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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 Central Mass location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Psychiatric Service Dog
$3,945
A Psychiatric 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 dog 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 Blind Spot
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 trainers. Saw results immediately. Extremely pleased with the professionalism, knowledge and caring of all the staff.— Carol Benoit
Posted December 7th 2023
Dog Training elite of Central Massachusetts has been training my English bulldog since she was about 4 1/2 months old. She is doing amazing. Jamie is an awesome trainer. Always on time, lots of experience and is very patient. Matilda absolutely loves her. She’s now working with the E collar and is doing great. We Just had a session with Jamie. I thought Matilda had forgotten everything because we were on vacation. But I was wrong. We had a great session today. Matilda also learned a new game “find it”. She absolutely loved it. Something fun for us to do. Looking forward to working with Jamie and Dog Training Elite for a long time. I would highly Jamie as your dog trainer.— Lee Agnelli
Posted November 6th 2023
The best trainers! My dog has changed so much after going to them and my life has become so much easier! I’ve already recommended them to all of my friends.— Vinchenza DiBenedetto
Posted June 12th 2023
Great trainers and amazing work. I'd recommend these trainers to anyone. They were able to help me with puppy training and everything.— Matrixmash
Posted May 8th 2023
Our beagle has always had a lot of anxiety which has made normal life things difficult. Dog training elite has been immensely helpful! Would definitely recommend!— Marcus Raisch
Posted May 6th 2023
Proud Sponsor of The Malinois Foundation
At Dog Training Elite Central Mass, we believe that Service Dogs save lives. It is our mission to make these life-saving companions available to our Veterans, First Responders, Women Survivors, and Children with Medical Needs. Whether it be for PTSD, Mobility Support, or Special Needs, Dog Training Elite Central Mass works with the Malinois Foundation to heal and empower these individuals with a specialized service animal, a partner in life, and a new best friend.