so. Might be getting a service dog prospect puppy?
i know what i said for literally all the other angsty vent posts. But i think i can do it. I'm scared as all heck. There are so many unknowns.
All the advice online is like 'to get a service dog you need a disability' and 'you should consider a purebreed because it has a higher likelihood of guarenteed temperament and skills.' And i'm over here like hello very chronically ill, i've picked out a breeder that not only breeds for desirable assistance dog traits but raises and socialises with assistance work in mind. And she helped me pick a specific puppy who's personality would best fit my needs and situation.
the problem is not knowing if i can do it. I've been practicing. Leaving the house twice a day every day for the last week and waking up at 9:30am (instead of past midday). There's a quiz for what dog breed suits you best but where is the quiz for 'do i have the physical and mental capacity for this?' And 'will it benefit my life more than it hinders?' And 'are the sacrifices worth it?' Being an autonomous being with decisions is horrible (not serious). It was easier when it was an impossibility not a decision I had to actually make.
would very much welcome some advice. The plan is to owner train with an assistance dog specific dog training organisation. The puppy is a purpose bred retriever mix who I've met. Should I wait? Am I sacrificing too much for something I don't need and isn't guarenteed to work? /rhetorical. The one week I email my therapist between sessions is the one where she's on leave. Hhhh. Guess we're doing this the autistic way and writing out lists tomorrow.
puppy tax:
[ID: a black, curly haired retriever puppy with a green collar lying in the grass. In one photo he is beside a pair of crutches and in the other he is chewing on a bone. /end ID]
His name is currently Pheobus. The breeder chose him as one of three prospects for me because he is resilient and less energetic than his siblings so he is less likely to get under my feet and tire me out. When i met him he indeed didn't try to trip me up and calmly investigated me and my crutches. He would run off to play before coming back to sit specifically behind me while remaining in physical contact. I fear I love him already which is making this decision more difficult.
