Just A Girl and Her Service Dog: Training For Our Future

“Animals keep you company when you’re really lonely. It helps because when you have a friend around who always likes you no matter what – it’s harder to feel bad or down.” – Aaron Carter

The domestication of wolves changed the course of human history for the better. Since the first wolves developed a companionship with humans thousands and thousands of years ago, dogs have become our protectors, hunting buddies, a form of transportation, supply carriers, and man’s best friend. Although service dogs are gaining more attention and popularity, this isn’t a new concept. The history of service dogs dates back as early as the first century A.D.

Seeing-eye dogs are the first branch of service dogs, with evidence showing them in European wood carvings in the first century A.D. and Chinese scrolls from the Middle Ages. In the 1750s France, a Paris Hospital for the Blind started the earliest systematic instruction of guide dogs. Service dogs were not legally recognized until the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. Since then, these well-trained, loving animals have assisted people with a wide range of physical, psychiatric, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. For a dog to qualify as a service dog they must meet a set of requirements set by the ADA.

According to the ADA, service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. It is not legal for someone with a service dog to be asked to leave the premises if someone is either allergic or has a fear of dogs. A service dog can be asked to leave if the dog is not under control by the handler, not on some kind of leash (unless unable due to disability), or the dog cannot perform an effective task. Some people do choose to have emotional support animals with them, which should not be mistaken for service dogs. Due to reasons I will discuss in another blog a few weeks from now, emotional support animals do not have the same access and can be turned away from places where service dogs are accepted like hospitals, businesses, state and local buildings, and nonprofits. When I decided to pursue having a service dog, I wanted to make sure I got the proper training for my safety and the safety of my future service dog and others.

When I was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD) and Bipolar, I spent more time with my two dogs. We rescued them eight years ago, one at 6 weeks (Xena)  and the other was 3 years old (Sirius). Though Xena has the perfect temperament to become a service dog, she is physically unable because she has had two knee injuries. Sirius is a great dog, but he is very reactive towards other dogs when we go out. The other factor that played into my decision of not choosing to train them, is they are both older dogs. They would be at the age of retirement by the time I finished with all of the training. So when I got the call from my mom of an opportunity for a Labrador Retriever puppy, I jumped at the chance to get him. 

As we got more information about the litter of puppies, I was able to work with the Breeder to make sure that the puppy I would be getting would be the right fit for his future job as a PTSD Service Dog. She made sure to socialize them as much as she could, and he was completely crate-trained by the time I got him. After weeks of anticipation, I brought Reginald Dobby of the Clifford House Elves (Dobby) home on the 4th of July weekend. 

After bringing Dobby home and making sure he had a schedule for all his vaccines, I got in contact with a certified Service Dog Trainer. Even though we agreed to allow him time to get settled in and get all the proper vaccines before training, she gave me information on socializing techniques that I could work on before starting the basic obedience training. 

When Dobby turned 6 months old, I signed him up for basic obedience classes to make sure that his foundational work was perfect. A service dog is useless if you don’t take the time to work on the basics like Sit, Lay Down, Stay, Come, and leash manners. This was also the time that my trainer was able to evaluate Dobby’s temperament and see if they would fit as a service dog. After completing the recommended obedience courses, my trainer and I spent the next couple of months working on the tasks that would make my life easier in the comfort of my home.

When it was time to finally take our training to the public, I would meet my trainer at local stores that were dog-friendly. Our main focus for these sessions was to make sure that Dobby was calm, focused on me, and able to perform the tasks that I asked of him. When I first started taking him out, the biggest problem that I ran into was that Dobby was too friendly. This doesn’t sound like a bad thing, but service dogs are expected to have full attention on their handler and ignore all external sources. It is my responsibility as Dobby’s handler to make sure I take his training seriously and make sure that he is under my full control in any scenario we come across. With time and a lot of practice, Dobby has come a long way and is on the path to becoming my full-time service dog.

The choice to train my service dog has been one of the best decisions of my life. It has built my confidence, built an unbreakable bond, and has given me a dependable support system that helps me deal with my anxiety and cPTSD. Over the last two and a half years I have spent countless hours working with Dobby making sure when we go in public, I know without a doubt he will be under my control and unphased by those who claim to have service dogs that lack the training. 

As someone who has benefited in so many ways with a service dog, others who may be interested must take the time to educate themselves and go through the proper steps. Not just any dog can become a service dog. But for those who are interested, there are a few different ways to make sure your dog is going to have the appropriate training. First, you can find a credible organization that trains the dogs and then pairs them with a compatible handler. This can be hard because the volume of people who need/want a service dog outweighs the amount of service dogs themselves. Second, you can send your dog to be trained at a professional training organization. This can be pricey depending on how long your dog has to be in training. Lastly, you can train your dog yourself, which is what I chose to do. If you do choose this route, I still recommend finding a professional trainer who works in the service dog industry. If you want to learn more about the history of service dogs and the regulations surrounding them, I have linked a few websites below that might help get you started.

I am lucky to have Dobby as my service dog. He continues to help me on my healing journey after years of unresolved trauma. Not dealing with the trauma in your life or maintaining your mental health can lead to long-term mental and physical effects. Come back next week as I discuss the long-term effects of unresolved trauma on the mind and body. Always remember, we all can rise from our ashes and soar.