What is emotional support dog​?Psychological counseling dogs, also known as emotional support dogs or therapy dogs, are a type of specially trained dog whose main task is to provide emotional support and psychological therapy, helping people alleviate anxiety, stress, and emotional problems. The following is a detailed introduction about psychological counseling dogs:

Variety selection

There are various breeds of psychological counseling dogs, mainly selected based on personality, stability, and affinity. Common breeds include Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, etc. It is important that these dogs have a gentle, friendly, and human friendly personality.

Professional Training

Psychological counseling dogs need to receive professional training, usually at specialized dog training schools or organizations. The training content includes basic obedience, socialization, emotional support skills, etc. These trainings help dogs adapt to various environments and interpersonal relationships, ensuring their stable and reliable performance in their work.

Emotional support

The main task of psychological counseling dogs is to provide emotional support. They can perceive the emotional changes of their owners and convey warmth and comfort through companionship, closeness, and licking. In the therapeutic environment, these dogs can establish close emotional connections with patients, promoting their self-regulation and emotional release.

Accompanying and reducing stress

In psychotherapy, the companionship role of psychological counseling dogs is very important. They can accompany patients through the loneliness and tension during the treatment process, reducing the pressure brought by treatment. For some patients who require long-term companionship, psychological counseling dogs can become important companions.

Social training

Psychological counseling dogs also receive social training to enable them to adapt to different social situations. This helps them to behave friendly and calm in various environments, and better fulfill their job responsibilities.

Scope of treatment

Psychological counseling dogs can be applied in multiple fields, including psychotherapy, rehabilitation therapy, child psychology, and elderly mental health. Their application scope is becoming increasingly widespread, as people recognize the positive impact of interacting with dogs on mental health.

Legal status

In some countries and regions, psychological counseling dogs are granted legal status, allowing them to accompany their owners into public places such as shopping malls, airplanes, hospitals, etc. This helps ensure that people in need of emotional support can receive necessary assistance in various situations.