Questions and Experiences
How will you ever give that dog up after it is trained?
I won't be giving my dog up. Freely is training to mitigate my disabilities. It's okay. Some people don't realize that people can train their own service dog. In the future you may notice that if a dog is not wearing a cape identified by a program, it may be being trained by the person with the disability or by a private trainer.
What is a Service Dog / Assistance Dog?
A Service Dog is individually trained to mitigate a person's disabilities.
How can I get an Assistance Dog?
A service/assistance dog may be obtained through a program or you may train your own service dog providing it is an appropriate candidate for service work. It is important to first be aware if you have a disability under the guidelines of the ADA. If you'd like to talk more about this, I'd be happy to talk with you when we have more time.
Why do YOU need a Service Dog? YOU don't look disabled?
Not all disabilities are visible. It may be personal to a person and they may not wish to share what their disability is. It would be equally as rude to ask a person in a wheelchair why they are using the wheelchair. Try to be considerate and respectful of people. If you are generally interested in Service Dogs, and if they wish to share, you may want to ask what kinds of ways their dog helps them. Remember, some people may or may not want to answer these types of questions. And sometimes a person may just be shopping and not have time!
You can't really train your own service dog, can you?
Sure you can!
What Program are you from?
We aren't from a program.
Can I pet your dog?
Generally speaking, no. Some people do allow this at some times.
ALWAYS ask first!
Sometimes we may ask if you want to help us train 'VISIT' for appropriate
visiting.
How long have you had vision problems?
Not all service/assistance dogs are guide dogs. We are often directed by verbal cues as to where items are because people assume me to be visually impaired. It took me a while to catch on to the fact that people thought Freely was a guide dog. Now I do try to take a second and educate a bit that she provides me with other assistance and that I am not visually impaired.
Common Statements People Make
There's a guide dog. LOOK! A dog! That dog can't be in here!
Dogs aren't allowed here.
Things People Do and Say That Help
Ask before petting
Explain to their children "that is a working/helper dog"
"we don't pet working/helper dogs"
Ask how they can help
Ask if training is hard
Say "excuse me" if they need to go around or?
Ask if I have time to answer a question
Your dog is beautiful and very well trained
Things People Do That Hinder
Talk to Freely or pet Freely without asking
Ask Freely's name and then start calling her by name across store
Yell to, Whistle at, Bark at Freely
Tell Freely "that's ok" if she is doing something I am
trying to redirect
Tell their children they can pet the dog
Talk to the dog and ignore the person
I've Never Heard of a Psychiatric Service Dog, what do they do?
Here are some examples of how Freely assists:
Reminding to take medications
Assisting when disoriented
Alerts to manic episodes
Assists during depression
Assists during mood swings
Interupts obsessive behaviors and thoughts
Emotional support
Provide a focus during a trigger (PTSD)
And much more!
Read more about Psychiatric Service Dogs at Psychiatric Service Dog Society
For Your Information:
Assistance/Service Dogs for people with Brain Disorders is now an acceptable term for Psychiatric Service Dogs