The advantages/disadvantages of service dogs.

[Barberian]

I wrote a email letter to Wal Mart corp office via their web site today. EVERY time I go to the local Wal Mart, employees distract my dog with various noises, whistles and calls. Often several employees do this throughout my visit as they see her.

Last night I stopped, backed up and told one employee what she was doing was wrong, and illegal. She was really going overboard by whistling loudly, and repeatedly to my dog. I was able to keep my cool, but I wasn't happy to say the least.

Here is the email letter:

I am a disabled person. I have PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. "Invisible disorders" until I start to lose control.

I have a service dog. EVERY time I go to the Wal Mart store in Hanford Ca. Wal Mart employees distract my service dog by whistling, making noises, calling my dog. This is EXTREMELY poor behavior and illegal. Distracting a working service dog is a misdemeanor punishable by no less than $1,000 and not more than $2,500. My dog is my lifeline to the community.

Every time someone tries to distract my dog, it upsets me, makes my visit unpleasant, and has a chance of setting off a PTSD rage or anxiety attack.

PLEASE train your employees in regards to service dogs. It is hard enough or me to go out in public without the distractions. With the distractions, I often don't even leave the house because I know what's going to happen.

If this continues to happen, I will call the police, file a complaint, then contact the Department of Justice and file a formal ADA complaint.

I'm not out to try and "get rich" off a large company such as yours. I am simply trying to live my life with as few complications as I can.

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[JustBe]

I would leave out the "PTSD rage" part. It adds to the stigma we all face.

I get where you're coming from though. I have big patches on Kira but people still talk to her all the time.:banghead:

 

[Barberian]

Beautiful pic Movin'On.

I would leave out the "PTSD rage" part.

I debated about that line for a while. In hind site it might have been better if I did leave it out, but anger and rage is an issue I do have difficulty with. Luckily, it's just around the house usually.

 

[cavy]

Kira's lovely.

 

[Barberian]

 

[Barberian]

A basic beginners guide for those thinking of training their own service dog.

http://www.wikihow.com/Train-Your-Service-Dog-Without-a-Professional-Trainer

 

[NarcSis]

Has anyone ever received a fully trained service dog? I am thinking of applying for one but the application asks what skills I'd like my dog to perform. I am clueless as to how to accurately answer this.

I have had PTSD for 5 years, I've come far in recovery but find I still isolate and have difficulty leaving my house on my own. I also have difficulty being in large crowds - I can navigate the local grocery stores and malls on my own but during really busy periods, I get overstimulated and will avoid. My difficulties stem mostly from hypervigilance/anxiety, but I do have episodic depression. For the most part, I need some companionship in my home, something to help establish routine in my life, get me out of the house regularly, help to control my anxiety in public and help to reintegrate into society. I need something to help keep me calm.

Can someone explain how a service dog helps keep you calm out of your home? Is there a special skill that it needs? How and what do I ask for in terms of my service dog?

**I should also add that I am from Ontario, Canada, in case anyone cites regulations**

 

[JustBe]

http://www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html

 

[NarcSis]

Thank you Movin' On, that was very helpful.

 

[billie]

In Australia our organization is called Delta dogs.

 

[JustBe]

As for keeping me calm...Kira has my back. She alerts me to someone approaching or if something is not right. If I become anxious and she is unworried, I know the perceived threat is not real.

She alerts and rsponds to oncoming Panic Attacks. This began as a natural skill which I shaped and expanded on through training.

I can sleep now because she is sleeping by my side. If I have a nightmare, she will wake and ground me.

 

[ABKD]

My dog is now in training to be my guide dog (because I'm visually impaired). She will also be trained to do some tasks of a psychiatric service dog because I have PTSD and symptoms of a depression.

Because of my PTSD, I often have flash-backs and intrusive thoughts about the traumatic experience I had. Can someone tell me if there are any tasks a dog can learn to help his handler staying in the here and now / to interrupt thinking about the traumatic experience?