Emotional support dogs can relieve many symptoms of mental and physical health. Therefore, if you struggle with either or both, you might think about getting one.
However, it’s likely that you know nothing about choosing the best emotional support dog. If so, read on to learn some tips about this process.
Must Be Well-Behaved
To receive ESA certification, a dog must meet certain requirements. Many of these have to do with behavior.
For example, if a dog often acts aggressively, officials will not certify it. The same applies to rowdiness, barking, and house-training issues.
Therefore, it’s important to choose a dog that behaves well and obeys you. If it won’t, attempt to train it. In the case this fails, it’s best to look for another dog.
Must Remain Calm
A dog cannot help you calm down if it is not calm. Also, a dog that is constantly nervous can also cause you more stress. Therefore, the best ESA dog is one that has an easy-going personality.
Many of the more popular emotional support dog breeds have this trait. You can easily look these up. Then you can search for a dog that belongs to one of those breeds.
However, dogs of other breeds or mixed breeds can also have this trait. If you already have a dog in mind, consider testing its calmness. Bring it into some unfamiliar situations and see how it reacts.
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Must-Have a Bond With You
A dog that ignores you or acts hostile will not make a good emotional support animal. It’s unlikely that they will attempt to comfort you when you’re feeling poor. In addition, they may not be able to tell when you feel this way.
A dog that has a great relationship with you will be the exact opposite. They will know the unique signs of your stress and help you through them. As a result, they are more likely to help you feel better.
Thus, examine your relationship with a potential ESA dog. Consider seeking certification only if the bond is strong.
Must Match Your Situation
Dogs as emotional support animals are still dogs. They will still need the proper food, exercise, stimulation, and so on.
Therefore, make sure that you can provide for the dog you want. You should have the budget, space, and energy. If you don’t, consider choosing other types of emotional support animals.
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Must Have Proper Certification
As a final tip, be sure to certify your dog via a licensed mental health professional. He or she can be your regular therapist, but they don’t have to be.
There’s no other way to certify your dog as a support animal. Don’t fall for any scams that promise to sell you an ESA certification with no requirements.
Did You Find the Best Emotional Support Dog? Read Our Other Articles
Remember that choosing the best emotional support dog takes time. Be patient and don’t rush through the process. If you do, you may end up making some poor decisions.
Did you learn how to choose an emotional support animal? If so, consider reading our other articles to learn more. You’ll find a lot of high-quality pet advice in our hundreds of other pieces.
