For handlers with PTSD, severe anxiety disorders, major depression, panic disorder, dissociative disorders, and comparable psychiatric disabilities. The line this chapter holds: comfort alone is not a task (§0.4, §4.1). Every certified PSD task is a trained, observable behaviour chain with a defined trigger — that is what separates a psychiatric service dog from an emotional support animal, and Service Paws certifies only the former.
12.1 Certifiable tasks (at least 3 required)
| Task | Trigger | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Deep pressure therapy (DPT) | Cue | Chin/paws/body across lap or torso as trained; holds duration; calm release |
| Grounding contact | Cue or trained event recognition | Sustained firm contact (lean/chin rest) until release |
| Interrupt self-harm behaviour ⚠ | Event (trained on the handler's specific behaviour pattern, simulated) | Persistent nudge/paw/lean redirect until behaviour stops; escalates contact if ignored |
| Interrupt dissociation/flashback | Event or third-party cue | Trained escalating contact (nudge → paw → lean/DPT) until the handler responds to the dog |
| Nightmare interruption | Event (distress movement/vocalization during sleep) | Wakes the handler (licking/nudging/paw); settles with the handler after waking |
| Room search | Cue ("check") | Systematic search of dwelling rooms, returns with all-clear signal (trained behaviour at the handler), room by room |
| Crowd buffer — front/behind block | Cue | Passive positional stand creating space; holds ≥ 60 s amid movement; entirely passive ⚠ (no vocalizing/posturing — an intimidating dog is a critical fail) |
| Lead to exit | Cue | Leads the handler on a direct route out of the venue to a pre-trained target (exit/car/quiet point) |
| Medication reminder | Timer/device signal | Alert-and-persist until acknowledged; optional chained retrieval of labeled pouch |
| Retrieve phone/med pouch | Cue | To hand, ≤ 60 s in home environment |
| Post-panic re-orientation | Cue | Guided settle: dog initiates DPT/grounding sequence and remains until release |
12.2 Candidate suitability
- Deeply handler-attuned but environmentally confident dogs — the failure mode of the discipline is a dog that mirrors the handler's anxiety. Screening emphasizes T3/T4 recovery and stability under emotional intensity (staged: raised voice, crying — dog must remain functional).
- Any size for most tasks; DPT effectiveness scales with body weight but small-dog DPT (targeted chest/lap contact) is certifiable.
12.3 Training methodology requirements
- Event-triggered tasks are trained on scripted simulations of the handler's real behaviour pattern (developed with the handler; §4.5 scripting rules apply). The dog keys on observable precursors — movement patterns, breathing, posture — not on a verbal cue.
- Escalation chains are explicit: what the dog does if the first interrupt is ignored.
- Night tasks proofed on the sleeping handler.
- Room search trained as a systematic pattern with a defined all-clear signal — not an ambient wander.
- Public-facing tasks (buffer, lead-out, DPT in public) proofed in real venues.
12.4 Task test
- Each certified task: 10 distributed trials ≥ 9/10 across 2+ environment classes.
- ⚠ tasks (self-harm interrupt; buffer passivity requirement): interrupt chain 5/5 on scripted episodes including 1 "ignored first contact" escalation trial; buffer 3/3 × 60 s holds in a genuinely busy public space, scored for complete passivity.
- Nightmare interruption (if certified): 2 staged sleep trials (handler simulates distress movement), 2/2 wakes.
- Room search (if certified): full dwelling search ×3 sessions, correct all-clear at each room, 3/3.
- At least two certified tasks demonstrated in public venues during the test.
12.5 Honest-claims and dignity note
- Letters and certificates describe tasks concretely ("trained to interrupt dissociative episodes and lead the handler to an exit") and never speculate about the handler's diagnosis beyond what the handler chooses to state.
- Service Paws does not certify "emotional support" as a task and does not use the phrase for PSD teams.
12.6 Maintenance
Weekly task refreshers; event-triggered chains re-drilled monthly on simulation (logged); night tasks re-checked after any medication/sleep-routine change that alters the trigger picture.
12.7 Records for this chapter
Task sheets (with simulation scripts); task-test scoresheet; video when overseen remotely. On pass, Service Paws records the task testing date.