Task guide

Psychiatric service dogs,
judged by trained tasks.

A psychiatric service dog performs specific trained tasks for a handler with a psychiatric disability. Comfort from a dog's presence alone is not a task. This page covers the work itself, and how PawProof puts that work on a checkable record.

What the work looks like

Trained tasks a psychiatric service dog performs

Under the ADA, what separates a service dog from an emotional support animal is trained, on-demand work. These are the kinds of tasks assessed for a psychiatric task certificate:

01Interrupting escalationThe dog notices rising anxiety or repetitive behavior and interrupts with a trained nudge, paw, or lean.

02Deep pressure on cueThe dog applies steady body pressure across the handler's lap or chest on command and holds until released.

03Grounding after episodesAfter a panic episode or nightmare, the dog performs a trained contact routine that reorients the handler.

04Creating spaceThe dog positions itself in front of or behind the handler in crowds to keep a workable buffer.

05Lead out and retrieveThe dog guides the handler to an exit on cue, or retrieves a phone or medication bag on command.

What PawProof assesses

The Psychiatric Task standard

Assessment footage must show each claimed task performed reliably on cue, correct behavior in distracting conditions, and recovery to a settled state. The full ID card additionally requires the Public Access Behavior and Relief & Sanitation subjects. Every record links to retained footage and the endorsing assessor's verifiable credential.

What PawProof does not do: PawProof does not issue or arrange psychiatric service dog letters, emotional support animal letters, or any medical or mental-health documentation. Those are clinical documents that only a licensed clinician can provide. Our record speaks to the dog's training, nothing else.

Training paths

Train the way that works for your team

PawProof is a verification platform only. A psychiatric service dog may be owner-trained, trained with a private trainer, or come through a program. Whatever the path, issuance requires an endorsement from a credential-checked assessor (CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, IAABC, KPA-CTP, or AKC CGC Evaluator) and complete assessment footage.

The legal picture

What a record does and does not do

The ADA requires no certification or registration for a service dog, and businesses may not demand documentation. A PawProof record attests only that the named dog passed the assessment subjects shown. It is voluntary evidence of training quality, not government recognition and not a grant of public-access rights.

Ready when your dog is

Start a trainer-verified assessment.

Submit an eligibility intake, connect with a credentialed assessor, and put the work on the record.

Start an assessment → Find an assessor