A psychiatric service dog is a specially trained dog that assists individuals with mental health disabilities such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, or bipolar disorder. These dogs perform specific tasks—like interrupting panic attacks, reminding handlers to take medication, or providing grounding during dissociation—to help their handlers navigate daily life safely and with greater independence. Their loyalty and specialized training can greatly improve the daily lives of those facing mental health challenges.

A therapy dog is a well-trained, gentle, and social dog that provides emotional comfort and support to people in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, disaster areas, and other community settings. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs aren’t trained to perform specific tasks for one person—they’re there to bring joy, reduce stress, and offer a calming presence to anyone in need.

To qualify for a psychiatric service dog, a person must have a diagnosed mental health disability—such as PTSD, severe anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder—that significantly limits their ability to perform major life activities. A licensed mental health professional must determine that a service dog would help mitigate symptoms through trained tasks. The need must go beyond comfort, requiring specific assistance that supports daily functioning and independence.

No, you don’t need to have a disability to qualify for a therapy dog. While service dogs assist individuals with disabilities, therapy dogs provide emotional support in community settings. For example, a school counselor or hospital staff member may use a therapy dog to help comfort students or patients. Therapy dogs are trained to offer calm, connection, and support to others, making them valuable partners for professionals working with vulnerable populations.

The cost of a psychiatric service dog can range from $20,000 to $60,000 due to the extensive training required to perform specialized tasks. Therapy dogs, while still needing training and certification, are typically less expensive, often ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the program. Some nonprofit organizations, like Healing Tails, work to offset these costs through donations and sponsorships. One of the main goals of Healing Tails is to ensure that those who need a service dog, or want to obtain a therapy dog to help others, are able to acquire and train a dog at a financially accessible rate. We offer a sliding fee scale to our recipients to ensure that no matter your financial standing, you can afford the dog you need.

Healing Tails stands apart from traditional service and therapy dog programs with a hands-on, community-centered approach. Recipients are actively involved in training their own dogs, attending weekly group classes led by experienced trainers and reinforcing skills together throughout the week. This model not only reduces wait times and strengthens the dog-handler bond, but also fosters a supportive community where individuals facing similar challenges can connect, grow, and heal together.

At Healing Tails, dogs are carefully selected from rescue based on their naturally gentle, stable, and people-focused temperaments. We look for dogs who show confidence, calmness, and a strong desire to connect with humans. Once selected, they undergo specialized training tailored to service or therapy work, including obedience, public access skills, and task-specific support. Once placed, recipients actively participate in the training process to build trust, confidence, and partnership.

Healing Tails is an internal program of The Heroic Tail and does not accept general dog surrenders. However, through our parent organization, we can temperament test puppies and young dogs offered for surrender to identify those with the right qualities for service and therapy training. If you’re interested in surrendering a puppy, please contact The Heroic Tail directly to discuss the process.

Absolutely! You can train your personal dog for service or therapy work, provided they have the right temperament to succeed. Our group classes, led by experienced trainers, offer the perfect environment to develop the skills you and your dog need. This hands-on approach gives you expert guidance and support while strengthening your bond—so you don’t have to introduce a new dog to your family.

Short answer: 6-18 months. Training time varies depending on the dog and the specific tasks needed, but most dogs complete basic training and public access skills within 6 to 12 months. Typically it takes 12-18 months to fully train service dogs for their necessary tasks. Because recipients are involved in training their own dogs through weekly classes, progress tends to be steady and tailored to individual needs, building a strong partnership along the way.

Yes! Healing Tails coordinates therapy dog visits to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and other community settings. These visits help reduce stress, provide comfort, and bring joy to those in need. To request a visit, please contact us with details about your organization and the setting.

You can donate, volunteer, foster, or spread awareness. Learn more on our Donate page or Contact Us.

Sponsorships make a huge difference in covering the costs of training, care, and equipment for our dogs. When you sponsor a dog, you’ll receive updates on their progress and know that you’re helping change lives—both canine and human. Visit our sponsorship page to learn more and choose a dog to support.