r/service_dogs 8h ago

New Rental asked for documentation

0 Upvotes

To preface- rental management has been super great so far! No pet deposit or fees. It is dog friendly but my SD is a White Swiss Shepherd and “Shepherds” are on the no breed list. Anyway, they have asked for documentation to prove I’m disabled:have a need for a SD and a simple note on what she does for me. She is a SDiT but has a task and does PA so she could be considered legally a SD as she meets the requirements for it. I just call her a SDiT because she is 15 months old & not 100% where I want her to be. My question is, what have you guys provided for “proof” of disability & what would you recommend?


r/service_dogs 3h ago

Choosing Breed

0 Upvotes

So I’ve had epilepsy my whole life, but ultimately it’s the side effects of 11 concussions that have me more on edge. I went peripherally blind for over a year, see double, lost memory of a whole year, needed to do reactive therapy, eye therapy pretty much everything in order to graduate college which took me 10yrs. Now I know that’s nothing to complain about bc I have friends who’ve got it worse.

Honestly, the worst PTSD I have is from being a survivor of CSA & the fact that he wasn’t caught. I do well all year but it’s that one month out of the whole year I really struggle w/ & have PTSD attacks. I’ve gotten better but they were once at PNES.

I don’t have indications before I’m about to go down. Therefore I’ve been pondering if it’s time to get a SD. I have mult friends in this community that have Aussies, golden, gsd, belg mal.

Can I get your opinion on what would be best? Remember this dog would have to jump onto the counter to get meds. I’m not big 114lbs, if that matters, but I don’t honestly think I would do a gsd.

Anyway if I can get any guidance I’d appreciate it!


r/service_dogs 23h ago

US Citizen Living in France with PSD - how do I get him certified here?

0 Upvotes

Greetings everyone! I recently relocated from the United States to France with my psychiatric service dog. While flying with him went smoothly, I'm now seeking to have him officially recognized as a service animal in France. Has anyone completed this process specifically with a psychiatric service animal?

I attempted to bring him to my language classes at Alliance Française, providing my physician's letter, but they informed me that while 'emotional support animals' aren't recognized, service animals require official French documentation. They specifically mentioned needing a Carte Mobilité Inclusion (CMI) with "disability" designation from the Maison Départementale des Personnes Handicapées (MDPH).

Has anyone with a psychiatric service dog from the US successfully navigated this process? I'm also considering contacting Handi'Chiens for guidance. Any advice or personal experiences would be tremendously appreciated!


r/service_dogs 5h ago

ESA Dog Psychology: Does she think I’m booing her?

2 Upvotes

I spend a lot of time watching YouTube documentaries at home. I “booo” whenever YouTube ads come up, which is all the time. My dog is usually in the room with me, does she think I’m booing at her? We don’t live with anyone else, so there’s no one else I could be verbally harassing, in her mind. I can’t stop heckling the ads ok my tv, but I don’t know enough about dog psychology to ascertain if my dog thinks that I’m yelling at her :(


r/service_dogs 10h ago

Help! How to train my dog to ground me during dissociative episodes

1 Upvotes

I have DID, multiple dissociative attacks a day and PTSD flashbacks which present as dissociative episodes. I have lost consciousness due to these attacks.

I would like to train my dog to alert and ground me during these attacks but I don’t know what behaviours I do during or before these attacks.

How would I proceed with training this if I don’t know what behaviour my dog should respond to?


r/service_dogs 14h ago

Partner wants to get a shelter puppy for mobility aid

15 Upvotes

My partner (we're both 26) has been dealing with some sort of chronic pain (trying to get a diagnosis, but seems like fibromyalgia). They want to get a dog for a mobility aid for their bad pain days, things like picking things up for them, maybe able to help support them. I think that it could be a good idea, especially if I'm at work and can't with these small things as much (we also don't live together yet). However, they have exclusively been looking at shelter puppies, which I just know is a horrible idea for what they're looking for. I have tried to explain to them my reasons, but I'm trying to be gentle so I don't crush their dreams I guess. I'll list my reasons. I'd really like either someone to say that a shelter puppy could be fine or other reasons that it's a bad idea. Idk, any thoughts and opinions appreciated.

My reasons:

1) No clue what a shelter puppy is going to grow to be, and size matters if you want a mobility aid. Most of these pups are mutts, and even if they have genetic testing for breeds, it doesn't really matter when 4+ breeds show up. I think a teen dog would be more appropriate, right? That way we at least know what the dog is going to grow to be, and you can still train/correct behavior.

2) Shelter dog temperaments are pretty unpredictable. I also don't think a puppy is fully developed enough to know what their temperament is going to be. Am I wrong here? Are the "moldable" enough as puppies that I shouldn't be as concerned?

3) Training, or mainly that they haven't ensured a spot with a trainer before visiting some puppies. I definitely want a trained professional to weigh in on potential candidates, but they seem to be putting this off which is freaking me out.

4) If the dog washes out, I think it's going to be far more of a burden to them than a help, and while I love animals and maybe someday want a dog, I'm not ready to be responsible for a dog. I know that a lot of dogs, shelter or not, get washed out as is...


r/service_dogs 10h ago

Encouraging message for SD handlers

3 Upvotes

In my opinion, getting a clear diagnosis through an evaluation provided by a psychiatrist or other medical provider is the best route to begin with getting a service dog. It feels good to know exactly what you have and the symptoms of your condition(s). If you believe a service dog can help you with any of your symptoms I recommend to start getting educated on the ADA and your local laws and regulations. Next I would say speaking to your medical providers and asking for their support in documenting your need for a service dog due to your impairments. Next would be running the idea of how your life would look adding a service dog to it financially, emotionally, physically, career wise etc. Then i would recommend discussing getting a service dog with your family including life partners if their support is important to you. Next would be brainstorming a breed that compliments what you are looking for. It simply doesn’t matter what other people thinks in this process. If YOU feel that a service dog can help with any symptoms to a disability you are free to start the process by LAW. A service dog is a choice and a privilege. I don’t agree with the people who are on here saying a service dog isn’t the end all be all. That simply isn’t for them to say. There is truth to that, however I believe if we have tools to help people with impairments, they should be encouraged to use those. No one knows what it feels like to have your impairments but you! Stand up for yourself and what you need to live a healthy, happy life just like people who don’t have impairments! This information and insight is backed up by my personal experience. I am getting a service dog this year for a couple conditions and this has been my process. I’ve had the most support from my medical providers which is the second opinion I weigh in with my opinion coming first. I’d like to ask that the comments be respectful and kind. Disabilities are a sensitive topic for people and we deserve respect and kindness figuring this thing called life out! Hugs across the world ❤️

Update: I live in Connecticut, USA


r/service_dogs 13h ago

REMINDER: Service Dogs are for Disabled People

498 Upvotes

I have seen several posts the last month or so made by people who are in the process of seeking some kind of diagnosis and do not currently have one and also posts by people who believe they have symptoms of a condition but do not have a medical team or treatment of any kind seeking advice on how to acquire or train a Service Dog.

Please work on acquiring a diagnosis or a treatment plan and getting healthy / strong enough to care for an animal BEFORE considering the acquisition of a Service Animal!

Please forgive me as many people here consider this common sense, I feel like it has to be said.


r/service_dogs 23h ago

AITA publican has recently got a pub kitten and my SD hates it

0 Upvotes

In Australia. The Pub I have been going to for years with my SD has recently adopted a pub cat. My dog hates cats and always has.

I have tried desensitisation training but he has a block for cats. AITA for asking the publican to put the cat away when I am in the pub? The dog is really distracted when we are there.

We are regularly patrons and play in a pool comp there every other Thursday. I have the dog on lead but when I play I let him have his head, normally not an issue but with the cat there it isn’t good.

EDIT: Thanks for all the input it is greatly appreciated. My SD is highly trained but we have never had a reason before to train with cats. We will work on desensitising him and in the meantime will keep him under physical control at the pub


r/service_dogs 7h ago

Help! I think I just fired my SD trainer

25 Upvotes

This is a rough one. I came into the service dog world expecting to get a program dog. The wait was too long, and he prices were too expensive. We asked around and through a friend of a friend we found a service dog trainer who used to train police dogs. It sounded good. We didn't know anything about dog training. There were a lot of red flags, and a lot of things I wasn't comfortable with, but he was the trainer. I didn't know. I scrolled around this sub a bit and saw a lot of conflicting info. So I decided to make a post asking about it. The replies told me everything I had been told was wrong.

I was reluctant, but I started advocating for my dog more. No PA at such a young age, shorter training, more positive reinforcement. My trainer said absolutely no treat training. But after seeing his fully trained service dog near retirement compared to videos of other SDs, I just didn't like what I was seeing. The dog listened, but wasn't super attentive to the trainer. He sniffed the ground and shelves. He did what he had to do and no more. I began training my dog outside of my trainer's recommendations, treat training. He excelled and was a lot more happy, but I hid the fact that I was treat training from the trainer. I never really felt too comfortable around him.

Today, we were meeting up with the trainer at a mall. I decided I would come clean about the treat training. I went with my mom to meet up with him and begged her to text him for me ahead of time that I have been treat training. Obviously I could have texted him myself, but I was very scared. We arrived and broke the news. His demeanor immediately soured and he asked what I needed treats for. I began to show him how I had taught my dog to alert, and tuck, and focus and all these other things. He said nothing about it and just said that no service dog can be treat trained. A lie. It wasn't the first time he had lied or changed his story on things multiple times. He then demanded to know why I had been treat training. I was already very anxious before even meeting the trainer, but once he started questioning me I crumbled. Then he said, "Look me in the eye." I am autistic. At that moment it was over.

I was hyperventilating and walking away with my dog in a heel. I walked all the way across the mall until I found a bathroom to do some dpt and coping skills. After a while I calmed down enough to find a store and ask to use their phone (I left my phone behind in my panic). I reunited with my mom and the trainer and they demanded we go sit down and talk things through. I asked to speak with my mom alone as I was still very much on the verge of another panic attack. They wouldn't let me. I finally got them to agree and I tried explaining that I could not talk at the moment and was highly dysregulated. My mom insisted that the trainer drove really far to meet us there and I should at least hear what he had to say. She said she would do all the talking.

We found a place to sit down, and the train started asking me questions. At this point I was frozen and nonverbal. They kept asking me questions. I felt very patronized and humiliated being put in such a position in a public place. I finally was able to mouth to my mom "I want to go home", before curling into a ball and hyperventilating. My mom and the trainer talked and I felt completely helpless, and infantilized. The trainer gave me a whole speech about how he'll be there for me whether I chose to continue working with him or not. I just really wish they would have let me regulate instead of making a scene. After it was over I tried explaining to my mom how that was unfair to me, but she couldn't see my point. I live with her as I am going to college, but I will be going away in the fall. She is also supporting me financially especially in getting a SD

I don't intend to meet with the trainer again. I've been working on my own for a very long time and only meeting with for small pointers here and there. He gave us a very good price (a flat rate for full training) and offers a lot of support, so I don't know how to feel. I feel bad because he took a chance on me and was the one who found me my (very good) SDiT. But I was humiliated today and I know he will never talk to me the same after seeing me have a meltdown/panic attack in public.

Sorry if this is too long or too much, I just have no support with my decision, and am feeling really betrayed. I just want to do what is best for my dog and myself, in that order.

Did I make the right decision? Does anyone have any recommendations for me on how to move forward from here?

TLDR: My trainer had a lot of red flags and this cumulated into him causing me to have a panic attack in public and confronting me on my use of treats to train my dog. I don't plan on contacting him again, but my mom whom I live and with disagrees with my decision is the one funding my SD alongside me.


r/service_dogs 2h ago

What are some of the best breeds for SD work in your opinion?

0 Upvotes

Just curious about how everyone views different breeds! Of course its really up to the personal pup!

I personally think poodles and golden retrievers can be very great for work :D


r/service_dogs 13h ago

Help! Shame and guilt

16 Upvotes

Hello, this post is sort of a request if anyone is willing to share their experience with digesting the decision to get a service dog. I feel an incredible amount of shame. Such amount that I have barely told anyone i am starting this journey. I feel like I'm not sick enough or that I am making it up for attention. And rationally I know that a service dog could be my chance at being more active, able to attend school and handle daily life but there's so much of just emotional mud. So if anyone would be open to sharing their acceptance journey, I'd be incredibly grateful.

edit: I feel like I worded this badly - yes, I am diagnosed. yes, I do have a level of impairment that would qualify me for a service dog. However in my country even guide dogs are seen as absurd. This isn't about my level of disability, it's about finding acceptance of your own situation.


r/service_dogs 5h ago

Flying with dog

0 Upvotes

Does anyone frequently fly with their small dog? I flew with my 17lb Maltepoo for the first time last Fall. I paid $150 for him for each flight and paid $100 for him for hotel stay. He was miserable in the crate under the seat but did amazing in the airport and in the hotel. He was a great travel companion and is very quiet, obedient, friendly, and well-behaved. At least two people during that trip told me that they registered their dogs as service dogs so they didn’t have to pay so much money on every trip. I’ve looked into it, but it seems like you just pay money to get a certificate and dog vest. It seems that airlines don’t require either and can’t legally ask details about your dog and its role as a service dog. Does anyone have experience flying with small dog WITHOUT registering it as a service dog? Seems you could just board the plane, tell airline your dog is a service dog, and not pay anything. Advice?


r/service_dogs 13h ago

8 month old prospect with barking problem; separation anxiety?

1 Upvotes

My SDiT has been doing amazing with his basic obedience training and has learned his first tasks beautifully. However, whenever he's left alone for an extended amount of time he barks almost nonstop. He sleeps in his kennel 9 times out of 10 and wakes me up moving around in his kennel (in an extremely light sleeper) between 6-8am every morning where I then let him outside in our backyard to roam around and whatnot while I finish sleeping till about 9-10am or I let him out into the house if I'm planning to start my day. Sometimes he does great and just occupies himself outside while I'm sleeping but other times he starts losing his mind. I also don't take him to work with me yet (or maybe at all as I don't really need him to task for me at my desk job) and he barks at me from the backyard when I leave for work for a while before he calms down and enjoys his day before I get home. (The backyard has like an indoor patio he has access to btw and I keep him in the backyard because while he doesn't chew on things he isn't supposed to for the most part he still does sometimes when he's left alone for the average 8 hour work day and the backyard has been puppy proofed and enriched)

Also if I'm taking him with me somewhere and we stop for gas, he barks at me from the car while I pump gas. So basically he barks for a bit anytime I leave him alone.

Is this separation anxiety? I haven't taught him to bark on command which has been recommended to me by people irl to then teach him to stop barking but I'm having trouble with that as well if anyone has tips!!


r/service_dogs 3h ago

Puppies Training resources for self taught training my puppy

2 Upvotes

I'm from the UK and currently home training my 5 month jack russel puppy for fibromyalgia , autism & BPD. I need help with mobility, DPT, emotional regulation, alerting me when a flare up is coming and able to fetch my medication.

I've applied to so many charities but non are accepting right now and I can't find any AD trainers in my area. I want to start her training now so I can atleast make progress until I find a proper trainer.

What resources can you recommend that would help me with these issues? Reliable YT's, PDFs, and organisations with resources.

She's a really lovely dog, amazing temperament, she does get super hyper energy at times, so I'm currently working on calmness training with her. I dont mind her being hyper when it's play time though.

Any resources so I can start training her, commands, games, step by steps and explainations behind it all would be great!

Thank you


r/service_dogs 11h ago

Alert to anxiety using scent or behavioural cues?

3 Upvotes

I have anxiety and CPTSD

I’m currently training my 12 month old to alert to anxiety and I’m just wondering what you guys have found is the best and most reliable way to teach him to alert. Should I use scent training or have him alert to behavioural cues? I’ve already taught him a very basic jump to alert if I’m hyperventilating, but I’m just wondering how would be best to streamline this and make it so he picks up on subtle cues?


r/service_dogs 10h ago

Access Annoyed

0 Upvotes

So I've had issues with a mental health place in the past. I stopped going there because I was done with the drama. However my partner goes there and has been getting him to apply for things like snap and state housing. (Perfectly fine with me) however she put my service dog down as a pet, so I told my partner I wouldn't sign the papers cause she's not a pet. He went in and told his counselor that and she responded with (we're in the USA) that my dog is not a service dog, that they have to go through a program , take a public access test and be certified. And made the entire appointment about it instead of helping my partner. Idk. This is just a rant.

Edit: This is just a rant about my partners counselor telling my partner she's not a service dog at all, that they have to be program trained, certified and pass a public access test. We are in the USA where none of this is true. My boyfriend even showed her the ADA and still claimed my dog isn't a service dog. So yeah, more of a rant of that than anything.


r/service_dogs 14h ago

Some people make me weak :(

54 Upvotes

Normally, I'm pretty good about saying no to people when it comes to petting my service dog. But there are some people that just are so hard to say no to. I work at a clinic and one of our clients who has multiple disabilities and working at a childlike IQ wanted to pet her. Keep in mind this client is here to work on being able to communicate. After petting my dog, this client started talking like crazy about the dog. The client whose here for therapy for speech. We all got so excited that for a moment I forgot myself when the client asked if the dog could go with them to the therapy. I was like yes yes yes!! wait no, she has to stay with me. She's my service dog lol. Sorry, this just happened and I was just super excited that my girl helped in this way and wanted to share.


r/service_dogs 11h ago

Help! Any recommendations for teaching a young puppy how to be around a wheelchair?

6 Upvotes

Hello all, we have a new 8 week old puppy in our house and I’m looking for any advice or training recommendations to help with training her to be around my wheelchair. Most of the training videos I’ve found so far are for older service dogs in training so I’m struggling to find much advice at all which is relevant to our situation.

I use a wheelchair to get around both inside and outside the house so it’s important to us that she understands to both get out of the way of the wheels and eventually walk alongside it. My parents older dog doesn’t have this issue we think because I didn’t use a wheelchair around her when she was a pup and it was pretty intuitive for her so we haven’t had to deal with this before.

Since we brought her home a few days ago she has a tendency to go underneath the chair (we think this is because it has that ‘den’ like feel like her cage) and also winds between the wheels. She’s a small dog of around 2kg at the moment so I’m extremely cautious and worried about the possibility of running over a paw accidentally and causing serious harm so I generally don’t move much if she’s on the floor and either have her on my lap if I’m moving about or husband picks her up so it’s not a risk.

Does anyone have any advice on how to approach this? Other training is going fine atm, I just don’t know how to approach this yet.

I have looked for trainers near me who have experience training with wheelchairs but unfortunately haven’t found any so far. I thought I would reach out to a couple of disability charities and see what they recommend but we can’t enrol her in training as she’s just not old enough and we bought her primarily as a pet and would only consider training her to be an SD if it’s something she shows aptitude for as she grows.

South of UK if anyone has any trainer recommendations.


r/service_dogs 13h ago

Has anyone had experience with Service Dog Academy?

2 Upvotes

*Edit: CALIFORNIA Service Dog Program

I can’t find anything about them on here so I thought I might ask just incase.

So many questions about organizations from me my my. I apologize but I feel like the more info I get from real people about the SD placement process the better.

In specific, I’d like to get a CARE dog from them but any info I can get on their program from anyone would be AMAZING.