Psychiatric service dog documentation

Psychiatric Service Dog Evaluation With a Licensed Professional

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is a dog individually trained to perform tasks related to a person's mental health disability. If your dog does trained work for you, a professional licensed in your state can evaluate your disability-related need and, where appropriate, provide PSD documentation.

PawTenant does not train, register or certify dogs, and no letter creates service-dog status or public-access rights.

For dogs trained to perform disability-related tasks
Evaluation by a licensed mental health professional
Typically within 24 hours after provider review, if you qualify
Full refund if you don't qualify

Start my PSD assessment PSD or ESA?

One-time PSD documentation starts at $129 for up to 2 dogs. You pay at checkout before the clinical review and are refunded if you don't qualify.

Man sitting on a porch beside his calm, leashed dog — Service-dog status comes from the dog's training, not from a document.

Licensed in your stateReviewed by a professional licensed where you live

Individual clinical reviewApproval is never automatic

Verifiable documentationLicense, NPI and a verification ID

Typically within 24 hoursAfter provider review, if you qualify

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Know the difference

Psychiatric service dog vs. emotional support animal

The deciding difference is training. A PSD performs specific tasks for a disability; an ESA supports you through companionship.

Comparison of psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals
	Psychiatric service dog	Emotional support animal
What it is	A dog individually trained to perform tasks related to a person's mental health disability	An animal whose companionship supports a person's mental or emotional health
Training	Required — the dog must be trained to do specific work or tasks	No task training required
Animals	Dogs (the ADA also allows miniature horses in limited cases)	Dogs, cats and other common household animals
Public places	Service dogs may generally accompany their handler in places covered by the ADA	No public-access rights under the ADA
Documentation in public places	Businesses may not require documentation; staff may ask two questions	Not applicable
Housing	Documentation can support a reasonable accommodation request	Documentation can support a reasonable accommodation request; federal enforcement for untrained animals narrowed in 2026
Flights	Airlines may require the U.S. DOT service animal form, completed by the handler	Treated as pets under airline pet policies

Scroll the table sideways to compare.

Not sure a PSD fits? Start the ESA assessment instead if your animal helps mainly through companionship.

What counts as a trained task

A task is a specific action the dog has been trained to take in response to your disability. The ADA's own example is a dog trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid it or lessen its impact.

Alerting to the early signs of a panic or anxiety attack and responding in a trained way
Interrupting repetitive, self-harming or dissociative behaviors
Applying deep pressure on cue to help reduce overwhelming symptoms
Guiding the handler out of a crowded or overwhelming situation
Reminding the handler to take medication at a set time

Comfort, companionship or a calming presence alone is not a trained task — that describes an emotional support animal.

Training your own dog? Get the free PSD training workbook sample or read how to train psychiatric service dog tasks.

Smiling man crouching on a city plaza beside a yellow Labrador wearing a harness — Illustrative photo. A harness or vest doesn't make a dog a service dog — individual task training does, and a photo can't show it.

Our service

What PawTenant does — and doesn't do

We do

Connect you with a mental health professional licensed in your state
Have that professional evaluate your disability-related need for your dog
Provide signed PSD documentation if it is clinically appropriate
Include a verification ID your housing provider can check

We don't

Train dogs or test their task performance
Register or certify dogs, or sell vests and ID cards
Create service-animal status — that comes from your dog's training
Grant access to stores, restaurants or flights

PSD documentation is most often used to support a housing accommodation request. In ADA-covered public places, businesses may not require documentation for a service dog.

Process

How the PSD evaluation works

Step 1: Confirm your state
Your assessment is matched to a professional licensed where you live.
Step 2: Answer the PSD assessment
Questions about your mental health, daily life and the tasks your dog performs.
Step 3: Choose a package and pay
From $129 for up to 2 dogs. You see the total before paying.
Step 4: Licensed review
The professional reviews your answers individually and may follow up. Approval is never automatic.
Step 5: Documentation if appropriate
Typically within 24 hours after provider review. If you don't qualify, you're refunded.

Licensed professionals

Licensed professionals who review PSD assessments

PSD documentation is signed by a licensed mental health professional, with a license and NPI you can look up.

See all our providers →

Provider availability varies by state. Your assessment is matched to a professional licensed in your state, who may or may not be one of the professionals shown here. Each license and NPI can be checked on the public NPPES registry and your state licensing board.

Simple, Transparent PSD Pricing

Choose Your Psychiatric Service Dog Letter Plan

One-time letters and annual plans — each includes a licensed professional and our money-back guarantee. No hidden fees.

PSD Letter

For up to 2 dogs

$129one-time

Licensed provider evaluation
Signed PSD documentation letter
Typically delivered within 24 hours
Verification ID in your customer portal
Housing & travel documentation support
Full refund if you don't qualify
Free PSD Training Workbook by PawTenant — downloadable immediately after payment

Start Your Evaluation

PSD Annual Plan

For up to 2 dogs

$115first year

Renews at $100/year for 1 dog or $115/year for 2 dogs, beginning in year two

Annual evaluation & updated documentation
Renewal reminders before your letter expires
Automatic yearly renewal — cancel anytime
Priority scheduling — no waitlist
Everything in the PSD Letter plan
Free PSD Training Workbook by PawTenant — downloadable immediately after payment

Choose Annual

Three-Dog PSD Letter

For exactly 3 dogs

$149one-time · fixed total

Prefer annual for 3 dogs? $135 first year, then $115/year.

One evaluation covering 3 dogs*
Signed PSD documentation letter
Verification ID in your customer portal
Housing & travel documentation support
Free PSD Training Workbook by PawTenant — downloadable immediately after payment

Start Multi-Dog

*Multi-dog letters cover up to three dogs on one letter where clinically appropriate. Annual plans renew automatically at the renewal price shown; cancel anytime from your account portal.

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Pay by card at checkout. For one-time packages you can also choose Klarna, subject to eligibility and Klarna's own terms; paying in instalments spreads the same total and is not a lower price. Annual plans are paid by card and renew automatically at the renewal price shown until you cancel.

Frequently asked questions

Is a PSD letter the same as service dog registration?

No. There is no official government registry for service dogs, and the ADA does not require registration or certification. A registry listing, certificate, ID card or vest does not make a dog a service dog. A PSD letter is documentation from a licensed professional about your disability-related need.

Does a PSD letter give my dog public access?

No letter grants public access. Under the ADA, a dog's status as a service animal comes from its individual training to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Businesses may ask only whether the dog is required because of a disability and what task it has been trained to perform, and may not require documentation.

My dog isn't trained yet. Should I start a PSD evaluation?

The PSD evaluation is for handlers whose dog is already trained to perform specific disability-related tasks. If your dog is not trained yet, or helps you mainly through companionship, an ESA evaluation may fit better for now. Our free PSD training workbook sample explains common task training if you plan to train your dog.

Can I train my own psychiatric service dog?

Yes. The ADA does not require a professional training program; people with disabilities may train their dogs themselves. The dog must be trained to perform a specific task and be under the handler's control.

What kind of tasks does a psychiatric service dog perform?

Examples include sensing the onset of an anxiety or panic attack and taking a specific action to help, interrupting repetitive or self-harming behaviors, providing deep pressure on cue, or leading the handler out of an overwhelming situation. Comfort or emotional support alone is not a trained task.

Can a landlord ask for PSD documentation?

When the disability or the need for the dog is not obvious, housing providers often ask for documentation supporting the accommodation request. PSD documentation from a licensed professional is designed for that situation. Your diagnosis is not shown on the letter.

Can I fly with my psychiatric service dog?

U.S. airlines may require the Department of Transportation's service animal air transportation form, which you complete yourself to attest to your dog's training, health and behavior. Airline rules apply, and a PSD letter is not a substitute for that form.

How much does a PSD evaluation cost?

$129 one-time for up to 2 dogs, $149 for 3 dogs, or $115 for the first year on an annual plan (renewing at $100 per year for 1 dog). You get a full refund if you don't qualify.

Start your psychiatric service dog evaluation

For handlers whose dog performs trained, disability-related tasks. A licensed professional in your state decides, and you're refunded if you don't qualify.

Start my PSD assessment

Licensed in your state
No registry or certificate
Refund if you don't qualify