Psychiatric Service Dog: A person
with a mental disability may need a dog to be able to go out in public
(agraphobic), or may be autistic and need the dog to keep them focused. These
dogs are trained NEVER to leave their handler's side. The dog is trained to assist
a person with autism. The dog alerts the partner to distracting repetitive
movements common among those with autism, allowing the person to stop the
movement (e.g., hand flapping). A person with autism may have problems with
sensory input and need the same support services from a dog that a dog might
give to a person who is blind or deaf.
