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).

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

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

Hello,

I’m still relatively new to learning about service dogs, mobility in particular, so please correct if I’m misinformed. I’ve been considering tasks that a service dog could potentially help me with should I plan to go through with the idea, and one of the tasks I’m interested in is a forward momentum pull.

However, I’ve been in contact with an agency that specializes in mobility assistance and they let me know that forward momentum pulls aren’t ethical because they put strain on the dog‘s neck and spine. They also told me they do teach light bracing for seated to standing transfers (I thought forward momentum pulls were for walking? Can they be used for seated to standing transfers or are seated-standing transfers unethical for dogs regardless of the technique applied?), but I, based on the information I’ve gathered so far, was under the impression that bracing can be damaging for the dogs.

Does anyone have any insight into whether forward momentum pulls are dangerous for the dogs? Also if anyone could explain forward momentum pulls in a little more detail I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

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.

So i have Audhd, Bipolar, anxiety and depression and I'm thinking about getting a service dog to help me out. The things I want help with are grounding me in busy spaces, reminding me to eat by letting me know it's time for the dog to eat (the bowl would be downstairs and it would go get it and bring to me forcing me to get up and go feed the dog then why not eat while the dog is eating), help with daily habit reminders (mainly showering and eating), being emotional support, nudging me to get out of bed on the weekends, retrieving items, possibly bringing my meds when it's time to take them, cuddling when I need it, stopping me from picking my skin or biting myself. I also would like it to be a lap dog but having a dog turn on the lights for me when i'm rotting in bed would also be nice. I def want to be able to cuddle at night. and for the shower thing, I think it'd be really funny to have it gradually bring me more and more things from the shower so that when i have to take them back, i might as well shower while i'm at it.

those are my wants and needs. what do you all recommend for breed and training? I'm very low income and will wait til i have more money to get a service dog, but based on these things, what would you guys recommend for me to start at?

both my mom and psychiatrist say a service dog would be helpful for me and my psych said she'd even write a letter to my work spaces saying i can bring the dog to work if it helps significantly.

any ideas?

Edit. For the biting thing, I only bite my hand when I’m severely understimulated and all I want the dog to do is nudge me. I’m not a violent person and would not put the dog in harm from simply chewing on my hand.

Second, the dog bowl thing would force me to go downstairs where all my food is.

Third: the dog isn’t not taking care of me, it’s motivating me. As I’ve mentioned to other people, the lights thing is to make me get out of bed cause I hate having the lights on. And getting out of bed wakes me up. And also. When I’m taking care of my dogs at my parents house, I a) get up early (compared to laying in bed all day when I’m home alone) and b) never ignore my dogs signal to use the restroom unless she was just let back into the house 5 minutes prior.

The dog would also be helpful to keeping space between me and other people. On top of that I don’t tend to even notice when people speak ill about me unless it’s to my face. I’m a very polite (worst pekole pleaser) kind of person. And I also do have needs outside of the house. The dog is more than just a house dog. Cause it offers stimulation when I’m under stimulated, creates a barrier between me and other people. Can nudge people when they touch me without my consent. Nudge me when I’m picking my skin or biting my hand, can lead me to other places if it’s crowded, can bring me my bag that might have gum in it to replace chewing on my hand.

Yes, I like to rot in bed, but that’s only cause I have nothing driving me to get out of bed. I wake up at 9am every day I’m watching my parents dogs. I don’t ignore my dogs bell unless it’s been 5 seconds since she just got in. Yes, I bite myself, but that’s only my hand and chewing gum helps replace that. Yes I know pekole will talk about me, I’ve been laughed at to my face and only realized it was mocking a month later when my friend pointed out it was rude. Yes I know pekole will ask to touch the dog, I will say no and I will be firm about them not doing so. Yes. I forget to eat. But I will never let a dog go hungry. I’ve made a chart at my parents house where I check the box just so I have visual confirmation I fed the dog.

Point: I do not neglect dogs. And the dog is motivation, not taking care of me.

When I’m home alone and have nothing to do, I WILL lay in bed all day, but if I have something to take care of, I will do it without a doubt

And for some of you for the peace of mind for you all, I’m likely not going to get a dog cause I’m broke af and I’m not gonna let a dog go hungry or not taken care of.

I just wanted advice for if I do pursue a dog.

I had a PTSD service dog that I received through a veteran org for about 11 years. He passed away earlier this year. 💔

The wait time for many of these orgs now is years. And I know others are more in need.

I now have a 7-month old adolescent dog. Untrained aside from the basics.

I’m looking for a trainer in Northern VA to help. He doesn’t have to be certified but I would really like him to provide some of the same support and comfort I used to have.

Any recommendations?

Hello everyone. I have been diagnosed with AuDHD/schizoaffective bipolar/PTSD/anxiety and depression. I live in South GA and have been trying to find an organization that trains psychiatric service dogs for free for qualifying individuals. The ones I’ve looked into either don’t support tasks that I need out for only specific people.

Can someone please help me on where to look? I’ve got a letter from my doctor that states it’s in my best interest to get a service dog. I just don’t know where to begin.

Thank you!

Hey, I was advised to post over here to get an opinion from people with service dogs and couldn’t cross post.

We recently hired someone with a service dog, which is not my complaint. I understand the use of medical aids for disabilities at work, I myself even have an ADA accommodation. I have always been taught to treat service dogs as medical devices, not to distract, touch, or inhibit it from doing its tasks in any way because its purpose is to aid its person.

I have never seen a service dog exhibit the behavior I saw at work. It was whining when not actively being pet, soliciting my coworkers for attention, and begged for food multiple times from people other than its handler. Nobody acknowledged that this was abnormal, and my coworkers were actively petting the dog when it would approach them unsolicited, and the new hire did not discourage this at all. The SD also attempted to wander away from our work station at least twice (while on a slack leash) and jumped into the new hires lap multiple times (it was not alert type of jump, it just wanted to be held and is not a small dog).

I tried to keep an open mind and kept to myself, but I continued to pay attention to the behavior. What set me over the line of thinking about complaining happened when I was eating and speaking to my coworkers, and the SD approached me, placed his head in my lap, and proceeded to beg me for my lunch. When the new hire noticed what it was doing, they yanked on the leash, said “no”and then proceeded to pinch the dog’s ear until it yelped.

I wanted to bring up what tasks the dog performs, since I know that is one of the two legally allowed questions for SDs, but I couldn’t find a way to casually weave it into conversation. I am not trying to make the claim of a that it is not truly an SD, it’s concerning at the lack of training of this service dog.

If I continue to see this behavior, is making a complaint going too far? Any kind of advice would be appreciated. This is also in Virginia, USA.

Anyone have any experience good or bad with Assistance Dogs of the West? Found them on the ADI website but can’t find much information on their reputation.

My SD and I love learning new things and continue adding tasks as new needs or symptoms arise. I’m curious about the tasks that I might not have thought of yet so am reaching out to find out what are the more unique or surprising tasks your SD does?

what are some things your SD knows that may seem silly but is actually super helpful? My guy is always willing to learn and anything that will make my life just a little easier is a plus lol.

Right now his favorite thing is to carry stuff around for me, might be my keys, his own leash lol or something I’ve given him but its sooo nice when your hands are full or youre busy

Even though service dogs in the US are not required to wear any gear labelling them as such, it can definitely cut down on issues. While I've been settled into my current gear set for years now, I was reflecting on how it changed when I was first starting out. There were several things that made marked differences in the number of people that questioned me, and I'm curious if others have noticed the same things. As I said in the title, some of these I consider rather stupid, given that nothing about my dog or their behavior really changed, and it annoys me that that somehow made my dog more legitimate in their eyes. Anyways, here's the list:

• "May jump to alert" patch - my dog will either jump on me to knock my hands away from scratching at my arms or jump on me when he smells an oncoming medical episode. I added the patch after he learned the former, while he was still a SDiT. My interactions halved with this.
• Switching harnesses - I switched from the standard red Amazon harness with patches to a custom embroidered harness. I waited until I was fairly confident my dog would make it through training, because I didn't want to spend $100+ on something he wouldn't be able to use. Honestly I was afraid at the time that it would increase my interactions, since the harness was more creative and less "professional" or simple than the Amazon harness. But I guess people aren't going to spend that much money on a illegitimate service dog?
• Adding a pull strap - irregardless of whether it's in use or not, simply adding it to his gear massively cut down on interactions. This is one that I especially hate that it somehow added legitimacy.

What random things have you done that cut down on your interactions, even when they have no bearing on your dog's behavior or training?

Hey folks.

Twice in 24 hours I have had two different dogs try to bite my service dog. I'm just going about my day, I'm not seeking them out, in fact I avoid other dogs for this reason.

First I was at a desk in the library and a dog came up behind, barked, and tried to bite her. Missed

Today, a dog was in the common building and I was walking by, the owner didn't have the leash in their hand and this dog ran over and attacked my dog. She ran before the police got there.

I'm really sick of these misbehaving dogs that campus won't do anything about because only the police and admin can ban a dog. I've called the cops, I've called admin.

I'm stuck. I feel lost and broken. I have worked so hard to have my girl, and now I don't feel like my campus will protect me from aggressive dogs. What do I do? How do I protect myself and my girl?

I already avoid dogs, and my dog has been trained to look at me when we pass by a dog. She's doing amazing, but these aggressive dogs feel poised to break something.

Anyone flown Iberia with a psychiatric service dog?

I'm planning to fly from Fuerteventura, Spain, to Miami or Orlando with my 57 kg (126 lb) Rhodesian Ridgeback.

He was trained by a service dog school that is not ADI/IGDF accredited. I have his training certificate, ID card, and verification letter.

Has anyone flown Iberia with a service dog trained by a non-ADI/IGDF school? Did they accept your documentation, or require accreditation? Also, has anyone flown with a very large service dog, and were there any issues with cabin space?

I'd really appreciate firsthand experiences, especially on Spain–US routes. Thank you! ❤️

Or does that depend on the type of episodes and/or your living situation?

HR just sent me an email stating:

“Hi [Me]

[Employer] has not approved the use of a
service animal for any employee at this time as any request that has been presented was able to be fulfilled through another reasonable accommodation. For example, if someone requested the use of a service animal to detect low blood sugar, [employer] could offer up the
use of a medical device that can detect low blood
sugar as a more reasonable accommodation.
Since we are student facing, the use of animals is often not deemed reasonable due to the risk
involved.

Without further clarification on your condition or diagnosis, I am unable to discuss other alternatives with you and why you feel the service animal is the best option. This is necessary for the interactive discussion required for ADA.”

I literally know this is wrong and worked in the same field before this where it wasn’t a problem. Now just phrasing it politely. The cherry on top? My job? Accommodations lmao. Just need some words of encouragement I guess

EDIT: Since it seems to not be clear, this is her second email to me. I have already provided a doctor’s note, limitations, and tasks. She is specifically asking what my diagnosis is, which is not allowed. This was a vent. I am also a professional in this field and come from a family of professionals in this field and mentioned in the original post I was not really looking for advice, just support over something crummy! Thank you!

Is it redundant to train both or are any of your dogs trained in both?

I have a service dog in training, and recently we just adopted a pet dog. He’s still very new, so right now it’s just adjusting, getting to know us, etc. But I’m wanting to know some good skills that would be good to learn so that there’s no potential issues with my dog tasking?

The tasks my dog knows are:
- Deep pressure therapy
- Laying under my legs to raise them
- Faint response
- Item retrieval
- Behavior interruption (crying & leg shaking)
- Opening & closing doors

The new dog seems pretty aloof, he gets along well with my SDiT. He’s low energy, pretty low drive. Just kind of a couch potato kind of dog.

Rescue or Breeder? I am looking for a dog. I really have a hard time with the concept of breeders as a whole. However they do genetic and temperment testing.

As an adopted child myself it feels wrong to buy a dog for ridiculous monies.

There are so many dogs that are without a home it feels unethical not to choose from them. There feels like a luck of the draw here, you cant "return " a shelter dog like the "test runs" that a breeder does. You cant determine the illnesses they might have in a shelter.

Help, I'm a bit at a loss and could use some guidance.

So I am not a service dog handler, but my friend is. We're trying to figure out the best way he can get onto accessible paratransit (on the lift) with a power chair (whill c2) and a 65lb service dog without getting out of his chair hopefully. Since he's ambulatory but will be going through a couple surgeries that would affect his mobility for a while he recovers. We're trying to think of the safest way. He's new to a power chair so he needs to figure out what to train these new things his dog (ex. hind leg awareness to make sure he's in a good safe position).