New Research Confirms the Power of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD

For many military veterans, returning to civilian life doesn’t mean leaving the war behind. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can remain a constant companion—interrupting sleep, straining relationships, making work difficult, and often creating a persistent sense of fear or hypervigilance. But recent research offers hopeful news: psychiatric service dogs can make a significant and lasting impact on veterans’ mental health.

A study published in JAMA Network Open (March 2024) followed 156 military veterans over six months and found that those who were paired with a trained service dog experienced a measurable reduction in PTSD symptoms—starting as early as three months into their partnership. The improvement was consistent and sustained, with reductions in depression and anxiety, improved social functioning, and enhanced quality of life. In other words, service dogs don’t just provide comfort; they provide clinically significant support.

This growing body of evidence backs what many veterans already know from personal experience: having a psychiatric service dog can mean the difference between surviving and thriving.

At Medical Mutts Service Dogs, we’ve seen the truth of that firsthand. We work with clients across the country—training dogs to support people with psychiatric conditions, diabetes, seizures, and more. Many of the dogs in our program come from shelters and rescues, and they go on to change lives as highly skilled service animals. For veterans especially, this new research supports what we've long believed: these dogs are a powerful tool in the healing process.

One veteran training her own dog through Medical Mutts shared her experience after searching for a program that aligned with her values:

“I did a lot of research before choosing Medical Mutts largely because of their mission, which aligns with my passion for rescue dogs, as well as the accessibility of their classes. We’ve done Foundations, Intermediate, and the Public Access course, and are currently in the Advanced level.”

She emphasized the quality of support she received throughout the process:

“The trainers are WONDERFUL. They are so knowledgeable about dogs and positive based training, and I always get helpful corrections that make a big difference in a behavior we’re struggling to nail. In addition, they are wonderful advocates for the dogs in their program, even through owner training.”

“They’re also very willing to work at the pace necessary for folks with chronic illnesses and disabilities, so you don’t feel pushed to advance before you and your dog are ready. From the start, everything has been transparent.”

Her experience highlights the kind of thoughtful, flexible approach that’s essential when working with individuals managing PTSD or other chronic conditions. Not every journey is linear, and not every team progresses at the same pace. That’s why we build support into every part of our training process—because the partnership between a person and their dog is what truly matters.

Why Service Dogs for Veterans Work

Psychiatric service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks that help mitigate the impact of PTSD. This might include:

• Waking someone from a night terror

• Applying deep pressure during a panic attack

• Creating physical space in crowded environments

• Interrupting harmful behaviors

• Alerting to rising anxiety

• Providing a sense of security and grounding

  
  

For someone living with hypervigilance, flashbacks, or emotional numbness, these dogs offer more than companionship—they offer real, life-enhancing support. And the effects ripple outward. With a trained service dog, many veterans report being able to return to school, maintain employment, or simply go out in public with greater confidence.

Help for Veterans, Nationwide

At Medical Mutts, we serve clients all over the United States. Whether veterans work with us through our Board & Train program, private coaching, or online courses to train their own dog, we offer flexible options to meet different needs. While the recent study offers hope and validation, we also understand the reality: service dogs are a major investment of time, effort, and cost.

We work hard to keep our programs as accessible as possible. For veterans living in Indiana, we can also help navigate local funding resources, including grant programs and veteran-specific assistance. These options vary depending on each person’s situation, but we’re here to guide veterans through that process.

Still, no matter where a veteran lives, the message of the JAMA Network Open study is clear: psychiatric service dogs make a difference—and the sooner that support becomes more widely available, the better.

Looking Ahead

This research gives new weight to what veterans and service dog providers have known for years. With strong evidence of effectiveness, there’s a growing push for broader recognition and support. At the policy level, we hope to see more insurance coverage and the inclusion of psychiatric service dogs in Veterans Affairs benefits.

Until then, organizations like Medical Mutts are doing what we can to fill the gap—rescuing dogs, training them with care, and building meaningful partnerships between people and their animals. Because healing doesn’t always happen in a hospital. Sometimes, it comes on four legs, with a wagging tail, and a quiet, steady presence that never leaves your side.