Have you thought about getting your child with an eating disorder an emotional service dog? This can be a great idea, especially for dog lovers! Dogs provide unconditional love and affection as well as powerful emotional regulation assistance. That said, it’s important to think through the idea carefully. Dogs are our best friends because they become deeply emotionally attached to their humans. Getting a dog is a serious commitment, especially if you’re asking the dog to provide your child with emotional support.

Before getting a service dog during eating disorder recovery

If you’re looking for a dog that will actively support your child’s emotional health, it will require daily training and effort. Keep in mind that getting a standard family dog is great, but without emotional service training, the dog may have little to no impact on your child’s emotional health. To maximize the power of their bond, you child should be the one training and caring for the dog. If your child is not interested in having a dog or is incapable of caring for it and working with a trainer, you may want to reconsider.

Even if you are 100% sure your child with an eating disorder wants and can care for the dog, it’s still important that everyone in the household is onboard. If someone in the family is allergic to or intolerant of dogs, then come up with another idea. Make it clear that if the family agrees to get a dog, there is no going back. Having a dog is a commitment for that dog’s life.

Finally, consider finances. Dogs require training, vet care, food, toys, bedding, and other accessories. It’s difficult to anticipate vet expenses, and they can get pricey. If your family is on a tight budget right now, you may want to think carefully about whether adding the expense of having a dog is the best choice.

Training a service dog for eating disorder recovery

All dogs are wonderful, but if you’re looking for a trained service dog, that typically involves training. In fact, training a dog to provide support and service can take anywhere from six months to two years, and then needs to be maintained consistently. Far from being an impediment to the decision, the structure and requirements for training a service dog in eating disorder recovery may be a benefit to your child’s treatment.

Of course your child’s treatment team should weigh in, but for many people, having their focus on training a dog rather than ruminating and obsessing over their eating disorder thoughts can be very helpful. In fact, focusing on their furry friend’s needs and learning the emotional regulation skills necessary to train a service dog can be invaluable to eating disorder treatment.

Training a therapy dog varies depending on the dog’s breed, temperament, and the tasks it’s expected to perform. Generally, the training process lasts between 6 months to 2 years, with ongoing maintenance. It involves various components such as socialization, obedience training, and learning specific tasks that aid in providing comfort to your child. These tasks range from keeping calm in noisy environments to gentle, responsive interaction when your child is stressed.

The importance of consistent and comprehensive training cannot be overstated since it is essential in preparing therapy dogs to competently handle the responsibility of offering comfort and support to your child when they need it.

What is an emotional support animal (ESA)?

In most cases, the technical term for this sort of dog is an “emotional support animal” or ESA. Generally an ESA has much less training than what’s called an “assistance animal,” which includes guide dogs for people who are blind, signal dogs for people who are deaf, and service dogs, which alert people who have seizures and other conditions.

In contrast to the more formal designation of assistance animals, any dog can be called an ESA. If you need the dog to be formally recognized as an ESA, for example if you need to be able to travel with the dog or need landlord approval for owning a dog, you’ll need the following:

1. Get an official diagnosis from a licensed mental healthcare provider
2. Request an emotional support animal (ESA) prescription. This is typically a letter from your provider that states you need an emotional support animal.
3. Keep the prescription/letter on-hand in housing and travel situations.

Keep in mind that if this dog is providing emotional support for your child with an eating disorder, it is taxing work. Getting proper training for the dog and your child is essential to maintaining workplace safety for the dog. It’s worth it, because a happy, secure dog will be able to better support your child’s emotional needs.

Dogs as emotional support companions

There is significant evidence that dogs are excellent emotional support companions. This is important in eating disorder recovery, because eating disorders are complicated emotional disorders, and they require a multi-pronged emotionally intelligent approach. While professional support and family support go a long way, a dog or other beloved pet may make all the difference in the moment-to-moment recovery moments.

A relationship with a dog can build a safe connection. This connection can cause a release of oxytocin, which positively impacts emotional security. Interaction with a dog can also lower cortisol (stress) levels. These combined actions make connecting with a dog deeply healing for a person who is in recovery from an eating disorder.

Listen to this Podcast for more: Oxytocin, dogs, & pets in General as attachment figures, Therapist Uncensored episode 95

Dogs offer companionship, reduce anxiety and loneliness, increase self-esteem, and improve overall mood.[1] Dogs have also been shown to increase the following behaviors, which reduce depression and anxiety:

• Physical activity
• Time spent outdoors
• Sense of agency and autonomy

Studies have even shown that a single 12-minute visit from a dog among hospitalized patients with advanced heart failure produced small but significant health improvement.[2]

Care guidelines

A dog can be a great way to give your child a sense of agency and accomplishment. But to do this you really need to set up clear expectations about the dog before you get it. Vague expectations will have a double negative effect. First, you will get frustrated and resentful if your child fails to take care of the dog. Second, you child will feel ashamed of themselves and frustrated with you for not being clear in advance. These are not great outcomes, especially on top of an eating disorder. So clarity going into the dog process is key to success. At a minimum, your child should commit to the following caregiving tasks:

• Maintaining a clean water bowl
• Feeding the dog 1-2 times per day
• Walking the dog at least twice per day

Feeding may be as simple as putting a cup of kibble in a bowl. But some dogs have digestive problems, which may require a special diet. In such cases, your child may need to prepare simple foods for the dog, such as boiled chicken and rice. You won’t know these details until you live with the dog, so it’s best to be prepared for all possibilities.

Additional dog care requirements

Your child will also need to clean up after the dog. This means daily poop-duty. There’s also the likelihood of random vomiting, diarrhea, and peeing-in-the-house accidents. These are unpleasant but expected aspects of dog ownership that your child should be aware of and agree to handle.

Grooming varies based on the type of dog you get. If the dog is going to be inside your home, you should require your child to bathe the dog every few weeks and brush it daily. These duties may increase if the dog is prone to shedding.

Some dogs develop barking or other bad habits that your child will need to address through research and training. Almost every negative habit can be addressed. But it will require your child to learn some new skills. This can actually be a great thing for a child who is in recovery for an eating disorder.

Create a care plan for the dog before you bring it home. Set this up as a contract between you and your child. Print out the care plan and have your child sign and date it to affirm the care they will provide the dog. Importantly, do not step in and take over the care for your child’s dog unless they become physically incapable or specifically abdicate responsibility. Remember that your child’s care of the dog will translate to a deeper bond between the two of them. You also don’t want to step in because it remove the benefits of agency and feeling useful that come from caring for an animal.

Picking a dog

You may be interested in a particular breed of dog or you may want to adopt a rescue dog. Many children/teens respond very positively to the idea of rescuing a dog that has been abandoned.

While almost everyone thinks they want a puppy, the reality is that puppies require a great deal of care. This will not work well in a busy family with multiple commitments, especially if everyone is gone all day. Instead of a puppy, consider adopting a fully-grown 2-5 year old (or even older) dog. You can work with a trainer who can help you select an older dog that they can train.

Benefits of getting an older dog for eating disorder recovery:

1. You avoid the puppy years, which, though adorable, are also very disruptive. Just like having a baby, having a puppy includes frequent bathroom accidents and hyperactivity. Puppies need training for basic skills like house training, walking on a leash, behaving well around other dogs and children, etc.
2. You can observe the dog’s personality and behavior as it will be for most of its life. Puppies are bundles of energy. It’s only after they hit about two years old that they achieve the steady personality you can expect.
3. You can observe whether your child has a connection with a particular dog’s personality. Dogs are just like people – they all have a unique personality. You want to find a dog that will fit into your child’s (and your) life.
4. Chances are good that your child will leave home soon. Adopting an older dog means that your child gets the benefit of having an animal. But you aren’t left taking care of it for a decade after your child leaves home.

Other considerations when choosing a dog

In addition to the type and age of the dog you get, you should also take into consideration some other key concepts:

1. Size: remember that puppies grow into full-sized dogs. If you live in a smaller home or apartment, take your dog’s size into account and consider whether they will (literally) fit into your life. If you travel frequently or move every few years, remember that it is generally easier to have smaller dogs. Larger dogs are more expensive to feed, travel with, and can be harder to board. Rental properties also often have size limits on dogs.
2. Energy: different dogs have different energy requirements. Realistically consider how much time and energy your child can devote to exercising your dog, and choose accordingly. Older dogs generally need less exercise than younger ones, and smaller dogs generally need less exercise than larger ones. Dogs tend to get into trouble – such as digging through trash cans, barking all day, and chewing expensive furniture – when they are under-exercised.
3. Intelligence: most people assume they want a very intelligent dog, but remember that most highly-intelligent dogs require mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise. Working dogs like Australian Shepherds, Huskies, and Border Collies may develop negative behaviors if they don’t get the stimulation they need to avoid boredom.
4. Health: some purebreds have a tendency to develop certain health conditions. Whenever possible, become aware of the weaknesses of your breed before making your choice. Also be sure to check the credentials and breeding history of your breeder.
5. Grooming: some dogs require specialized grooming and care. For example, Pugs, Maltese, ShiTzus, and others require regular grooming that can get expensive if you don’t learn to do it yourself.
6. “Aggressive” breeds: there is quite a bit of bias against some of the dog breeds that are considered “aggressive.” These include Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Dobermans. While these dogs can all be wonderful companions, you should know that it may be harder to board, groom, and get dog walkers and other caregivers for your pet. These breeds are also more likely to be prohibited in rental homes and apartments.

Top emotional support dog breeds

Most dogs are naturally adaptable and likely to bond well with your child. However, there are certain dog breeds that are particularly likely to provide the deep emotional connection that will support your child’s recovery from an eating disorder. The following ten dog breeds are commonly considered to be the best temperamental fits for emotional support:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Poodles
4. Yorkshire terrier
5. Beagle
6. Corgie
7. Pug
8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
9. Pomeranian
10. Golden Retriever

Just a reminder on the point we previously made, many of these dog breeds are high-energy in the first 2-5 years and can add significant stress to your household.

Labrador Retrievers, for example, are wonderful dogs, but there are a lot of them in the shelters and adoption system due to their high-energy, sometimes destructive behavior in the first few years. This holds true for almost all of the dogs listed here and mixes, such as Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. They are wonderful dogs, but if you do choose a puppy, be prepared to invest significant time and energy in training and exercising them.

Bonding

Once you have selected a dog, help your child bond with the dog by insisting upon the care plan. Try to avoid stepping in to take care of the dog.

Caring for the dog, even when it is inconvenient, is part of your child’s therapy plan. Caring for an animal provides a sense of ownership and agency. Your child will benefit from sticking to the care plan.

Support your child in building their bond with the dog. Support their interest in training ideas, grooming lessons, and even getting the dog certified to be a therapy dog. Doing this will mean the dog can visit sick people in the hospital or elder-care facilities.

Of course, if all your child wants to do it lie around petting the dog or taking selfies with the dog, that’s OK, too!

See Our Eating Disorder Treatment Guide For Parents

For information about dogs available for adoption, what to think about before adopting, and more, visit Petfinder.com

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References

[1] Dhruv S. Kazi, Who Is Rescuing Whom? Dog Ownership and Cardiovascular Health, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, Oct 2019

[2] Cole KM, Gawlinski A, Steers N, Kotlerman J. Animal-assisted therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure, American Journal of Critical Care, 2007