Why are service dogs useful for those with PTSD?

Benefits of service dogs for those with PTSD

Dogs are often non-judgemental by nature, making them well equipped to deal with those who have become emotionally distant. They’re also highly sociable, something that benefits those who are closed off from friends, family, and the rest of the world by allowing them to be able to interact more with others and be more open.

Dogs are also well known to be protective of their pack, giving those who have PTSD a worthy companion and a sense of security with their presence. They’re also reliable and are able to provide companionship at all times, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

PTSD service dogs also provide loyal companionship which in turn helps improve your quality of life. This is done by reducing feelings of isolation and a large variety of mental benefits that come from bonding with a pet that offers unconditional love.

Some programs provide help to both the handlers and the dogs. Warriors Heart rescues dogs from throughout the United States who would otherwise spend their lives in a shelter with an opportunity to find a loving home in return for care and attention that only they can provide.

What are PTSD service dogs trained to do?

Apart from providing emotional support, PTSD service dogs are trained to do a number of other jobs that allow their handlers the ability to enjoy life in an easier way.

They’re able to keep people away at a safe distance to keep the handler calm and avoid any unwanted advances that could cause grief. Service dogs are also able to alert when there is someone else nearby to avoid causing any startling responses which could trigger a flashback. This allows those who were unable to go outside with the ability to be independent and regain the life they had lost as a result of PTSD.

At home, service dogs are able to provide assistance during hallucinations, be alert to any onset of anxiety, remind their handlers to take their medications, and keep them grounded when they begin to experience an PTSD episode. At night, they can also wake up their handler from night terrors and also provide company in order to sleep more soundly.