[Victoria'smom]

My dog is getting old and was an ESA dog when we moved here 8 years ago. I would like a service dog to check the house when I'm alone, help with stability in and out of the shower, food/ med reminder alarm based, Distraction from anxiety, Help with trash, laundry, groceries, answer door, stand between me and strangers, lead me to exit, support for going up and down stairs and support when walking "distances". It's a mix of both mental/physical tasks because I have multiple disabilities. I want to be as independent as I can both at home and out. I don't really talk about the things I can't do. Even though I can't walk well I don't have a handicap parking spot. We just deal with the help of my husband. I don't stay home alone or go out alone. At some point my husband will not be available whether it's for an hour or days (If he has to get surgery for his medical issues or baker acted). We live away from willing/able adults to help if that were to happen. I would have to go stay with my parents if something were to happen and that's not productive to a long term solution. I don't think I can get a medical dr to qualify me because I don't even have a handicap placard.

[*Beth*]

How compassionate is your pdoc? I don't know anything about the legalities of getting a service dog, but I think it's a terrific idea for you. I would stress that your husband will not continue to be available to assist you. You can say that he won't be available because of his own mental and physical health issues. I wouldn't say he "may not" - I'd say he "definitely won't."

[Victoria'smom]

How compassionate is your pdoc? He's not really, But I'm not really as honest with my struggles to any of my drs. I don't want more meds.

[*Beth*]

Yeah, I understand that well. And it's a tough place to be in, because...well, the obvious.

[~Christina]

True Service Dogs have 10’s of thousands of dollars in training and would require training also with you also.

Unfortunately you will be on a long waiting list months to years.. and that’s if your Doctors backs you.

Why not get a puppy and have professional training ? Many of the tasks you are wanting help with a ESA can do.

Would that interest you ?

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[Victoria'smom]

Service dogs can be trained personally where I live but I still need a letter for housing from a Dr. because of size of the dog. So that was my plan.

My plan was to get a puppy do boarding for 2 weeks to learn basic. Then have weekly private lessons and group lessons doing the psychiatric service animal until the dog is 2. Then get them tested for mobility then trained for mobility.

My dad is worried I'll put a lot into a larger dog and it be to strong for me to control. At the same time he says not to worry about the money. that it's just money. Obviously I need to save for it.

[bizi]

You sure sound like you could use a service dog. and training him would require effort on your part. Considerable effort.
What kind of dog would you want?
Have you asked your provider for the note this is an excellent topic for your therapist. you could tell her all what you told us.
Tell your TDOC. good luck with that. A nice and obedient lab or golden retriever.

bizi

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Service dogs can be trained personally where I live but I still need a letter for housing from a Dr. because of size of the dog. So that was my plan.

My plan was to get a puppy do boarding for 2 weeks to learn basic. Then have weekly private lessons and group lessons doing the psychiatric service animal until the dog is 2. Then get them tested for mobility then trained for mobility.

My dad is worried I'll put a lot into a larger dog and it be to strong for me to control. At the same time he says not to worry about the money. that it's just money. Obviously I need to save for it.

Oh that’s good that they are training down there. I don’t think they did that when we lived down there.

If a dog is trained as a Service Dog it will be trained to be trusted on a leash.

Ask your T and Pdoc about your needing one.

I’m guessing your ESA would enjoy some company.

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[Victoria'smom]

My dad is afraid of larger "scary" breeds. I want a border doodle but they maybe too expensive or two weak. I may end up with a shepherded.

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

My dad is worried I'll put a lot into a larger dog and it be to strong for me to control. At the same time he says not to worry about the money. that it's just money. Obviously I need to save for it.

I would think that a very well trained large dog (without genetic predisposition to behavior issues) shouldn't be "hard to control". I think such issues usually only pertain to poorly or insufficiently trained ones. Just like there are out of control children as a result of psych predisposition and/or poor parenting approach.

A well trained dog shouldn't be dragging the owner on a leash and barking for no good reason, but walking along side or behind and quiet, unless real situations for barking are truly called for. As service dogs are permitted in public places other animals aren't they must be well trained. If ill behaved, people will complain and the animal (and owner) would be asked to leave. That's not as possible when an out of control kid is involved.

[Victoria'smom]

I want to get one that temperament has been tested before I buy it. I want an 8 week puppy so they don't have time to develop bad habits. I don't plan to take it places until fully trained by a private training. My current dog (ESA) as she's gotten older she's 11-12 now has started to bark but I think her sight or hearing is going both her vet says she's in good health for her age.

My fear is spending thousands of dollars and the dog can't be a service dog I don't know if I could rehome them and try again. I get attached. If it wasn't for mobility I would get a medium size dog. But I won't know about mobility until they're two years old. So $7,200+ dollars in training plus the adoption fee before knowing if it can be trained for mobility Service dog. We'll see my dad keeps saying don't worry about the money just get what I need. Which is nice but not realistic I need to save for the dog, vet, training. There is no way I could take on a SDiT and my esa dog. I have to wait until July to talk to my pdoc but I did write down in my list of **** I was feeling to my T. So next week we'll probably talk about it.

[bizi]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I want to get one that temperament has been tested before I buy it. I want an 8 week puppy so they don't have time to develop bad habits. I don't plan to take it places until fully trained by a private training. My current dog (ESA) as she's gotten older she's 11-12 now has started to bark but I think her sight or hearing is going both her vet says she's in good health for her age.

My fear is spending thousands of dollars and the dog can't be a service dog I don't know if I could rehome them and try again. I get attached. If it wasn't for mobility I would get a medium size dog. But I won't know about mobility until they're two years old. So $7,200+ dollars in training plus the adoption fee before knowing if it can be trained for mobility Service dog. We'll see my dad keeps saying don't worry about the money just get what I need. Which is nice but not realistic I need to save for the dog, vet, training. There is no way I could take on a SDiT and my esa dog. I have to wait until July to talk to my pdoc but I did write down in my list of **** I was feeling to my T. So next week we'll probably talk about it.

Sounds like your dad is willing to pay for the dogs training and purchasing the dog for you.
Unless there will be strings attached.....
Do what feels right for you and your comfort level.
This is a good thing to talk to your T about.
by the way. You are talking with your T this is good news.
sorry if I have missed this. Are you going to tell her

you have been smoking weed and not taking your meds?
sorry this sounds judgemental. I wish it were legal here only
medical MMJ here is legal.


keeping fingers crossed that you can get your new puppy.
What kind of dog do you have now?
bizi

[Victoria'smom]

I've been smoking

Possible trigger:

Delta 8 with thc-0 and thc-p

. Weed is only medical is acceptable here and I don't have a card and won't get one.

I haven't approached my dad about paying for the dog. I have to still talk to my therapist and pdoc. I don't know if there will be strings attached. I avoid asking them for anything. I don't think he has that kind of money even if he wanted too but it's going to be awhile.

I am going to have a conversation with my t about my meds and not taking my meds. I took both last night and nothing bad happened. So I will take both from now on. I'm just worried it won't mix well with thorazine.

Right now I have a mutt that was supposed to be an apple head Chihuahua but she's as tall as my knee so she's not that.

I have to have a couple of hard conversations with my t. I seem to plummet on weeks I don't see her.

[Nammu]

Most service organizations that train service dogs do not allow any other dog in the home. It is a working dog not a pet.

[Victoria'smom]

I won't have two dogs at once. Most service organizations cost too much to go through. Plus usually they're only trained for one disability. I have to go through a private trainer.

[Bipolarchic14]

Something else to take into consideration, depending on your age, and location, and condition, you may be able to have someone come in to help me with things like laundry dishes, provide meals, organizing medication etc. We are considering getting something like that for my elderly father. They even have therapist that will come to the house if he wanted one. Additionally, when my dad kept falling, they provided him with physical therapy to help him get around better. He hasn’t fallen in months so it’s very effective. I don’t know the extent of your medical condition so I don’t know if this would work for you but that’s something to consider.

Then from the psychological standpoint, convincing the psychiatrist to let you have a service dog for anxiety and trained to remind you to take meds, and provide emotional support. This way you’re not trying to combine the two might be too complicated without having a physical doctor involved. From a non-service dog perspective for a moment, if you’re struggling to remember to take your meds something that my therapist help me do this we set up on my phone to remind me to take meds and go to sleep because I was having trouble with that for a while. It’s not would hundred percent effective because if you don’t have your phone on you or your iPad he won’t get the message but you could also set it up on Alexa that’s what I’m thinking about doing but it has helped some. And from the emotional side of things my dog is a lifesaver but she’s not trained to be anything but goofy!

[Victoria'smom]

I'm very wary of anyone coming into my house. (Paranoia). That's why I no longer want to live in an apartment. But I have no choice. I'll keep that in mind but I have to fess up to how difficult daily things are.and I'm not good at that at all.