Service Dog (Assistance Dog): Advice, input, sources needed

[Julee]

It's sort of against the ADA to use a PPD as a SD, but now isn't the time for that discussion.

I don't get that vibe from Shannon's posts, and I'm sorry you do. I think a strong passion for the laws and ethics that protect SD teams combined with a disability that can impair conveying the message you want to get across in the way you intend can lead to it appearing that way. The large influx of people getting dogs, training them improperly, and then calling them SDs and suddenly "developing" every disease and disorder in the book aids in fueling the desire to make newcomers understand that this isn't something to mess around with. It's serious business. The choices you make with your dog when you go out in public has the potential to affect every handler's life. I would rather caution people against it and it's downfalls strongly than have them jump into it and mess it up for everyone (NOT saying that is what the OP is doing!)

 

[Miakoda]

Julee, Cole currently attends public school, so the time he is at school would be down time/training time/fun time for the dog, as I am currently a SAHM.

Mornings and evenings and weekend days (depending on what we do, if anything) would be work time.

And fwiw, Cole does NOT have autism. I've stated his diagnoses and "issues" above, but he's a rather complicated case due to being a mixture of "born with it" and "acquired it through illness/injury".

Again, I know and thoroughly understand the detrimental downfall caused by someone who just wants to bring FooFoo to Walmart so she claims it's a SD. I am NOT that person! Hell, we already have a 10year-old APBT that is a "friend" to my boys. If that's all I wanted, I wouldn't be here looking to drop thousands of dollars and thousands of training hours into a SD. Just because I don't have the disability doesn't mean I don't get it.

 

[Julee]

I don't know why I thought the title of the thread said autism, I suck at reading.

Sounds like an excellent situation as far as working time vs down time to me! To clarify, the dog would be working only at home and in public, then? Not at school?

 

[Miakoda]

I don't know why I thought the title of the thread said autism, I suck at reading.

Sounds like an excellent situation as far as working time vs down time to me! To clarify, the dog would be working only at home and in public, then? Not at school?

Correct.

There may come a day (especially with Common Core at the helm) when I pull him from public school and put him into a co-OP and continue with homeschooling. If/when that day happens, the schedule would change to days with evenings off. But I have always given my dogs their down time, including time in a kennel in a quiet room with a nice treat so as to be away from the noises and hustle and bustle of 3 boys. Heck, they go to bed at 7:30 pm because I myself need downtime before bed! LOL. Stress does neither child nor animal any good.

 

[Julee]

Correct.

There may come a day (especially with Common Core at the helm) when I pull him from public school and put him into a co-OP and continue with homeschooling. If/when that day happens, the schedule would change to days with evenings off. But I have always given my dogs their down time, including time in a kennel in a quiet room with a nice treat so as to be away from the noises and hustle and bustle of 3 boys. Heck, they go to bed at 7:30 pm because I myself need downtime before bed! LOL. Stress does neither child nor animal any good.

Good deal! I think you're setting yourself up for success with that plan.

 

[Red Chrome]

There are more people than a select few on Chaz that are capable of handling SDs. Miakoda posted intending on getting advice and while she did, she also got a very rough response from someone. It's frustrating to see people who could help others judge them and be rude instead. I'm walking away now.

Hopefully you find a good place for more info, Mia.

 

[Miakoda]

There are more people than a select few on Chaz that are capable of handling SDs. Miakoda posted intending on getting advice and while she did, she also got a very rough response from someone. It's frustrating to see people who could help others judge them and be rude instead. I'm walking away now.

Hopefully you find a good place for more info, Mia.

I've actually obtained some good advice from this thread, including pm's, so I'm not upset at all.

 

[Julee]

I am not talking of Chazzers specifically.

Again, it was a miscommunication, I don't see the need to keep dragging it out and making it something it's not.

 

[SizzleDog]

I don't get that vibe from Shannon's posts, and I'm sorry you do. I think a strong passion for the laws and ethics that protect SD teams combined with a disability that can impair conveying the message you want to get across in the way you intend can lead to it appearing that way. The large influx of people getting dogs, training them improperly, and then calling them SDs and suddenly "developing" every disease and disorder in the book aids in fueling the desire to make newcomers understand that this isn't something to mess around with. It's serious business. The choices you make with your dog when you go out in public has the potential to affect every handler's life. I would rather caution people against it and it's downfalls strongly than have them jump into it and mess it up for everyone (NOT saying that is what the OP is doing!)

I 1000% agree. In defense of Shannon, she absolutely does not think she's the only one that deserves a service dog. She's passionate about the laws, and rightly so. If someone approaches her about her thoughts on using a SD in a particular situation, she is more than supportive.

Just me $0.02, speaking as someone with firsthand experience with Shannon and SD discussions.

 

[Whisper]

I haven't stepped into this conversation even though I have experience training my service dog because you were getting such good advice and I didn't see if I could share anything helpful you weren't getting already.

But I do have to say this-

I don't get that vibe from Shannon's posts, and I'm sorry you do. I think a strong passion for the laws and ethics that protect SD teams combined with a disability that can impair conveying the message you want to get across in the way you intend can lead to it appearing that way. The large influx of people getting dogs, training them improperly, and then calling them SDs and suddenly "developing" every disease and disorder in the book aids in fueling the desire to make newcomers understand that this isn't something to mess around with. It's serious business. The choices you make with your dog when you go out in public has the potential to affect every handler's life. I would rather caution people against it and it's downfalls strongly than have them jump into it and mess it up for everyone (NOT saying that is what the OP is doing!)

I agree. The first conversation I ever had with her was about service dogs and I never felt like she was talking to me from that viewpoint. She's extremely passionate about people breaking the laws and what is and is not a service dog because it effects her and effects us all as handlers.
I don't want to contribute to a ****storm, I just think people are being too harsh about what Shannon believes when she's never said anything of the sort.

Mia, I can see you're being very careful and thoughtful, and you have a great plan. I wish you the absolute best with Cole. And Blanket.

 

[noludoru]

There are more people than a select few on Chaz that are capable of handling SDs. Miakoda posted intending on getting advice and while she did, she also got a very rough response from someone. It's frustrating to see people who could help others judge them and be rude instead. I'm walking away now.

Hopefully you find a good place for more info, Mia.

Just drop it already. Miscommunication. We've been over it. Mia is one HELL of a tough cookie after everything she's been through, and she's already moved on from it.

Mia, good luck with this. I feel awful because I've 'known' you for years on Chaz and had no idea about Cole's issues until now. (((((HUGS)))))

 

[Dogdragoness]

Calm down here. I'm trying to work with you, but you're REFUSING to take into account that I know more than you are assuming I know.

I'm his MOTHER. I've had him for 7 1/2 years. He's been in therapy since he was 6 months old. I, with the advice and support of therapists and doctors, have tried a multitude of different techniques, therapies, devices, aids, etc. Cole has made miraculous strides, and NO ONE expected him to be where he is today. He's not just alive, but he's growing and maturing and learning and living!

Yet you assume I've sat on my a-double s all these years and have done nothing. You assume I just think puppies are cute and wouldn't I think it's cute to get Cole a service dog. NOTHING about this is "cute".

You have NO IDEA who I am, my experience in the special needs world, and what my life has been like as the mother of a special needs child.

I know you are the one with special needs, and I can actually learn from your outlook and experience. However, instead of choosing to share it and offer help to help others with special needs, you sit back and attack others. Would you care to know that my mother was an Adaptive P.E. (Special Ed.) for 19 years? Did you know that I was raised working every single Special Olympics even for more than 10 years of my life in addition to going to work with her and observing & helping out with her students? Did you know that not only do I have a degree in Exercise Physiology, but am also certified in Special Education/Adaptive P.E. should I choose to ever go into education? Did you know that I worked 2 years in pediatrics with children with a wide variety of disabilities/special needs? And I have a special needs child of my very own!

You're refusing to accept that I could possibly know anything about treatments, much less have actually employed the use of any of them.

For your information, we never got Cole a weighted blanket because he HATED and would NOT tolerate a weighted vest whatsoever. The only reason we are just now getting a blanket is because I've found someone local that makes them, and she will customize the size/weight. I'm not an Etsy person, therefore my experience with weighted blankets comes from the standard catalogs, and the didn't have exactly what we were looking for.

I'm very well aware that this dog will take 2 years to be "ready", but IMO it's perfect timing, putting Cole at 10-years-old.

You say you've benefited so much because of your dog, well then how is it you do not wish the same for others? I find that sad. Extremely sad.

You are free to comment or not comment. It's your choice. I've tried to be very patient and explain things in a way that may come across as easier for you to understand the point I'm trying to get across. But obviously the only thing you have to say is that you are on the only person qualified to have a SD. I'll make sure to pass that along to my good friend, whose son was born at 23 weeks, has CP, and was looking into a SD of his own.

I wish you well. Take care.

I actually had to CATCH an autistic child that ran out of a walmart I was walking into because he was going to run right into traffic! His mother was very thankful ... I was afraid that she would have been upset with me it she actually shook my hand and thanked me.

God bless you for being so strong! And I want PICS of the pup in the pic thread when you get him

 

[Miakoda]

I actually had to CATCH an autistic child that ran out of a walmart I was walking into because he was going to run right into traffic! His mother was very thankful ... I was afraid that she would have been upset with me it she actually shook my hand and thanked me.

God bless you for being so strong! And I want PICS of the pup in the pic thread when you get him

Yes, bolting is a common problem, and contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with a parent being lazy or not paying attention. It is especially hard to manage when said parent has other children, too.

Thank you for catching the child!

Cole doesn't bolt anymore, but rather will just be in his own world and drift off quite quickly. I give lots of verbal cues for him to "remember...we're in a parking lot" or "remember to stay close to me...we're in a store, stay close..." I try to not just give a verbal correction, but to help him work on his self-awareness. Which is something a dog can do/help out with IN ADDITION to the other techniques we employ.

And I'll definitely post pics. This dog will also be a family pet and friend to all 3 boys, so I'm sure there will be many hilarious pics to share. opcorn:

 

[Dogdragoness]

(Didn't quote because there would be too much text to scroll down on a phone lol)

I didn't even think if it was appropriate or not to grab him (I wasn't rough or anything, I just kind of wrapped him in a hug) I didn't even notice hat he was autistic until his mother told me he was ... Any kid can bolt and he was talking and interacting with his environment, his mother told me he as high functioning.

But yeah I know they have cross walks at walmart but no one even pays attention and he as so small no one would have seen him.

I look forward to seeing pics

I actually looked into a SD for my anxiety in public, but therepy did so well that it turned out I didn't need one. But I would try to make Josefina a SD ... She would be good at it

 

[ThreePs]

What tasks

I'm a new poster with a strong interest in SDs. I want to get this convo back on track so I can learn more.

So what tasks can the SD be trained to mitigate OP's son's disability?
Responding to seizures
Laying across legs when on the floor
...what else?

Can the dog help in the bolting scenario? I can't think of a task the dog can be trained to perform to help that. I can see the child being trained to hold the dog's harness. You only need one task to comply with the ADA requirement (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong), so the bolting/wandering task is not essential for public access but it sounds like that is something the OP really wants the dog to mitigate.

 

[DJEtzel]

ADA requires three tasks, not just one.

 

[Julee]

Uh, no. ADA requires one task, or work. ADI suggests three tasks.

 

[DJEtzel]

Uh, no. ADA requires one task, or work. ADI suggests three tasks.

Is this a new law? I know I've read ADAs law in the last year and it said three. It's always been three.

 

[Julee]

At no point in time has it said that, to my knowledge. Certainly not in the five years I've been handling.

http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

No number of tasks is mentioned.

 

[Julee]

"A service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability."

"Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."