Day Of The Dog

[Kintsugi]

I've thought about this all day. I've gone back and forth with a handful of breeds. I also felt that you would match well with a GSD aside from the shedding, but that was off the table.

I think a large poodle or even a giant or standard schnauzer could be good fits, but they're not exactly easy to acquire as adult service dog candidates.

I really like the idea of a pit bull type breed, and I think you should all be on the lookout for such a candidate, but...

The one breed I thought was the best fit of all for your purposes was the boxer. An adult boxer, between 2 and 4 years old.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

Will post to media; Cat Steven I love my Dog

 

[desiderata310]

I had therapy today which, for the most part, became a debriefing about what happened. My therapist admitted that SO MANY things went wrong from the beginning. He apologized for not pulling me out sooner when I got triggered but was just kind of shocked that no one else seemed to be aware AT ALL that I was beginning to freak out and that my anxiety had gone sky high.

We were both in agreement that I should NOT go to the festival. This would be extraordinarily bad for me. Too much of everything and the people who are trying to "help" me don't seem to get that I get triggered and that my anxiety goes through the roof in these settings. He also felt that we should take breaks and there should have been at least one less person there. (dog trainer's SO) and there was too much dick swinging between the trainer lady and the dog lady and that for someone who has PTSD, both the trainer and her SO (both PTSD) were REALLY effing clueless when I started to dissociate.

My therapist said he has a renewed respect and love for his dog both because of how his dog responded to the grey and that he did me a world of good to get back in the house.

So... the search continues, slowly. Heck my therapist offered to find some noise canceling headphones and go to the animal shelter with me.

I think it's safe to say that he's determined that I should get a service dog now.

Hey at least I know for certain what direction we are headed.

 

[Kintsugi]

You know, it's not just your stress that would go sky-high. I couldn't think of a worse place to meet a potential SD candidate for the very first time. Dogs are sensitive to their enviroment, too, and I would worry that such an atmosphere would influence both you and the animal (not to mention a good candidate would pick up on your feelings of anxiety), and that's not the kind of energy either you or the dog want to introduce one another as... does that make sense?

Glad you're getting yourself together and building some boundaries with your T. He sounds like he has your best interests at heart and understands that multiple elements contributed to the first go being a bad experience.

Hugs if you accept them. I so appreciate you keeping us abreast of your feelings and thoughts. I'm rooting hard for you.