The acknowledgment of the benefits of owning an Emotional Support Dog is growing in popularity, and for a good reason.
An Emotional Support Dog can be extraordinarily beneficial for those with mental or emotional conditions. These pups can improve your quality of life, support you, and motivate you.
Every home should really have an Emotional Support Dog. Here’s why:
What a Trained Emotional Support Dog Can Do
Easing anxiety and stress
Snuggling and petting a dog causes the body to relax and lift spirits. Emotional Support Dogs can support people with Anxiety Disorders, people with phobias such as agoraphobia, and can even help with depression.
Emotional Support Dogs can also ease anxiety in high-stress situations such as being on a plane or going to a busy store. Phobias such as aerophobia (fear of flying on a plane) are real and debilitating for some. Holding an Emotional Support Animal can help reduce a person’s stress and help them get through the plane ride.
Trauma Support
Emotional Support dogs can comfort trauma victims and owners with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Furthermore, Emotional Support Dogs work well in conjunction with other forms of treatment. Emotional Support Animals and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy are powerful tools to help someone with depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and more.
Encourage Exercise
Boosting your physical health lowers your blood pressure, increases your lung capacity, improves your ability to cope with pain, lifts spirits, and encourages positive hormonal and chemical balances in the brain.
Having an Emotional Support Dog will encourage you to exercise to ensure the dog gets out for a walk.
Additionally, walking a dog can also work in conjunction with mindfulness techniques, such as pacing your breathing or meditating while walking.
Boost Dopamine
Studies show that dogs help humans produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical that helps us feel love, motivation, and pleasure. Dopamine also helps strengthen our memory.
Dopamine levels are boosted by holding and looking a dog in the eyes. This makes you feel less depressed and increases your capacity to love.
Companionship and Unconditional love
Living with a mental disability can be extraordinarily lonely. Dogs can be a companion and friends in times of loneliness.
Emotional Support Dogs can help you stabilize intense emotions, such as negativity or anger, after a hard day’s work.
Additionally, dogs make us feel great because we know they love us no matter what. This provides a sense of purpose in giving the dog care and love.
Who Benefits from Owning an Emotional Support Dog
- Children and Teens
Children and Teens are at the highest risk for depression and other mental health conditions. Especially children who experience trauma or have parents divorcing. Having an Emotional Support Dog significantly reduces the risk of developing depression.
- Psychiatric Patients
Psychiatric patients benefit from having an Emotional Support Dog, especially in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It has been shown that the pups increased the patients’ quality of life and gave them better motivation.
- War Veterans and Active-Duty Soldiers
The care of Emotional Support dogs benefits war veterans and active-duty soldiers with PTSD. During times of high stress, having a dog helps the owner feel safe and realize there is no threat.
- Prison Inmates
Having an Emotional Support Dog in prison helps inmates feel safer, gives them a meaningful activity inside the facility, and helps reduce depression.
- University Students
University students are at high risk for developing mental health disorders because they are away from home. Students also have increased pressure to perform well and are often stressed about money. Many colleges bring in Emotional Support Dogs during high-stress times such as finals week.
- Everyone Else!
All homes, families, and individuals can benefit from having a trained Emotional Support Dog. The benefits of having a pup in the family are endless. They will bring you joy, happiness, and comfort.
Benefits of Having an Emotional Support Dog from Feathers and Fleece
ESAs do not require specialized training. Nevertheless, the pups must be exceptionally well-behaved and trained well to be in public spaces. That’s why we offer the Emotional Support Training Program for all of our puppies. From the puppy selection process to certification, this program will assist you in finding the right dog for you.
Here at Feathers and Fleece, we place about 30% of our dogs with families looking for support dogs.
More than 20% of those are for teenage children suffering from stress, particularly young girls who are getting bullied in one way or another. They support teens who are bullied through the internet or have body image negativity and depression.
Undoubtedly, our puppies provide children with a healthy way to understand compassion and comfort. They offer unconditional love and support to those who need it most. Feathers and Fleece dogs have successfully helped hundreds of children.
Are You Ready to Have the Benefits of an Emotional Support Dog in Your Home?
Click here for more information about Feathers and Fleece Whoodles, Sheepadoodles and Schnoodles, training programs, and more.
Can Emotional Support Dogs Go With You Anywhere?
It’s important to understand the difference between an emotional support dog and a service dog.
ESA vs. Service Dogs
Emotional Support Dogs or ESAs are generally restricted from certain establishments including restaurants or shopping areas. Service dogs are usually allowed in most public spaces. These dogs are trained to assist individuals who suffer from disabilities whether physical or mental.
Health Benefits of Owning an Emotional Support Dog
There are numerous health benefits for owners of emotional support dogs and other animals, including but not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Mood disorders
- PTSD
- Phobic tendencies
- Depression
The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 labels these animals as a reasonable consideration for individuals in need of housing.