All FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a few questions? We have answers.

What is the difference between an Emotional Support Animal and a Psychiatric Service Dog?

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is a companion pet that provides comfort, support, and relief from stress to its owner just by being present. Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), ESA owners have the right to keep their ESA in a rented home, even if the property has a no-pet policy or restrictions on pet size or type.
However, to enjoy these rights, one must have a valid ESA Letter from a licensed medical professional indicating a qualifying mental health condition. As well your pet must be well-behaved and not pose a threat to others.On the other hand, a Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) is trained to perform specific tasks to help someone manage the symptoms of a recognized psychiatric disability.
PSDs require obedience and situational behavior training, as well as extensive and individualized training specific to the needs of their owner. The use of PSDs is protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which prevents discrimination in housing, air travel, and access to private businesses and public spaces.
As long as the PSD is properly trained and can be reasonably accommodated, the owner is entitled to bring their PSD with them in their home, on airplanes, and to appointments, events, and businesses.
IMPORTANT: ESAs are not given the same public access rights as Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) and other service animals. Airlines and businesses are not required to allow ESAs, restricting you form traveling with your dog.

Can I access the course material at any time?

Yes. You can access the course from anywhere that you have a connection to the internet and from any device, such as a phone, tablet or PC.

Can I receive a refund if I am not satisfied with the course?

Yes. If within 7 days you are not completely satisfied with the course, we will give you a 100% refund.

What is included in the course?

Fringilla dictum tristique cras pellentesque morbi consequat, maecenas egestas a. Mi feugiat urna turpis placerat faucibus bibendum hac vulputate.

How long does it take to complete the course?

Everyone has a different time frame for teaching their pups to be successful PSDs.
You’ll take this course at your own pace, moving on to the next lesson once your pup is consistently performing as taught in that lesson.
We encourage you to take the course slowly, giving yourself (and your dog) a minimum of 1-2 weeks to learn each task.

What standard of training does a PSD need to meet?

PSDs can be “self trained” by their owner, according to the ADA. As long as your dog can successfully perform the unique task(s) you need from them as a service dog, and as long as they are trained to behave appropriately in public settings, they’re good to go! A good rule of thumb is to ensure that your dog can meet the requirements of the AKC’s Canine Good Citizens (CGC) test, or other public access test.
But don’t worry. This course includes details on the CGC test and how to make sure your service dog meets those requirements.

Can I receive certification for my dog after completing the course?

After successfully completing the PSD course you will receive a certificate of completion in your name stating that you have taken this course.
There is no legal “service dog certification” or “service dog registration” process in the United States. The ADA is very clear that service dogs can be self-trained.

What kind of support is available if I have questions while taking the course?

We have an entire team of PSD pros dedicated to helping you and your dog get all the answers you need if you ever get lost along the way. Ask questions as you move through the course, or engage with trainers in our members-only Facebook community. We pride ourselves in providing the best customer support possible for all of our students!

Is the course suitable for all types of psychiatric needs?

Yes, this course is designed to teach your dog how to help you on a daily basis with your individual psychiatric needs. Our course guides you through identifying your specific needs & helps you train your service dog accordingly.

What kind of success rate does the course have?

As long as you follow the course correctly and train each task until your dog is consistent, you and your pet will be successful in completing this PSD course. We also provide plenty of troubleshooting options in case things don’t go as planned in a training session!

Is the course suitable for dogs of any age, size or breed?

Yes. The ICTI PSD Course is an approved course created by a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, specialized in service dog training, reactivity, separation anxiety and obedience training.

What kind of behaviors and tasks will my dog learn through the course?

Your dog will learn a variety of tasks starting with the basics like Sit, Release, Stay, Lie Down, Go to Place, Recall and more. Then they will move on to PSD fundamentals like, Take It, Leave It, Let's Go, Touch, Heel, Kisses, Speak, Fetch, Identify and more.
From there they will move on to more specialized tasks like Medication Reminders, Stress Relief Support, Providing an Excuse to Leave, Deep Pressure Therapy, Anxiety & Fear Detection and more.
In addition to these tasks, they will learn how to behave in public as you teach them how to deal with friendly strangers, hostile strangers, walk on a loose leash, walk in a crowd, handle distractions and handle accidently being separated from you.

Will the training methods taught in the course harm my dog?

No absolutely not. In fact they may make your dog feel happier and more fulfilled. Dogs live for their owners and derive great pleasure from serving.

Can the course be used to train a rescue or adopted dog to be a PSD?

Yes. It can be used to train any dog regardless or age, breed, size or gender.

Can I receive a refund if I am not satisfied with the course?

Yes. If within 7 days you are not completely satisfied with the course, we will give you a 100% refund.

What is included in the course?

Our course is packed with the best learning tools and information available for PSDs. This training program includes:-
Lifetime access to 77 lessons (and counting) over 10 hands-on modules, where training is covered from beginner to advanced levels.
Step-by-step learning at your own pace and various troubleshooting options.
Access to the exclusive members’ community, where you can connect with ICTI classmates and alumni, get tips on dog care and training, and attend live FAQ sessions with certified dog trainers.
A Certificate of Completion at the end of training

How does the course compare to in-person PSD training?

Most in-person training is very expensive & typically includes a dog trainer doing the training for you. Our PSD course is carefully designed to encompass every aspect of PSD training.
From training processes to troubleshooting, and even knowing your rights as a PSD handler.
You get the same information as you would from an in-person trainer, if not more, and all from the comfort of your own home and neighborhood! Plus this course is taken at your own pace and is all-inclusive, without the substantially higher prices you would pay for in-person training.

How do I know if the course is right for me and my dog?

A service dog can be any age or breed. So as long as you have a disability that will benefit from a trained service dog, and as long as you’re willing to spend the time needed for training (instead of paying an in-person trainer up to $10,000), this course is for you. Each module is packed with easy to follow lessons and comes with trouble shooting options, in case things don’t go the way you want.
You’ll also have access to real dog trainers in our members-only Facebook group. You can rest assured that our PSD course goes above and beyond, providing you with the best tools to train an all-star psychiatric service dog.

Is it possible to train my dog to be a PSD without previous training experience?

Absolutely. Our PSD course caters to every learning style and level! Whether you’re an experienced trainer or just beginning your training journey with your best friend, our course information and exercises are designed to be clear, easy to follow, and effective.

Is it necessary to have access to certain equipment or supplies to complete the course?

Yes. However, the required items are probably items you already have, such as a dog collar or vest, a leash, and dog treats. We also recommend (but do not require) a dog training clicker, which is very affordable and can be found in most pet stores.

Are there any prerequisites for taking the course?

The only prerequisites are that you keep an open mind for learning and have patience and empathy with your K9 pal as you both embark on this training journey! This PSD course will teach you both everything necessary to successfully obtain PSD status as long as you successfully follow and complete each module.