Emotional Support Dog
Before getting an Australian Cobberdog for our family, I would see references to the term “emotional support dog” and wonder what that meant. Now that we have had an Arrowhead Cobberdog with an emotional support temperament in our family for over a year, I want to share our experience so others might understand what these dogs can bring to families in which a member has disabilities or special needs.
Emotional support dogs are not service dogs. They are not trained to carry out specific tasks such as alerting when their person is having a seizure or helping their visually impaired handler navigate. In the United States, people with emotional support dogs must meet the federal definition of disabled and can be exempt from some housing and transportation rules. In Canada, there is no recognized category or accompanying access rights related to emotional support animals. Here, the use of the term “emotional support” is informal and refers mainly to a type of calm, empathetic temperament that allows a dog to provide steady comfort, support and aid to a person through companionship, affection and unconditional positive regard.
Our nine-year-old daughter has multiple special needs. We were looking for a gentle and very calm dog who would be a steady, reassuring and loving presence in her life. Arrowhead matched us with the perfect puppy for our family.
Due to a disability, some daily activities that other children our daughter’s age find simple are not simple for her but instead are significant sources of frustration and triggers for feelings of inadequacy. At the height of her frustration, she now calls for her Cobberdog and it’s her dog’s gentle, non-judgemental and loving presence which helps calm her more quickly. Sometimes, her dog helps our daughter defuse stress or upset simply through playing together.
What became clear very early with our puppy was that a child having a strong emotional response did not startle or faze the dog. In fact, a crying child is like a beacon to her and she immediately comes to help. Low reactivity to stimuli that might upset other dogs and a gentle, connected and empathetic nature are very important characteristics of a dog who can be said to have an emotional support temperament.
Over time, our daughter herself began to recognize that her dog’s presence helped her calm down and regulate her emotions.
Due to another disability, our daughter has to have uncomfortable medical procedures from time to time. She dreads these trips to the hospital and they frighten her. Lately she has started to ask if her beloved dog can come with her. Only service animals have access rights so unfortunately this isn’t possible. Instead, she takes a photo of her dog with her. Her Cobberdog has become not just a calming companion but someone she can picture in her mind when she is scared and can’t be with her. Thinking of her dog, even when she’s not with her, helps bring calm and comfort to her.
Our dog has had no special training but has done multiple levels of obedience school. Her sweet nature makes her easily trainable. She seems to naturally want to please us! While no special training is required for an emotional support dog, I can see how a puppy with this temperament could also benefit from the outstanding socialization and training a professional puppy imprint trainer could offer. Also, given that families with children with disabilities are often time-pressed or have additional stresses, some time spent with a puppy imprint trainer could also mean a bit less work for an already busy family.
Our Cobberdog has made a real difference in the life of our child – and for our whole family. If you have a family member who would benefit from an emotional support dog, please talk to Luke and Connie. They know their puppies so well and can recommend one who will fit your family perfectly.