Rodriguez, K.E., LaFollette, M.R., Hediger, K., Ogata, N., & O'Haire, M.E. (2020). Defining the PTSD service dog intervention: Perceived importance, usage, and symptom specificity of psychiatric service dogs for military veterans. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01638. 

Defining the PTSD service dog intervention: Perceived importance, usage, and symptom specificity of psychiatric service dogs for military veterans 

Nieforth, L.O., Craig, E.A., Behmer, V.A., Wadsworth, S.M, & O'Haire, M.E. (2021). Ptsd service dogs foster resilience among veterans and military families. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01990-3.

Ptsd service dogs foster resilience among veterans and military families 

- Defining the PTSD service dog intervention: Perceived importance, usage, and symptom specificity of psychiatric service dogs for military veterans
- Ptsd service dogs foster resilience among veterans and military families 

Xavier University

Service dogs are commonly used to aid in the treatment of war veterans suffering from PTSD. In addition to providing veterans with feelings of love and companionship, these dogs are specially trained to detect signs of anxiety, detect when their owner is having a nightmare and wake them up, help their owners feel safe in public, and other things specific to PTSD. Studies have shown that veterans with PTSD service dogs often demonstrate a lower number of PTSD symptoms and a higher quality of life. 

Benefit of Service Dogs to Veterans with PTSD

PTSD service dogs are trained to: 
- Interrupt/alert anxiety 
- Calm/comfort anxiety 
- Create personal space 
- Guard/protect
- Watch Back
- Social greeting 
- Wake up from nightmare 

Benefit of Service Dogs to Veterans with PTSD: Trained Tasks 

It is important to note that PTSD service dogs do not provide a cure for PTSD. Having a service dog can help to lessen many symptoms of PTSD but have proven ineffective at improving symptoms such as amnesia and excessive risk taking behaviors. PTSD service dogs are considered to be a complementary treatment, meaning this form of treatment works best if used in addition to typical evidence based treatments such as therapy. 

Benefit of Service Dogs to Veterans with PTSD: A Complementary Treatment 

PTSD service dogs naturally possess a number of characteristics that help veterans with PTSD. This traits are also seen in dogs that have not had any service dog training. They include: 
- Companionship
- Non-judgmental
- Love 
- Calming 
- Happiness 
- Independence 
- Connecting to family 
- Routine 
- Social Help 

Benefit of Service Dogs to Veterans with PTSD: Untrained Tasks 

The degree of closeness between the veteran and the service dog can impact effectiveness and frequency of trained behaviors. It is likely that as the service dog and their owner become closer and form a stronger bond, the dog becomes more sensitive to their veterans' emotional state and triggers, which allows them to act more effectively. 

Benefit of Service Dogs to Veterans with PTSD: Effect of Closeness 

Veterans' struggle with PTSD can also be difficult on the veterans' families, such as significant others/spouses and children. Relationships can become strained and spouses may experience a significant amount of stress caring for their significant other with PTSD. Just as they help veterans with PTSD, PTSD service dogs help families of veterans develop resilience, benefit them emotionally, help rebuild/maintain relationships, and help them adjust to a new normal. 

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