Study Service Vs Emotional Dogs - Future Study

[anthony]

A study to certainly be watched and awaited in 2018/19 in relation to service dogs vs emotional dogs, and their abilities as to how much impact they have on their PTSD sufferers life.

A veteran study, though the results will certainly be one of few to be studied in relation to PTSD service dogs. Important note... service dogs are not the same as emotional dogs. The first is a disability dog, the second is not.

http://www.stripes.com/news/study-examines-impact-of-service-dogs-on-veterans-with-ptsd-1.327058

 

[Barberian]

I just hope the report the truth, not a canned response the were told they need to report. I know my sd has helped me tremendously.

 

[Kintsugi]

This study is poorly designed. A service dog working with mental health should be trained for the individual, and its tasks should reflect individual needs. The tasks they have pre-determined might be beneficial, but they might very well not be. Fetching things for the individual? How about sensory stimulation to bring an individual out of a dissociative episode or flashback instead?

I can't see how they can do a study with pre-fab dogs and expect results to be accurate when a personal trainer would never come right in and decide for the handler what the tasks a dog performs should be.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

"Doctors from the Department of Veterans Affairs say that the benefits of service dogs working with the physically disabled are well-documented. However, there is no scientific literature that supports the theory that they are equally beneficial to those with mental scars."

Its this kind of crap that REALLY annoys me! Its the idea that we need to have scientific PROOF for anything and everything in order for it to be true, otherwise its just a theory or even a placebo effect!

I agree that it is a poorly designed study. MANY people with service dogs for PTSD don't use their dogs for that purpose, ie with those specific commands. I'm just afraid that something like this will have an impact on who needs a service dog vs an emotional support animal. Oh, you don't need a dog to turn on the lights for you? Well, you don't qualify for a service dog, so you only can have an emotional support animal, never mind the fact that you mainly need the dog in order to be able to function in public. And of course, emotional support animals don't qualify to enter public spaces like a service dog.

 

[anthony]

Its this kind of crap that REALLY annoys me! Its the idea that we need to have scientific PROOF for anything and everything in order for it to be true, otherwise its just a theory or even a placebo effect!

Evidence gives us a baseline of validity or non-valid scope. The US military are putting $10 million into this study, because when someone is funding this type of money they typically want proof that such ongoing funding is worth it versus people just saying a dog helps them because what they really want is a free dog for companionship.

Like it says... there is nothing right now, so you can dismiss this as nonsense and veterans with PTSD and injuries go back to begging for assistance, some type of help, or they move forward to hopefully find validity that allows the US VA to then help them ongoing evidenced by such studies. I know I would personally rather see this go forward and them do nothing.

Studies can and do change as they progress, and considering this is the first of its kind, I expect them to change things as it develops. It's no different than most new things, you develop and improve once you have something workable atleast to test with, find issues, resolutions, continue.

 

[Ocean5]

Emotional dogs... dogs know your emotions, and emotions of others. I don't know how I would have survived certain teenage years without my dog.

Rather personal, but a few days before my dad tried to committee suicide, and he was a very dangerous man. I walked into backyard with my dog, and he "seriously flipped" on my father. I'd never seen him react in such a way. He was always protective of me, but never like this. This time he was ready to attack (good thing he was on leash from walk), and was trying to keep father away from me. He knew things were very bad.

Planet was once flat - earth was center of universe - scientist know more of space than our own deep oceans.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

My dog, saved my life physically. She also is why I want to be alive. Have been studying to work in the Veterinary field. Many books (and maybe there could be a book media section) is "Paws and Effect." Service Dog or … some trained for various tasks due to physical needs, mine are social needs. Not any dog can be all that, and I often feel bad when she hears my night and day verbal, non-verbal, physical (vomiting), and has to live a life with all that. We rescued each other. She knows when to pay attention and seems to block the rest out. Bless her.

 

[Ocean5]

@[DLMURL="https://www.myptsd.com/c/members/changeling.28740/"]Changeling[/DLMURL] Sorry for your situation, but post made me smile. Glad you have that support!