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Starting over with a puppy (to be a service dog rather than just an emotional support dog)!

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SeanCharles

Diamond Member
Hello everyone! I figured I'd post this thread on the week anniversary of losing Sheba.

When I finalized Sheba's adoption, I had hoped that I would be able to get her trained as a service dog. At that time I was not armed with as much of the knowledge that I am currently gaining through occasional research.

With the fact of being in an apartment and realizing that she was not really suited nor really acceptable to apartment living, the service dog training went to the wayside. Once I got the house, I still had some things going As I had been trying to upgrade the degree I earned in 2000 to a associate's degree rather than a certificate. The funny thing is, upon walking through the front door, Sheba had been an escape artist and would be greeting me in the living room because she had managed to get over two barricading doors I had which were supposed to keep her isolated in the back part of the house with access to her dog yard. Instead, she'd trap herself in the front part of the cabin! While it was not so funny at the time walking in to see what she had gotten into or finding messes she made because she couldn't figure out how to work her way back into the back part of the cabin to where her dog door is she left me a mess to deal with. Now that she is gone, I can look back on this an marvel at how truly special and how intelligent she really was which was quite amazing.

Now that she is gone, and I don't have to worry about a move in the middle of bringing in a new dog to replace Sheba, I feel that maybe this time I can work on moving myself into having an actual public accessible certified service dog. I know that this process is going to take time and patience. My situation how work will fit into this equation is still something I am struggling with as they don't know what to do with me... I either have threaded on that or need to... Anyway, I wanted to write a thread on this anniversary day.

@Ellabella44 You win! (If it's you, you know what I mean...) I am looking at getting another female even though I had been considering a male dog. I realize, and have discussed a little, the differences in gender/personalities between male/female and do feel that more than likely a female would be easier.


P.S. I will definitely post more of Sheba's little moments as they come to me.

---SeanGeo
 
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I hope you give yourself enough space to grieve before getting another dog. It's the healthy way to go. I've seen people replace a pet too quickly and end up with frustrations because the new dog isn't like the previous i.e. not as clever, not as loving etc. That's not fair on either of you.
 
I am excited to announce that I have a fundraiser to help me with the goal of bringing home a puppy. Because of the forum rules, I won't post the link unless I get a blessing.

---SeanGeo
 
@richter scale I did! I didn't have any negative emotions aside from a little unreal guilt for which there was no basis. I am in 100% Acceptance of Sheba and know that she left me knowing that I would be fine with her leaving. In terms of readiness for this new baby, I am not expecting this to be anything like Sheba was. Sheba came to me at a time that I needed, served the purpose that she came to me for, and left knowing that I needed to move forward in a way which doesn't include her now. Right now, I am formulating some changes that I need including working on myself, some lifestyle changes which also includes therapy. I do appreciate your concerns.

---SeanGeo
 
@Ellabella44
lol told you , you would fall in love with a little girl

Yup! After a discussion I had with some other people, I realized that a female would be a better fit because of temperament which I am gonna need for public access. We shall see how all this comes together. Thanks for proving me wrong! :P

---SeanGeo
 
Sheba came to me at a time that I needed, served the purpose that she came to me for, and left knowing that I needed to move forward in a way which doesn't include her now. Right now, I am formulating some changes that I need including working on myself, some lifestyle changes which also includes therapy. I do appreciate your concerns.
.

@SeanGeo What is the fundraiser for? A service dog is two years to delivery trained for your specific needs, not a puppy. Puppy from a rescue site are $100. If your needed move forward did not include Sheba, what would another dog change about that? How are you moved forward now in one week?
 
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@Changeling This puppy is not from a rescue site, nor is this puppy a shelter save. This pup is from a breeder. I realize that a Service Dog needs training. I understand your concerns. In terms of moving forward without Sheba I am not and have not crawled into my shell so to speak. (I am continuing to function the best I am able even being that today is a week without her. The fundraiser is for raising funds to not only purchase the future service dog, (starting as a puppy) The funding will be for the additional professional training by a certified trainer who can certify service dogs. I am not about to cheat the system, a system I am not extremely happy with at this time.

Basically, Sheba was my Companion/Emotional Support Dog I had wanted to see Sheba trained as a certified Service dog, unfortunately that was not meant to be her role to me, by serving as my Emotional Support dog, she provided me what she could while I proved to myself that I could own a dog even when I needed a separation period because of a move. Hopefully this answers some of your concerns.

---SeanGeo
 
I am excited to announce that I have a fundraiser to help me with the goal of bringing home a puppy. Because of the forum rules, I won't post the link unless I get a blessing.
@SeanGeo, personal fundraising would fall under the category of self-promotion, which isn't allowed on MyPTSD. We all wish you the best of luck, but please don't post anymore references to your fundraiser - thanks.
 
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