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A Psychiatric/PTSD service animal will be able to go anywhere with their handler and assist them in times of high anxiety and stress. A service dog will provide emotional support, reintegration into society, reduce depression, reduce the frequency and severity of flashbacks, anchor handler to the present, and reduce suicidal ideation.
Individuals with PTSD often feel unsafe and unsure of reality, especially in public settings. Service dogs for PTSD can help ground their handler to reality, prevent people from crowding or rushing up to them and provide the emotional support needed to de-escalate anxieties. They can be trained to recognize the signs of a panic attack, wake individuals experiencing night terrors and regulate emotional responses through pressure.
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Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Spartanburg location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Psychiatric / PTSD Support Dog
12 One-on-One Sessions
$3,795
A Psychiatric/PTSD service dog will be able to go anywhere with their handler and assist them in times of high stress and provide a sense of security. A service dog will provide emotional support, reintegration into society, reduce depression, help cope with anxiety, reduce the frequency and severity of flashbacks, anchor handler to the present, and reduce suicidal ideation. Psychiatric service dogs will learn basic obedience and advanced tasks that are customizable, such as:
- Grounding
- Deep Pressure Therapy
- Panic Response
- Create a Physical Buffer
- Interrupt Repetitive Behaviors
- Watch Rear Blindspot
- Additional tasks as needed, must be approved by trainer
Benefits of Psychiatric/PTSD Service Dog Training:
- Increase activity and integration into society: Dogs are active and need to be exercised regularly, the responsibility of caring for a service animal will force their handler to get out and exercise. A routine is established and ties to the future are forged again.
- Create a sense of safety: Public settings and crowds are an enormous trigger for most individuals suffering from PTSD. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to create a physical barrier between their handler and crowds of people.
- Ground in reality, redirect hyper-vigilance: Hyper-vigilance is a symptom of PTSD and creates constant tension and paranoia within sufferers. Service dogs are trained to recognize their handler’s warning signs for anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and panic attacks and redirect that energy into positive coping skills and grounding techniques such as petting the dog.
- Reduce nightmares and flashbacks: One of the most emotionally challenging situations for individuals with PTSD to deal with are flashbacks and nightmares. They can transport an individual back to a terrifying time in their life where they have felt unsafe, threatened, and traumatized. A PTSD service animal is trained to bring their handler back to reality quickly and calmly, ground the individual, and help them to feel safe in their environment again.
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Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.
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Empowering Owners
We empower Owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times. -
Personalized
We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis. -
Environment Specific
We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
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Supportive
We support Owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session"). -
Involved
We work with all members of the household. -
Simplified & Customized
We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
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Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training. -
Lifetime Investment
We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term. -
Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing
PSYCHOLOGY
noun
A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
We help your dog become a valued companion and beloved member of the family. Read what our customers have to say and then give us a call!
Great people and trainers My dog Rambo changed for the better and now we have a closer bond together.I purchased the Gold package for Rambo and all the commands on that package Rambo learned and still obeys those commands. Thanks again to Dog Training Elite for you help and to the staff !!!— Arthur Gorbenko
Posted June 4th 2024
Hi, This is just a note to let you know just how much we appreciate the assistance, support, and knowledge of Elizabeth. When my husband and I 1st got Aquila, I could not fathom how she was going to fit into our household. She would not listen even though she understood some of the commands she was given. She would go through an attack of zoomies and running in circles, and ignore ALL commands. We wondered if we had made a huge mistake in adopting her. Fortunately for us, Elizabeth taught all of us and gave us the tools we needed to co-exist. Our stubborn little malamute is learning to behave and fit in. She likes being praised for her accomplishments and is becoming the lady that Elizabeth always knew she could be. (We were about to give up.) Elizabeth explained to us how Aquila was thinking and the things she was going to try to do before she even did them. She pointed out how to curb stubborn behaviors and how not to give Aquila any options for acting out. We very much appreciate the insight into how our dog was thinking and why. We can't help but be amazed at the progress she has made in such a short period of time. THANK YOU, ELIZABETH, SO VERY MUCH!!!— Keith heuring
Posted May 30th 2024
DTES was and is a great facility. After having worked with several other trainers since our Lady was 4wk old pup, DTES been the only one to find the right training and command use for her. She know shows control over her reactions to other canines and behaves accordingly. Thank you DTES for all your great techniques and training lessons. I highly recommend Dog Training Elite Spartanburg and Greenville locations.— christine hurayt
Posted May 10th 2024