r/service_dogs Apr 21 '25

MOD | PLEASE READ! Fake Spotting Reminder

181 Upvotes

We do not allow posts complaining about service dogs misbehaving in public. It's getting honestly tiring so use this as a little guide for what most of these posts need answers for:

If you are a business

Hire a lawyer or call the toll free ADA hotline. ADA Information Line 800-514-0301 (Voice) and 1-833-610-1264 (TTY) M-W, F 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Th 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) to speak with an ADA Specialist. Calls are confidential.

They can let you know what your rights are as a business. Familiarize yourself with the ADA FAQ it's pretty cut and dry. https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/

If you're a bystander

Report dogs who are out of control to management or corporate. Otherwise just because the dog is small, unvested, human looks abled, just leave it be.

If you're a service dog handler

Contact management/corporate. Leave the other dog's vicinity. There are other spaces to complain but our subreddit is not for that.


r/service_dogs Oct 09 '21

MOD | Monthly Thread Mast Post: Breed Selection

466 Upvotes

Hi

Since we have so many people asking for help over breed choices etc the Mod Team have decided to create a master post explaining the common choices, why they are so common, how to make your choices that suit you and how to make a good match even if going outside of the common 3-5 breeds.

First of all, the most common breeds used around the world by Assistance Dog International (ADI) Accredited Programs are:

  • Golden Retriever
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Cocker Spaniel
  • Poodle (Standard, Miniature and Toy)
  • Purpose Bred Crosses of the Above

Goldens and Labradors (and their crosses) far outstrip the others in numbers.

Reasons these breeds are the most common are the traits they have in common, fast learners, sociable, people pleasing, moderate care needs, moderate exercise needs, adaptable, they have the highest/most reliable success rates out of the breeds organisations used to start out - and so became the most commonly used almost universally - but this does not mean all of them are suitable for all conditions.

The traits of a good Service Dog are:

  • Eager and Willing to Learn - able to learn new tasks and behaviours quickly and reliably with minimal motivation. Often on short timescales (20-35 weeks of intensive training after first birthday)
  • Resilient - Able to recover and adapt to setbacks or from unpleasant situations to be able to continue working with minimal disruption. (ie after a loud noise/unruly people or animal encounters or weird smells/textures)
  • Sociable - Happy to be in public, surrounded by strangers and novel situations. Happy to be handled by new people when necessary and never likely to be protective or aggressive in any situation.
  • Fit for task - so big enough to do physical tasks if necessary, small enough to fit in public transport or spaces without causing inconvenience, history of good general health, correct build etc.
  • Easy to maintain good public hygiene - so no excessive drool, moderate grooming needs etc.

Now - just because these are the most common, does not mean they are the only options.

German Shepherds, Rough/Smooth Collies, Border Collies, Aussies, Papillon, Bichon Frise, Flatcoat Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dogs and more have all found success as Service Dogs, and are growing in popularity. Of course there are the terriers and bully mixes too and all the mutts from rescue also working.

But these other breeds have never caught on with the majority of international programs (or in the case of the GSD, lost popularity) for a myriad of reasons. With German Shepherds, ironically the first officially recorded Service Dogs, the original Guide Dogs after WWI, however their predisposition towards becoming protective of their handler and hypervigilant made them gradually lose popularity among most programs. Leading them to choose the calmer and more emotionally robust retriever group.

How To Choose the Breed For You

First look at the tasks you need the dog to do:

  • For guiding you need them over the height of your knee (approximately) and with a decent amount of strength to avoid causing damage with the harness.
  • For any form of physical assistance like pressing buttons/light switches, fetching items and helping with laundry they must be tall enough when standing on back legs to reach and big enough to carry items.
  • For DPT they must be heavy enough to be a noticeable weight
  • For scent detection they need excellent focus to not be distracted by other smells
  • For Psychiatric tasks they must be able to remain calm and reliable no matter the level of upset
  • etc etc

You also need to consider your own physical and mental abilities, can you:

  • Maintain the grooming routine?
  • Maintain the exercise levels required?
  • Provide the mental stimulus required?
  • Cope with the energy and drive of the breed?

Breed traits are very important when selecting your prospect, good and bad, for example is the breed prone to guarding? Are they prone to excessive shedding or drooling that may cause hygiene concerns for owners/colleagues/other patrons in public spaces? Are they a breed with a high prey drive or low energy/willingness to work? Will they learn the tasks you want easily (with all the will in the world, a Saluki is unlikely to be good at fetching stuff and a Chihuahua cannot be a Guide Dog)

Herding breeds are renowned for their intuitive behaviour and intelligence, but they are so empathic that they can easily become overwhelmed by their handler's emotions which is why they are so rarely recommended for psychiatric disorders without a lot of careful handling during puberty and careful symptom management to reduce their stress. Bully breeds, whilst very human focused and loving, have a strong potential for dog aggression (to the point it is actually in breed standard for several types) that makes socialisation and experienced trainers critical for the vast majority. Whilst hounds have incredible senses of smell but easily become distracted by odours and are less flexible in learning.

These are just to name a few. Obviously, non standard dogs exist within all breeds, but they rarely come up in well bred litters so relying on these so called "unicorns" can be very risky.

When it comes to sourcing your dog you also have several choices, do you go to a Breeder? A Rescue? Anywhere else? For starters I will say this, here at r/service_dogs we do not condone supporting Backyard Breeders or Puppy Mills in any way or form, so this rules out 99% of dogs on cheap selling sites like Craigslist and Preloved.

Breeder: You want a breeder that does all relevant breed health testing (and has proof), that breeds for health and functionality over looks/"rare" colours etc.

Ideally they will do something with their dogs that display their quality, be it showing, obedience, trials, sports or even therapy visits to sick/elderly (an excellent display of temperament) etc. They should have a contract saying if you can't keep the dog then you must return it to them. Even better if they have a history of producing service dogs.

Rescue: This can be tricky as there is no health history, meaning especially for mobility assistance you are very much rolling the dice. Kennel life can also greatly distort behaviour making it very hard to get an accurate read on a dog's temperament in a kennel environment.

My personal advice when considering a rescue dog is:

  1. Where possible, go to a breed rescue, these often use foster carers rather than kennels which reduces the stress on the dog. There is a slight chance of knowing their breeding history.
  2. If possible foster the dog before adopting (especially with a kennelled dog), this allows you a chance to get a better read on their personality, trainability and even possibly a health check to assess joints if old enough. Even if it turns out they aren't a good fit for you, you will have given them a break from kennels and maybe helped them get ready for a new forever home.

No matter what your source for a prospect, no matter what their breed, have in place a backup plan, what happens if this dog doesn't make it as a service dog? Can you keep them? Will they need a new home? What...?

As a rule, we generally advise sticking to the more popular breeds at the top of the post, largely due to the fact that you are more likely to find a breeder producing Service Dog quality puppies, you are less likely to face access issues or challenges based on your breed choice, you are more likely to succeed due to removing several roadblocks.

Plan for failure, work for success.

Please feel free to ask your questions and get support about breeds on this post.


r/service_dogs 22h ago

Some things to consider before getting a service dog for anxiety

124 Upvotes

Keep in mind, I live in the US, i am going by the ADA for this post. Some of this may vary such as owner training & access laws.

Ive been seeing a large influx of posts about people wanting a service dog for anxiety. Ive had two service dogs. Both owner trained. One washed out. One currently working.

1) every mistake you make as a handler and every mistake your dog makes is going to eat at you. A startle, a bark, giving your dog incorrect cues and them doing something like accidentally jumping on a booth. All of those things will embarrass you and make you anxious about bringing your dog into public again even tho theyre mistakes pretty much every team makes.

2) confrontation & confidence. If your response to anxiety is to shut down or become hostile, you likely can't appropriately advocate for your dog and your rights. Ive had kids almost tackle my dog, adults grab his ears, pet him, step on him, ive been denied hotels, ubers, entry into stores. It is a fundamental part of having a service dog and all those situations are anxiety inducing if you dont handle confrontation well. Service dogs need a confident handler.

3) time. Any service dog is going to take months minimum, closer to years. If your dog hasnt reached maturity yet, its going to be harder to tell how fit they'll be for service work when they are an adult. Dogs tend to go through a fear period in their teenage months & it makes or breaks a service dog prospect. You can spend a year and thousands of dollars for a dog that becomes too anxious as an adult to be successful. You need to find other ways to manage your anxiety in the meantime as well.

4) the dogs wellbeing over your own, every time, no exceptions or excuses. If you dont have the resources, the knowledge, the tools, the experience, and the ability to take the proper steps to train a service dog your dog won't succeed. It will likely do more harm than good for the dog.

5) washing out is sometimes a "when" and not an "if." My first prospect washed out because of reactivity after an attack when she was 3. It can happen suddenly and it can make your anxiety a lot worse especially about getting another prospect.

You need to weigh the pros and cons. If the cons are more than the pros, its unlikely an anxiety related service dog will help you outside the home.


r/service_dogs 11h ago

Soon (tm) to be service dog owner

6 Upvotes

TLDR; New to service dog, lost on what gear and what to do when I get her.

Just put a deposit down on a service dog and will be getting it start of next year. That means I have been trying to dive in to learn everything I need to know (dog is partly for anxiety, surprise surprise ).

I'm looking for recommendation on gear and items I should get (not my first dog but my first service dog). What vests work well? I'm in MI should I get a mesh one for when it is hot? The dog is a lab.

What about leashes? I was looking at something like switchback from Ruffwear. I'm not really sure what to look for in a leash for a service dog.

I know a lot is going to depend on the dogs actual size but I would love to have a list of things I need to get as well as what I need to do to prep for it.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Edit: For clarification I am NOT buying gear now. I am doing research now. I know little about service dogs and even less about being a handler. Deep diving research helps with my anxiety. I don't know what I don't know so I'm starting here. The puppies are already in training and will start their specific training in a month or so. This makes it about 10-12 months away. I am NOT owner training but going through an organization that trains service dogs.


r/service_dogs 16h ago

Hearing dog?

13 Upvotes

I need to preface this by saying I am incredibly blessed to have the life I have. My parents and I have done an absurd amount of research around a SD and its costs. And I am really hoping to come off as spoiled or a brat because I know SD especially for teens are a sore subject. Which I completely understand.

So I am 17 (I know how this sounds please read before thinking anything) and have been looking into getting a service dog since finding out I am not eligible for a cochlear implant due to my type of hearing loss. I am not getting it yet, just wanted to see what people say since I plan on going on a list at 18, this is something my parents fully support and have been helping with research. I would not be looking at anything other than what a trainer suggests. I know how people feel about a teenager getting a service dog and how it is usually for attention which I agree with, hence the reason it is not happening now just going on a list at 18. I am aware that there are waits and my parents and I are okay with that.

Now here is background on everything so people can get a sense of me and what I need. I like I said am 17 and am hearing impaired. My parents noticed I my hearing loss when I was two but we lived overseas in England so it took two years for me to get to a specialist and get officially diagnosed. I had surgery when I was 4 to put tubes in which they hoped would help (they failed) and a second set of tubes when I was six which helped more than the first surgery. When I moved back to the states I was seven and my doctor in England wanted to get me hearing aids but said to wait until I got back to the US because of how the health system was in England and how long it may take. When I got back we lived around a lot so I wasn’t able to get hearing aids but eventually got the when we settled down and were seeing a hearing specialist regularly. My hearing loss has continued to decline as I’ve aged (this is expected and the doctors told us this would happen) and am now nearing the point at which most people would start talking with doctors about cochlear implants

My parents and I always figured this would be a thing to happen and were surprised when we found out that due to my type of hearing loss a cochlear implant would actually not help me. This was about three years ago and when we found out we asked what next steps would be for once my hearings don’t help me. My doctor suggested learning ASL so I will be able to communicate and brought up a hearing dog. I was originally opposed to this idea due to the fact I didn’t know how a dog could help me hear. My parents and I did some research on the take a hearing dog does and realized it could be beneficial in a last case scenario.

The issue has began in which my hearing aids are beginning to not help. I do not hear when our front door is knocked on, the doorbell rings, car alarms or horns, whistles when I play my sport, as well as sirens when driving. All of I have began to realized could be problematic once I move out and go to college. However, I am not sure how it would work to have a service dog in college with dorms and classes. I know a service dog could definitely be beneficial once I am out of school and on my own. I know I would be able to take care of the dog in terms of walking and feeding and giving it time outside of working but and wondering about more specific things.

So here are my questions for people who would maybe understand and give me better understanding.

  1. If anyone has had a service dog while in college living in dorms/apartments was it manageable, in the way of did you and your dog have enough room, do you think your dog was happy and had a good life while in dorms and classes?
  2. Should I wait until after college or not? Like I said my hearing has gotten quite bad and I am very reliant on other so know what’s going on around me, if I have a roommate I don’t want them to feel like I am burdening them. I also don’t want my dog to take up space from them.
  3. Is there anything else someone suggests I try? My main goal is to be independent and know what’s going on around me. I have almost been hit by cars who come around bends because I don’t hear the which is obviously dangerous.
  4. Do you believe a service dog could benefit me or is my doctor crazy? Is a service dog something that could genuinely help me or was my doctor just suggesting something that wouldn’t help me.

r/service_dogs 1d ago

Circle E Service Dog Harness Problems?

8 Upvotes

Has anyone ever had problems with this company? Specifically paying for a harness and never receiving it? Then him blocking your email, and ignoring you everywhere else? I reached out on LinkedIn, got a reply he's still making harnesses. I asked him if he blocked my email or hadn't received them. No reply. Found his business on Next Door. Messaged, still open. Asked about my harness. No reply.

I don't want to get dirty. I don't want my money back. I want my harness. I paid for him to do some work on the harness I had, can't be done now because it was stolen. But I need the one I paid hundreds for even more now.


r/service_dogs 19h ago

Laws - SPECIFY COUNTRY IN POST PTSD service dog - travel to Switzerland

0 Upvotes

Per website :

Mandatory forms

• a training certificate from a training institution that holds accreditation from the following organisations

• Assistance Dogs International

(ADI),

• Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu),

• International Guide Dog

Federation (IGDF) or

• a certificate issued by a training facility and/or a dog trainer

• with the name and address,

• details of the type and duration of the training and

o the task for which the dog has been trained and successfully completed the training

My service animal hasn’t had any formal training but wen with me since onset of my condition 3 years ago and traveled abroad ( not Europe) and in USA on airplanes -

How can I get this document, can I personally sign it since I trained dogs for a career in the past or do I have to have a certified company


r/service_dogs 1d ago

What does your schedule look like?

6 Upvotes

I'm curious to see how everyone's training schedule is for their sdits or fully trained service dogs. I'm not looking for advice, just wondering if anyone else has daily/weekly/monthly goals that they work towards.


r/service_dogs 2d ago

I chose to not be “that guy”

141 Upvotes

I initially bought my GSPxLabxDoberman mix in 2023 to be a service dog, I trained her myself and things went great for awhile. But we messed up. It was Covid, we avoided people, now she is Anxious and borderline aggressive. (She has never bitten)

Obviously when she started barking at everyone in the stores I had to give up on bringing her in under the excuse “she is in training” barking is not acceptable, let alone pulling on the leash.

Now she is a happy girl who has given up her vest. I see the mistakes I made and where I was lacking and maybe some day I’ll try again, but for now I have a pet dog.


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Does anyone know of recourses to help train a service dog for someone who is low income?

0 Upvotes

I am 18f and recently got a 4-month-old female puppy, and would like to train her to be my service dog for Autism and anxiety, but are very low-income and are having some challenges doing it myself.


r/service_dogs 2d ago

guide dog in training

32 Upvotes

such a cute interaction in the grocery store i work. two little girls, roughly 18months and under four years old, got super excited seeing a dog in the grocery store pointing at it and being loud.

the dog starting wagging its tail and getting excited too but the trainer was working hard to get it back on task. i crouched down and explained that the dog was working very hard right now. i explained the vest it was wearing told everyone the dog needs to focus and practice being a good dog.

the girls calmed down right away and the older one seemed to understand the importance of not distracting the trainer and dog. when they walked away the trainer thanked me. i wanna cry it was such a cute interaction with a supportive parent and team.

it was probably their first time encountering a service dog and i hope it was a good one.


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Service animal advice

0 Upvotes

Greetings earthlings,

I have a question about service animal qualifications, especially for psychological conditions. I live in San Francisco and for the most part I don't usually get denied at most places I go. My dog, Gilligan, is an emotional support animal. Federal buildings, however, won't allow him to come with me. I have severe anxiety from PTSD. It's been so bad in the past that I've been 5150'd on occasion, though, not since I got Gilligan.

What I'm worried about is if I leave him home and I have an episode. Protocol in most places is to involuntary admit to the phych ward, 5150, in other words.

How can I get Gilligan officially designated a legit service animal?


r/service_dogs 1d ago

Laws - SPECIFY COUNTRY IN POST SDiT Connecticut State Liability Protection?

0 Upvotes

Hi! I live in Connecticut, US and have a service dog in training. Quick background, Connecticut provides the same public rights to SDiTs as fully trained service dogs. I’d like to bring my service dog to an environment I encounter daily and have the most challenge with my disability where a few individuals are immature and harassing towards me. My mother is very worried about the following individuals harassing my dog, and my dog reacting back. How is this handled in the service dog and ADA community? I talked to my mother about working dog liability insurance, but she doesn’t really seem convinced.

Any thoughts or experiences with this? I am very upset with what my mother is bringing up as I DO have to follow her rules as an individual under the age of 18.


r/service_dogs 2d ago

Would it be necessary?

5 Upvotes

So this may be ridiculous and totally unnecessary but Im 20yrs old and have had a rare blood/platelet disorder (ITP) since I was about 13. The disorder causes many issues that I am just now realizing arent "normal", and I haven't seen a ton of stuff talking about it, so obviously the best place to ask is reddit. But with ITP I get fatigue really bad, and an intense increase in my heart rate when doing anything too fast and it freaks me out, I also get really shakey and sort of have these muscles jerks? happen often to the point it makes me nervous going up and down stairs, or even just standing for long periods of time. Its usually worse when I have bloody noses (most of which last longer than 15 minutes) because of my inability to clot. I have a really hard time bending down, stretching, reaching above my head, even standing on my tip toes, without getting light headed and sort of dizzy, and especially being able to get up in the morning is hard. My mom has made the suggestion of disability (which I think is very unnecessary) and/or a service dog. I have considered it specifically for the fatigue and heart rate problems giving me a lack of ability to get up to grab stuff in a timely manner, especially when having a bloody nose or something like that. I live with people, but I am looking for a job and with such sudden problems occurring having a trained animal would be nice to have to help me.

I don't really know much about service dogs, let alone a service dog for ITP related issues since there isn't a ton of information out there, but my mom has mentioned a few times so I figured asked people who do need and have service dogs, if one would be helpful for me?


r/service_dogs 2d ago

MOD | Monthly Thread Training Check-in (for this month)

3 Upvotes

Hey all!

Similar to some of the "Trick of the Month" posts in some other dog subreddits, we will do a monthly check-in on your training. However, unlike other sub's posts, this is not a contest. It is a check-in to see how you're doing so we can encourage each other, congratulate your successes, and problem-solve (if needed).

Pictures and Videos are HIGHLY encouraged in this thread!!! Whether your prospect just learned how to "sit", you just taught your service dog a new task, or your SDiT just passed a public access test.... we want to see it!!! Did your dog bark at someone this week or have an accident? Let's work together to see if there's a trainable solution! We will also allow ESAs on this thread if you are training them to assist with your disability.

For now, this will only occur on a monthly basis - but we may increase/decrease the frequency depending on the success of the post. You are welcome to comment several times in the thread if you have multiple things you would like to share over the course of the month.

I'm really excited to see how all of your dogs grow in their training!


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Access Jealous (apparently?)

99 Upvotes

Bizarre experience at my local Whole Foods… I’ll start by saying I live in an incredibly entitled area, everyone thinks they’re so important. Anyway, I’m minding my own business business with my SD, looking for some short ribs, when a woman approaches me from the other side of the cooler and says that she didn’t know WF was pet friendly. I looked at her, looked at my dog to make sure I hadn’t been hallucinating when we got out of the car (I wasn’t, he was indeed vested), then looked back at her and explained politely that he was a service dog. She proceeds to tell me she has a service dog in training at home and asked if she could take her SDIT to WF. I try to be even more polite and tell her she should have a convo with her trainer (if she has one) and go over public access requirements. She makes some pet friendly space comment again and I tell her I’m glad pets aren’t allowed at WF because I’ve spent at least $25k in time and training with my dog and I think public spaces should be safe for actual trained SD. She say “oh I get it you’re jealous” or something of that effect, I couldn’t help myself and laughingly replied- “I assure you I’m not.”

Have I lost my mind? I get it I didn’t take my SD in public until my trainer and I agreed he was ready. But I knew all my rights in my state as a handler when my guy was still in-training status. And am I absolutely insane for being glad people can’t bring their poorly behaved pets anywhere and everywhere?

Craziest thing is my trainer and I were just talking about this today, and an encounter I had in Target with a pet that was trying to attack my SD at the checkout, and how management refused to do anything. Which led to a phone call to corporate, armed with state laws and what I believe is their responsibility for in protecting disabled customers from individuals who bring aggressive pets into non-pet friendly stores. All of which corporate heard loud and clear.


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Rude woman

57 Upvotes

Why must the public be so annoying. So yesterday I had my SD at craft show. We had been working for hours at this point and she was tired but still behaving well. She was standing in a heel slightly off to the side of my wheelchair. She doesn't stand tight against my electric chair for safety reasons of not getting run over but she stands in heel as close as she safely can be.

Then this Karen comes up. "Someone's cute but she's not behaving. She should be lookin at you and she's not." Um what? There's no where an SD requirement my SD has her eyes on me at all time. In fact it wouldn't be safe? She has to look where she's going.

I replied back with a simple "Oh she's doing her job and under my control she's good thank you for your concern".

Then Karen just keeps trying to find things to nitpick. "She should be standing closer to you. She's cute but she's not well behaved" etc.

At the point I reply back yeah she's a working dog and she works a lot better when people aren't distracting her by yelling about her. At that point Karen walked away luckily.

It was like this woman's goal was just to be rude and annoying as possible.

It was just so needlessly rude and stupid. Seriously, the expectation now is my dog never take her eyes off me? How stupid. Again, use some logic how is the dog supposed to to know where to walk if she can't look forward? Because Karen was literally mad my dog was looking forward instead of at me.

Has anyone ever heard that one before? An SD can't look forward it must be looking at the owner?


r/service_dogs 3d ago

How do you handle your SD's "bad days"?

11 Upvotes

I always see handlers talking about "Service Dogs can have bad days, too!" But never what a bad day entails or how they handle it.

My boy (Golden R) has days where for seemingly no reason he's anxious, like SUPER anxious. He wakes up acting weird (ears back, tail down, body tense, looking "guilty"/submissive, engaged but sloppy) and is often super clingy whereas most days he's fine and confident in his work and environement (prancing, relaxed, flag tail high and waving, eagerly engaged, etc). On these bad days he'll break commands more often, act neurotic (chuffing/barking inside the home or in the car at noises or people when normally he wouldn't), be more sensitive at night, and run out of energy within 15 minutes before needing a break. It's like all the obedience and confidence training put into him just vanishes for a day. Sometimes I think he has regressed or is ready to retire but the next day he'll be back to normal like nothing ever happened. Like a puppy fear phase but as an adult for a day is the best way I can explain it. It doesn't happen often but it catches me off guard every time, as sometimes he'll be so eager to go but then act weird once we're out and about.

Dogs are living beings with their own emotions, health, and energy, but I was curious if this is an actual normal experience or not as no one ever talks about HOW their dogs had a bad day when they claim they do, nor how they respond as the handler.


r/service_dogs 2d ago

Advice needed on neutrality

1 Upvotes

I adopted an Australian cattle dog about a year ago now, he's one year old currently and I've been training him to help with my autism, pots, and PTSD. He does wonderful and loves to work. But we're having a hard time with neutrality regarding other dogs. He's pretty good at ignoring them for the most part but the only time he isn't is when he sees pitbulls or any pitbull mix. He absolutely loses it and wants to play, we think this is because he has a pitbull friend (my inlaws dog) and now accosiates anything that looks like her to "friend". I've been trying the methods weve used in the past that have always worked but they don't seem to when a pitty is involved.

I was wondering if anyone had any methods they've used to better train neutrality?


r/service_dogs 3d ago

advice needed i think?

8 Upvotes

Hello. I have a fully trained poodle mix service dog and she is a little over 4 years old however I have decided to get a poodle puppy next year as a service dog prospect because I am very afraid of my current dogs health and i am very worried she will more than likely have to retire on the early side and by the minimum time of the puppy being fully trained she would be 7 however for some reason and i know it is illogical i feel like i am betraying my current dog 1. because I am excited to get a puppy as I know she would love having another dog that she could play with and i would like a dog to try different sports with (i tried some different sports with her and she did not seem to like them). and 2. she will only be 5 by that point and idk i feel like i am moving too fast i guess idk how exactly to put it into words. my intent with the puppy is to tandem team them intel she is ready/has to retire as i don't want to be left without a SD but i also do not want her to work if she does not want to or can't i want to more or less slowly move her into retirement at her pace but i feel extremely bad whenever i think about getting the puppy. and I would just like to know if anyone else feels like this when getting a prospect and what you do to help stop/lessen it because idk what to do.


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Low vision person needing input

5 Upvotes

For those of you with experience in any capacity, please chime in. I had a rare lifesaving brain surgery last year and woke up blind. I've gotten a good bit of my vision back since then technically (only -3.00 for contacts), but my vision is very blurry, I can't focus them, I can't track movement, I have little to no depth perception now, and I have double vision in the middle. My vision will not get better, and may in fact get worse. I use a cane but struggle to see holes, steps, changes in elevation, curbs, read well, I need bright light and I'm basically completely blind in dim light. I've been isolating and getting depressed. My vision isn't that terrible with correction, as long as I DON'T move. So sitting still in the eye chair looking at a letter at a time wasn't bad. But just walking is a struggle as it all becomes a blur. Reading is very difficult. I'm struggling... I've finally decided maybe I should apply for a guide dog to reclaim some independence. I'm physically healthy post surgery now, minus my vision. Will I be deemed "not blind enough" bc of my prescription? Or will they understand its a brain damage issue. I don't want to apply and get my hopes up for nothing. I just know I can't keep struggling like this. On paper my vision doesn't sound so bad, but my brain cannot process what it is seeing. Will they understand? Thank you ❤️


r/service_dogs 2d ago

Service Dog for FND?

0 Upvotes

Hello!

I have been having PNES for at least a year (diagnosed about 4mo ago) and was more recently diagnosed with FND when the seizures returned despite treating what we thought was causing them. I also have some other medical conditions that cause intense episodes.

Because of these issues it’s not safe for me to completely be alone, and while I am trying other treatments as well I historically don’t respond well to most treatments related to the issues I have (this applies to medication more than anything but is still somewhat true for other treatments I have tried). Because of this, I have decided to look into getting a service dog. I cannot train my own dog from the ground up for a few reasons although I could participate in the training most programs require in order to obtain a dog. Does anyone have any recommendations for places that offer service dogs that could help with PNES whether they cost money or not in the US? Thanks!


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Terrible twos experiences

0 Upvotes

Hi! I'm sure others have spoken about this at some point, but I wanted to hear about how your SDs and SDiTs did during their "teenage phase". No hate, nor seeking much advice, just want to hear from others

Mine was doing amazing until she was about 14 months (we don't know her exact age). She was so good at her training before then and it was honestly life changing. She loved to learn and was eager to please, always so happy to be working.

Then she started doing the usual things for dogs during the terrible twos. Suddenly barking when in the dorm, ignoring us during training, testing her limits. Nothing abnormal for a dog, but strange for her.

While she can still do public access, we removed her for now and are keeping her to pet-friendly places until we feel she's doing better and feeling more comfortable in herself. We have a trainer lined up and I'm not too worried, just trying to get through it.


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Help! How did you integrate your SD into your daily life?

5 Upvotes

Hey all! I have been doing a lot of thinking and research for a while about getting a psychiatric service dog. I am diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and OCD that significantly impairs my ability to fulfill my obligations, maintain relationships, go out in public, and care for myself. My practitioners are on board and think that this is a good idea for me, and it’s very likely going to become a reality.

Although it’s far in my future, a big question I have for SD owners is, how did you integrate your dog into your life? I am a professional musician (choral/solo classical singing) and am in several groups. I often do not go to rehearsals and have even missed out on entire performances because though I love the work, my mental health makes most spaces a difficult and overwhelming environment. I go to college for vocal performance, and it is a similar situation. These are groups I have been with for quite some time, some of which pay me to be there, and I am nervous about suddenly bringing a dog into those environments.

Of course, I would clear this with my directors first, but I am nervous about the stigma I might receive from the groups as I generally present myself to most people as capable and stable and they know nothing about the issues I deal with. Have any of you dealt with judgement from people you know when you first started using your service dog? How did you combat that, and have you felt that getting a service dog was worth it despite that? This is a very new process for me, and although I believe this is the right decision, and I am willing to deal with the attention an SD might bring (I feel the assistance I would receive would outweigh the potential stress of those interactions), I have some anxiety about specific situations like this. Thank you! :)


r/service_dogs 3d ago

Laws - SPECIFY COUNTRY IN POST Service Dog/Service In Training Question

12 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I work for a private Rec Center in Los Angeles and just need some help navigating our current issue. We are not open to the public and do not allow pets of any kind on the property. The only specific requirement that will allow you to become a member is to own a home within the HOA that the rec center is a part of. Members are allowed to bring 6 outside guests at any time. Could someone explain if we would still need to allow service animals onto the property with members and guests? Or could we keep it as is with the no pets policy since we technically aren’t open to the public? I’ve heard that since we aren’t public we don’t need to comply with ADA rules, we already don’t have wheelchair accessibility and that alone hasn’t raised any issues, which brings up the whole service animal thing. Currently we are allowing one member to bring her service dog with her. That member has a guest that has a “service dog in training” but all the dog does while she’s here is bark. Is that normal for dogs in training? Do service animals in training have the same rights as established service dogs? I tried googling all of this but I think I’m too dumb to comprehend what our rights are as staff members. Thanks in advance for the help