Does anybody have a service dog? I've read about mobity dogs for pwp. Do they help?

[goose63058]

[Beachdog]

My dog requires a lot of service...but thanks to her I get out on a long walk in the morning and weekends. I have to think it helps to get me moving in the morning and to stay active.

Not what you asked but I thought I chip in 2 cents worth anyway

[Susie01]

As above, I do not have a "service dog". I do have a dog that needs to be walked a couple of times a day. This forces me to walk even when I may not feel up to it. Somehow, as she pulls on the leash to speed up, it helps me balance. Lately, I have had muscle cramps in my lower legs when walking and have had to limp home, she keeps me moving.

[tlongmire]

I have a service dog that is being trained for me. Charlie was born November 2, 2011. I won't get him until around Christmas 2013, it takes about two years to train them. He will walk beside me and brace if either he or I think I am going to fall. He will also either lay on the floor or stand and brace if I'm on the ground so I'll be able to get up. They are also going to teach him to get the phone or my husband in case I fall when I'm alone or out of my husband's sight and hearing range. Google Paw Pals Assistance Dogs.

[Court]

I have two dogs, not service dogs but pets. who need exercising and are great companions. I had no idea you could get service dogs for people with Parkinsons and am really impressed. What a diffference they will make to people's lives. I have seen guide dogs and hearing dogs at work and they are fantastic. Just a shame that you have to wait so long to get one, even when you have been assigned one. The training must be very intensive, but well worth the wait.

[Hidden]

My grandmother died several years ago, but she had Parkinsons (not the main cause of her death) and I'm always interested in new updates to help others with the condition.

Services dogs may take a little more research to find training charities than blind or hearing service dogs, but I think personally dogs should be standard help for any condition they train them for because they companionship is great and lifts your spirits and also they can provide services the individual might struggle with.

However, I do feel a non-service dog can provide some benefits like support and comfort, even if it's not the full thing.

I hope this is helpful- I know it doesn't directly offer experience.

[Barb070]

Our dog is too"squirrely" for a walk, but every day she is obsessed with fetch the ball. I've got a special slingshot that takes her out pretty far. It's not much for me but it gets me outdoors every day and makes us both happy.

[StephCabo]

My Mom had PD and I had a dog that was a therapy dog. When my Mom started freezing we trained the dog to walk in between her legs, nudge her slightly and this usually helped to move. If not he would get help. He also brought her the phone and other small items. He was only 23 lbs but it worked out great. After she passed away he became my service dog as a medical alert dog for severe allergies and he sniffed out the things I was allergic too, ie peanut butter..

[Dennis]

I had a schutzhund trained service dog who served me well and probably saved my life more than one time. I had to put him down when he was 12.

Vet came to house and it was a long stressful process but the dog did a lot

of things for me including keeping my brain working as he was trained in German. My current service dog is 5 years old and she stays close to me and gives me comfort and acceptance. I do not get out with her much because of PD. If I fall or not well she will come to me and try to get me moving again.

Both GSD were great companions. This isn't answering your question but I hope it was worth your reading. ~~Dennis

[goose63058]

All of your help is appreciated, I expect a long wait , i hope it goes by quickly. Thank you again for all of you in put.

[gran5-]

well, not an easy Q to answer, there are issues and judgements. Let's see if I can be clear. In my community there are folks such as were described in one of the answers. Dogs who first live with "puppy raiser" then get basic skills training and finally have a training period with their new person.They often are labs or retrievers, of various colors and gentle dispositions. They are larger dogs, trainable and sweet They learn tasks which their person needs: picking dropped items, open doors etc Many of the people who get their dog thru these programs have some judgements about situations such as mine.

About 4 years ago, an idiot x-ray tech did not warn me about the head MRI he was about administer. He shoved 2 blocks under my chin, immobilizing me , then rammed into the machine. I tried to stay there but when the noise began I began screaming "get me the fuck outta here " . Net results:panic attacks and some claustrophobia. So "people like me" are covered by an aspect of the ADA (for the brits: Americans with Disablilities Act.) I got my dog reviewed and She has her own ID card. She wears a vest when working, I carry her ID and some cards that direct people with questions to the ADA which is how it should be handled, one does not have to educate others. We usually request the bulkhead row where there is a bit more leg room. Emotional support is her job. Anyone with QQQ i might be able to address can reach me on FB or PWPs or PLM. Good luck.

I have not been present on these blogs for a while, when I get my act more coordinated. I have been getting glutithiione infusions(random and inaccurate spelling) and seeing some positive results. interested? Google it ! gotta go

Joyce

[bunngalo]

paws4people.org/ Here is another service dog organization which my son's school did a fundraiser for last year. I saw on TV a Parkinsons patient who had a service dog that would step on his foot to get him moving if/when he froze. Honestly just the emotional support of a pet would benefit someone with Parkinsons or anyone. I am getting a puppy in two weeks for moral support for me as my mom's Parkinsons worsens. I am going to sneak it into her condo complex (which does not allow pets) to brighten her spirits (and mine)!

[Bobbi_Jean]

We have a Golden Retriever who is a certified therapy dog and he recently began helping my husband get out of his chair on his own, with no training. He just saw that he was having trouble getting up and went to his side and stood next to him and steadied him. Pretty remarkable! He is the best therapy dog ever & we visit Ronald McDonald House every Mon. to comfort the families who have kids at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Bobbi_Jean

[Ryan]

Hello Goose,

I personally don't have a service dog for PD. However a good friend of mine in Southern Ontario, has a black Labrador retriever, trained for service with Parkinson's. Pax, the dog's name was a valuable assistance to Ian for a number of years. He was able to assist him with freezing and getting up from falls. Please contact if you wish further information.

Ryan

[wifeofparky]

We have had Buddy for 8 years. While he is not a trained"service dog" he is hubby's constant companion. He forces him to get up to walk, feed and play with him. When hubby seems to be having trouble he will climb in his lap or push him to get him moving. It is amazing how helpful he can be while never being trained to do so.

[goose63058]

Thabnk you so much for your response. seems to me dogs are so in tune with their person they know when there's a problem.

[lethe]

I've always loved dogs but have never been able to get one because of working long hours. About 9 years ago I realized that this would probably be my last opportunity and I knew it might help me in a variety of ways, including motivation. I finally got one and it made a big difference. When I became sick my mother looked after my dog briefly, until my sister offered to, but after 3 months she said that her husband was having knee problems and they had to give my dog away. When I finally left the infirmary and moved into a new place I felt at a loss and had trouble establishing a routine without the dog. And I thought that, because of the steady and inevitable deterioration of physical skills and mobility, it was too late to get anither dog.

In August I changed Drs, getting one near where I live and associated with the place I'm living, and one of the health team workers (health promoter) mentioned that I could probably get a service dog for parkinson's and she started the process going. She had to get medical reports from my Doctor, occupational therapist, etc We just sent the application in.

Service dogs for PD can learn up to 50 commands and cost between $20,000 to $30,000 to train and maintain. . I`m hoping to get one who knows how to make coffee.

The Lions Club has a breeding and training centre.

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iaadp.org/tasks.html

``Service dogs generally receive six months to a year of schooling on tasks, obedience and public access manners. Most dogs placed by non profits since the 1970's have been trained to assist people who have a wiide variety of mobility impairments. Some teams have mastered up to fifty tasks, enjoying the challenge of such an advanced education. The list of tasks in this section are a broad sampling of what has been developed over the past quarter century to address daily living needs and safety issues.

A number of the traditional tasks listed below are proving useful to individuals with hidden disabilities such as a seizure disorder, a psychiatric disorder, a potentially life threatening medical problem or conditions which cause chronic pain. Creative providers, graduates and owner trainers who are expanding the service dog concept into these additional areas will hopefully share the experimental tasks they develop with the larger community someday, providing task training particulars so others can benefit. In some cases, a responsible third party, usually a parent or a spouse facilitates the interactions between a disabled person and his or her service dog to optimize the benefits to be obtained from including a service dog in the independent living plan of that individual.

For specific tasks to address specific symptoms of disabilities like Parkinson's Disease or MS or Epilepsy or any other disabling condition, one option is to research the subject by consulting with training providers familiar with those conditions. A second option is to send out a specific information request on email lists in the assistance dog field, gathering a variety of input. As a precaution, a second query, asking trainers and handlers for recommended ethical and /or safety guidelines in connection with any task being considered, may yield valuable input to assist with assessing the appropriateness of the suggested task for a particular team. A third option is to search archives for newspaper stories, magazine articles, television newscasts and documentaries which may focus on a particular disability or provider or type of assistance dog. Books on training guide, hearing or service dogs, autobiographies, biographies and works of fiction may in some cases, provide additional information on the desired topic.

A myth that ought to be challenged is the belief on the part of some that service dogs are only for the most severely impaired or end stage of a degenerative disease like MS. Someone who is considered much more moderately disabled, struggling with the difficulties of living alone, maintaining a job or raising a family could find teamwork with a highly trained service dog to be of enormous benefit in achieving the goal of remaining as self sufficient as possible. A number of tasks enumerated in this section could empower such individuals to conserve energy, reduce or avoid pain, minimize dependency on loved ones, prevent injuries or get help in a crisis.

[lethe]

youtube.com/watch?v=zH1gqxG...(Not working as expected?)

[lethe]

youtube.com/watch?v=ko3beIy...(Not working as expected?)