What is an Emotional Support Dog?
Even though all dogs get attached to their owners and are ready to provide emotional support around the clock, an emotional support dog should be prescribed by a licensed specialist working with different mental health issues. It can be a therapist or psychologist who determines that a patient requires an animal by their side to keep their mental health at the desirable level. It doesn’t matter what age or breed the dog is since there are no certain frames. Even though the animal helps cope with mental issues, you should not confuse it with a service dog. The latter is trained to help a person with a specific disability.
They can include an emotional support dog in a treatment plan to help its owner deal with loneliness, anxiety, depression, or even some phobias. However, they are not trained to the required extent to assist disabled people. And bear in mind that you cannot just call your dog an ESA if you haven’t got the demanded documentation from a specialist.
What Kind of Emotional Support Can You Get?
Many studies have proved that communication with animals positively affects people’s emotional condition, so you can try to get a pet if you lack some positive vibes. Nonetheless, it can be unclear what’s special about getting an ESA dog. How can it help you?
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It Can Help Reduce Stress
Since communication with dogs contributes to the release of endorphins and oxytocin, having an ESA dog can help you significantly reduce stress (especially cortisol level) and normalize blood pressure. Besides, you will get a double benefit when you walk your furry companion since physical activity contributes to stress reduction. If you cannot find enough time to devote to your dog, it is worth finding an essay helper online to get your papers done on time.
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It Helps Feel Less Isolated
You can feel extremely lonely and isolated being in the crowd since this feeling comes from within and paralyzes your attention. Many mental and emotional states cause anxiety when a person finds themselves in society. The four-legged companion can improve confidence and help deal with anxiety.
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It Helps Get Distracted From Negative Thoughts
People who suffer from mental issues are often overwhelmed with dark thoughts, and a dog’s presence can help dilute these dark colors and bring some bright shades. So, if the dog’s owner has got depressed and lacks motivation, a furry friend may become a driving force and the reason to get up and proceed to routine. And such people must have some schedule since it encourages them toward at least minimal activity. Besides, the dog can be trained to perform certain tasks created for stress reduction.
Can Your Pet Become an ESA Dog?
As already mentioned above, a dog can officially get a new status only if your doctor prescribes it to you. Nevertheless, your furry friend can be trained to provide you with the required emotional support unofficially, especially if it belongs to a dog breed with a friendly and docile character. For instance, Golden Retrievers can easily meet this challenge if you devote enough time to training. If you are afraid that it is uneasy to find room in your schedule for such stuff because of assignments, just read some online reviews. A reliable writing service will rid you of a part of the workload and help you find more time for yourself.
They say that you should soberly assess your dog’s temperament to understand how suitable it is for such a role. Thus, your dog shouldn’t be overexcitable to train it to the required extent and avoid unnecessary stress. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be too timid because it may not entertain you when you need it most. Your four-legged friend should be sociable and well-behaved, so you will not face any difficulties appearing around other people. Even before you proceed to train, your dog should know the fundamental commands.
It is a sure thing that if you have a strong emotional connection with your furry friend, this fact may tip the scale, outweighing some other factors. You may make extra effort to achieve the desired result. If you reflect on getting a dog, it is worth paying attention to a puppy about one-year-old. It’s important to feel “chemistry” with the dog right away, so you will be able to make a strong connection. Your new friend should love hugs, so you can interact and embrace it when necessary.