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Dec 2022 - Feedback

FLIGHT WITH YOUR SERVICE /ASSISTANCE DOG (PSD)

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Certify your animal as your ESA (Emotional Support Animal)

We train and certify dogs as companions for people with mental impairments who experience relief through their dog. These dogs work in relationship system and for this reason they must be protected and spared from separation from its humans as well as from negative experiences and trauma, in order to maintain their function for its humans and to be able to fulfill their tasks. We call these dogs Assistance Dogs (PSD).

What we do?

Assistance Dog (PSD)
– what is it?

Who we are?

Assistance Dog (PSD)
– for whom?

What we want?

Contact

Our challenge

Our organization

PSDeurope Training – Contents

The PSDeurope video

Some opinions from our customers

Dear Burkhard

Thank you very much for your work! We are so glad that we discovered you! We wish you a wonderful Christmas season combined with good health and happiness. Best regards
T+R

 

We arrived and everything was just super uncomplicated! The painstaking preparatory work was definitely worth it.
I’ll tell you all about it once we’ve settled in.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help

All the best and greetings from New Zealand
S.K.

 

Thank you PSD for helping us fly to be with our family in Ibiza.

Thanks for all your help
O.C.

Hello Burkhard

Our first long-haul flight (FRA-LAX) was phenomenal. Thanks to your great preparation, everything really was perfect. Super great flight crew. Were in the lounge and customs in LA was also incredibly accommodating. Thank you that we can now experience all the adventures together.
OW

They didn’t even want to see M. papers, just her passport. They let her lay on seat. The hostesses did ask her to put in a bag, but were happy when I said she is a service dog.
N/A.

Thank you so much Burkhard

I’ld like to share my experience to help others as Norwegian was amazing
N/A.

I really believe in the work you do and I would love to help in any sense I could
M.C. (Portugal)

Thank you so much PSD Team
G. has been approved by Air Canada. I’m very grateful for PSD Europe’s support.
I.V.

Thanks very much for the swift processing!
All the information is correct, please feel free to go ahead and send the documents.
We will keep you posted about the future travels in the WhatsApp group. Many thanks to the whole team for the support and all the information!
Warm regards,
N

Hello Burkhard,

Thank you very much for sending it.

Everything fits.

I have just registered my dog for the flight next week and it all worked. I’m curious to see what it will be like at the airport.

Thank you very much for the good course and the certification.

I wish you a nice weekend.

Best regards
V.

current customer base (Feb 23)

Interested parties and inquiries (Feb 23)

Completed PSD trainings (Feb 23)

PSDeurope Bulletin

 

WhatsApp group

In 2023, we set up our own WhatsApp group that is open to all our customers.

In this group, our members can communicate with each other, ask questions, share experiences of flying and traveling and generally benefit from the experiences of others.

The group is very popular and is well looked after by our administrator Rene.

If you have booked a training course or ESA certification with PSDeurope, you can register for the WhatsApp group.

PSD-USA

Our customers and good friends Meike and Till-Mathias have also decided to train and certify service dogs and PSD (USDoT) dogs in the USA and Canada.

So it was only sensible and logical to enter into a cooperation that guarantees the same standards in the USA as in Europe.

The PSD-USA offer is aimed at people from the USA + Canada who also want to fly to Europe and other parts of the world.

A good start together
BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN AND PUPPY
Get off to a good start together

Book by Dr. Beate Pottmann-Knapp
Psychotherapist at PSDeurope

PSD quick access bar

Quickly find the topic you are particularly interested in and click on the corresponding image

Your PSD test

Your dog as Assistance Dog (PSD) or PSD (USDoT) ? Find out if this is possible, do your personal test. All information is treated confidentially

Download

This is our Member Download Area. Use the transmitted password to visit the site. You will find many important hints and lists there.

Video examples

Here you will find examples of videos created for the basic skills and task list

Trainings - Progress

This checklist allows you to record and view your personal progress during the PSDeurope training.

PSDeurope Webshop

Visit our store. Here you will find all PSDeurope trainings, products and offers to fly with your dog.

Online therapy booking

Book your online therapy session with our psychotherapist Dr. Beate Pottmann-Knapp

Data transmission

Please send us your data and information with this form. We need this for the creation of all PSDeurope documents, certificates and ID cards.

Theory course access

After booking your specific PSDeurope training, you will find the link to our online training platform here.

What we do?

We train Service Dogs/Assistance Dogs (PSD) in Europe with a focus on MENTAL DISABILITY for traveling and flying

We train according to the general guidelines of the US Department of Transport (USDoT), or according to existing European and international guidelines for the training of Service Dogs / Assistance Dogs (PSD) for people with psychological and mental problems. 🐾 💝

PSD-europe training to become a PSD according to US DoT standards, or a Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD)

An Assistance Dog (PSD) should also accompany its owner when traveling (especially by plane). For flights and travel to/through/from USA and Canada the US DoT standards are to be followed and will be trained in our PSDeurope training. We have developed and compiled specific requirements for global travel and used these to shape our training concept.

Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) Training

If you are traveling with your dog, European airlines, airports, railroads and other travel companies often require you to have completed Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) training. This differs in some respects from the US standards. This training has therefore become the focus of our program in 2022 and will be updated every 3 months.

The combination of theory and practice as a challenge of the PSDeurope training concept

A well-trained Assistance Dog (PSD) human/dog partner team requires theoretical and practical know-how for coping with mental limitations and problems in everyday life. Our focus is on strengthening the bond and relationship within the team. Your dog should provide you with the best possible support in your everyday life and lifestyle. 🍀

Who we are?

We work Non Profit, as NGO

PSDeurope is part of the Association for Bonding and Relationship in Animal Assisted Work, VFBB, based in Austria and operates as a non-profit institution.

NGO with the claim to represent the topic of Service Dog /Assistance Dog (PSD) globally in a serious manner

We are the first institute in Europe to deal intensively with the subject of Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) training specifically for flying and traveling for people with psychological and mental problems and the associated requirements and challenges.

People from psychotherapy, management, law, dog training

We are a team of people who bring together experience from a wide variety of areas to create an optimal product for training and certifying a dog as a Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) with its human

Cooperation with dog schools, service/assistance dog trainers and European clubs

PSDeurope can only work the global market with cooperations. We know that and are therefore open to any kind of meaningful cooperation. Initial steps have been successfully implemented in Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Indonesia and the USA.

What we want?

The recognition of the Assistance Dog (PSD) as a special status of a Service Dog for traveling and flying with a dog

Each Service Dog /Assistance Dog (PSD) is individually assigned to a specific person. The assignment happens after the bonding phenomenon as between mother and infant. Teams are created spontaneously or intentionally.

Therefore, the same guidelines cannot generally apply to the Service Dog/Assistance Dog (PSD) as to assistance dogs in general. According to our concept, training without the associated human being is not meaningful and not possible.

Seriously helping people who need a Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) to manage their lives

People with mental/psychiatric/mental impairments, who experience symptom relief through the bond with their dog, cope with everyday life and give their lives meaning and room for development, should also have the opportunity to take their dog with them on trips – without discrimination – and with any means of transport.

The special focus is on meeting all the necessary regulations to fly with the dog in the cabin.

Be a good and stable partner for airlines worldwide when it comes to Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD)

The behavior of the human/dog teams we train must contribute to flight safety. We also expect exemplary behavior in the airport areas as well as at check-in and security control. These are very important topics in our theory training as well as in the prescribed dog skills for acceptance as a Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) team.

During the training and also during the leading of the dog all regulations of the animal protection must be fulfilled extensively.

to respect the standards of globally active institutions such as ESAAT, TAT or iaadp

The broadest possible acceptance of PSDeurope training would be promoted by accreditation with globally active dog training associations. It is therefore our goal to discuss, agree and accredit with these institutions the acceptance, scope and content of the PSDeurope training system.

This also includes the companies that transport our human/animal partner teams on land, on water and in the air.

What is a Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) or a PSD (USDoT)?

A dog that supports the psyche of a person and helps him to lead a normal life

Service Dogs / Assistance Dogs (PSD) are DOGS that offer their owners with psychological/psychiatric dysfunctions or context-related limitations (fear of flying, claustrophobia, etc.) therapeutic benefits through affection and companionship and at the same time are trained to reinforce these limitations not only through their existence, but also through individual skills

A dog that has and lives a special relationship and bond with its human

A Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) takes on special tasks that are not only based on special abilities and skills, but also have a special bond and relationship with the assigned human as the basis for cooperation. Any training cannot therefore focus on the dog alone, but must take into account important elements of psychological cooperation. Man and dog form a functioning whole

A dog specialized in psychiatric/ psycho-somatic complaints

When the Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) is with its owner, he/she can and will be more relaxed, more confident and more present in the here and now. He/she often feels less lonely, freer from compulsions and other emotional limitations, and more open to many activities in everyday life.

A dog that is assisting its owner with psychiatric impairments may not be separated from the owner under any circumstances. Separation is very likely to trigger an acute crisis.

A dog that learns + carries out special tasks in dialogue with its human

A Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) performs specially trained tasks. A dog bonded to its human can learn the following tasks: warning of stress increase, increase of discomfort, of psychological seizures, psycho-somatic deterioration; recognizing emotional emergencies, fetching medications and aids; interrupting states of suffering, giving orientation, being an anchor, being the so-called “safe place”, giving concrete support during seizures, interrupting misbehavior, stabilizing emotions, activating resources, promoting concentration, monitoring and demanding structure and many more

 

Who needs a Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD)?

A person with psychological / mental limitations who can make their life better with a dog

 

A person with psychological problems who is recommended an animal by a doctor or psychotherapist

 

A person who already owns a dog and can no longer imagine life without one

 

A person who would like to travel but cannot do so without animal help due to fears and insecurities

 

We have the opportunity to do something positive and give many people another piece of normal life. Be part of it.

The history of PSDeurope:

The knowledge and scientific confirmation that animals have a positive effect on the human psyche in many ways was first recognized in the USA. By law, animals that bring relief to a person with a mental/psychiatric impairment (mental disability) may not be separated from their owner – they are animals with special rights. They are called Emotional Support Animals.

This status is obtained when a specialist (GP, specialist in psychiatry/neurology, psychologist, psychotherapist) checks and confirms that the animal’s owner is suffering from a mental/psychiatric illness (diagnosis according to ICD or DSM) and alleviation of symptoms and complaints through the special bond and relationship with his animal.

Due to undisciplined behavior, the complaints increased and the demands for regulations and training of the animals became louder and louder. The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has done a thorough study on this issue. In December 2020, the results of the investigation were published in the US DoT Final Rule.

Dogs that provide mental support to their owners, are trained in prescribed behavioral rules, and have learned specific tasks that support their owner’s psyche must continue to be allowed in the cabin.

These dogs are given the title PSD. These regulations apply to all dogs in the USA, regardless of age, breed or size or other characteristics. The EU is working on a corresponding law for assistance dogs. We expect first announcements in 2024.

Currently, only trained Service Dogs / Assistance Dogs (PSD) are permitted in the cabin in Europe and other parts of the world. This is the background and motivation for the PSDeurope Assistance Dog Training.

Would you like to book Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) training for your dog?

You have further questions?

You want to test if you can do a PSDeurope training?

Our top priorities

The PSDeurope project is currently to be ranked above all other projects at VFBB. The background is the clear desire to fly (travel) with your own dog if it is prescribed by a suitable doctor or psychotherapist as a necessary PSD (psychiatric service dog). It is therefore the task and goal of PSDeurope to optimize PSD training for dogs and humans.

Customer service

We are not a profit-oriented organization that is concerned with generating new sales and selling our services and products at any price. We really want to help you train your dog to be a valuable service dog and we understand that this is not easy for all people with mental disabilities. We are here to help. We do not let you alone.

theory training

Theory training is one of the main pillars of our Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) training. It is about giving you, as a dog owner, the best conditions to lead and train your service dog and to provide you with all the information you need to get along with your dog in a wide variety of situations (shopping, flying, visiting) without any problems.

Special: Traveling in Europe

We have designed our training according to USDoT standards so that it is accepted by European organizations, tour operators and official bodies and our customers can also travel in Europe with their Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) without any problems. This is currently a great wish of our customers, which we have come very close to fulfilling in 2022. Many satisfied customers can and will confirm this.

Flying with the Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD)

Airlines are particularly interested in keeping their flights, their crews and their passengers absolutely safe. A Service Dog / Assistance Dog (PSD) can pose a certain risk if the dog fails or the human/animal team does not harmonize well. It is therefore our task to make the airlines understand that we do not compromise on safety, our dogs are well trained and our customers take the same values for granted. We have set up a WhatsApp group specifically for this purpose to enable permanent communication between our customers even after training has been completed.

PSD Project: Accreditation

We are currently working on putting the VFBB and your projects PSDeurope and EURO-DOGS.eu on a broader basis. This requires accreditation of the training courses developed by supra-regional organizations such as ESAAT for the therapy dog complex and IAADP for the service/assistance dog (PSD) training content. This is the specific target for 2023

Currently we have no plans to accredit our trainings publicly and state-accredited. There are two reasons for this. On the one hand, our ideas differ, and on the other, there are too many national differences. This may change if Europe adopts and demands a uniform regulation.

Support us – share your story

In the past we have been repeatedly confronted with the importance of animal-assisted work in various areas. The topic fascinates us and is now much more than a hobby and an idea. We feel more than connected to our customers

Beate + Burkhard (founders)

Our partners & supporters

Do you have any questions - contact us?

Project by VFBB (Association for Bonding and Relationships between Humans and Animals)

 

Wörthersee Süduferstrasse 181
AT 9081 Maria Worth
Carinthia, Austria

Phone: +43 664 9654601
service@psd-europe.eu