How to Train an Emotional Support Cockapoo: 4 Tips

Dogs have been man’s best friend for centuries, and there is a reason why. Dogs provide unconditional love to their master while providing companionship in the most difficult of times. 

They are also great at providing emotional support when it is needed. If you consider getting an emotional support dog but don’t know where to start, this blog post will help you find out what steps to train an emotional support dog, and specifically a Cockapoo!

What is an Emotional Support Dog?

An emotional support dog (also known as an ESA) is a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit to its owner through affection and companionship. They are not required to have any specialized training, unlike a service dog or therapy dog, which may be trained for specific tasks like helping someone with autism or PTSD live more independently.

Emotional support animals are often used in homes, schools, hospitals, or nursing facilities as a part of treatment plans for mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders (including PTSD), or bipolar disorder. They can be very beneficial by providing companionship, reducing loneliness, and helping with everyday tasks.

The first thing anyone interested in getting a support dog should learn as much about these animals as possible. The more you know before going into the process, the better your chances of success will be. There are many misconceptions out there that can lead to applicants making mistakes that can delay or even disqualify them from receiving their ESA letter.

Training Takes Time and Effort

First of all, if you are considering getting an emotional support cockapoo for yourself or a loved one, it is crucial to understand that this pet animal will be under your care at all times and needs training just like any other animal. It takes time and effort to train the new pet, so make sure that you have both before thinking of getting one. Additionally, although Cockapoos are incredibly friendly, sweet-natured and intelligent, they also have high energy, which can make training a challenge. 

Keep a Record of All Tasks

Another tip when training an emotional support dog is to keep a record of all the tasks that your pet animal has been trained for and make sure they have those skills in time so you can use them on demand. This means you will need to train your pet animal multiple times during its lifetime; otherwise, it may not be able to do its job when you need it the most.

Rehearse Various Scenarios

It is also important that your pet animal knows how to behave in various settings such as at home, outside, and inside the car. Rehearsing these skills over time will allow them to be able to perform their tasks in any setting without having an emotional breakdown or becoming aggressive.

Specifically, training a cockapoo requires spending time with the pet animal and teaching it how to behave in various settings. It is important to take your new pet animal out for walks every day so they can relieve themselves regularly. If you are going on trips or staying at hotels, make sure that your emotional support dog has been trained to behave in those settings as well.

Everyone Should Take Part in Training

Train your dog to be a well-behaved member of the household. When you first bring your new pet home, don’t expect them to know everything they need to do without training. Make sure that everyone in the family is on board with teaching them house rules and basic commands like “come,” “sit,” and “stay.”

In conclusion, training an emotional support dog takes time and effort but will be well worth it in the end. If you are not up for this challenge or cannot commit enough time every day, perhaps a pet animal is not suitable for your current situation.