Emotional support animals (ESA) provide relief to people with mental health conditions or disabilities through companionship.
Any animal can be an emotional support animal, but they’re not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Instead, you can obtain an ESA letter for your pet to be afforded rights and accommodations, such as being able to have your pet in no-pet properties. You may also be allowed to bring it on planes and other forms of transport.
If you’re exploring the possibility of having an ESA, here are a few signs that might indicate your dog is cut out to fill this role:
Great temperament
Most emotional support animals travel with their owners in new environments with unfamiliar noises, sights, and people.
While some dogs thrive in such environments, not all do. Your ESA should be patient, gentle, calm, and friendly.
They should also not be easily startled or anxious in new environments.
Having an even temperament would mean you could trust them to help and support you in many different places without you having to worry about how they’ll cope.
Basic training
Your ESA doesn’t need the same training as a service dog, but basic training can be necessary. Your dog may be ready to become an ESA if they are obedient and can obey basic commands.
Sit, stay, and come commands can all be crucial for having them behave appropriately around other people and in public. They should also be able to walk nicely on a leash.
If your dog doesn’t have the best obedience levels, it doesn’t mean they’ll never be ready to become your ESA.
You may need to dedicate time to training. Many dog training facilities take dogs of any age and can help their owners achieve a well-rounded dog.
Meet requirements in your area
Some areas have specific criteria you must meet for your animal to be classed as an ESA. An emotional or mental illness is generally one of the most important criteria for you to meet to have an ESA.
Suppose you have any of the following illnesses or others that fit under the umbrella of mental or emotional illness. In that case, a licensed healthcare professional may see it fit to classify your dog as an ESA:
- Depression
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Severe anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Attention deficit disorder
- Autism
- Bipolar disorder
- Cognitive disorders
It’s generally also recommended that your ESA be:
- In good health
- House-trained
- Well-socialized
- Over one year old
- Easy to train
- Patient
- Not anxious
A firm bond
People have ESAs to rely on during challenging moments. You can’t help but feel more relaxed and less stressed when petting a dog or simply sitting with it. Studies support the idea that dogs can improve moods and anxiety.
However, it certainly helps if you have a firm bond with that dog. If you haven’t bonded with your dog and rely on them as a support animal, you may not benefit most from the experience.
Their bond with you is also just as crucial as your bond with them. It can certainly help if your ESA is empathetic and understands when you’re feeling distressed.
Empathetic dogs may be more likely to be present with you, lick, and snuggle to help you feel at your best.
Great sociability
Your ESA will be traveling with you to new environments where there are likely to be other people and animals. You want to trust that your pet will cater to your needs in these environments while behaving appropriately around distractions like pets and people.
As a result, great sociability can be crucial. Your dog should be able to interact with strangers or new animals without becoming stressed, aggressive, or overly excited.
If your dog doesn’t behave well around other dogs and people, consider training before leaning on it for emotional support. Otherwise, you may spend more time keeping it in control than having it help you with your needs.
Good health and age
Not all dogs will be suitable for an ESA based on age and health status alone.
A young dog may not yet have a stable temperament, whereas an unwell dog may not be sociable or even-tempered.
Your ESA should ideally be past the puppy stage in good physical health and up to date with all required vaccinations.
Final thoughts on emotional support animals
Emotional support animals provide relief to people with mental health conditions or disabilities through companionship.
They are not recognized as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act but can be granted rights and accommodations with an ESA letter.
Signs that a dog may be suitable for the role of an ESA include a great temperament, basic training, meeting requirements in your area, having a firm bond with its owner, being sociable, being in good health, and being over one year old.
Not every dog is cut out to be an ESA, but that’s not to say that yours isn’t. If you can relate to these signs above, your dog may be ready to support you when you need it most.