What is Deep Pressure Therapy?
Deep Pressure Therapy, also called deep touch pressure therapy, is a tool used to help people with a variety of mental health and sensory issues. It can take on many different forms but it always involves adding weight or pressure to the person which in turn helps them feel grounded and present.
My son is on the autism spectrum and when he was in preschool we used a weighted jacket because it had a calming effect on him. He seemed to be able to focus a little better and stay more on task with what was going on in the class room.
We also have weighted blankets at our home which is another example of a deep pressure therapy products for adults and children.
What is a DPT Dog (Deep Pressure Therapy Dog)?
Service dog Deep Pressure Therapy is done by a dog that has been trained to lay or cuddle with a human on command. DPT dogs sometimes apply the pressure by sitting on a person's lap, laying on their chest or resting their head on part of the person's body such as their leg or arm. When out in public a dog doing DPT can put pressure on the back of the legs to help provide comfort and grounding to someone standing in line.
What does the research say about Deep Pressure Therapy?
There are several interesting articles out about Deep Pressure Therapy and weighted blankets. Here are the conclusions of a few of them:
One study found a statistically significant drop in anxiety and drop in pulse rates within a group of adults that used weighted blankets. It also suggests it could be a potential alternative to medications, seclusion and physical restraints.
A controlled trial showed a decrease in the severity of chronic pain with Deep Pressure Therapy. Interestingly it is also shown that a 15-lb weighted blanket produced a larger drop in chronic pain compared to a 5-lb weighted blanket, especially in really anxious people.
In another study the participants noticed better health. Overall they slept better especially when it came to sleeping through the night. Interestingly they also found that nutrition and cognitive ability improved, and less medication was used in the group.
What does the research say about Animal Therapy?
There are also lots of research articles about the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy. One of my favorite studies is one done by Maggie O'Haire of Purdue University.
In her study she found that service dogs help Veterans with PTSD by improving their overall health and quality of life, they especially helped in the following areas:
- "Lower overall symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
- Lower levels of depression.
- Higher levels of life satisfaction.
- Higher overall psychological well-being.
- Lower levels of social isolation and greater ability to participate in social activities.
- Higher levels of resilience.
- Higher levels of companionship.
- Less absenteeism from work due to health among those who were employed."
Another study shows a significant reduction in cortisol, the stress hormone, from just 10 mins of petting a cat or dog.
How does a DPT service dog help?
When you think about combining the benefits of Deep Pressure Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy you can see how that it is so valuable to include DPT as one of a PTSD Service Dog Tasks. They are then able to provide warmth and connection while giving deep pressure therapy.
DPT dogs are classified as Service Dogs so they can go many places an Emotional Support Animal cannot including in the classroom, to work, shopping in the grocery store, and on a airplane for free.
With a DPT dog's ability to be mobile it makes taking comfort and relief with you almost everywhere you go possible.
What types of mental and sensory issues does a DPT dog help with?
Deep pressure therapy can help with anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, PTSD, depression and Alzheimer's. Anyone needing a grounding and calming influence could be a good match for a deep pressure therapy service dog.
What does DPT dog training look like?
Many people are able to train their DPT service dog on their own. It takes time and commitment but it can be done. DPT therapy dog MUST behave well in public so they need to have obedience training in addition to the DPT service dog task.
When starting the training, you need to pick a specific way for your dog to apply pressure. You also need to choose a DPT dog command or trigger word for them to do the desired skill. Many people use the word "pressure" because it isn't a word used commonly when talking.
At first don't use a DPT dog command because the dog won't understand what you are asking for. Instead start by rewarding the dog when they do what you are looking for if it is something easy like sitting on your lap. When they do the task you want them to make sure to praise them and give them a treat. After they learn to do the task you can start to pair it with the command.
If you are looking for your dog to do a more difficult DPT dog task, start by shaping the behavior by teaching them to follow your hand with a treat as a lure into the position you want them to be in. This is a common way people teach sit, down, twirl and other behaviors. Take it a bit further to include your DPT task. Here is a video of someone training a dpt dog.
What are the most important DPT service dog traits?
Three of the most important service dog traits are:
- Easy to Train- a dog doing DPT will do better if they are easy to train and pick up steps quickly. They also need to have good general obedience out in public.
- Affectionate and bond easily- bonding with your dog with give you the best therapeutic results. Your dog needs to be ok with being around other people too so that going places isn't a problem.
- Love to work- If a dog doesn't want to work then they will be miserable as a service dog and that isn't fair to the dog. They will burn out quickly and hate it. Instead you need a dog that is eager to please and enjoys doing the tasks that you need them to do.
What are the best breeds for DPT service dogs?
I am definitely bias but I think the best breed for service dog is a Mini Golden Retriever. Mini Golden Retrievers, sometimes called comfort retrievers, are a great combo of some of the top service dog breeds including Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Poodles.
A Golden Retriever service dog is one of the most common service dog breeds. Golden Retrievers are know to be one of most affectionate dog breeds. They are great with kids and are easy to train.
A Cocker Spaniel service dog is great because they are smaller and make good apartment dogs. They also need a little less exercise compared to some of the other breeds but are intelligent.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel service dog is one of the best cuddle dogs. Their petite size also makes them a good apartment dog.
A Poodle service dog is also a top service dog breed because they are know to be smart, easy to train and generally eager to please.
By carefully selecting the best temperaments and doing extensive genetic and health testing, we have combined the best breeds for service dogs and made an incredible DPT therapy dog. The Mini Goldens are smaller and usually a little easier to take care of.
Are mixed breed dogs healthier?
This a HOT topic! If you are looking for a Deep Pressure Therapy dog you want to make sure that your pup is going to be around for a long time. Taking time to do the research is important.
Some people believe that breeders that mix breeds don't do genetic and advanced health testing. There are great mixed breed dog breeders that breed with the same care as the best pure bred breeders.
There are some pure bred breeders that don't put the health or the temperament of the dog first. They don't do health testing or much socialization. They choose looks over everything else.
The most important thing to look for is the work the breeder puts into their program. Doing genetic testing on all parents, doing advanced health testing and having good socialization practices are all key to getting a healthy, well adjusted dog.
If both breeders do the same job I would say mixing dog breeds carefully does help a dog be healthier.
This study of 27,254 dogs with inherited genetic disorders found that more genetic disorders are found in pure breed dogs compared to mixed breed dogs.
Where can I find service dogs for sale?
Finding a fully trained psychiatric service dog is hard so you might consider getting a puppy. Then you can look at training your service animal on your own or with the help of a trainer. When looking for a service dog breeder it is important to find out if they do health and genetic testing for dogs before breeding.
Also find out what kind of socialization the service dog breeder does with the puppies such as Puppy Culture, Avidog and Badass Breeder Guide. A dog breeder near you is not as important as finding the right dog breeder. Most dog breeders offer flight nannies or ground transportation.
If you are looking for a Goldendoodle or Mini Golden Retriever for sale I would love to help. We are one of the few Mini Golden Retriever breeders that do dog personality testing to help you get the best match for a service dog puppy. Several of our puppies have already grown up to become dpt service dogs. You can see our available puppies
HERE.
Final Thoughts
A Deep Pressure Therapy dog could be a great addition to the tools you are using right now for many mental health and sensory issues.