Anyone Have A Service Dog?

[babettess]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone here have a service dog? I would like to hear the pros/cons of having one and also get information on where I can get one.

Thanks,

Babette

[maggie]

My daughter has a service dog and you won't believe how easy it can be. She is a dog trainer for Pets Smart and is calmer when her dog {bullmastiff} is with her. I looked up on the internet as to how to get a service dog. I actually contacted the government agency and actually got a live person on the phone to answer my questions. There are all sorts of services that are very expensive to train your dog, but in reality all you need is a orange service vest, which you can buy anywhere online and have a dog that is just trained to behave. I asked the gentleman about what if I lied and just bought a vest for my dog and he replied people wouldn't do that. No one is allowed to ask you when entering any public place why you have a service dog because of the HIPPa law. Your medical records are private. All the place can ask you is if your dog is trained and will behave in the store. Now my daughter takes her dog everywhere with her. In fact when I visit her I take my dog with use her service vest and take my dog into the stores so that she is more relaxed in that type of inviroment. Don't let these other services lie to you, you don't need to spend a lot of money on a cetain kind of dog unless you need the dog to do specific things for your daughter.

Maggie

[flop]

Wow, the situation re service dogs in the UK is very different. They have to be trained by a one of a handful of specialist services. There are also strict rules about who is eligable for a service dog - blind, deaf, epileptic, severe limited mobility. I would love to have a dog that could pick things up from the floor, load the washing machine and especially stay with me when I collapse / bark to get attention if I was hurt.

Flop

[all4family]

I'd love to have a service dog especially for if I faint. I can't tell you how many things I avoid because the "what if" senario. I really like to spend time alone, but have fainted alone before, and it is scarey. That would sure give me tons of comfort.

Suzy

[Sophia3]

never heard of taking a family pet dog and turning it into a "service dog".

Lots stricter about that in most places in USA. Maybe your state is different?

Indeed, SPECIAL TRAINERS have to train these dogs for MONTHS and months. Not something done at obedience training

[babettess]

Thanks everyone,

I will be continuing to research on how and where to get a service dog and will post what I find out on here so everyone can see.

I know of someone here locally who has POTS/NCS who has a service dog. I am going to try to meet with her this week so I will pass on whatever information I get from her.

I agree with you Suzy- I think I will be a little more comfortable being alone if I have a dog to keep a eye on me. I am so anxious to find out more about the process.

I will keep everyone updated.

Babette

[Rachel]

I don't have a service dog, though I have considered it. A service dog can be trained to "catch" you if you fall or faint! That would be so helpful for many of us! It would be great to have a dog who could pick up things I drop, get the phone for me, etc. It is amazing what a well trained service dog can do.

I haven't read up that much on the rules for service dogs, but it is my understanding that you can train one yourself. You don't have to go through an official agency. Technically, though, a service dog cannot be a pet. A service dog is a service dog, not just a fun companion. It is very difficult to train a dog to perform some of the tasks that we would need in a service dog. Training a dog and taking care of a dog is a lot of work. While it would be cheaper to buy and train a dog yourself, it would also prove to be a more difficult task than most of us could do.

I'd really like to hear about what you learn as you research this.

Rachel

[Rachel]

Here are some links I have found helpful:

Americans with Disabilities Act - Common Questions about Service Animals

Assistance Dog Tasks

[ajw4790]

Hi,

I am curious about this topic...

What type of things were you wanting a dog to assist with? I guess I just wasn't sure how much help they could be, and if some of the things that you require some assistance with couldn't be helped by consulting with an occupational therapist to find easier and alternative ways of doing things? (i.e. reachers, emergency call buttons/watch, grab bars, shower chair etc).

Part of what was drilled into me by a POTS specialist is that are current "job" is to work on reconditioning ourselves and to find ways to overcome all of these challenges being thrown at us. I get this to a point, but for many of us there is damage to our bodies that is not going away... But, I suppose it is best to try to do as much as we can in our own time, with slow baby steps... Many times a task of standing to fill three water pitchers at the sink is enough of a task for the whole day for myself.

So, I guess I was wondering if before jumping to that, if you had looked at all the other options out there for what you are needing assistance with?

[stillkickin]

Thanks everyone,

I will be continuing to research on how and where to get a service dog and will post what I find out on here so everyone can see.

I know of someone here locally who has POTS/NCS who has a service dog. I am going to try to meet with her this week so I will pass on whatever information I get from her.

I agree with you Suzy- I think I will be a little more comfortable being alone if I have a dog to keep a eye on me. I am so anxious to find out more about the process.

I will keep everyone updated.

Babette

Were you able to talk to the person with the service dog? I am thinking of looking into getting one too and I would love to share info with you!

[Kitsakatsa]

Hi,

I am curious about this topic...

What type of things were you wanting a dog to assist with?

I know, right? I'm curious too.

On a lighter note, my cats could use a service dog. They are constantly falling over. If I throw a toy for them, they run three steps, fall over and then use their claw to propel themselves sideways across the room towards it. They would love to have assistance. I think they would even settle for a service hampster!

Well anyway, would the dog help you be more independent? I have been considering getting a dog dog, normal dog and the thought of hauling the chow (paying for the chow), taking it out for walks at 2 am and etc is enough to make me sadly settle for a non-dog life. Do you think the responsibility of the dog like those things and getting home in time to let it out wouldn't be totally hard to do for a POTS patient? Can you lift 75 pounds? What if it got hurt?

Just wondering.

Kits

[flop]

The types of things that a service dog can help with are quite varied. Mainly they can fetch / pick up items, pull and push (eg doors, getting dressed), get help (barking and operating special emergency phone buttons).

I have actually recently e-mailed one of the UK charities that train and provide assistance dogs to disabled people in the UK to find out more.

I will post some links to UK assistance dog websites as I think they may be interesting even to those living outside the UK.

Dogs for the disabled

Canine Partners

Support Dogs

Dog AID (Assistance In Disability)

These are some of the tasks that a dog can be trained to do:

# Calling an ambulance

# Opening and closing doors

# Picking up objects

# Assisting with dressing and undressing.

# Accompanying their owner whilst shopping, etc.

# Acting as a physical support

# Raising the alarm

# Operating control buttons

# Switching lights on and off

# Carrying items

# Loading and unloading the washing machine

# Fetching the telephone and other items

A Support Dog can be trained to do many other tasks which their owner may find difficult or impossible.

Flop

[prettyinpink]

I have a service dog. SHe is a diabetic alert dog and can tell by my scent when my bloodsugar is going out of range. I can't feel my sugars changing until I suddenly shaking on the floor or uncontrollably puking. My bloodsugar can go from 300-50 in 25 mins and I wouldn't notice a thing until I become incoherent. She always wakes me up at night for highs and lows which prevents all of my diabetic seizures.

Actually, businesses are allowed to ask anyone with a service dog 1. Do you have a disability? and 2. what special tasks is the dog trained to do. There are huge fines for people who put vests on their pet dogs and just take them out in public because they want to.

When I do pass out lucy licks my face over and over again but, honestly I wouldn't need lucy if i just had POTS and not type 1 diabetes. Having a dog is a TON of work and some days I wonder if its worth it with POTS but, I know that because my sugars are until control my POTS is a thousand times better. Taking care of a service dog and training requires a lot of time and energy so consider that before you decide to get one.

[prettyinpink]

OH and I've been training lucy since she was 4 months old. I have worked with a few different trainers and gone to a few alert dog training workshops. Lucy does help pull my wheelchair which is a huge benefit related to POTS.

[Sophia3]

ok LOADING & UNLOADING the dishwasher? I gotta see that..but um, no offense, how would a dog unload the dishwasher w/o getting them dirty again. wow for my really potsy days a dog would be most helpful...but my cats would never go for a dog. I live in a friend's house and he has two cats & I have two..plus no fenced in yard, be tough to talk a dog when it's so cold out (10 degrees!!)

But it's great they have these dogs to help people but only if TRULY trained to be service dogs.

Big dogs could help with a wheelchair but would have to be huge (St. Bernard, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, etc)

Thanks for the info Flop. and let me know if you have pic of unloading the dishwasher. I found this of dog washing dishes.

[prettyinpink]

ha ha Sophia3 I love the picture. Actually dogs are very strong and you don't need one as big as a newfoundland to pull a wheelchair(this would depend on a person's weight i guess). Lucy is a 50lb lab and helps me but i only have her helped on the tiled floors in stores and in my school. I propel the wheelchair with my legs or one of my arms while i hold onto lucy who helps. but her main job is my crazy irratic bloodsugars. I think when after my wedding when i move into an apt i will work on training her to get me water bottles/my phone and maybe some other tasks. Thanks for the TRULY trained comment Sophia3 I get very upset when I hear of people just taking their pets out in public.

[potsgirl]

Loved the pix! Thanks for the laugh, Sophia.

[Kitsakatsa]

I would be very afraid of what a dog would pick out for me to wear!!! Oh my gosh!

I would be all "nope, nope, interesting...nope, nope, start over... nope"!

Load and unload the washer and dryer though, who couldn't use that?!!

Kits

[flop]

Sophia - you made me giggle I meant that the dog can load and unload the clothes washing machine / tumble dryer.

Here in the UK you can't just decide to train your own dog to be an assistance dog. There is one charity that will help you train yur own dog but they have very strict criteria and the dog must pass assesments by them before their trainers will work with you. Also in the UK it is illegal for a dog to be used to pull a wheelchair.

I think that for some people with POTS an assistance dog could be very helpful but for others the increased work of taking care of a dog and exercising them would outweigh the benefits. My main reason for wanting a trained dog is so that I could live alone and have the dog raise the alarm if I faint and can't get up. I have several times fallen down the stairs and dislocated joints so that when I have come round I still can't get up or call an ambulance. I hate having to rely on my sister to be there "just in case".

Flop

[prettyinpink]

Sophia - you made me giggle I meant that the dog can load and unload the clothes washing machine / tumble dryer.

Here in the UK you can't just decide to train your own dog to be an assistance dog. There is one charity that will help you train yur own dog but they have very strict criteria and the dog must pass assesments by them before their trainers will work with you. Also in the UK it is illegal for a dog to be used to pull a wheelchair.

I think that for some people with POTS an assistance dog could be very helpful but for others the increased work of taking care of a dog and exercising them would outweigh the benefits. My main reason for wanting a trained dog is so that I could live alone and have the dog raise the alarm if I faint and can't get up. I have several times fallen down the stairs and dislocated joints so that when I have come round I still can't get up or call an ambulance. I hate having to rely on my sister to be there "just in case".

Flop

I know that you have to have special companies in the uk train a dog to be a service dog but, if you just want the dog to keep you safe at home couldn't you train it yourself? or with a trainer? but not as highly trained as service dog that goes in public since you only want it for when you are home alone? I don't recommend just picking a random dog to train ,

[babettess]

Sorry I haven't responded back to my original message. I have been having computer problems for quite awhile and have only been able to read the posts.

In response, I have gotten a standard poodle puppy in hopes to train her (or have her trained) to be my service dog. I have had her since August and she is doing remarkably well. She will start service dog training when she is a little older.

I met with the mother and daughter who live near me who both have POTS & NCS and other issues and both have service dogs. I was amazed at how the dogs help them. Along with the normal service dog help such as picking things up, and opening doors---- these dogs are trained to lay on the ladie's stomachs when they faint and lick them until they regain conciousness. Their weight helps distribute blood flow to the brain. Amazing!!!! Along with getting the information on service dogs I have made two great friends.

For me in particular, my dog will be trained to call for help in case of an emergency on her very own phone. The thought of this makes me feels so much better as I have to spend alot of time alone. I can hardly wait for her to be trained as I feel she will help me be so much more independent.

I will try to keep everyone updated on this exciting adventure.

Babette

PS.. I have soooooo missed posting. Hope my computer will get back to normal so I can rejoin all you wonderful folks...

[janiedelite]

Hi Babette,

It's good to see you back, although I'm glad you've still been able to read the posts. I'm so glad you found yourself a good little dog! I hope her training goes well, and you gain some independence.

[flop]

Thankful, yes I suppose I could train a dog myself for home situations but I would really like a dog that could do quite a few things for me and I don't think that I am well enough to take on the responsibility of training a dog from scratch. Also I would like to be able to go to public places alone more safely. I recently had a horrible experience where I collapsed on a train on the way home from a medical appointment. Despite wearing a medical-ID braclet and carrying a medical info card people thought that I was drunk and kept trying to push me upright into a seat. In that situation I think that having an assistance dog with me would make people realise that I was ill and needed an ambulance not to be locked up for being drunk (I hardly ever drink).

Flop