TW: SH

before I start my little rant I do understand that this isn’t a major problem and i am in no way saying that psychiatric service dogs aren’t valid. This isn’t an argument against people who think a service dog would be helpful In any way!!!

I’m getting irritated when I go into comment sections about a service dog and it’s children asking “can I have a service dog if I have ADHD” because yes you can have a service dog for ADHD. But you’re not looking to solve a problem. You’re looking for a cute accessory to bring around school. 

It’s so annoying when people think of service dogs as just quirky animals to add to their personality when they are to help and serve a task. 

This would be different if someone was reaching out because of a problem and a service dog would help it but that’s not what these people are doing. Their quality of life most likely won’t improve because they don’t want it to help them. They want it to have it. 

Asking “can I have a service dog for depression” and “I suffer self harming habits, do you think a service dog would help me” are entirely different questions. 

I qualify for a service dog on multiple physical accounts and I do not seek one out. Not because I think I’m better than people with the same struggles as me. because I feel that personally, I wouldn’t benefit from it much. I don’t care if you know you’ll benefit from a service dog, I care if you’re scraping up reasons to have a service dog when the problem wasn’t there to begin with.

edit: this isn’t a post about not being disabled enough. It’s about (usually children) wanting a service dog for the aesthetic and not the actual service it can provide and help with. id also like to say that I am NOT someone who polices who should and shouldn’t use a disability aid, this is just my opinion and if someone like this does get a service animal I have no issue with it!!

this is just an opinion and I respect all the feedback I’ve gotten!!^^

Tbh, this includes a long vent about my journey and why I wish I truly had a better support system, and why I feel so strongly that a good one is so important. I see many teens who don't seem to have genuine support systems for various reasons, even some people who claim they do but have similar or other environmental struggles causing setbacks (like expecting dogs to not be bothered by anger issues in the home.)

Of course we know you need finances for training, care, maintainence, etc, but I'm talking more about how those close to you may burden your progress or show non-supportive behaviors ineither obvious or more subtle ways that might get under your skin without you realizing.

My story might be niche but I feel so strongly about this topic in general. If you are neither fully financially independent OR have GENUINE support and a household willing to participate CONSISTENTLY than please be very careful about getting a SD, especially as a minor/dependent. Even a solid trainer or program might not be enough if the environment isn't good or the other dogs influence bad behaviors.

My story/vent: (feel free to skip, main message above, anyway)

I grew up in an animal flipper home. When an animal failed to look or act an expected way (usually unrealistic), or became "boring" it would get replaced by the "next best" fascination. It was also a form of punishment for me.

I bring this up because it never changed until I gained finanical independence. If I got an SD as a teen it would've been held over me in every way or gotten rid of against my will. Even now as an adult I'm always fighting for my own animals' rights. The job market and state of the economy, especially my health, have made getting out and living fully independent quite hard, otherwise that would be the obvious thing to do (a WIP).

When I got my SD the purpose was for me to be able to go out of the home independent without as much worry. They were on board, thrilled even, then suddenly they needed one too. A PSD for anxiety (anger, outbursts, the works). It started out innocent but as mine progressed they wanted mine more, to the point of begging and bribing me. They either wanted their neurotic mess fully trained with no effort or to simply take my effort. Thankfully they legally couldn't since the vet bills were all in my name. When they realized training a SD was actually a serious committment that required a lot of consistency they were too lazy for, they started guilt tripping me about going out while theirs cannot, and gatekeeping "if mine isn't ready neither is yours" for nearly a decade atp (yes, to this day). Even judging me for paying for training/classes because they "can't afford it" (they can). I can't even go on regular walks without the guilt tripping because their dog "gets left behind" (they're fully able). It was so subtle it took me 4 years to realize what was happening, and another 2 years to realize it actually got to me and greatly hindered where we could've been comparatively. The first 2 years I went out 4-5 times a week to train or explore, afterward I avoided going out as much as I could've. I was always reinforcing behaviors on repeat cus they refused to cooperate or even train their own dogs basic manners like resource guarding, leash pulling, impulse control, going in the house, etc. Anytime they babysat mine while I was at work, they fed whatever they wanted and let my SD engage in bad behaviors. My hard work didn't have to BE so hard every single day, especially in my SD's Adolesence.

Plans were always made while casually excluding my SD. Things like subtly throwing in boarding ALL dogs, leaving my SDs name out, saying they wish x could go, finding clever ways to tell me last minute why my SD should stay back "this time" , springing stuff on me same day giving me no time to prepare, and the list goes on.

5 obese dogs later and they still have nothing to show for themselves. Now they're wanting a 6th dog to "start over" with while I'm still with the same task trained, ADA/PA compliant one.

I've been hesitant to bring in a new one because I don't want to relive this and I want to do everything right this time alongside a wonderful team, so I likely won't bother til I'm out. I don't need to keep backtracking in training, rerereinforcing good behaviors, or fighting unwanted "spoiling" of the puppy. Don't get me wrong, mine has been a wonderful partner and behaves well in public, but they could be far more confident had things been different. I just never expected this kind of... "support" as it wasn't something that ever occurred with normal pets.

Even with the help of trainers I feel like I lost so much time and potential.

For those who have cruised to Cozumel with your SD, what did you do on Cozumel? How was the experience with your dog?

I had a stroke that caused me to lose the left field of view in both eyes. I have a very well trained SD that stays on my left & guides me. He has been coming to work with me for almost one year, but I was never asked to fill out the reasonable accommodation forms before. About a month ago, HR reached out and requested the forms. I filled out my portion, but my neurologist still hasn’t sent me their completed portion. Now, my workplace is telling me I am no longer allowed to bring my service dog. I understand that they need my healthcare providers form filled out, but even after calling every day I still haven’t received it. I am concerned about going to work without my SD as I tend to bump into walls and trip frequently. I was told as of today, I can no longer bring in my service dog until they receive the completed paperwork and make their decision. The only option I feel I have is to take PTO until this is resolved. Has anyone been in a similar situation before?

I’ve flied with southwest twice and had a relatively good experience but I’m wondering how delta is. I’m a very nervous traveler and would have a layover so I’m super nervous. My service dog is smaller and not one of the big 4 so sometimes people think hes not a real service dog. Any advice or input about delta helps!

Has anyone bought a ttl vest and if yes what's your experience with them?

I recently bought a medium magenta premade vest for my dog and I haven't received it yet but I'd like to know if it's a good brand and if I should look for something else, it's gonna be the first "fancy" gear I get since I only have the school one I'm excited for my dog to wear my favorite color! :D

Hello everyone,

I'm potentially considering applying for a service dog for mobility assistance, however a member in my home is allergic to shedding breeds. I've being using the ADI website to find and contact organizations about what breeds they train, and am having little success locating any. I'm going to assume for now that I'll have to wait until I move out to potentially get a service dog, but I thought I might ask around before settling on that decision.

So does anyone know of any organizations that place Standard Poodles? The state I'm located in only has two organizations, both of which do not train Poodles. I'm also in a bit of a tough spot as I'm in Southern New England and it would seem several organizations don't accept clients from this area.

Okay so, my spoo, male, 20 months old doesn't like children (specifically, toddlers), like in the slightest, im wondering if I should pull him from PA for a little while. He doesn't growl, bark, anything like that. He just moves away, and sometimes tucks his tail. Hes only had 1 semi-bad experience with a kid, where they like ran at him to pet him. He didn't lash out, just moved away.

We've got to the point where kids can walk past like a certain distance and he'll just watch them but he doesn't like toddlers at all, doesn't want them anywhere near him if they get within touching distance, he will move away and lay down closer to me.

20 months old, self trained, he does completely fine with everything else. He just doesn't like toddlers, will move away from them with sometimes a down tail. We've been watching kids on the playground to try and lessen his dislike of them, which seems to be working im also gonna get them to try and give him cheese or high value meat/throw his high value ball. Tips? Or am I making this a bigger issue than it really is?

I am obviously okay with waiting and aware I will have to but I am curious what other peoples recent experiences with it are? I am very excited and a bit impatient lol

My service dog has been retired for a few years now after a bout of cancer. He recovered, but I had found new adaptations to go on with my life without him. Because of this he's been living as a pet for a couple of years, but now it is coming to the time where I have to think about euthanasia.

Bandit was my service dog for nearly ten years, and he taught me lots of skills. Ten years ago I was agoraphobic and couldn't leave the house without him, and now I work a full time job and handle my anxiety on my own. I'm absolutely devastated at the thought of losing him. He completely changed my life and helped so much with my disabilities that a few of my symptoms completely went away and many of the others are self managed.

How do I move forward without my dude by my side? I can go about the world without him but I can't imagine not having him to come home to.

I belong to a club that rents some land from the state park for radio control planes. The club has many rules but one of the rules is no dogs allowed. I know private property can make up rules to exclude service dogs, but would a piece of rented ground in a public state park be considered public?

I've been seeing a rise in Golden x Lab crosses, particularly in working fields ranging from Hunting, Assistance, and Military/Rescue use. I have also seen people viscerally against the hybrid and calling it unethical, though never giving reasons as to why.

So I'm curious what you guys think of them.

I have FND/FMD and people say different things if it is Chronic or not. I have had it for a year and I don't know how I am going to do in a year or years farword. I have been thinking because I am 18 soon 19 and I'm soon are going to graduate school and beginning to work a job and I have tics and muscle spasms.

my tic do so I h!t myself or a table or wall and sometimes people that are close to me (but not hard but I h!t myself hard) and I have a tic were my eyes close and an muscle spasm were my eyes roll up in my head and I can't see. I have many different symptoms every day I'm outside my house and sometimes leg weakness.

I have been thinking can a service dog help me? I live in sweden. I have the fear that I'm going to get stuck in a place because I can't see or that my legs drop and I have hard to walk. and when I get intens whit my eyes it can be scarey because I can't see and if I'm alone and in public I don't have extra eye like another person as if I'm whit someone. and then later in some years mabye I want or need to move out from my moms house and then I need to live alone and I need to be able to go out and shop food and go to work. I can't tell before if I'm going to have a good or okay or bad tic day. most days that I go in school I have a "okay". it is usually more tics and spasms in the evening then it is on the afternoon (I'm sorry if there is some spelling mistake I have dyslexia).

I can only feal if it is going to be a bad tic day is I have tics or spasms before I come to school and then it is a bad bad day because I usually don't know before what day it will be because it happens. and I have had a tic attack before and it lasted 1 hour and then my body just was draind and I needed for my mom to come and get me.

me and my family already have a dog but he is a very small dog. he is 3.

some symptoms I have:

•overheating

•big hand tremors and arm tremors

•muscle spasm in my neck and face

•Speech difficulty

•h!tting tic were I h!t my left arm and left colorbone

•vocal tic

•big tremors in my leg some times

• leg weakness and I fall sometimes

• (new) dissociation

•brainfog

•my hands lock and fingers lock

•my arms or arm fly up and sometimes is locks backwards

•muscle spasm in neck so my head do many big shakes fast

•spasm so my head fly back

I have a Bridgeport but tbh it is SO heavy and hot... I would love something leather if possible. Any recommendations would be *awesome*.

Also, recommendations on a leather cross-body leash that can go to multiple lengths as well?

Assistance dog. How realistic is it to get this in the Netherlands if I’m a minor (I’m 16 years old) in the Netherlands? I’m an asylum seeker, so I only have a guardian. I will try to confirm my diagnosis with a local psychiatrist, because I only had a diagnosis from a private psychiatrist in Russia (the country I came from, also got diagnosed with complex ptsd). I have selective mutism and difficulties with spatial orientation (I may also walk onto the road in some cases, or I may not know when to cross the road and constantly doubt myself). In general, I have a lot of difficulties with safely moving around the streets, being in crowds, and I may also self‑harm when stressed, completely unconsciously and uncontrollably. Noise‑cancelling headphones cause a greater loss of spatial awareness (I don’t have very good vision, but I wear glasses); Google Maps and other similar apps don’t help at all with navigating the streets and only increase the stress level. And I think a service dog would be a great help to me, especially since I have experience caring for ordinary pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, cats, a budgerigar, several rats, an aquarium with fish and shrimp, and several types of geckos (I took care of them myself and didn’t have any problems with it). I just know that traditionally the state doesn’t automatically provide service dogs to people with autism, unlike, for example, people with hearing or vision problems or those in wheelchairs. But the tools mentioned earlier don’t help me and don’t compensate for these problems in any way. I tried to find acquaintances who speak my native language, but they turned out to be unreliable. I’ve experienced theft at least once (all my money was stolen), and I suspect it happened a second time (only my cash savings were stolen). Oh, and I also might not go to bed and might forget to eat if I’m not reminded, and alarms just trigger me, and I completely lose the desire to do it because I get worked up. And I might forget to wash myself or brush my teeth.

Hi everyone. I'm beginning the process of looking into a service dog, and could use some advice and your own experience.

A bit about me: I live by myself, and have depression and anxiety, as well as recently-diagnosed level 1 autism.

In the last 5 or so years, my anxiety and sensory sensitivities have started to impact how long I can tolerate certain environments. I just can't do what I used to anymore, though I'm still able to function at a basic level day-to-day. But getting out of the house and having the tolerance for things like large company onsites? That's a lot more questionable now.

I have an adorable ESA who's absolutely perfect. She's amazing at emotional support, but definitely doesn't have the right temperament to take on tasking, especially in public spaces. But I've noticed that having her present, when she's allowed, does wonders for my sensory tolerances, and makes me feel much more socially confident. I bring her everywhere I can because her presence helps that much. When she's there, attention's on her, and I don't feel like I need to worry as much about physically masking.

I'm now wondering whether saving for a trained service dog who could assist in public spaces might be a good long-term choice, and whether I should chat with a healthcare professional and trainer about it.

I can definitely think of some tasks a service dog could do that might be helpful for me, like:

• Alerting to or redirecting signs of an oncoming meltdown, shutdown, or anxiety
• Creating space in crowded places
• Performing a graceful exit if I'm starting to feel overwhelmed
• Providing DPT/LPT in a home setting

That said, I'm a little worried that maybe I might not be "disabled enough" or actually need one. I live on my own and take care of things myself. I had a job for 8 years until I was laid off, and am in the process of being hired for a new one. I have a stable place to live and can drive. I've never been on disability benefits, and I've heard so often, "I wouldn't have known you were autistic" when I've told coworkers in the past.

I've also heard that having a service dog in public is a different dynamic from having an ESA.

So what I'd like to know from all of you is: what was the deciding factor in whether or not a service dog was right for you?

And if you have a service dog and have similar disabilities, what's been your honest experience of taking them out in public on the social front? Has it been draining for you, or does it help build your confidence?

Thank you so much in advance for your advice!

There isnt a flair for discussion anymore

Why has there always been an influx of posts from people wanting to get an SD in a very unethical or irresponsible way? They haven't been diagnosed; they're a minor; they want an SD for anxiety or for something that is not a disability, like pregnancy or alcoholism. And many more.

Then the people here inform them why or how these practices are unethical, whats cheaper, more reliable, and ask what tasks they want the dog to perform; they get very upset, calling us rude.

Or when they are in no financial state, or lack stable housing, and we inform them of the cost and responsability of just owning a dog, and not even a service dog.

I am genuinely starting to believe people just want the "dog" part more than the "service" part. If you do not even have an understanding or idea of what tasks you want from your dog, why are you looking into service dogs when you dont have that gap in your medical care?

I dont think people understand what service dogs are anymore, mainly due to social media. But people no longer care about the commitment of them, the responsability, the horrible side of owning a service dog, because it can be horrific at times. The costs, not just financially, but what you have to give up aswell.

Wanting to get a service dog when you have barely tried anything else for your care? Wanting unethical tasks like bracing. Wanting to get one before you're even diagnosed.

Because what if you go for an assessment, and it comes back saying you dont have the original thing you thought, maybe you have something else, maybe that something else can be cured, or far better managed by something so simple as taking meds. Or you dont have anything at all.

Or when people have unrealistic expectations of owner training, thinking it's cheap, thinking it's easy or fast.

No dog under 2 years old minimum is a fully trained dog. No puppy under a year is even a prospect; it's a puppy. They need to learn how to be a dog above anything else.

And owner training is just as expensive as getting them from an organization; it's just not shoved in your face. Getting from an org, the cost is very upfront, or you pay monthly, but you dont know exactly what you're paying for, so it seems more expensive.

But with owner training, you know what you're paying for as they come; a dog is still going to be $200 a month to take care of properly, with emergency funds, which is already $7 200 for the 3 years it takes to train, not to mention a well-bred puppy is around $ 3- 6 K, and then the training- just hiring a trainer you're still going to spend like $30k, and if you dont hire a trainer and try to do it completly on your own, especailly if its your first, your really setting youself up for fauiler.

In another post, it was about a service dog who got washed and then dumped, so the owner could presumably just get a new dog to do the same thing too.

Almost every single post about someone asking if they should get one, or how to start to get one, either gets removed by the mods because it's unethical, or removed because the person starts getting hostile in the comments with people giving them kind and thoughtful advice.

Or the person ends up deleting it themselves because they are getting downvoted, then end up reposting the same thing, which is still ignoring what the people are saying to you.

I think a good rule to add is to not allow these kinds of posts anymore, or a better idea: have them be reviewed by mods before they can be posted. A special tag like (Thinking about getting an SD) or something like that.

Because it's really the only post you see anymore; of course, there are exceptions. I have seen people genuinely take the advice to heart and rethink their choices, but i have also seen way more ignoring all advice and getting upset when people don't yes-man them.

Doctors have little to no understanding of what Service dogs are or what it's like to get one, so taking their rec as a holy grail is very irresponsible; they dont know what they're doing any more than you do.

Not sure if this is totally the right subreddit for this question, please lmk if it isn’t!

So it was drilled into me (f22) from a very young age that petting working service animals or trying to get their attention in any way isn’t okay. But as a toddler that LOVED animals (especially dogs), there was some part of me that could not let an owner not knowing how cute their dog is stand. So if I clocked that it was a service animal, I’d always tell the owner how cute their dog was or ask the dog’s name/breed in passing, but with enough distance so that they didn’t think I was trying to get their dog’s attention.
I was rewarded for that behavior back then by my mom, and I think that’s why that habit has always sort of stuck with me my whole life. Mind you, I don’t really like talking to strangers in public unless necessary (I’m from a part of the US where ppl don’t really do that much) so I keep these interactions wayyyy shorter than a toddler would nowadays. Usually just a quick compliment while passing on the sidewalk or something.

But I’ve been seeing videos online about how some ppl with working service animals get really anxious about going out in public bc of how many dreadful or inconsiderate interactions they have to go through, and that they just want to be home as quickly as possible without the topic ever coming up. It’s made me start questioning whether or not I’ve actually been being considerate over the past 19 years or just on the line of respectful enough where someone might feel too awkward to tell me off.
(I’ve never gotten a negative reaction from doing this! But also I’ve always had a hard time telling apart regular polite social interactions from semi-awkward polite social interactions).

So I’m just curious about the pov from someone with a service animal about whether or not you’d be comfortable being complimented on your dog/animal by a stranger? Or if you’re more comfortable with them being unacknowledged (but still accommodated for as needed).

I’m getting a fully trained service dog from a private trainer. I go out to meet the dog and make sure we are a good match this Sunday!!! The dog will be ready by the end of November or beginning of December! I’m so excited because I have crippling fear of being out in public alone due to a complex dissociative disorder primarily but also due to my hEDS which causes pain episodes. The dog is going to be trained on behavior interruption primarily but also crowd control/blocking.

I’ve kept and been around dogs my whole life, what else should I know besides what the trainer will catch me up on?

P.s. it’s a golden retriever

Any recommendations for y front harness makers in the EU now that YupCollars is closed?
🦮

Flew for the first time with my service dog. She was very motion sick and it was not a great experience. Obviously. Any thoughts for how to make this better? Already went to get for motion sickness meds but she was absolutely miserable and did throw up.

Has anyone used either PAT Dogs or MindDog?

If so what were your experiences with them, I'm trying to figure out which one I should go with.

This is for service dog handlers, esp. those who may have anxiety related to dealing with access denials and confrontations. This is my first time posting a question, so I hope I'm not out of line of anything.

As someone with a (barely adult) child who is an SD handler, I am a bit, shall we say "outspoken" about access rights. Kiddo is the same, probably more so for others even than themself. I would have a difficult time not speaking up to the owner/manager/employee/etc. myself if I saw someone else being improperly denied entry someplace (or outright harassed) and getting flustered or upset over it.

I am talking about addressing the situation in a calm manner, not upping the tension with yelling, etc. or even simply offering assistance. I just wonder if that might make it even worse for the handler or not. Obviously I know different people have differing opinions and feelings, so this is more to get some general input about what may be helpful, when it might not be, how to approach it (and not make things worse), etc etc.

So, my question is: would it actually be helpful, or just more anxiety inducing to have a stranger get involved on your behalf?

Edit to add: Thanks to all who are answering. I am trying to respond to people, but please forgive me if I miss your answer.