First, I wanted to say how sorry I am to the people here whose service dogs have passed away. I know it feels like losing a part of yourself.

Like Hoosier, I am on a service dog waiting list. I am attending candidate classes, along with ten other people who are on the active waiting list. It's been two years now since I applied, but I feel like I've moved a few steps forward.

I have MS (multiple sclerosis) and I've lost a lot of muscle strength in my arms and legs, having to use walking aids to get around, and falling often. I need a dog to keep me upright, help me get up out of a chair or off the potty, and open heavy restroom doors when I'm in a public restroom. Also, I want a dog so that my husband can go somewhere by himself and not have to worry about me so much.

I am amazed each time I fall into a crying jag over my former service dog... it happens at least weekly. [I put him down in January.] My puppy has learned to come and "comfort" me now, when before he didn't respond at all. TC

JD

(((hugs))) JD and all I haven't lost a service dog (since this is my first), but I have lost pets before (dare I say my best friends) before. I can feel the pain.

I have a Psychiatric Service Dog (in training) who is only 11 weeks old. We have only been together for 3 weeks, but I have known her for 4. It was almost as if we were meant to be together. I visited Mayze and her 4 sibs when she was 7 weeks. We played for a bit before I left. I knew she was the right pup, so I gave them the deposit and headed home (They live almost 2 hours from us). A week later, I came back to pick her up and she remembered me! She ran right up to me. It was a very special moment. Her initial training (The basics including potty training) has been trying, but we are getting better every day.

Mayze is a Chocolate Lab/Husky mix. She looks like a pure chocolate lab unless you look really close and see some slight differences. One of my friends who used to breed labs says her nose is a little narrow to be a lab, but you really have to look closely to see it. The vet is anxious to see what her coat will look like. Will she be smooth like a lab or fluff(ier) like a Husky?

Why do I have my Mayze? Let's see. I am Agoraphobic, have panic attacks frequently, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, Major Depression, OCD, and ADD to top it off. My therapist and I have been discussing getting a dog for a bit. I brought this up to my boyfriend and he thought it was a great idea. It took a while to find the right puppy (the first one I fell in love with was a pure bred St Bernard) but I eventually found the right one for me. It's the training part that is driving me crazy! (lol) I found that a head collar works best for her. She is so happy when she does things right. She's a good girl.

I have had a problem (I was unaware of the differences between Therapy, Service and emotional support animals) with the housing association saying this "dog" brings us over our two pet limit (even though I told them that Mayze was my service animal). After doing some research, I realized I definitely needed her as a service animal. I also found out that I needed a prescription from my psychiatrist. I printed out some information for him, and he was more than happy to write out the note for me. The association has told us that the dog has to leave. That's fine. I am moving anyway (there is MUCH more going on with them - I am actually planning on filing a suit against them, so I don't want to get into it).

I mentioned in another thread that I will be moving this weekend. Across the street from our new place is a trainer of service dogs (unless our landlord misunderstood and she only trains therapy dogs). I am excited about that because I know I will need help beyond basic obedience. Mayze deserves to be in a place that understands, and accepts who and what she is. The neighborhood we are moving into is wonderful. I am very excited

Sorry for babbling (I do that sometimes ) I am glad to be here with you all.

Beth

I have a Service Dog in Training. He is a border collie who will is almost 2. I have multiple psychiatric diagnosis that are always changing so I will not get into the details of that. My biggest 'issues' are with depression and anxiety. I first got Winston when he was 6 1/2 weeks old as a companion animal(emotional support dog).

One major issue of not being able to walk away from my house, campsite, car, or into an wide open area...my agoraphobia has been tremendously helped by having Winston. He needs exercise and I'm all he has. Aside from driving me nuts in the house, he has established a routine for me of getting me out to the dog park every day for his exercise/my social hour(s) - We go for walks (long ones) - When I first moved up to this area 5 years ago, I could hardly walk to the end of my driveway. Now, I am able to walk a distance of about 3 miles before we turn back.

After spending so much time with Winston, I began to realize many of my abilities and my appreciation for life. I started to challenge myself in ways that I never imagined. Things started looking good for me and my whole outlook on life. I started enjoying sunsets. I realized that the more that I got out with Winston the more I appreciated the world around me. I realized that there was so much of the world that I was afraid of because of years of living in panic and despair.

Last February, I started going off of medication (after being on them for 15 years) - Since September, I have been off of all psychotropic medications, so far successfully!!!

So, sometime this summer I started researching online about psychiatric service animals. I have now been prescribed a service animal and am training Winston. We are working on public access stuff. He's so good in the stores.

I am still having difficulty bringing him out with me sometimes as I struggle with needing to feel accepted and not to be stigmatized against. With having a service dog with you, people ask questions. People are very bold. Sometimes, I just feel like saying that point blank that "it is none of your business what my disability is!!!!!" - other days I just don't care. It's frustrating. On the one hand I know how much help he is to me, yet on the other I am so fragile inside somedays to deal with confrontation from the public because I am an individual with an invisible disability and a service dog (in training).

JD,
I was so distressed to read about the loss of your lab service dog. We used to have a Rottie/Boxer mix named Kayla, who we rescued from the HUmane Society. She was 125 lbs of pure love. She had no tail, whoever had docked it got carried away and she didn't even have a stump. She would get excited and she wagged her whole body. She finally developed dysplasia, as large breeds so often do, and it got to me to see her get up and yelp in pain at the effort, or she would try to scratch and couldn't raise her hind leg high enough to do it.

We now have two Chihuahuas (Chihuahua/Mexican Hairless Mix) who are 15 months old, and in training as Hearing Assist dogs. They are brother and sister, named BearBear and Munchkin. Bear is black and tan, and Munchie is blonde and white. They are smart as a whip and have been partially training themselves. I have the worst hearing, as I have only less than 30% in the left ear, and totally deaf in the right ear. The wife is hard of hearing, but not as bad as I. When the pups are two years old, we will be able to get them certified. They are very well received everywhere we go, because they are so well behaved. When their harnesses are put on, there is a total transformation in their personalities. It is as if they consider their harness their uniform and that when they are on, they are all business, working dogs.
When we get back home and take the harnesses off, they play-fight like any siblings will do, and have a ball/

I got the call Thursday, telling me that I was getting a service dog. I am ecstatic! I applied for a dog about three years ago with St. Francis of Assisi Service Dog Foundation, which trains and places service dogs with Virginia residents. About three weeks ago, I had an interview with Montana (Monty for short), his trainer, the head trainer, and the director of SF.

What can I say about Monty, except that he is lovable, smart, and incredibly sweet. He is a 2 1/2 year old black Lab. He will be able to assist mostly by helping me keep my balance and getting up from a seated to a standing position. It is a truly helpless feeling when I can't get up off a toilet! If I fall, he can brace me enough that I can get back up. This is an incredible dog. He will enrich our lives so much.

Monday, I begin 30 hours of required training with Monty and his trainer. After that, he will come home to live with us. It will be lots of work, and I can't wait to get started!!

I have a tibetan spaniel, he started out as a pet...but my partner noticed that for about 30 min before I have a seizure, the dog goes really weird, he wont leave me alone until I sit down and then he sits by by feet, just looking at me...he whimper s a few times...

If my partner is not in eyeshot, he howls when the siezure hits and doesnt stop until my partner gets to where I am; My partner has used the e-diary to document it all...it is amazing how an animal can percieve changes in a person when they are not trained to do so...

Now he looks after me too...and because at present I am siezing 3 or more times a day, he is a total treasure to me...I am grateful.

I've had my current service dog, Cole, for eight years. He's nearing retirement.

I have a traumatic brain injury with co-morbid mental illness, including depression and PTSD. He can predict my complex partial seizures, helps with balance issues, and does guiding when I am disoriented among other things.

He's a German Shepherd, my favorite breed. Actually, he's WHY German Shepherds are my favorite breed.

I just found this community, and then discovered the service dog section! I look forward to spending lots of time here

I am in the process of getting a puppy to train as my future service dog.

I was diagnosed with a vestibular disorder in 2004. My condition has recently progressed to probable PPMS. My future service dog will primarily be my mobility assistant.

My puppy will be a Borzoi (aka Russian Wolfhound).
Not sure yet, haven't met him. But I already love him

I have been gone from the forum for a long time, but get updates on this forum, so I finally decided to drop by and see how things were....

I just gave a long detailed description of my psychiatric service dog and my experiences with her in gaining public access to all places I need her to be with me up in the sticky at the very top of the forum topics here...

Teri