Thinking About Getting A Service Dog?

General Benefits Of Service Dogs

A service dog can recognize medical and emotional challenges before you can. Your wellbeing, or the wellbeing of your child, is literally the dog's job. While you — as the parent of a type 1 diabetic with a service dog points out — can at times convince yourself that nothing is wrong, forget to check something, or even oversleep when medications need to be given, a service dog isn't going to be in that position. Not only will a service dog always put your needs first, even when you won't, they won't stop reminding you until you take action either. 

Though service dogs can attract a lot of attention while you are out and about in public places (including comments such as "why can't I bring my dog in?" and "what's wrong with you?"), their presence also takes the focus off you and onto the dog. No matter where you are, you will know that the dog is always there to comfort you. Service dogs can even, for instance, provide companionship to hospitalized children. 

Where And How Do I Get A Service Dog?

Numerous service dog agencies are available across the US and in many other countries. If you are in the United States and have been thinking about applying for a service dog, however, your first step should always be to check in with your healthcare providers to discuss whether you qualify for a service dog. Remember that the dog needs to perform actual "tasks" that you cannot do yourself, and that companionship and physical protection aren't considered tasks, even if they really are. 

A Word Of Caution

The above-mentioned parent of a diabetic child, in a blog post linked in the sources box below this article, does a great job at dispelling some myths about service dogs — making it clear, above all, that service dogs are not ordinary animals. 

When you get your service dog, you may believe that their training means that they are now and will forever, automatically be capable of performing the tasks for which you have them. This is not so. Service dogs require constant work, from training you do with them, to attending programs, to grooming, in order to make sure that they remain able to do their tasks and that they are clean enough to enter all the public spaces they are allowed into. Service dogs are working animals — they can't simply relax in the company of other dogs, and even their "leisure time" needs to be geared towards keeping them on task. 

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When you do approach a service dog agency about getting a dog, make sure to ask them as many questions as you can about the ongoing care aspect, and ensure that you fully understand what having a service dog involves. Once you do understand this and are ready to take a service canine on, they are truly amazing and may even save your life one day.