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Posted on 07/02/2024 9:55:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
An emotional support animal (ESA) can provide comfort, companionship, and plenty of therapeutic benefits if you’re dealing with an emotional or mental health issue, whether it’s anxiety, panic attacks, depression, chronic stress, ADHD, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In most cases, ESAs are dogs (but it’s not a rule). Under federal law in the United States, in order to qualify as an emotional support animal, you need a prescription letter from a licensed mental health professional, like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or even therapist.
Unlike service dogs, emotional support dogs don’t need any kind of specific training and, in theory, can be any type of breed you want. But if you’re looking for a new dog to serve as an emotional support animal, there are some types of breeds that could make the best candidates as emotional support animals.
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Well-known for their friendly and gentle nature, Golden Retrievers are extremely sociable and compassionate dogs. They have a natural instinct to comfort and connect with everyone around them. They have a natural instinct when it comes to comforting and connecting with people.
At the same time, they are very easy to train and are one of the most reliable breeds out there. For this reason, Golden Retrievers are often trained as service dogs. They are also a wonderful option for those who need emotional support.
If you’ve never had a dog before, there’s no better breed to start with than Golden Retrievers. Some of their biggest traits are intelligence, adaptability in training, eagerness to please, patience, and reliability.
Labradors are well known for their loyalty, kindness, and especially affection. They have an intuitive ability to sense your emotions and provide unconditional love to their owners. Labradors are wonderful emotional support animals, but they’re also extremely versatile service dogs.
They always have a friendly disposition, and their adaptability makes them extremely well-suited for different environments and situations. Even if they seem similar, Labrador Retrievers have shorter coats than Golden Retrievers, which is much easier to maintain.
There’s also a difference in character: Goldens can be a bit clingy, but Labradors are more independent. Some of their traits include being loyal, affectionate, very sensitive to all kinds of emotions, versatile, but also independent.
These small but very charming dogs are well known for their never-ending gentleness and affectionate nature. They form very strong bonds with their owners and thrive on close companionship. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are great for individuals who wish for an emotional companion but don’t want a bigger breed.
They are particularly connected to human emotions, making them wonderful and empathetic companions for emotional support. Some of their most appreciated traits are gentleness, affection, the ability to bond with their owner, their size, and their empathetic superpowers.
Poodles are extremely intelligent, and they also have a very calm and composed demeanor. They aren’t only hypoallergenic but also very adaptable, which makes them a great choice for those who suffer from allergies. Poodles come in all kinds of sizes, from standard to miniature, which allows individuals to choose a size depending on their living situation.
Their brightness allows them to provide both emotional support and assistance with different types of tasks. But it’s very important to note that poodles are generally very high-energy dogs, which means they need plenty of attention and physical and mental stimulation.
Some of the most important traits you will find in a poodle include intelligence, a very calm demeanor, a hypoallergenic coat, adaptability, and a wide variety of sizes.
Pugs are famous for how playful and sweet they can be. They have a very charming personality that brings a lot of joy and comfort to any household. Pugs are also quite small in size, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have the biggest hearts!
They are especially suitable for individuals looking for a breed with a very strong sense of companionship and a knack for lifting every spirit. Some of their traits include playfulness, being very affectionate, having a charming personality, being small, and being spirited.
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Shih Tzus might seem small, but their hearts are definitely very big. They get their energy from their relationship with their loving owners, and they’re tailor-made for indoor living. With their long and flowing coats and expressive eyes, Shih Tzus are great as emotional support animals.
They are very attentive and loving, and they have a knack for forming deep bonds with their owners. Shuh Tzus also tend to be quite comfortable living in smaller spaces, so if you live in a one-bedroom apartment, for instance, this might be the ideal breed for you.
Some of their most appreciated traits include being very friendly, affectionate, and indoor-friendly; having a long and flowing coat; and having a deep bond with the owner.
It’s very important to remember that an emotional support dog isn’t just a therapeutic tool but also a pet in every way. When you decide to bring a new dog into your family, your life will never be the same again in the best possible way. For this very reason, it’s important to choose a breed that matches not only your lifestyle but also your emotional needs. Here are some important factors you should consider:
Exactly... I had a T-shirt made up that says EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HUSBAND DO NOT PET. It’s fun to wear around the safe space, coloring book, emotionally unstable crowd.
well, I think it is important for the dog as well
Anyone who adopts a Belgian Malinois or Rhodesian Ridgeback MUST be prepared to be very active and take the dog for walks, training etc. daily - those are smart dogs and hyperactive.
anyone who has a Rotweiler or Doberman or German shepherd must set aside time for training and acclimitization. I’m not even going to mention people adopting mastiffs or Caucasian ovcharec.
Finally, there are breeds who can’t leave your side and get depressed if you are away for a long time - don’t get them and break their hearts.
“If you are mismatched with your dog, you won’t be happy with it as much and it won’t be happy with you.”
exactly - I see it as important for the dog’s welfare and happiness.
It always irritates me when I see people with Labradors or worse, German shepherds who are not walked or trained enough and the dogs are depressed, fat and generally die young.
Your Lhasa Apso might have been “dim”, Jonty, but (s)he loved you and was happy.
German Shepherd. Working line, of course.
Always remember that dogs only live 12 to 16 years, more or less. That happy puppy will someday need to be put to sleep, at great emotional pain for their human counterpart. You will cry.
Still, a loyal and loving dog will give you 10 of the best years (probably more) that you have ever enjoyed. Better yet get two, so the dogs have playmates while you’re at work.
Loud barking little dogs are NOT good for emotional support.
We ARE judging you. And where is our food?"
I had a mini pin he didn’t bark too much there was a bigger dog around that he kind of clung to but he was a sweetheart and he was very loyal even though he was only eight pounds. I now have a Doberman, sweetheart, a little bit on the knuckleheaded side not mouthy at all steadfast and loyal and I appreciate her too. We’ve had a couple of Standard Poodles, a mutt or two but we’ve never had a Labrador. I have a few friends that have Labradors and they’re great happy dogs but they are just too destructive, and I mean that because I’ve seen what they can do. However, to their benefit... they destroy things with love in their hearts.
I'm not sure where that comes from. We've owned four in the last thirty-plus years and never ever saw what you describe.
They were all smart, loving pets! Plus, even though I love my kids, Most Shih Tzus never move off, go to college, call home for more money, or wreck cars :-)
Hahahahahah...love the reference!
The voice is one thing. Volume control could be included. But in the end, it will always come down to this:
Darn it. They can try to program it out, but with AI...
I just hope she can’t be hacked!
I love my goldendoodle. I’ve always been one to get a mutt from a shelter but we chose this dog to be trained as a seizure dog for my son (she would alert us) . He hasn’t had a seizure in years, and she bonded with me. She hates for me to be out of her sight. She follows me around the house all day and sits patiently on the porch watching me do farm chores. She is crazy over the water, even swims laps with me in the pool. If any other visiting dog misbehaves by jumping up on people or doing anything they shouldn’t, she pulls them away. We didn’t teach her that.
She cannot stand for me to be away for more than a few hours, but she has a buddy so that helps.
The organization that trained her can train many breeds for service, but it seems that I mostly saw golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, goldendoodle and labradoodles (the doodles are popular for allergy reasons). Very smart, friendly, loyal dogs, incredible sense of smell, and happy to be with their humans all day.
Ah! Squeeze her for me. We lost our Border Collie, Farm Dog Jake, 7yo,cancer, 6 months ago. He didn’t need any training from 8 weeks old. He just seemed to know. He went everywhere with me. I don’t know if I can do it again. Miss him terribly.
Best dogs ever. She is our third one. Very different having a female BC.
“My German Shepherd as no good for emotional support. He was aloof. Not lovey dovey or cuddly at all.”
I have a female GSD that is the exact opposite. She will do anything for attention. Terrible watch dog. I believe if a burglar came in the house and petted her she would help him steal my stuff.
Shih Tzu’s are also hypo-allergenic. They have hair, not fur.
Cats have an internal clock that is crazy accurate.
Beagles and Chihuahuas. I’ve had one of each. Greatest companions ever. Our Chihuahua follows us from room to room.
We have had a series of 2nd and 3rd hand dogs. Right now we have a Lab mix and a pitbull mix who are extremely lovable and fun.
Fortunately both sound like Rottweilers when strangers come to the door.
It's unfair to compare one of your dogs to another, but Rose was in a whole different class of dog.
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