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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:
Small smile, whenever life presents us with an addition to the family, Mr.Tatt says...Gee, it sure has been a LONG time since we had a Puppy.... Very BIG difference from having a dog that already knows the whole routine, LOL.
Enjoy the puppy breath FRiend ;)
Tatt
So cute, so cuddly, so calming in public.
LOL, we have one of those automated feeders, and...when they aren’t out there an hour before it goes off, they are there five minutes before.
My wife thinks they can hear some pre-noise it makes that we can’t hear...but I don’t think so.
I think they have an internal clock that is closely calibrated to their sleep times, which means...they probably only have about a half hour a day to calibrate to!
ALL OF BIDEN’S DOGS HAVE BEEN MIS-MATCHED.
The “PRICE OF ADMISSION” to my house is 2 dog treats.
MY dog KNOWS what “2” is.
We have a Cavalier as well. He’s our second one and is all dog while the first one was a bit more neurotic, lol. He loves to swim and can even dock dive. He’s an absolute nut around water while being a very close companion and friend. Wouldn’t harm a fly and toddlers could stick their hand in his mouth and remove food without being in danger, assuming he would let go of it of course. Totally recommend this breed to anyone who wants a real dog in a small package.
Rowdy, my current dog. He is closing on 15 years. He is the best ever. If you want kids to quit running in the house, he’ll stop them. If the kids want to chase him around the loop from living room to kitchen/dining/laundry, he is game. Playing keep away as the grandkids bust a gut laughing. No more of course, too many kicks from the farm animals and just too damn old.
I believe that to be mostly true. However, there are a couple of breeds trained for fighting that can go off unexpectedly at whatever triggers them.
Surprisingly, the last two rescue dogs from a PetSmart event turned out to be the most loving, intelligent, easily trained of all the dogs we've had through the years. I know Chihuahuas have a reputation as being "yappers", but after some calm "no bark" commands with a verbal/physical petting "good girl" reward, they stopped.
The other good thing about a small Chihuahua is if they do something contrary to your liking, just pick them up and place them elsewhere. Plus, they don't need much space for exercise. Both of ours were/are limited to the family room, and a gated outside patio/lawn. We set up a "nest" area in our sectional as we watch TV and they both fell asleep at about 6:30pm. Not a peep until the Wife came down and both went crazy to see her. But then she hand feeds and has long nails for scratching. Both Abby and now Lola have provided us with years of joy!
We lost Abby to cancer and I mourned for almost a year. It took the wife sometime to get me to go to the Adopt a Pet event. There were dozens of caged rescues. I pulled Lola out and she immediately gave me a kiss on the neck and layed her head on my shoulder, unlike she had done with anyone else trying to hold her. Done deal. Sorry for the long rant.
Love at first cuddle.
I’m retired and old now. My next pooch is going to be a small Fox Terrier. That is the great thing about the internet. You can still find a rescue of a breed that will fit you and your lifestyle limitations.
Border Collies are great. They do however stare at you with an intensity that prohibits relaxation in the room.
I’m holding out for a dog that can read Psalms.
David's 'signature' Psalm, no less.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters..
That Psalm is always a good choice to be pondered.
I may have gotten the breed wrong. I was thinking of the type of dog who looks like Benji, if you recall those shaggy dog movies from the 1970s and 80s.
I used to know all the dog breeds, the way most guys would know all the top racing cars.
“When the dog, on its very first day in our home, crawls right between my wife and I in bed, yeah I’m kinda sold on it.”
If that happened to me, I’d ship the dog to Kristi Noem....
We put our Border Collie down last month. 15 1/2 years - the oldest dog we’ve had. Still willing to play into the last week. But it was obvious he was struggling to hang on. Then it was like his insides collapsed. The vet did the job a couple hours later.
15.5 years of unquestioned devotion. It hurts.
You heartless old curmudgeon.
So truly sorry for your loss. I never thought I’d feel this way about a dog 🐕 but this breed seems to be so much more 🙏
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