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What are the best organizations to get a fully-trained psychiatric service dog?

Posted : 8/8/2012 11:41:46 PM

I live in Southern California and suffer from severe depression and an anxiety disorder making life very difficult. I have been advised that receiving a psychiatric service dog would improve my quality of life, but am having tremendous difficulty locating a good program. I've already looked through listings, researched for weeks, etc. Please provide specific programs for me to consider, not just a place I can find more listings. Thank you in advance! P.S. Personal experiences are encouraged!

micksmom

Posted : 8/9/2012 7:44:47 AM

I can't help with personal experience, but Canine Companions for Independence trains dogs for various disabilities.

http://www.cci.org/site/c.cdKGIRNqEmG/b.3978475/k.3F1C/Canine_Companions_for_Independence.htm

Freedom

Posted : 8/9/2012 2:55:58 PM

This may give you some guidance: http://www.dogster.com/dogs/167795/diary/Sabrina_the_teenage_female_dog/316550

I found that using Google, put int: anxiety service dog

Quite a lot of hits, some more helpful than others.

JackieG

Posted : 8/10/2012 2:09:45 PM

Canine Companions for Independence doesn't provide dogs for the reason the OP is requesting. From their website FAQ's:

"What tasks are CCI dogs NOT trained to do?
We do not train guide dogs for the blind, to do seizure or diabetic alert/response, to anticipate or detect medical symptoms, for the primary benefit of emotional comfort or social support, to recognize and/or manage undesireable human behavior, to provide supervision, navigation, or safety from environmental hazards, to respond aggressively, to provide personal protection, to assist with the management of mental illness as a primary condition."