Service Dog

[meggy.nut]

Hi everyone!
When I went to the Ehlers-Danlos Conference in Baltimore, MD in July there was a seminar about service dogs. After talking to the lady and doing loads of research online, it seems like a service dog might help me. The organization I'm looking at trains the (large) dogs to brace to help you get off the floor, provide stability when dizzy, and help you walk. They also pick things up off the floor, bring the phone, etc.
Although I'm able to walk some, I am terrified of falling; between my ankles turning and POTS making dizzy/blackout, I don't trust myself to walk without assistance. And my hubby is working again, which is good, but it leaves me on my own a lot.
My parents are of the mind that if I just work out more I'll get better...even though I tend to fall apart faster - even doing the gentle exercises my PT assigned. They said, in so many words, that I'm just giving up by considering a service dog.
Hubby is undecided, so I'm taking him to my next doctor's appointment to talk about the possibility of a service dog.

Does anyone have a service dog? Is it worth it? Did it make it easier to be more independent?

I appreciate any replies and advice you have to give.

[DeeNJai]

Hi
I think that there some service dog charities in the USA help you train your own dog to be your service dog. Before you get a dog that you want to train make sure they are welling to train that type of dog as some charities wont train guarding breeds like German Shepherds. I expect that there will be a waiting list to receive a service dog. Some Service Training Charities in the UK have at least 2 or 3 years waiting list. In the UK Dog Aid is the charity what will help train the dog if they have a trainer in the area that you live in. The trainers are volunteers and only get paid expenses. They use the same packs to train the dog as does the service dogs of America.
Dee

[shirleytx7]

I have often wondered if there were service dogs that would help. This is something I would definitely consider in the future.

[Fiona-Jane]

hiya,

i had the same reaction from my parents when i got my wheelchair. but they see now that it's given me a new lease of life as i'm loads more independant than i was and generally able to do a lot more than i used to, in addition to now being as injured all the time from all the faints (hardly faint at all when sat, get days when i do but usually cos i've let myself get dehydrated, or too tired or i'm ill with a virus etc). they tried soooo hard to stop me getting the chair but it thought 's*d them, this is MY life and i'm gonna do what i need to make it the best life i can.' and went through with it anyway and i'm soooo glad i did!


i want an assistance (service) dog too but the company that gives them in my area have closed their books for a while cos their waiting lists are full, so once i can i'm gonna put my name on the list. purposefully got my flat as it's got loads of green space around it and a huuuge county park that's easily within scooter distance so when (and if) i get one i'll have plenty walking space as thats one of the necessary things for the organisation near me. but for the moment i'm just getting used to my wheelchair as i wanna be an expert user before i get a dog! and i have a geriatric cat that is a total dog hater so it's not fair to her to bring a dog into the household cos she wont cope with it. i expect that'll cause a problem if i apply now (if the books were open) so i'd have waited anyway.

but got a friend with one and she does soooo much good for her! we lived in the same block at uni and all became very lazy cos dottie (a labrador) used to do so much for us all- we never wore socks without shoes as she just HAD to remove them, and never needed to bend down as dottie picked up anything we dropped, and put washing into the machine, gave money to the till lady/man in shops, pushed the little buttons on the road crossings, helped lou (my pal, she has CP) up whenever she fell, and LOVED opening doors with her lead (we'd hook it round the door for dottie to pull), and did loads more. was a shock when we left and had to do all this for ourselves!

some dogs can tell if you're gonna faint and warn you. actually, i expect any dog thats been with you a while will be able to start to notice the signs we miss. even my cat can spot them and she yells at me to lay down (when i'm really bad she wont stop yelling till i'm laying in bed), and i can tell when my blood pressure starts to drop as she sits herself right behind me with her back touching mine (i usually sit on the floor as i dont get so hurt when i faint if i'm already down here ). if she's sat on the sofa i know i'm safe enough to get up to make a cup of tea!

service dogs are soooo useful for people with our conditions and so i say - ignore anyone who disagrees, and apply! if you're not a suitable candidate then they'll tell you straight away, rather than you having the 'what if' thoughts going round and round your head!

oops, sorry for the essay!

fi xx

[Es*]

I'm right at the end of the list for an assistance dog, and will be getting one soon. For various reasons (mild allergy mixed with the fact that a significant part of the assistance tasks the dog will help with are in my bed where hair etc would cause me allergy issues ... and needing to change the sheets every day defeats the object!) I'm going to be getting a non or very low shedding dog, who will likely be a poodle cross. I actually got 'matched' once, but the dog wasn't the right one for me. As soon as there are more low shedding dogs, I'll be matched... trying to be patient, but actually very excited!

[DeeNJai]

Labadoddles dont shed but its only after the third generation of the bread. The dog needs slightly more work as they need to be shaved regularly.
dee

[meggy.nut]

Thanks for all the replies! (Sorry I haven't been on the boards in so long )
Es & Fiona-Jane - I hope you get a service dog soon! Please post pictures!

Since I posted, I took my husband to one of my rehab doctor appointments, where my doctor did a complete reversal of his previous opinion and said I'm improving enough that we should probably wait to get a service dog.
On the plus side, this past week I was able to walk (with many breaks to sit and rest) around the Renaissance Faire without using my wheelchair at all.. YAY! But the day before I had an absolutely horrible POTS episode and almost fell out my wheelchair - over the arm rest. So its still touch and go. Even though I can (occasionally) walk for long periods as long as someone is with me, I still have all my issues and use my wheelchair frequently. I would just apply anyways, but hubby would have to take care of the service dog and that isn't something he isn't quite ready to do when I'm mostly independent. Since I'm doing better now, he sees the service dog more as a pet than as a, well, service animal.
Oddly enough, its the fact that I'm doing better that's the hang up- and that a large dog would need a large amount of exercise which I might not be able to provide.
So that puts a lot of pressure on him. Which means, for now no service dog for meggy.

[barkingmad]

I am hoping that one of our members will do a talk on service dogs at the Residential Weekend.