The longer a veteran has a service dog, the less they rely on them to perform trained tasks. This is likely a result of the veteran beginning to improve and build healthy coping skills. 

Xavier University

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 

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. 

Learn Before

Related