Service dogs?

Question

Recently I’ve started thinking about getting a psychiatric service dog. I’m still in the beginning stages of researching it, and I’m not even certain that I would qualify. But does anyone on here have any experience with the process? Does anyone HAVE a service dog? What has your experience been? How did you go about getting your dog? How much did it cost/how did you afford it? Any stories or tips will help! Thanks in advance guys💗

Answer

You can probably find an organization that does service dogs for whatever your diagnosed condition is. What you’re describing is probably more of an emotional support dog. Which is not afforded the same rights as a service dog. 
Service dogs have “tasks” that they do for their person, and it’s within a businesses rights to ask what those tasks are. Emotions are not part of those tasks. 
For example, my wife has a service dog. She went though a year of training with her dog 3x a week both in groups and individual. She went and was tested on just about everything you can think of.  Restaurants, hospitals, trains, airplanes, so on and so forth. Her tasks are bracing while my wife gets up out of a chair (think of a cane), she picks up objects for my wife that drop, and front/rear guard (making a space with her dog between her and others). Her dog also can comfort during stressful situations, but that can’t be taught, it’s just emerged naturally over years and years. 
Her training was done by a non-profit that does service dogs for veterans with service connected disabilities.  They adopt prospective dogs from shelters if a veteran needs one. My wife had her own dog (well, our dog), but she went though tons of pre-testing to see if her dog was eligible for training. The rules were the dog had to be between 1-2 years old at the beginning of training. 
A good start is taking what’s called the CGC (canine good citizen) test. It’s the absolute basic start for a service dog.

Answer

This is sadie the service dog.
I have had sadie for a while and she will be being retired in about 3 months ish when I get the money to get a new puppy prospect. When getting a service dog I remember thinking, do I even qualify? I’m not blind, or deaf, in a wheelchair, or a veteran, would companies even look at my application?? 
There is an easy way to solve this question.
Think about your day. Are there multiple points through the day or week that you can’t get through. 
I realized that it was time for me to look at my options for a service dog when I couldn’t go to the store without having a panic attack and would pass out in class (heart condition and generalized anxiety). 
So if there are parts in your day that you cannot get through a service dog might be for you. However, it’s also always a good idea to bring it up to your doctor or a doctor. 
From there once you have decided you need a service dog there are several different paths you can choose. 
The first is getting a dog from a trainer or a facility that specializes in service dog training. Typically you would apply for a service dog and work with them until they found the puppy fit for you. From there they would spend several months-years training the dog (depending on what tasks the dog needs to learn). From there you would be introduced to the dog and learn how to work with them. This process can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000. 
One of the next options is owner training with a trainer. This path is typically cheaper, running anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. You will receive or pick out your own puppy (depending on who you are working with). From there it goes a few ways. The first is you training all of the public access skills and then the trainer doing tasks or assisting you with task training. The other, is you and the trainer teaching the dog everything together. 
The third option, the one that I chose, should typically only be done if you have experience of knowledge in training dogs. I found a puppy that had a treat drive, willingness to please, and pretty calm temperament and completely self trained. This process can take longer, is hard, and requires lots of patience, but it does not cost much and can be very rewarding in the end. (I plan on fully self training my next puppy).
(Our of every facility that I looked at, if I got a trained dog I would get It from doggie does good/doggie do good)
I hope this helped :)

Answer

My meathead service dog, she did over a year of training that cost around $2k what you're describing is more of an emotional support animal though they don't have any special rights I don't think other then landlords needing to allow them service dogs have a task they do. It's easiest to remember that emotional support animals support your emotions and service dogs do you a service. Also most places have breed specifications that disallow bully breeds, dobermans, Rottweilers, bull terriers, akitas, chows ect

Answer

I had a service dog. It depends on your condition, what they would do for you, and what kind of dog you need. Research service dog organizations that train dogs for your condition first, and that will give you an idea of what your financial commitment will be

Answer

My mother thinks I need an emotional support dog. I don’t know how to go about getting one though. I see my psychiatrist Tuesday & im thinking about asking him then.

Answer

I’ve have a service dog for epilepsy. The cost of the dog depends on what you want him or her to do. The process I went through took awhile and cost a lot of money. I had to go to Florida for a couple of days so my dog can get to know me and I had to ship off some of my clothes that I had seizures in because I guess it lets the dog sense it coming. But now that I have one 18 month she wants to play with him pet him all the things kids do. So we have to do some different stuff with him again and I have another baby on the way which make my epilepsy act up because of the hormones so I’m just praying that this baby will work out perfectly healthy too just like my daughter did

This is my daughter we were on the way to my surprise baby shower I thought we were going to one of my in-laws party’s

Service dogs?

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