What is emotional support dog​?A counseling dog, also known as an emotional support dog or therapy dog, is a specially trained canine whose main task is to provide emotional support and psychotherapy to help people with anxiety, stress and emotional problems. Below is a detailed description of the counseling dog.

Breed Selection

Counseling dogs come in a variety of breeds and are chosen primarily based on personality, stability and affinity. Common breeds include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles. It is important that these dogs have a gentle, friendly and humane personality.

Specialized Training

Counseling dogs require professional training, usually at a specialized dog training school or organization. Training includes basic obedience, socialization, and emotional support skills. These trainings help the dogs adapt to a variety of environments and relationships, ensuring that they perform consistently and reliably on the job.

Emotional Support

The main task of a counseling dog is to provide emotional support. They can sense changes in their owner's mood and convey warmth and comfort through companionship, closeness and licking. In a therapeutic setting, these dogs can establish a close emotional connection with the patient, facilitating their self-regulation and emotional release.

Companionship and Stress Reduction

The companionship role of counseling dogs is very important in psychotherapy. They can accompany patients through the loneliness and tension of the treatment process and reduce the stress caused by the treatment. For some patients who need long-term companionship, counseling dogs can be important companions.

Social Training

Counseling dogs are also socially trained to enable them to adapt to different social situations. This helps them to behave in a friendly and calm manner in various environments and perform their job duties better.

Therapeutic Range

Counseling dogs can be used in a number of fields, including psychotherapy, rehabilitation, child psychology, and geriatric mental health. As people recognize the positive effects of interacting with dogs on mental health, their applications are becoming more widespread.

Legal status

In some countries and regions, counseling dogs are given legal status, allowing them to accompany their owners into public places such as shopping malls, airplanes, and hospitals. This helps to ensure that people in need of emotional support can get the help they need in a variety of situations.