How Delta Psychiatric Service Dogs Help Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing

Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog from Delta Assistance Dogs

If you’ve been searching for information about psychiatric service dogs from Delta Assistance Dogs, you’ve come to the right place. As a mental health advocate and certified psychiatric service dog handler, I’ve worked closely with Delta to train my dog Luna, and have first-hand experience with their application process, training program, and ongoing support.

What Types of Mental Health Conditions Qualify?

Delta provides highly-trained psychiatric service dogs to individuals with a wide variety of diagnosed mental health disabilities, including but not limited to: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety and social anxiety, mood disorders like clinical depression and bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. To qualify, your condition must substantially limit one or more major life activities, like caring for yourself or interacting with others.

From my experience working with their referral specialists, Delta takes a holistic, individualized approach to determining eligibility rather than relying solely on a diagnosis. They consider how a client’s specific symptoms impact daily functioning, and whether a service dog could mitigate those effects.

What Tasks Can a Psychiatric Service Dog Perform?

Psychiatric service dogs are uniquely trained to perform tasks that directly address a person’s mental health challenges. Some common tasks include:

• Providing deep pressure therapy during anxiety or panic attacks
• Blocking or distracting from triggers of PTSD flashbacks
• Waking a client from nightmares related to trauma
• Fetching medication on command or detecting oncoming depressive episodes
• Clearing a path and giving space in crowded areas for those with social anxiety

The key is that tasks must be related to the diagnosed disability and the dog’s specific training. Merely providing emotional support or comfort does not qualify as a public access task under the ADA.

What Is Involved in the Application and Training Process?

Here are the basic steps to receive a fully trained psychiatric service dog from Delta:

1. Application: Provide medical documentation and complete an in-depth needs assessment.
2. Waitlist: Once approved, your name is added to Delta’s list. Wait times vary but are usually 6-12 months.
3. Intake Interview: When a dog becomes available, you’ll meet to review expectations and ensure a good client-dog match.
4. Dog Selection: Delta selects dogs based on your specific needs from their breeding program or shelters.
5. Training: The dog lives with a professional trainer for 6-9 months of intensive psychiatric service dog instruction.
6. Graduation: Spend a week working with your new service dog to solidify training before going home.

Throughout the 2+ year process, Delta provides ongoing support via email, phone, and local designated trainers.

What Are the Costs Associated with Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog?

Here’s the lowdown on costs from my experience partnering with Delta:

• Application fee: $150 nonrefundable
• Dog and training: fully covered, valued around $30,000!
• Required equipment: Delta provides a vest, leash, food/care items (around $500 value)
• Ongoing care: $15-30 per month for meds, gear replacement is your responsibility

Basically, the upfront investment is minimal considering the huge expense of a professionally trained service dog is totally covered. You haven’t got to worry about paying monthly training bills.

Will Public Access Be an Issue with a Psychiatric Service Dog?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs must be allowed to accompany their handlers in all places of public accommodation, like restaurants, stores, offices, etc. This applies to psychiatric service dogs as well.

However, from my own experience, occasional idiots may challenge the dog’s status to attempt exclusion. Make sure to carry the dog’s vest and service dog certification from Delta at all times to easily resolve any disputes. Most encounters go smoothly once the documentation is presented.

The bottom line is you have a legal right to public access with a professionally trained psychiatric service dog from Delta. And following a few simple best practices can prevent headaches.

Are There Any Downsides to Owning a Psychiatric Service Dog?

While psychiatric service dogs provide immense emotional support, they are still a big responsibility requiring long term commitment. Here are a couple downsides you should be aware of:

Firstly, owning a service dog can attract unwanted attention in public from people wanting to pet them or ask questions. For those really struggling with social anxiety, all the extra interactions could become overwhelming. Secondly, you have to plan trips or vacations carefully to ensure your loyal companion can accompany you. Finding dog-friendly lodging or transport can require research.

Lastly, as with all dogs, your service animal will eventually retire after 7-10 years of work. Having to start the application and training process over again can feel like a massive undertaking. But the lifelong benefits outweigh these relatively minor challenges.

Should I Get a Psychiatric Service Dog?

In the end, while there are certainly adjustments that come with service dog ownership, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made for my mental health recovery. The constant support and companionship Luna provides has given me so much more independence, confidence, and freedom to live my life.

If your disability significantly impairs daily functioning and self-care, a psychiatric service dog may well be worth considering. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Delta Assistance Dogs’ referral team to explore whether this option makes sense for you too.

I really hope this in-depth guide helped answer all your questions! Feel free to reach out if any other aspects of the process remain unclear. You’re not alone in your journey – Delta’s service dog partners are here to help every step of the way.

Choosing the Right Psychiatric Service Dog

Breed	Size/Weight	Temperament	Training Level	Cost
Labrador Retriever	Medium/50-80 lbs	Friendly, calm	Entry level	$15,000-$30,000
Golden Retriever	Medium/55-75 lbs	Friendly, gentle	Entry level	$15,000-$30,000
Poodle	Small/10-15 lbs, Medium/30-45 lbs	Intelligent, calm	Advanced	$20,000-$35,000
German Shepherd	Large/70-90 lbs	Loyal, protective	Advanced	$20,000-$35,000
Border Collie	Medium/30-55 lbs	Active, intelligent	Expert	$25,000-$40,000

FAQ

1. What is a psychiatric service dog?

   A psychiatric service dog is a type of assistance dog that is specially trained to help persons with mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression. These dogs are different than emotional support animals, as they undergo extensive training to perform specific tasks to mitigate their owner’s disability symptoms. Basically, they can provide assistance with panic attacks, nightmares, grounding techniques, medication reminders, and other necessary duties.

2. What tasks can a psychiatric service dog perform?

   Psychiatric service dogs can carry out a wide range of responsibilities. For example, they may interrupt self-harming behavior or alert when their handler is dissociating. Also, dogs could retrieve medicine or provide deep pressure therapy through leaning during anxiety attacks. At the same time, some psychiatric service dogs are taught to wake their handler from nightmares or turn on lights to help combat frightening flashbacks. The tasks vary depending on what an individual patient requires.

3. Do I need a prescription or documentation from a mental health professional?

   Yeah, to legally have a psychiatric service dog under the ADA, you’ll require documentation from a medical doctor or mental healthcare provider stating that you have a condition as outlined in the DSM-5. The certification should also confirm that the dog was prescribed as a reasonable accommodation for your disability. So basically make sure to get the proper paperwork in order before taking your dog out in public as a service animal.

4. How much does training a psychiatric service dog typically cost?

   The cost to hire a professional service dog trainer can range from around $15,000 to $30,000 depending on a variety of factors. However, perhaps you might try to lower costs by self-training your pup with the guidance of experienced trainers online or in books for maybe a fraction of the price. That said, it’s doubtful you’ll match the standard of a fully-certified program. So Is it worth going with a cheaper DIY option? Maybe consider carefully!

5. Will my insurance cover any expenses?

   Unfortunately, health insurance usually doesn’t help with the steep costs of acquiring a service dog. However, did you know that some disability insurance plans and veterans benefits programs could potentially cover training fees or equipment? It’s also possible to get financial assistance through nonprofit service dog organizations. So check with your provider and explore all available funding sources. Who knows – you may find some help!

6. What breed is best for psychiatric service work?

   Experts state that temperament matters most when choosing a breed for psychiatric service dog tasks. Poodles, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers are commonly trained due to their gentle, intelligent natures. Still, every dog is unique – so even lesser known mixed breeds could succeed. The right candidate will depend on an individual’s needs. In the end, focusing on personality over pedigree is key. Perhaps meet some prospects to see who you connect with!

To summarize the above FAQ – hope it helps offer a general introduction to psychiatric service dogs! Let me know if any other questions come to mind. As always, I aim to provide reliable information to the best of my abilities. But perhaps a professional can offer more nuanced advice tailored to your specific situation.