Service dogs come in different titles and purposes, each serving their handlers in a unique way. Many service dogs are named after the main task they perform, whether this is related to mobility assistance, a psychiatric disability, or sensory disabilities.
One of the common service dogs when it comes to disabilities like panic disorder is a tactile stimulation service dog. As their name suggests, these dogs perform tactile stimulation to assist their handlers, which can help individuals who are struggling with dissociation, anxiety attacks, and harmful behaviors.
If you’re curious to learn more about tactile stimulation service dogs, we’re here to help you discover everything to know. Continue reading to the end to find out all about tactile stimulation service dogs, including whether these dogs are the right option for you and how you can get one.
What Is a Tactile Stimulation Service Dog?
A tactile stimulation dog is a type of psychiatric service dog. These dogs are trained to use intentional physical touch, like nudging, pawing, licking, and leaning, to interrupt symptoms. The repeated touch of the dog affects the handler’s nervous system and behavior, helping them calm down, stop repeated behaviors, and provide a sense of calm.
With what they can do for their handlers, tactile stimulation service dogs are commonly recommended to individuals with anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, these dogs can provide a sense of calm with their presence, which can be crucial for the handler’s well-being, knowing that their tactile stimulation service dog is there to help them get out of an episode.
Is a Tactile Stimulation Service Dog for You?
If you’re suffering from a condition that a tactile stimulation service dog can help, the best course of action to take to determine whether it is a good idea to have one is to speak with a mental health professional. Just like determining whether a prescription drug would be suitable for your treatment, they can help you in understanding whether a tactile stimulation service dog is for you.
Additionally, assess your lifestyle and environment to better understand if a tactile stimulation service dog (or a service dog, in general) is suitable for you. For example, consider your living arrangements, daily routine, and work. After all, a tactile stimulation service dog is like any other dog at the end of the day; you (or someone else in your life) must meet their daily care needs.
After considering all these and checking in with your mental health provider, you should be able to make an informed decision on whether a tactile stimulation service dog is for you.
How to Get a Tactile Stimulation Service Dog?
If you’ve decided that a tactile stimulation service dog is for you, know that there are multiple options for getting one. Here’s a quick overview of how you can get a tactile stimulation service dog.
Buy a Tactile Stimulation Service Dog
The most straightforward way to get a tactile stimulation service dog is to buy one from an organization or a professional dog trainer that trains and sells these dogs. However, you must make sure that the tactile stimulation service dog you’re buying is specifically trained for your disability. For example, a tactile stimulation service dog for anxiety and PTSD might be trained to identify different things before carrying out their duties.
Hire a Professional Trainer
If you have a dog that can be trained for the tasks tactile stimulation service dogs can carry out, you can hire a professional to have your dog trained to become your own assistance animal. Although finding a trainer to come for individual lessons can be difficult and overall costly, this is one way of getting a tactile stimulation service dog.
Train Your Own Tactile Stimulation Service Dog
Last but not least, for those who are willing to take charge of training and get involved firsthand, self-training is a viable option to get a tactile stimulation service dog. It can be intimidating at first, but following appropriate training resources, you can train your own tactile stimulation service dog. All you need is the willingness to dedicate one to two hours a day to your dog’s training.
Following Legal Guidelines With a Tactile Stimulation Service Dog
The Americans with Disabilities Act is the federal law that governs life with a service animal, and since tactile stimulation service dogs are service animals, they have public access rights that enable them to enter wherever their handler is allowed.
However, all service animals, regardless of what kind, must be well-behaved and under the handler’s control at all times to enjoy their protections. If you decide to train your own tactile stimulation service dog, keep this in mind and be sure to prioritize obedience training along with specialized training.
