Obedience, boarding, and behavioral training of dogs of all breeds over 15 pounds

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Emotional Support Dog Training — Kiln, Mississippi

Prerequisite: Completion of our In-House Board and Train Program

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Emotional Support Dog Training in Mississippi

Emotional support dogs (ESAs) are companions specifically trained to be a steady, calm presence for one person — their handler. Unlike service dogs, who perform specific physical tasks, an emotional support dog's job is largely about presence: staying focused on you, remaining calm in chaotic environments, ignoring distractions, and being genuinely available during moments of anxiety, depression, panic, or overwhelm. Done well, an emotional support dog is one of the most powerful mental health tools a person can have.

At Ace's Dog Academy in Kiln, Mississippi, our emotional support dog training program is an advanced program that builds on the foundation we establish in our 49-day board and train. We don't take shortcuts here — we believe an ESA without bulletproof obedience is just a pet with paperwork. Real emotional support requires a dog that can remain reliable when your stress is high, when a crowd is loud, when another dog walks by, or when something unexpected happens. That kind of reliability comes from layered training, not from a vest and a letter.

Who Benefits from an Emotional Support Dog?

Our ESA clients include people managing anxiety, depression, PTSD, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and a range of other emotional or psychological conditions. Many are veterans. Others are professionals navigating high-stress careers, students dealing with overwhelm, or anyone who's recognized that a well-trained dog could be a meaningful part of their wellness toolkit. Whatever your situation, what matters most is that you're committed to the long-term partnership — an ESA isn't a quick fix, it's a relationship you build over years.

We serve clients across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, southern Mississippi, southeastern Louisiana, and the Alabama coast. Our facility in Kiln is a short drive from Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Diamondhead, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, and the surrounding communities.

Emotional support dog providing comfort
Advanced Training Program

Your Steady Anchor in Challenging Moments

This program is designed for those who need their dog to stay deeply attuned and focused on them—even amid strong distractions—delivering reliable, personalized emotional support during intense moments of anxiety, overwhelm, or other challenges.

We build rock-solid obedience as the foundation, then layer in advanced focus, calm presence, and responsiveness tailored specifically to your needs whether they be in your home, in public or both.

The result: a devoted companion who remains your steady anchor, providing comfort and stability exactly when you need it most.

What are the details of the In-House Obedience Program?

Our emotional support training builds directly on the foundation established in our comprehensive board / training program.

View In-House Obedience Details

After Completion of Our In-House Obedience Program

This course adds 3 weeks and 2 more team sessions to our timeline.

1
1st Additional Phase (Days 50-61)

In this phase your dog will be brought to numerous public places or in-house environments to ensure that their attention is focused on the handler even amongst major distractions. The goal is that the dog is there for support of the handler. There will be a team session at the end of this stage.

2
2nd Additional Phase (Days 62-71)

This phase will be fine tuning the dog's commands amongst major distractions so that you can expect reliable work from your dog while in stressful situations.

What You Can Expect

Builds on our proven obedience foundation to create a calm, attentive companion who stays attuned to you above all else.

Advanced focus training ensures your dog remains your steady anchor, ignoring environmental chaos when support is needed most.

Ends with a final team handover session, empowering you to maintain and reinforce the skills at home for ongoing benefits. This session can be done in a public place or wherever you feel is most relevant to your needs.

Delivers a devoted, well-mannered ally who provides consistent emotional grounding and companionship exactly when you need it.

Program Benefits

Free Lifetime 1-on-1 Sessions

We offer free 1-on-1 tune up/problem solving sessions for the lifetime of the dog after they complete this course.

No Time Limits

Our client handler sessions do not have time limits—we take the time needed for your success.

Recommended Sessions

We highly recommend 4-5 sessions to ensure you and your dog are fully prepared.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an emotional support dog and a therapy dog?
An emotional support dog is trained to provide comfort and support to one specific person — their owner. A therapy dog is trained to provide comfort to many people in settings like hospitals and schools. Our emotional support program is also a prerequisite for our therapy dog program.
What is the difference between an emotional support dog and a service dog?
A service dog is trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a disability (like alerting to seizures or guiding someone with vision impairment) and has full public access rights under the ADA. An emotional support dog provides emotional comfort through its presence rather than through trained tasks, and does not have the same broad public access rights, though they are protected under the Fair Housing Act.
Do I need to complete the board and train program first?
Yes. Our emotional support dog training builds directly on the obedience foundation from our 49-day board and train program. Without that rock-solid baseline of obedience, advanced emotional support work simply doesn't hold up in real-world situations. Completion of the board and train program is a strict prerequisite.
How long does the emotional support dog training add to the program?
The emotional support training adds approximately 3 weeks and 2 additional team sessions on top of the board and train timeline, for a total of roughly 10 weeks of training from start to finish.
Can my dog be trained as an emotional support dog for anxiety?
Yes. The program is specifically designed for owners who need their dog to remain deeply focused and attuned during moments of anxiety, panic, overwhelm, depression, or other emotional challenges — both at home and in public. We teach the dog to read your state and stay calmly engaged with you when you need them most.
Can any breed be an emotional support dog?
In theory, yes — there are no breed restrictions on ESAs. In practice, the dog needs the temperament for it: calm, attentive, low-reactivity, and stable around distractions. We evaluate every dog at intake to make sure they're a good candidate. Many breeds work well, including Labs, Goldens, Doodles, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, and many mixes.
Do you provide ESA letters or certification?
No — ESA documentation must come from a licensed mental health professional, not a dog trainer. What we provide is the actual training to make your dog reliable, calm, and genuinely helpful in supporting you. The ESA paperwork side is handled by your therapist or doctor.
Will my emotional support dog be allowed in public places?
ESAs do not have the same public access rights as service dogs. They are protected under the Fair Housing Act (no-pet housing must accommodate them) but are not allowed in restaurants, stores, etc. unless the establishment is otherwise pet-friendly. Many of our ESA clients also pursue our therapy dog program, which prepares the dog to behave well in any environment they're invited into.
Can I do this training if I'm dealing with PTSD?
Yes. We've worked with many veterans and others dealing with PTSD. The advanced focus and calm-presence work is particularly valuable for grounding during difficult moments. We're respectful, discreet, and happy to work around any specific triggers or needs you have.

Have Questions?

We're here to help you and your dog. Reach out to us today.

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