Anyone Else Have A Ptsd Dog

[sweetlybroken1]

I have been training my dog to help with the symptoms of ptsd and finally have him citified as a PTSD dog. He has saved my life and help me be "normal". Just wanted to know if anyone else here has a service dog for their PTSD.

 

[ISupportHer]

Talk to Popeye and search his posts.

Glad you find it helpful. I know Popeye has had success with his dog. He's even posted pictures.

ISH

 

[Sammy]

I just got a puppy and am beginning training. Puppy School starting soon. Learning that my toes aren't chew toys at the moment. I'd love to hear about your process!

 

[Dani]

I think my dog has PTSD.:geek:

 

[ClairBear226]

I have 2 dogs that are older (12 and almost 11). It's been awhile, but I'm somewhat familiar with dog training. What have you been teaching your dog? I'd really love to know what he's able to do. Sounds very intriguing.

 

[maddog]

I have been training my dog to help with the symptoms of ptsd and finally have him citified as a PTSD dog. He has saved my life and help me be "normal". Just wanted to know if anyone else here has a service dog for their PTSD.

Well, my black labrador Del, though a different sort of service dog, has long been referred to by me as my little furry therapist. Of course she knows zilch about what PTSD is, or about any of the other reasons why her person acts so oddly at times, but she doesn't seem to mind much, and like all dogs has that unique blend of uncanny inate instinct and powerful learned behaviour and association to have become one of the most important grounding objects in my world. She goes everywhere with me and I would be very lost without her. I also have dabbled quite extensively in the world of dog training and would be curious to know more about the specific activities and tasks associated with a designated PTSD dog.

Maddog

 

[popeye]

yes I have a service dog. Her name is Abby. I have several posts on here about her training and my life and how it has changed since I got her. search either for my name or service dog roller coaster, or Abby the wonder dog strikes again.

 

[sweetlybroken1]

Well he can tell when I'm stressed and is trained to put his head on my lap just so I have something there to help. He is also trained to paw at me lick my face and be annoying when I get into the dissociation state (not sure if thats the technical term). He can turn on the lights when I get scared at night and also search the house when we get home, just so I know there's nothing there. He also stops self destructive behavior by nagging me and being annoying.

I started out with basic training and when I realized how much he helped me with the PTSD I started looking online to see if that was normal. I found out with the right training he could be a service dog and not only help me at home, but when I was at school too. So the real work started and I trained him to do all the things stated above, and more such as waving, "praying", playing dead and much more. He just loves training and gets over joyed to go work.

I don't know what I would do without my dog.

<Edited for correct use of grammar by Amethist>

 

[ClairBear226]

Popeye and Sweetly, that's really phenomenal. I had no idea such a concept existed. I'm not sure that my symptoms are severe enough at this point that it would warrant taking a dog out in public with me, but I have to say, it would really be nice to have my dog at home be able to interrupt a flashback or help me stay grounded when things are hard. My dogs are "elderly", and having some health issues. I'm not sure that trying to "teach old dogs new tricks" would be all that feasible, but I know there will be other dogs in my family's future, and it's definitely something to think about. I've been reading Popeye's stories about Abby (also an NCIS fan, BTW) and I'm both impressed and touched. I'll keep an eye out for you both, and the time may come when I look for you guys for questions. Thanks for bringing this onto my radar. I would have had no idea otherwise.

 

[bluemoon]

My cat tries to stop me disassociating, sits with me when going through depressive states & meows (tells me off) if I yell at my child.
It seems like a lot of PTSD sufferers are animal lovers.
I think my cat has PTSD by proxy ; doesn't trust people (except my son & myself) & startles easily.:rolleyes:

 

[sweetlybroken1]

Its not something for everyone. When you have a dog with you there's no hiding PTSD there's no acting "normal" the rude coments and look you get suck's but its worth it.

<Edited by Amethist>

 

[maddog]

The appeal of animals to sufferers of any form of mental illness is pretty logical really. Animals are blissfully uncomplicated and free of bias, prejudice or judgment, they respond more or less consistently to stimuli, they act and react with instinct and not thoughts which can be prone to being irrational, and they are fundamentally loyal, loving and stable. Hell, that's why *all* people are drawn to animals I think.

For me, Del can be very grounding when I am fighting dissociation, flashbacks or just struggling to keep escalating or tumbling emotions in check at all. Particularly at night, when I will often wake distressed and disorientated from a nightmare, she can help to ground me to the present through her presence and predictability. And when I tend to become gripped by baseless terror that something terrible is or is about to happen to me, instant contact with her and observation of the fact that she is settled, unreactive and not the least bit aware of anything untoward happening in my house, is the most immediate and reliable available proof to my troubled mind that all is ok.

Let's all give our animals a cuddle tonight, those of us who can.

Maddog

<Paragraph breaks inserted by Amethist>