The advantages/disadvantages of service dogs.

[JustBe]

Kira comes to Therapy with me and helps keep me calm and focused. I wouldn't make it into the medical building without her.

 

[Barberian]

I've left this post on my browser all day as I tried to find relevant videos. I could only find two semi-humorous vids. This is something just about every person with a Service Dog has to deal with, and these clips don't even cover the really rude stuff.

- not as good, but meh... covers different things people say.

Today I wasn't doing well with my mental conditions. I went to the mall with the Mrs. so she could pay her cell phone bill. It seemed that just about everybody was calling or trying to get my dogs attention breaking her training. I was not amused, and very angry about the whole situation. I know it will happen, I just wasn't in the mood for it.

 

[Springer80]

Best line from video one....'A service dog??? Really!! What branch of the service was she in?' :)

 

[JustBe]

The other day someone saw Kira's "full access" vest and asked "Does that mean we can pet her anywhere we want?" She was DEAD SERIOUS! :facepalm:

 

[DharmaGirl]

I mean with your new therapist

Lol, I was visualizing taking Nugget to the park and talking to her about my trauma while people stared at us. Lol.

 

[Barberian]

Here is a PBS special on Service Dogs. The SD's in the documentary are for people with physical disabilities, but the principal is the same.

http://www.pbs.org/dogs-eyes/film#

This video gave me a new insight into training my dog. I have been "Old School", dominant type training her with lots of love. I'm going to do my best to drop the dominant type training, and try to use her desire to make me happy to train her in the future - with lots of love. :joyful:

 

[alitaram]

I have a service dog, but to be honest, I have a problem with some of the handlers for PTSD dogs - they are using them as emotional service dogs.

I'm sorry for being blunt here, but it does upset me how people with PTSD say, "Oh, this is my service dog - I trained him." AND HAVE NEVER TRAINED A DOG BEFORE. I'm sorry but just having the dog "there" is not a service dog. Having the dog sloppily run around you is not a service.

For example, my dog I trained to close drawers, check the house for strangers, run circles around me, bother me on command, retrieve objects, stay for periods of 5 hours or more, just to name a few. And I had years of experience training dogs, before I got him

___
Anyway, for me, there is one bad side to having a service dog - I get those "What is wrong with her?" stares if I have his vest on, so I usually choose to without it. Also, people can be really mean, and I'm constantly questioned.

When I was 16, I once had a lady come up to me in a parking lot in her car and say in the meanest tone possible, "You know you can't f*cking have dogs in here right? You should f*cking leave your dog at home." I explained in the most calm, but sadden voice, possible, "I'm sorry ma'am, but he is my service dog."

She continued to swear as she rolled her eyes and drove away. Only 30 minutes ago, I had a lady in the store tell me that without a vest, I can't get in, and when I explained to her the laws, she just scoffed and said, "No, its not." That same day? My mom threw me out of my house, and I was there with my aunt just getting some food. Those people were beating me up on the worse day possible, when I needed my service dog. To this day, I am still scared of going into stores with him.

 

[JustBe]

I'm so sorry that you have had so many bad experiences alitaram. I don't know where you live, but in the 4 years that I have had Kira with me, I've only been challenged once and it was resolved quickly.

Please don't give up. You have every right to Full Access everywhere.

On a lighter note...yesterday I was asked " Do you work with disabled dogs?"!! I replied, "um no, She is MY service dog!" Then I got that blank look that says 'you don't LOOK disabled'! Geesh!

 

[alitaram]

Yeah, that can suck when they say that.

I just answer that he is a medical alert dog - he does alert me to my behavior.

If I feel pressured or nervous, I just say I have epilepsy. I don't want to have to say, "He is a psychiatric dog or I have PTSD." That sounds like my dog is the keeper of frankenstein or something, ha ha

Even though, I know a girl who takes her pet dog to college with her claiming she has PTSD. A lot of people do when faking. It makes it so much harder.

I'm glad you have it easier where you live. Hopefully people from your hometown will rub off on mine.

 

[aka]

This has been a very interesting thread to read. I have been researching lately the qualification for a dog to be considered an psychiatric service dog and who is qualified to have one. Though I currently have a dog he can only give emotional support mostly because he gets just as nervous as I do around new people. So I have been considering once my life stabilizes that maybe I would get a pup and train it to be my service dog. Though that little voice in the back of my head keeps telling me that I am not that bad off so I don't have any right to have a service dog. Sigh, never ending self-doubt.

Barberian & Movin on both of you dogs look adorable in their pictures. :)

 

[Springer80]

he gets just as nervous as I do around new people.

AAAAwwwww...too cute.....I'm sure if you think you need it then you probably qualify. Hope you first dog doesn't get jealous....maybe the pup you get and the training might make dog senior feel better too...:)

 

[alitaram]

Though I currently have a dog he can only give emotional support mostly because he gets just as nervous as I do around new people. So I have been considering once my life stabilizes that maybe I would get a pup and train it to be my service dog.

You should google the local obedience clubs and start training your current dog. It will really prepare you for service dog training - you'll feel really confident when you get your puppy. Also, check out this book - Competition Obedience: A Balancing Act. Great training methods.