Companion Animals

[hodge]

Good luck, Senecia. I would love to adopt another dog, but hubby isn't ready. We have two black cats and one ginger cat. They are all adorable.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Senecia put those cats together and you have a Calico!! I've had many black cats and only one orange but he thought he was a dog!

 

[greenleaf]

I love some of the herding breeds personally; they can be very social and protective... they do vary though by the individual too.
Mixes can be healthier!

I am currently typing with three felines curled up around me; very helpful with safety feelings at home.

 

[PTSD NON VETERAN mom]

t. her e any non p. rofit organizations that have PTSD service dogs for people that are startled by fireworks, gunshots, banging, people walking up on them, flashback nightmares, sleep walking, etc. My PTSD is not combat related but have similar symptoms. This 4th of July has been a nightmare. If I sit outside i do better because nothing sounds like a gunshot inside my home, I can convince myself its firework But hearing it in my home throws me right back to the morning when my son shot himself in my home 5 seconds before I got to his room. Today me and my husband are trying to go places that are trigger free. And of course some guy shoots a kids pop gun right behind me and made me scream. I looked craZy. I guess I am.

 

[KwanYingirl]

@PTSD NON VETERAN mom that was inappropriate for that guy to let off a pop gun right behind you. I hope you spooked him when you screamed. Sudden loud noises startle me too. It's just something I have to endure. I hope this weekend passes quickly for you.

 

[desiderata310]

reactive... not crazy.
watch what you tell yourself, @PTSD NON VETERAN mom

 

[Senecia]

@PTSD NON VETERAN mom I'm sorry about the 4th. It's okay to freak out about the fireworks - they are explosives. And people like us are a bit more sensitive to those things. You are not crazy at all. Like @desiderata310 said, watch what you say! It means so much. These fireworks are stressing me out as well.

 

[SnowJo]

I'm learning a bit more about myself and my condition. More so that this thing I have doesn't ever go aw...

I recomend you get a proper Service dog, not a rescue. You would need to be a pack leader to maintain a healthy relationship with a dog, and if you are struggling with PTSD, you need to be sure you can be a pack leader for the dog, or you put both of you at risk.
There are PTSD trained service dogs, or you can get a dog put through a training course, but you will need specialist help.
I got dogs and I got very stressed at first, I spent a small fortune on training, and its only now that I can maintain my emotions better that I make a good pack leader.
If for some reason you just want to get a normal dog anyway, get an older rescue dog and tell them your background so they can at least match the right dog. its not a good idea to have a dog for "protection" and project fear as its your job to be a pack leader its your job to protect them.