Joybound’s psychiatric service dogs are more than just pets; they’re trained professionals capable of assisting individuals aged 16 and older with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and beyond. While any animal can provide much-needed companionship, these dogs offer a lifeline to those battling mental health challenges, drastically enhancing their independence and emotional balance.
Interested in training your own dog as a psychiatric service animal? Shelter to Service now offers training for individuals with personal dogs who meet our program requirements.
“My service dog has changed my life and brought me back to me.”
– Ethan, Shelter to Service Graduate
Shelter to Service psychiatric service dog candidates are carefully assessed and selected to meet each participant handler’s needs. While our team takes applicants’ preferences into consideration (breed, size, energy level, etc.), Shelter to Service prioritizes matching candidates that best fit the participant’s described needs and lifestyle when screening dogs for qualities including focus, confidence, handler-affiliation, calmness, and response to reward-based training.
Is a Psychiatric Service Dog Right for You?
Like all service animals, psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that address symptoms of their handler’s condition. Tasks can include providing deep pressure therapy, creating space, reminders, interruptions, and more.
The presence of a psychiatric service dog can help with the following:
- Stabilizing emotions, leading to more predictable routines and a greater sense of control over one’s life.
- Regaining access and improving confidence in social activities and settings.
- Grounding or soothing their handler after an emotional episode or night terrors.
- Alerting to and interrupting anxious behavior(s) or panic attacks.
- Reminding handler to take medications or finding lost items.
- Inspiring sociability, relationship building, and improving positive outlook.
Psychiatric Service Dog Applicant Requirements
Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from their licensed mental healthcare provider, written within the last year. Please note that our Participant Services Manager will be following up with the provider to confirm ongoing support. This letter must include:
- The applicant’s name.
- The date the letter was written.
- The state the mental healthcare provider is licensed in.
- The licensed mental healthcare provider’s signature, printed name, license number, title, contact information, and physical address.
- How long the applicant has been under the mental healthcare provider’s care.
- The applicant’s specific need for a service dog and what the service dog would do for the applicant.
- For renters only: The applicant’s need for an emotional support animal.
Applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from a family or household member. This letter must include:
- The date the letter was written.
- Their relationship to and how long they’ve known the applicant.
- How the applicant would benefit from the assistance of a service dog.
- Confirmation that the applicant has the capacity and physical ability to consistently train and care for a service dog.
- Family member’s name, signature, phone number, and email address.
Applicants are responsible for training and handling candidates in adherence to our program guidelines in order to meet the expectations required for graduation.
Applicants must be willing and able to travel by car to our Walnut Creek campus to attend the following:
- A three-day program orientation (one hour per day for three consecutive days)
- Hand-off training classes (two-hour training classes, five days per week, for two weeks)
- Service task and public access training classes (one-hour training classes, twice per week, for a minimum of two and a half months)
Please note: Applicants under the age of 18 must have their application filled out by a parent or guardian.
General Program Eligibility Requirements
Each different type of Shelter to Service service has individual eligibility requirements for applicants. More information is available on their specific program pages. But all applicants must have the following qualifications.
- Applicants must live in a stable, personal residence.
- Applicants must demonstrate willingness and ability to provide proper care and a safe home environment for a dog for their lifespan.
- Applicants must be at least 16 years or older.
- Applicants must submit a copy of their photo ID.
- Applicants must be willing and able to travel by car to our Walnut Creek campus.
The Journey from Shelter Dog to Service Dog
How does a shelter dog become a psychiatric service dog? From the time of initial evaluation at partner shelters to graduation from the program, psychiatric service dog candidates go through several stages of assessment, exposure, and training to prepare them for assisting individuals with mental health conditions.
Step 1 – Admissions (Intake)
Joybound visits partner shelters to identify animals with the greatest potential to become candidates for psychiatric service work.
Step 2 – Assessment
Our team conducts extensive assessments to determine whether an animal is a suitable candidate for the Shelter to Service program.
Step 3 – Volunteer Foster Training
Animals that display both motivation and aptitude for the program spend 15 weeks with volunteer foster trainers, honing skills that will eventually serve their future adopters.
Step 4 – Matching
Upon completing training, the candidate is matched with a participant who will benefit from the assistance of a psychiatric service dog.
Step 5 – Participant Training
Program participants and their matched candidates build specific skills for at least 12 weeks in order to best support the participant.
Step 6 – Graduation & Adoption
Once the team has completed the training curriculum and passed the program assessment, the participant officially adopts the candidate and the team graduates from the program, earning their psychiatric service dog certification.
Step 7 – Specialized Training
Graduated psychiatric service dog teams may attend additional specialized training for specific situations, such as visiting an amusement park or travelling on an airplane.
Step 8 – Recertification
All graduated teams participate in an annual recertification to ensure standards are being met for continued status recognition through the Shelter to Service program.
Get Involved with Shelter to Service
Become a Volunteer Foster Trainer
Volunteer foster trainers make our mission possible.
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Apply for a Shelter to Service Animal
Start your assistance or support animal journey.
