Boston Service Dog

A blog of my experiences being partnered with a medical response dog, and the adventures we'll have together.

[bostonservicedog]

My dog, Annie, is trained to stop me from self harm and she knows to do deep pressure therapy. Does this qualify her as a PSD or an SD?

It’s not really what your dog can do that qualifies whether or not she is legally considered a service dog. Rather, it’s if you qualify. Are you using these tasks on a regular basis? Without assistance, are you able to walk, talk, work, see, speak or breathe?

If all Sienna did for me was interrupt self harm and do DPT, she wouldn’t qualify as my service dog because, even though I do have a disability and even though I have had disabling bouts of depression as well, these tasks wouldn’t mitigate either of my conditions. However, yes, there are a number of people with psychological conditions that impair them in a way where these tasks would be necessary to live an independent life. Unfortunately, I am not a health care professional nor am I am specialist in any sort of medical or psych field, so I don’t really feel comfortable giving folks a “yes you qualify” or “no you don’t” answer just from reading an ask on tumblr. I can only point you towards the definition of disability and definition of service dog, both found on ADA.gov, and hope that helps you make your decision!

[bostonservicedog]

Hey! If you use a dremel what kind do you use?

We use the Oster Pet nail grinder! It works pretty well for us. :)

[bostonservicedog]

Hi there. I've been looking into service dogs for my mental disabilities. Is There any that can assist with Athsma? Like warn when an attack is coming ?

I’ve never heard of a dog predicting when an asthma attack is coming on. You would have to know what the catalyst of the attack is and then train the dog to signal when that catalyst is present, I suppose.

Certainly when I’m wheezing and reaching for my inhaler Sienna just sits there and sometimes lets out a snore. I can’t imagine needing a dog to help with asthma unless it was in itself disabling (long term attacks despite being treated, ER treatment needed frequently, attacks happening several times a week, etc)

I have often seen people use their dogs to retrieve their inhalers, which I can imagine being useful in some situations. But I don’t think it can be considered a task unless it was being used for someone who was mobility impaired. It would just be an extra perk.

[bostonservicedog]

Hi there! Since you don't need any "paperwork" when beginning to train a SD, how do you deal with businesses that are demanding that you show them documentation of your animal being a service dog? Has this happened to you?

It happens now and again. There are a couple options I like to go through. Some people swear by carrying copies of the law, or even little cards with the law on them. For some reason I’m always caught without those, but they’re good to have something to point to if you’re worried you won’t be able to speak your point across.

In the situations where this has happened to me, I usually explain that my dog is very clearly a service dog and is identified as such. I explain that she’s behaving and acting like a service dog. And then I explain that asking for identification is against the law and if they insist upon it, I will have to contact the police!

I should mention that the ADA doesn’t include dogs in training. In these situations, you can possibly be asked for documentation based on whatever the state laws are regarding service dogs in training. Some state laws only allow trainers from programs to train in public, others require specific vest colors, etc. In these situations, if your state gives an owner trainer the right to train their own dog in public, I would just consider printing out a copy of the state law and presenting it if you get into trouble.

[bostonservicedog]

I was reading your answers and I noticed you don't think PSDs are service animals. Do you really think that? I have a service dog because I struggle with bipolar and it affects my daily life. My PSD helps me tremendously.

No I….don’t think that. I don’t know which answer you were reading so I can’t say if maybe my wording was confusing or if you just misread something, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never said that. What I know I have said is that service dogs, whether they’re for psych conditions or not, need to be trained to perform physical tasks in order to meet the legal definition of “service dog” in the USA. A physical task for a psych condition may include deep pressure therapy, alerting to an oncoming panic attack, leading a person to an exit or away from a stressful situation, retrieving medication, or interrupting self harming behavior.

Many of the questions I answer on this tumblr are in regards to psychiatric service dogs. If I didn’t think they were real service dogs, why would I be answering questions as if they were?

[bostonservicedog]

do you know anything about starting a SD training program? the world is in desperate need of a program that trains for adult autistics(there are none that are ethical/legit right now) and i'd really like to train dogs for other autistics once i train my own but??? the entire process is a mystery(not the training my dog; the program part)

Unfortunately I don’t know anything about how to start a program! As far as becoming a SD trainer, I figure it’s much like becoming a trainer of “regular” dogs: apprenticing under more experienced trainers or finding a course at a school that specializes in dog training/behavior. Then it’s only a hop and jump to becoming a private trainer and specializing your services towards producing working dogs. As far as creating a business with multiple employees/several dogs in training at once/several clients…that’s not something I know much of anything about. I would consider contacting other small or start up SD programs to see if they could give you some advice! Some of the larger schools might be guarded about telling you their secrets, but the smaller places tend to be more open about that kind of information. I might even consider interning or volunteering at other programs so you can get a better handle on the different facets of the industry while asking around about how to start one of your own.

[bostonservicedog]

Hello! I have a service dog in training and she is for PTSD and hearing. I suffer from a variety of things where she is being trained to respond to different situations and emergencies. She also is being trained to alert me to some sounds and nosies especially people calling my name. I bought some patches and I don't feel comfortable disclosing to people what she is for so I was thinking of getting "medical response" but is that misrepresenting her? Is she considered medical response?

If you don’t feel comfortable telling people what your dog is for, I think it would just be better to forgo descriptive patches all together and just stick with “service dog”, rather than try to find one that might not be completely true or that might give people the wrong idea. I don’t have any patches on Sienna saying that she helps me with my diabetes. I prefer this because sometimes people have their own stereotypes about different conditions. Instead of saying “ugh, that dog is only for medical response, she doesn’t need a dog for that!” a person who may have a prejudice will be forced to acknowledge that my dog is a service dog for something, but will have to supply his own answer to what they think she might be for. Also there have been times I’ve actually told people “diabetes” only to have them instantly not take me and my dog seriously because of it. So instead of always having that information on my dog for everyone to see and react to, I only disclose it when I feel like the person isn’t going to use my diagnosis against me.

I don’t really consider PSDs as medical response dogs, but I know there are some people who do. Medical response might be vague enough to not give people the wrong idea, but I feel like it’d be akin to me putting “mobility dog” or “guide dog” on Sienna. It’s true that Sienna guides and offers balance support, but if I have a dog that says “guide dog” and something happens to me, hospitals or police might assume I’m visually impaired. When they find out I’m not, there might be some resentment. So I prefer to keep things as vague as possible and, in the event someone needs to know more about my dog, I tell them, rather than let them try to splice it out from patches that may not be able to explain the whole story.

[bostonservicedog]

Does Sienna wear paw balm in the winter if she isn't wearing her dog boots? Does she ever have a haircut or go to the groomers?

I’ve never used paw balm on Sienna- I have a feeling she would just lick the stuff off or it would create some kind of a mess. From her expressions when she’s gotten gum or muck stuck to  her paw, I imagine she wouldn’t be happy with waxy goo feet! She gets her feet cleaned in warm water and dried if she’s been out in the snow and grit without her boots, though.

No grooming visits for us, I’ve always washed Sienna in my bathtub with a hose attachment every two weeks. This is because a.) I’m cheap b.) I do a pretty good job of getting her clean myself and c.) it’s a long time to be away from my dog, especially since I can usually wash Sienna in half an hour right before bed and then she dries overnight, as opposed to taking her to the groomer in the morning and leaving her there half the day while I’m stuck without my helper.

As for haircuts, she doesn’t get regular haircuts. I’ll trim the hair on her feet about once a month, though!

[bostonservicedog]

I work in a retail store and my service dog is in training for several more months before we will meet. I haven't told my manager about the dog yet because I don't have exact dates. should I quit because it would be hard to have a dog work retail? should I ask my managers and see what they say?

Definitely go in to your managers for a chat. I would only quit if you really hated the job! I know plenty of people who work in retail with their service dogs. Depending what kind of retail it is, some people are given a safe place for their dogs behind a counter or in a corner of a store. Others just keep their dog on an over the shoulder leash and make sure they’re heeling well as they move about their stores. Some businesses are better about this than others, but they can’t really say no to you unless it was an unreasonable request because of the nature of the business (which is rarely the case for retail, but they could say no if you were say, a chef at a restaurant because you’d be preparing food)

You should talk to your managers about it. If there’s any sort of human resources department, I’d talk to them first. I say “talk to” and not “ask” because it would behoove you to approach this like “I’m getting a service dog in a couple of months to assist me with my medical condition, I need your approval to utilize him in the workplace” as opposed to “May I bring my service dog to work?”

When you do go in to talk to them, it would help if you had an idea in your head of where the dog would be during your duties and how you plan to handle bathroom breaks, grooming, etc. For instance, when I talked to HR about Sienna, I mentioned that she’d spend most of her time under my desk. If you’re at a counter most of the day, explain that the dog would remain there, or how the dog would always be attached to you on a short leash. Explain that the dog is well trained and only uses the bathroom on command, which you would make sure happened only on your appointed breaks. If they’re worried about fur or customers with allergies, explain that you are planning on frequent grooming and can, if it becomes a problem, order special hypoallergenic shampoos or use a bodysuit on the dog if it was deemed necessary.

So, I’d think on those things for a while. If you’re really unsure of how you’d handle the dog during certain events in your store, it’s then I’d consider a different job or waiting on the dog. The main thing about going in to talk about a SD at work is that you should be the authority on how you’re planning on working your dog before you begin that chat. Something that might help is to play a game of “invisible dog” while at work. Imagine having a dog heeling next to you for an entire day, and visualize where you’ll put the dog when encountering different locations/experiences. That way, when you go in to talk to your managers and they say “well what are you going to do with the dog while stocking merchandise?” You can reply with “the dog will be tethered to me, and tucked between me and the shelf so people can walk by easily!” Seeing that you are confident about being able to handle the dog in the workplace will make them more reassured and they’ll be less likely to give you a hard time about the request.

[bostonservicedog]

I feel like I am in need of a PSD with my anxiety and depression. However, I have seen my psychiatrist and they said I need to wait 6 months before I can get a letter for approval. I really don't think I can wait that long, and meds and therapy are

(Pt 2) not helping. I feel like I would be much better off with a service dog but the waiting is what is making me worry. Is there a way to speed up the process?

———

So, I hate to be the bad guy here but….service dogs take a long, long time to get! There’s really not a fast way to get a service dog, nor should it ever be rushed in any way. They’re not band-aids or really, a form of treatment. They’re technically assistive devices like a cane or an insulin pump, which can help mitigate disabilities or make things a little easier through the tasks they can be trained to perform, but they won’t cure you nor will they make everything instantly better just by being there.

It takes about a year and a half to two years on average to train up a service dog. If you were planning on going through a program, you would likely be on their waiting list for far longer than 6 months. More like at least a year, and closer to two years. (I’ve seen some guide schools place dogs in a few months, but these are well funded longstanding schools who have been cornerstones of the industry for decades). If you were planning on training your own dog, it would still take that amount of time to find the right dog and train, and that’s if nothing goes wrong! (A lot of owner trainers, myself included, start with a puppy and a lot of hopes and expectations, only to have to retire it halfway through training and start again completely from the beginning for one reason or another. That’s why it took me three years to get Sienna, from the day I first decided “service dog” to the day her leash was placed in my hands!)

Even if you got a fully trained working dog tomorrow, it would still be another 6 months before you’d be a real solid working team, getting the full benefit from the dog’s training. Some programs won’t even consider you one of their fully trained teams until you complete another evaluation 6 months after placement. Sienna didn’t even belong to me for those first six months, she still belonged to the program. But during those first few months the dog can possibly make you feel more anxious because it’s suddenly acting up or doing something strange, or more depressed because it’s not that instant cure all you thought it would be. That’s something else to consider.

Here’s the upside though, you don’t need any note from your doctor to begin training a service dog or to have a service dog in public. If you wanna pick out a dog and start training, you can go right ahead, no one’s gonna stop you. There are three reasons you might need a doctor’s note to go along with your PSD: if you’re living in no pet housing, if you want to take a flight with the dog, or if you want the dog to accompany you at your place of employment. If you were planning on going through a program to get your dog then, yes, you would also need a note as proof that you qualify for one of their dogs. In that case it’s possible you could persuade your doc to give you the note early in order to get on the program’s waiting list sooner, and then you’d re-evaluate with your doc when your turn on the list came up in a year or so.

So, I don’t know what else to tell you. It sounds like your gonna have to wait a little bit no matter what you decide to do or what your living situation is. Even if you got that note tomorrow, there would still be a wait. If you’re feeling really desperate, I can suggest you use that energy to begin studying and preparing for your future dog: Visit breeders and shelters, volunteer at dog rescues so you can spend time with dogs. Offer to dog walk or pet sit for a friend in order to get that dog fix. Do more research on training methods, different SD programs or whether you wanna train your own dog. Sometimes just having that anticipation towards getting the dog in the future can help with some of the depression, at least in the short term.

Good luck!

[bostonservicedog]

I live in a very rural area (North eastern Vermont) and am a bit worried about any confrontations I may run into with people once I get my SD. It's a very tight knit community and I'm worried about toxic rumors spreading. Any advice?

You could try to get ahead of any negative rumors by starting to spread good rumors, if that makes any sense….Basically when I started working at my office I knew I was going to get my dog a few months down the road so I casually mentioned my condition, stuff about the dog, the difference between service dogs and esas, all sorts of stuff. I just dropped it into a bunch of conversations whenever it felt appropriate. By the time I got my dog most people knew a.) I needed it for a medical thing and b.) what most of the rules/etiquette were about it.

I was at a bit of an advantage here because at the end of the day I got to send an email saying “hay remember don’t touch the dog!” and you’re dealing with a bit of a more widespread community than a little office, but I think it might help a little. That way, even if you had a confrontation with someone about access who didn’t get exposed to your good rumors, you might get the aid or benefit of the doubt from someone else in the store or restaurant who was.

Another thing you might wanna do is let your local police and any of the stores/places you visit frequently know that you’re about to get this dog and (vaguely) why. You could even put together a little info sheet if you’d like and hand it out. That way you get a little info under their belts so they don’t instantly jump to wrong conclusions about your dog.

Hope that helps!

[bostonservicedog]

what program did you get Sienna from?

Sienna is from CARES, Inc in Concordia Kansas! You can find contact info at www.caresks.com

[bostonservicedog]

hi! i was wondering why you use a guide harness for Sienna instead of just a vest or a mobility harness?

That’s because the work Sienna does for me is closer to guide work than it is to true mobility. While Si does know a brace command to help me up from the floor in case I cannot get up on my own, there’s no reason for her to wear a big mobility harness since I never need to brace against Sienna while standing (which is what those straight up and down handled harnesses seem mainly good for).

At the same time, she doesn’t just wear a vest because some of her commands require me to hold on to a handle: counterbalance and momentum pull. The guide handle I have on Sienna (in fact it’s actually too short to be a handle for a true  guide dog team) I use when Sienna needs to walk ahead of me and basically apply pressure so that I can still walk and navigate despite being weak, dizzy and unable to think and comprehend street signs, directions and obstacles.

[bostonservicedog]

Some fancy pics of Sienna (and a bonus Aidan, of course!)

We’ve been doing well. I’m catching up on asks this week, especially now that I’m out for Thanksgiving break. Si and I have started walking to work on the days we go in and she’s been lovely about the walk, though we did used to pride ourselves on our keen subway riding skillz! (We still take the train on some days! But I guess avoiding all of my favorite subway characters like guys spilling rum all over Si or religious zealots trying to “cure my vision” isn’t all that bad!) I’ve been taking more pics and spending more time on instagram lately because it’s been an easier platform for quicker entries throughout the day. I’m trying to improve my photography skills! So all of these were up on insta so if you follow me there too, this might be a bit of a repeat!

We’ve got a few trips upcoming, one for Thanksgiving and then another couple around the winter break. Hopefully all will go well and I’ll keep you updated!

[bostonservicedog]

Hi there! I love your blog, and you always seem so knowledgeable so I was wondering if you know of any bloggers, or maybe your followers do who are in the know about Canadian service dog laws? My doctor suggested a mobility assistance dog but any information I have found suggests it must come from an organization and can't be self trained? Thanks!!

I don’t know anyone personally. Followers, can anyone help Anon out?

[bostonservicedog]

So I have A psychiatric service dog who I also want to train for mobility.. Even if I don't have a diagnosed mobility disability(yet) would she still be considered a mobility service dog as well as a psychiatric?

If you have a mobility disability as described by the ADA, then yes I think she would be considered a mobility service dog. What I mean by that is: the ADA definition of disability is written in a way that includes those disabilities that have yet to be diagnosed, but are still disabling to the individual. So if you’re currently unable to walk or stand without assistance, and you’re planning on having that dog to assist you with that, then yes, it’d still be considered a mobility dog even without a diagnosis from a doctor.

However if you’re planning on training mobility tasks into a dog psych dog but do not currently have any difficulty walking or standing or mobilizing, if you will, then they’d just be extra perks, and your dog wouldn’t be considered a mobility dog.

[bostonservicedog]

My service dog gets placed with me in two weeks, do you have tips for new teams? What about tips on gear? I'm in high school and although we've cleared it with my school, other students are very intrusive about my future dog. Do you have any tips for dealing with jerks?

You probably have your dog by now because I’ve been just epically slow at answering asks lately. Sorry! But I’m mostly just going to repeat what I said for the last ask, since it was similar: my biggest advice for new teams is to just give it time and take it slow bonding with your new partner. Don’t worry so much if you’re not a perfect team or if your dog does something crazy once or twice, it’s not gonna be the end of the world.

Gear for your dog is pretty personal based on what you’re most comfortable with and what the dog is comfortable with. Finding the right gear for your dog can take a little while and you might try something out thinking it’ll be the best piece of gear just to realize it doesn’t work for your team! As for vest colors, collars and leashes and all that…I leave it up to you. If you want your dog in all pink gear, go for it. Just make sure it’s all well cleaned and maintained and you shouldn’t have any problems. I’d be more apt to trust a well groomed dog in clean, well maintained pink polka dot gear than a dog in a scruddy red vest that’s never been washed, honestly.

As for jerks! Best thing to do is not engage, and just keep your head up. You don’t owe anyone your life’s story of explanations. If someone keeps asking me what my dog does for me, and they’re being rude about it, I tend to just get more and more vague with each time they ask! Eventually they realize they’re being annoying and cut it out. If someone’s asking me nicely, I’ll usually answer and let them know what Sienna does, or at least an abbreviated version. But if you’re not comfortable sharing what your dog does for you, you are under no obligation to tell them.

Before I got Sienna there was a lot of talk about it at my work, how everyone wanted to know when they’d be able to pet her and where would she sleep, etc etc. All of that speculation was fine, but I was very very clear about no touching/engaging with her when I first brought her in. Because I was so clear about the rules in the beginning, my office is one of my safe places where I don’t worry about people acting weird around Si! I think you’ll find that invasive people and jerks might be really interested in the dog now, but they’ll cool down once they get used to him and then they’ll be better about ignoring.