At A&T Trained Dogs, we understand the significant impact that emotional support and therapy dogs can have on individuals facing emotional or mental health challenges. We are proud to offer a range of trained emotional support dogs specifically for therapy purposes, providing comfort, companionship, and a source of healing for those in need.
What are Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs?
Emotional support dogs provide comfort and companionship to their owner and require no specialist training. It must be prescribed by a licensed mental health professional and the patient in question must be diagnosed with a mental health condition to get an emotional support animal. Therapy dogs provide the same comfort as emotional support dogs, however, they differ in their duties. Therapy dogs provide service to multiple people beyond their owners. Often, a therapy dog will be a permanent resident of an establishment with a variety of patients and visitors like a nursing home or a rehabilitation facility.
How Can an Emotional Support Dog Benefit Mental Health?
There are many benefits that an emotional support dog may provide:
- Helps relieve anxiety
- Trauma support
- Improved physical health
- Fewer feelings of loneliness
- Reciprocal care and love
Our Training Process for Emotional Support and Therapy Dogs
1. Selection of Suitable Dogs
We carefully select dogs with the right temperament, disposition, and empathy to serve as emotional support and therapy dogs. These dogs possess a natural ability to provide comfort and support, making them ideal companions for individuals facing emotional or mental health difficulties.
2. Specialised Training
Once we have identified dogs with the appropriate qualities, we embark on a specialised training programme to enhance their abilities as emotional support and therapy dogs. Our experienced trainers utilise positive reinforcement techniques to teach the dogs specific skills and behaviours that promote emotional well-being and provide therapeutic benefits.
3. Bonding and Connection
We understand the importance of a strong bond between the dog and their owner. Our trainers work closely with individuals seeking emotional support or therapy dogs to ensure a successful match. We take into consideration the individual’s specific needs, preferences, and lifestyle to ensure the dog becomes a trusted and reliable source of support.
4. Emotional Support Skills
Our training programme focuses on developing a range of skills that enable our emotional support and therapy dogs to provide comfort and assistance. These skills may include:
- Active listening: Dogs are trained to attentively listen and respond to their owner’s emotions, providing a non-judgmental presence.
- Calming presence: Dogs are taught to provide a sense of calm and relaxation, helping to reduce anxiety and stress levels.
- Physical contact: Dogs are trained to offer gentle physical contact, such as leaning against or cuddling with their owner, promoting feelings of comfort and security.
- Mindfulness and grounding techniques: Dogs can be trained to assist individuals in practising mindfulness exercises or grounding techniques, helping to redirect focus and alleviate distress.
5. Ongoing Support
We believe in providing ongoing support to both the dog and their owner. Our team is available to offer guidance, answer questions, and provide resources to ensure a successful and fulfilling relationship between the emotional support/therapy dog and their owner.
Why Choose Us for Your Emotional Support and Therapy Dog?
Expert Team and Training
A&T Trained Dogs specialises in many types of dog training services including including family protection dog training and dog behaviour training. Our team of experts have industry-leading knowledge and extensive experience in training dogs to a high standard.
Carefully Selected Dogs
We have a detailed dog selection process, only selecting from the finest breeders. We ensure the necessary preparation and tests are carried out through each step of the process, from our initial contact to importing to the UK for training, to selling. This is because we want to offer the very best emotional support dogs for you and your family.
Leading Dog Training Facilities
Our spacious dog training location in Lancaster, UK, contains state-of-the-art facilities. With huge surrounding grassland and indoor space, the dogs are treated with the utmost care by us. Find out more about our facilities.
Emotional Support Dogs FAQs
Which is The Best Dog For Emotional Support?
Some breeds make better emotional support dogs due to their calm nature and temperament. Some of the best breeds include:
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Cocker Spaniels
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Shih Tzus
- Yorkshire Terrier
Our expert team can help you decide which dog breed is best for you.
Contact Our Expert Team
If you or someone you know is in need of an emotional support or therapy dog, please contact us at A&T Trained Dogs. We are dedicated to helping individuals find the perfect companion to provide emotional support, comfort, and healing.
Together, let’s harness the power of our trained emotional support and therapy dogs to make a positive impact on emotional well-being and mental health.
Our Payment Plans
At A&T Trained Dogs, we offer finance plans for a minimum of £500 up to £55,000. Please visit https://shorturl.at/fitER for more information. Terms & conditions apply.
