TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Declaration of PSDeurope and EURO-DOGS.eu on assistance/service dog training
This document explains how PSDeurope and EURO-DOGS.eu train dogs to serve as individual assistance/service dogs for people with mental health issues. In addition to standard training, we aim to assure airlines (and other stakeholders) of our dogs‘ good behavior during flights, at airports, and during check-in.
PSDeurope and EURO-DOGS.eu were established to improve travel options for individuals with mental health challenges, complementing the standard assistance/service dog training.
Our specialized Assistance Dog (PSD) training has been recognized by various airlines across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the USA. PSDeurope is among the leading training and certification organizations for assistance/service dogs in Europe.
Four steps are required to successfully complete the PSDeurope training.
- Applicants must provide a certificate from a recognized psychotherapist or doctor confirming that they need a dog to help manage their mental health condition.
- Once approved, clients must complete an online theory course (18 chapters, about 110 sections) on key topics related to having an Assistance/Service Dog (PSD), including animal protection, necessary skills for the dog, training methods, and basic travel knowledge.
- Clients will have a counseling session with our psychotherapist Dr. Beate Pottmann-Knapp, who has over 20 years of experience with dog-assisted therapy in Austria. In this session, clients will identify 3-5 specific tasks that their dog will help with, beyond just traveling.
- Our trained assistance dog instructors (Helga Widder, Rene Schwarz, and Stefanie Holzberger) will evaluate and certify each dog’s skills and the execution of these tasks, ensuring compliance with animal welfare standards and proper training methods. Certified dogs must demonstrate basic obedience and therapy skills, along with the task-specific abilities agreed upon.
When clients apply to travel with their assistance/service dog (PSD), they will provide details of the tasks the dog has been trained to perform, outlined in a special individual task list, which corresponds to their mental health condition. Clients must also present the PSDeurope training certificate, detailing their dog’s and their own information.
The minimum training duration with our non-profit association is 6 months, culminating in certification by our head trainer, Helga Widder.
For more information about our association and dog school, please visit:
https://www.psd-europe.eu
https://www.euro-dogs.eu
PSDeurope is a certified non-profit organization (VFBB) under Austrian law.
Each dog that completes this training is specifically trained as an Assistance Dog (PSD) for their designated handler with mental health issues. Please do not confuse this training with standard ESA (emotional support animals) certificates, which require no formal training, while service dogs undergo at least 6 months of training with various public and specialized skills.