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PTSD Service Dogs: Secondary Interventions

After a symptom occurs, then a Service Dog can help, too. After the handler starts to react to either a trauma-specific trigger (such as the sound of a helicopter) or environmental trigger (such as people getting too close to the handler), the dog can be a calming presence, thus reducing the effect of the triggering.

• The handler can be trained to focus on the dog during these attacks--instead of focusing on oneself, the dog helps the handler get out of their head and into the moment.

• The Service Dog can be physically placed directly between the handler and the triggering event.

• The dog can be used as a source of emotional stability and comfort.