dog to not move for long periods of time, the “wait” command alerts your dog to stop for a few seconds. This command is useful when crossing the street, getting into the car, and when leaving the house for a walk. The “wait” command informs your dog that they need to pause for a few seconds and wait for the next command.
Start by walking on heel.
Then come to a complete stop and place the palm of your hand in front of your dogs face.
Wait for them to come to a stop and sit. Mark the action with a verbal “yes” so they know when they performed the command correctly and name it “wait.”
Reward with a treat and repeat.
Eventually you won’t need to to use your hand and just the verbal “wait” will suffice.
9. Place
“place” dog training command
This command teaches the dog where their special place is as well as teaching them to give you space when you need it. It’s helpful to have a place to send your dog to when you have guests over or when the doorbell rings.
Place your dogs bed in the center of the room, to ensure you have space to work.
Use your dog’s favorite training treat to lure them on to the bed.
Once every part of your dog is on the bed mark the action with a “yes” and name the command “place.”
Reward and repeat.
PRO TIP: using an elevated bed will clearly define the rules to your dog, making it easier to learn because there will be a distinct difference between the ground and the bed.
It is only the beginning…
These 9 dog training commands will put you on the right track to gaining a great relationship with your best friend. You’re here because you want to learn and you care about your dog, so keep that in mind when you feel overwhelmed. This guide is only the beginning. There will likely be issues you encounter along the way, and there will always be more to learn, so don’t get discouraged. Take it one step at a time and know that you are learning just like your dog is. Ultimately, it is about the bond you create with your dog and the happiness it brings to you both.
The beauty about dog training is that there are always many different ways to teach a dog a command. What techniques have you tried?
If you’d like to learn about more techniques and more ways to bond with your best friend, don’t forget to subscribe to receive more information. Happy training!
