We know that our canine companions can deal with trauma and ongoing emotional turmoil. Although human experiences vary, the results are often the same: nightmares, a tendency to self-harm, isolation, trouble sleeping, depression, anger issues, shame, guilt, and anxiety.
More important is how emotional disability affects “normal” life, leading you to avoid human contact or lose friends who don’t understand your current situation. Emotional support dogs are loyal and have quickly become a popular choice for people struggling with issues in their daily lives.
While all dogs share an emotional connection with humans, not everyone can provide emotional support. Check out the benefits of emotional support dogs, and find the right one for your emotional needs.
What are Emotional Support Dogs?
People with mental or emotional problems have started using dogs as their mental support companions because such pets help them stay active throughout the day. For people whose lives have been turned upside down by trauma, these ponds offer a sense of unconditional love, acceptance, comfort, and structure.
Dogs help them deal with difficulties that may interfere with their quality of life. However, there are ways to formally and legally identify an emotional support dog. According to the American Kennel Club, a dog can be an ESA animal if a licensed mental health practitioner prescribes the pet to a person struggling with a disabling mental issue.
A psychiatrist, therapist, or psychologist should evaluate you and conclude that having a dog can help your mental health. The formal process allows you to take advantage of several advantages, such as getting a cabin on flights or housing the animal in a house or apartment with a “NO PET” policy.
There is no age or breed limit for the dog, but certain breeds have characteristics that make them ideal for the role.
Vizsla
If you need emotional support, here’s your canine companion. Vizslas are sweet, happy, and loving, and will do anything to spend time outdoors with their humans and snuggle up to them in the evenings.
They are very athletic and love to be active, so make sure you have great jogging and cycling buddy to help keep you emotionally and physically fit. Plus, vizslas have cat-like grooming abilities, which means they don’t smell like other dogs and you’ll have an easier time cleaning them.
| Lifespan: | 10-15 years |
| Temperament: | Sweet, energetic, loving, athletic, joyful, active |
| Color: | Pale yellow, golden rust, golden, brown, dark mahogany red |
| Height: | 21-24 inches |
| Weight: | 45-65 pounds |
Labrador Retriever
Labs are the most loyal emotional support, therapy, and service dogs you will ever have. Cheerful, bright, and naturally gentle, the Labrador Retriever is positively infectious and serves up plenty of big, sloppy kisses regardless of your mood.
These chicks have a strong desire to please and can adapt flawlessly to your moods to share your best and lowest moments. You don’t have to worry about a stray Lab, because no other puppy will always be at your side like a Lab.
| Lifespan: | 10-12 years |
| Temperament: | Energetic, passionate, loyal, loving, gentle, happy, people-pleaser, lively |
| Color: | Black, chocolate, yellow |
| Height: | 22-25 inches |
| Weight: | 55-80 pounds |
Pug
Behind the dorky-looking face is a happy emotional support pug who gives the best hugs. Pugs have fun-loving natures with more positive thinking minds. Their instincts are intertwined with their innate desire to make people feel better.
These dogs are smart, and friendly can adapt to your emotions and can touch your place of positivity and happiness. However, not the best option if you are a frequent traveler as many airlines will not allow you to fly because of short noses that cause breathing difficulties.
| Lifespan: | 12-15 years |
| Temperament: | Playful, intelligent, loyal, affectionate, charming, mischievous, gentle |
| Color: | Fawn, black, apricot |
| Height: | 10-13 inches |
| Weight: | 13-21 pounds |
Brussels Griffon
One look at this “monkey face” puppy and you won’t resist a smile. The Brussels Griffon dog is alert, curious, joyful, affectionate, and exceptionally sensitive to human emotions. This dog is delightfully down-to-earth, but “personal space” seems irrelevant in its world. It will sit on your lap whenever it feels like it should.
| Lifespan: | 10-15 years |
| Temperament: | Cheerful, vocal, confident, stubborn, mischievous, playful, bold, alert, affectionate |
| Color: | Black, brown, black & tan, blue, red, beige |
| Height: | 7-8 inches |
| Weight: | 7-12 pounds |
Corgi
Everything about the qualities of people and Corgis points to one thing – how great these dogs are for emotional support. You really can’t go wrong with this easy-going, intelligent, and loving dog whose loving face and loyalty are enough to set the mood.
A Corgi’s friendships range from people to other dogs and non-dogs and can be such a love bug!
These dogs are very active, so they can be a life-saving choice for owners who need extra physical fitness for emotional support. You’ll help channel your Corgi’s energy, you know!
| Lifespan: | 12-15 years |
| Temperament: | Active, bold, protective, intelligent, tenacious, loving, fun, happy, playful |
| Color: | Red, fawn, tri-colored, black, sable |
| Height: | 10-12 inches |
| Weight: | Up to 30 pounds |
Irish Wolfhound
These dogs are natural protectors, and it is well known that Irish Wolfhounds are among emotional support dogs. Irish Wolfhounds are remarkably patient and very sensitive, they can pay attention to the mood of their people and turn everything around.
Known as the “gentle giants” of the dog world, these hounds are enormous with equally big hearts, lots of love to share, and enough room for the longest hug any emotionally disabled person could use. However, due to complications with their enormous size, Irish Wolfhounds have a short lifespan – only 6 to 7 years – and are extremely difficult for patients who rely heavily on their emotional support.
| Lifespan: | 6-7 years |
| Temperament: | Patient, loving, gentle, dignified, loyal, generous, sensitive, easygoing |
| Color: | White, black, brindle, red, gray, fawn |
| Height: | 30 inches and above |
| Weight: | 105-125 pounds |
The benefits of emotional support dogs
Sleep support
Emotional support dogs can come in handy for people with sleep problems and flashbacks who are struggling with issues like PTSD or complex PTSD. Sharing a bed and cuddling with an emotional support dog can help provide a sense of safety and security at night and in turn improve sleep quality.
These dogs can coax, whine and try to get close whenever you experience flashbacks and nightmares. After experiencing unwanted emotional arousal from your experience, they redirect and soothe you.
Emotion regulation
An emotional support dog can help you recognize and regulate your emotions when you feel overwhelmed, overwhelmed, or angry. For example, the dog may whine or move around when it senses your anger or voice getting louder. This can help you calm down through self-soothing techniques or grounding strategies.
Improve daily routine
Some people with mental disorders tend to isolate themselves from people as a precaution and self-protection measure.
Unfortunately, many emotionally struggling people who have suffered long-term trauma (emotional or physical) or gynecological abuse have a common theme: they find human interaction unsafe or threatening and tend to avoid it.
However, an emotional support dog can “bridge” the gap and give you a new sense of purpose. Dogs need a daily schedule of dressing, bathing, feeding, and walking. Therefore, these activities help to reintegrate one into society by taking care of a dog.
Socialization
Emotional support dogs in therapy centers can help improve interactions between patients in therapy groups. The ability to help people create human-to-human bonds like dog walkers and strangers is suitable for an individual’s long-term health.
Pay attention to all the above-mentioned matters. Show them how much you love dogs and impress them. So have fun no matter what type of dog your pet is. If you want more information about dogs check out some of these articles
- Why are puppies so cute?
- 12 Hazardous Food varieties Your Canine Ought to Never Eat
- Why It Is important in the event that Your Canine Likes Their Food