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

I've had my SD for 8 yrs and I know time is getting closer to retiring him. I have another that I am training to be ready for the actual testing and registering. He actually picks up on things real quick from watching my SD working. I have aggressive m.s, epilepsy, narcolepsy, and heart problems.

would medicaid approve it, I have Parkinson's Disease, I am 39 years old -
for the last 4 years...
I live alone and I know nothing about the program?
however, I am very interested...

YOU CAN HAVE A SERVICE DOG IT NEEDS ALL BASIC TRAINING FIRST AND BE TRAINED TO DO THREE TASK FOR YOU. YOU CAN SELF-TRAIN YOUR OWN DOG.

I WOULD RECOMMAND THAT YOUR SERVICE DOG HAS VEST AND PATCHES ON WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC SO PEOPLE WILL NOT BUG YOU ALL THE TIME ASKING IF IT IS A TRAINED SERVICE DOG

ADA SAYS ANY BREED OF DOG CAN GO OUT IN PUBLIC IF THERE DOG IS TRAINING TO DO A TASKS FOR YOUR DISABILITY ONLY!!!

ADI BELIEVES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN ANIMAL AND AN INDIVIDUAL, STANDS ALONE, IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE AN ANIMAL TO BE REGARED AS A SERVICE ANIMAL. IF AN INDIVIDUAL, WITH A MENTAL, EMOTIONAL OR PHYSIOLOGICAL DISABILITY WANTS ACCESS RIGHTS WITH ANIMAL AS AN ACCOMODATION, THIS ANIMAL MUST BE TRAINED AS REQUIRED BY THE DEFINITION OF A SERVICE ANIMAL PUBLISHED IN THE CFR IN OCTOBER 1991 BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

MAKE SURE YOUR SERVICE DOG CAN RING THE BELL ON DOOR KNOB SO YOU WILL KNOW IT NEED TO GO OUT SIDE.

ALSO MUST KNOW HOW TO ALERT YOU TO A SMOKE ALARM, AND A POT BOILING OVER ON A STOVE. THIS JUST IS NOT A TASK FOR HEARING DOGS ALL SERVICE DOGS MUST KNOW THIS.

I have had a service dog for 5 yrs. My first dog retired last yr and I've had my current dog for a little over a year. She isn't done training yet. She is a 19 month old german shepherd. She still has a lot of maturing to do before she's done training. She is very well bonded to me. She tends to be a velco dog but doesn't have bad separation anxiety. However if given a choice she'd rather follow me around but it ok being away from me. I do get one heck of a greeting if I've been away from her for too long. Having a german shepherd does have it's benefits as people are less likely to bother you. People tend to part and get out of your way in a crowd. She is the sweetest thing but I feel safe with her in not so great places because I know that if we are threatened, she will at least bluff with a hail of barking. I am working on making her ready to pass the CGC and hopefully eventually for the obedience ring.

I'm also training a 5 month old std poodle puppy but she is a long way off from being considered a service dog.

I have had my service dog for about 2 years now. He is a full service dog that does all wheelchair monuvers, mobility assist, and medical alert. He knows 110 commands and can dog it all pretty much. He has saved my life twice and my husbands once. He has just turned 3 years old in Dec. 2007 and he has been with me since he was 9 months old. I've known him since he was 6 weeks old. He was my friends daughters dog. They moved into my basement when he was about 4 months old and he medical alerted me when he was only 9 months of age so she gave him to me. He has been my partner at all levels. I could not function with out him. His name is Hoss I love him dearly and my husband is a wonderful man that wants to make life easier for all with service dog partners. Always give your service dog a hug and kiss and be sure to praise praise praise and they will do anything for you. Better go it is getting very late. Enjoy your service dog, I know I will enjoy mine.