service dogs? I have never had a dog, am in a wheelchair, and don't know what kind of a dog to get???????

Question

I have NEVER owned a dog! I absolutely LOVE dogs and wanted one my entire life. I just turned 20 and my parents finally let me have a dog. they don't like big dogs. i am in a wheelchair for most of my daily life, but can get out for a little for exercise. i don't know what to do. i tried researching about getting a service dog and not only are they big dogs it seems like i wont qualify for a dog. i don't have a huge disability but i am wheelchair bound due to dislocated hips and i got spina-bifida.
anyways can some one please help me out with advise and tell me anything i need to know. should i get a small dog? if so what kind? i have no idea how to raise or train a dog. little dogs can be yappy and over protective and have bathroom leaks. my parents wont stand that... i don't know what to do. i have wanted a dog my entire life and finally have the permission for a small one and don't know what to do... someone help please!!!

Answer 1

You need to first decide if what you want is a pet or a service dog that can help you with tasks. If you want a pet, you need to decide the personality, size, energy level, etc that you want. How much exercise are you prepared to provide and at what intensity? What activities do you want the dog to participate in with you? What traits are most important to you? Is an adult dog that has some training in place and is less boisterous perhaps a better fit than a young puppy?



If you are disabled and there are things you could legitimately use the assistance of a trained service dog for, then certainly you would qualify for a service dog if that's what you want. It's best to start with your doctor and come up with a list of tasks that you would benefit from the dog being trained to do. From there, especially as you do not have any prior experience raising and training a dog, you would want to find either an organization or private trainer that trains dogs for the specific tasks you need. Many organizations will offer direct financial assistance or help with fundraising to cover the costs of a service dog if your family is not wealthy. With an organization, you generally do not get a choice of breed, you get what they have that's suitable to perform the tasks you require (which will probably be a larger breed if one of the tasks you require is mobility assistance). If you contract with a private trainer, you may be able to help choose a breed, but it will need to be suitable for the particular tasks and have an appropriate temperament for the work, which most breeds won't, plus the cost will be greater and usually no guarantee of success. There will be a waiting period for a service dog, either way you go, usually a couple of years or so. Be aware that service dogs don't act like pets. Most won't "play" with you, and will have been discouraged from anything that removes focus from their handler from an early age.

Answer 2

You can choose between a big dog to pull the wheelchair, turn on and off lights and more, or a little dog to pick up small dropped items and return them to you, in service dogs. It wouldn't hurt to apply for one. If you got a professionally trained service dog, it wouldn't be yappy or pee on the floor.



Untrained puppies are a TON of work. There are days when you are going to wonder what possessed you to get a dog. Since you have never had a dog, does either parent have much dog experience? If not, then you'd do better to get one trained for you.

Answer 3

If you are in a wheelchair you should qualify for a service dog.

These are NOT dogs you go out and buy and raise and train yourself. They are highly trained dogs that go through a process and then are "assigned" to their humans.



Size of dog depends on type of service you need. Some folks need bigger dogs to help them up and provide support, do various things around the house.



All of the above being said, a companion dog, an emotional support dog, does not need to be large or provide any service other than companionship and can be a service dog.



Not all small dogs are yappy or overprotective. They CAN be a little harder to housetrain because being smaller it's harder for them to understand that the ENTIRE house is the den and therefore a "no pee zone".



I'm not sure the type of dog is as important as a temperament that is compatible with your situation. An adult dog that is already housetrained with some training would probably be better for you as you can skip the very very intense puppy training period (it takes MONTHS to properly housetrain a dog) and with an adult dog you will be able to see it's temperament.



I think you should consider rescue dogs rather than breed dogs. They seem to have less health issues from inbreeding and will be considerably less expensive. Dogs that are available from rescue groups are often in foster homes and the foster parents have a great deal of information about the dogs temperament, training and personality.



I currently have two rescue dogs that have wonderful, open personalities and are bright and friendly to everyone, easy to train and easy to live with. They were both thrown away as trash (one dropped at a shelter with a horribly damaged leg, the other left newborn, umbilical cord still attached in a gutter in a ghetto) got into rescue organizations and I adopted them from there.



I suggest you go on Petfinder and Adoptapet, they are websites of adoptable animals. I also suggest you do some reading on training, specifically look at POSITIVE OR MOTIVATIONAL TRAINING vs TRADITIONAL OR DOMINANCE TRAINING. I used to use traditional as it was all that was out there but with my current two dogs use only positive and motivational training and love the relationships I have built with my dogs.



Another thing to think about when picking a dog is it's grooming needs. I picked dogs with short black coats that require little care. You can see my dogs on facebook by searching Sweet Georgia Pie and Kazoo Dog.



Good luck finding your new friend!

Answer 4

Find what motivates your dog. Some dogs do anything for food. Some dogs do anything for Toys. Some do anything for a good petting. Some do anything for only one type of food, like cheese, or hotdog. Some only have interest in training for 5 minutes at a time, and others can go for an hour. Figure out what your dog is willing to work for, and then work with her in sessions that are no longer than she can tolerate. How to train your dog properly https://tr.im/J27jk



Sign up for a dog obedience training class. It will not train your dog. It will give you training on how you can train your dog. Most people understand the idea of training, but there is a right and a wrong way to do it, and there is good and bad technique. Timing and consistency is very important, and it helps to have feedback of someone watching you who can help you improve your technique to get more efficient results with your dog.



However, she may be somewhat anxious around other dogs, sort of like the shy kid on the playground. She will benefit from continuing what you are doing as far as asking her to sit before entering, but there are more things along those lines that will help her to calmly go in and out of the dog park. She may also benefit from going in short bursts, or only when fewer dogs are present, or avoiding times when other dogs that make her nervous are present. Maybe she just plays loud - my brother's dog is this way - or maybe she is a dogpark bully - sorry it is possible. But more likely she is just a little anxious around new dogs and she wants to play but just doesn't quite know how to do that and still feel comfortable. Don't be surprised if your dog does not actually like the dog park, and maybe she would get more enjoyment and less stress out of simply going for a good walk somewhere else.



A wagging tail does not mean that your dog is happy or even comfortable with the situation. It means your dog is emotionally aroused. This could be a happy arousal, or it could be a nervous arousal, or it could be an aggressive arousal. Go youtube it, there are plenty of videos of 'vicious' dogs who are throwing a very aggressive fit of barking and snarling while their tail is wagging vigorously. Even police dogs who are not let off the leash to chase down a suspect can be lunging and barking and snarling, and their tails are still going.

Answer 5

Only one answer to this one. Spend time with other service dog users with similar disabilities, so you can decide whether the advantages of having a service dog outweigh the effort involved in caring for a dog. As with most disabilities, service dogs aren't for everyone. If you don't know anybody who fits the bill, post on a few forums that cater to people with Spina Bifida or wheelchair users in general.

Answer 6

From what you have previously stated, you do qualify for a service dog. However, in order to get one, your doctor must first "prescribe" it. If the doctor never brings it up, and you feel like a service dog could improve your quality of life in a meaningful way, feel free to discuss it with him/her. Keep in mind that a service dog is mainly there to help you with certain tasks that you could otherwise not do, and if you are not looking for a dog the can do these things, you are better of with a regular dog.

Service dogs are heavily trained in certain tasks, and huge socialization skills, and usually take 6-2 years (Adult well behaved mobility service dogs usually take about 4-8 months, depending on the trainer), and naturally, this requires a lot of time, effort, and more importantly, money. If you are not wiling to spend these, and you don't require a service dog for your basic needs, you would be better of without one.

Besides this, you will be required to take this dog pretty much anywhere, and you will often find ignorant people who will discriminate you for bringing a "pet" to places.



Make sure to discuss this with your relatives and your doctor first. Usually most companies choose the dog for you from a certified breeder (These usually have generations of service dogs on their papers) but you can also find more experienced trainers who can train most dogs who have decent potential.

Answer 7

IMO you'd qualify but do you really NEED a service dog to do things for you or do you WANT a companion dog (which is NOT the same thing). If you don't need the dog to do things for you like a service dog would (and the dog has to be medium to large), then you will have to decide what kind of dog you want. The larger the dog, the longer they can hold it as far as peeing/pooping.



You sound like you want more of a companion dog, not one specifically trained for jobs to help you out.

Answer 8

You should definitely qualify for a service dog and it will enhance your life greatly. I am thinking , usually Golden Retrievers make the best service dogs and some of them are not big at all. This would be VERY hard to find, but would be an excellent breed, a German Pinscher, very intelligent and about 18" tall at the shoulder, not big, but big enough to do what you will need. A toy breed is not suitable for your needs. other dogs that might work would be Miniature Schnauzers a Basenji, perhaps a Whippet. all these dogs are less than 22 inches at the shoulder

Answer 9

I think get a Dalmatian. My grandpa has one and he is in a wheel chair and he loves her to bits. She's perfect because she isn't too big or small, she doesn't cost that much economically and she is really loves him. However she is really well trained, so for exercise he lets off in a park or somewhere outside and she comes when she's told. She also stops at like traffic light and roads. Nut he bought her as a pup and she got trained for a while and when she came back she was ready for him. She also likes to have a bit of fun, so she's not very serious which my pa likes abut her. I don't know what type you really want but I know for sure that a Dalmatian should be in your top 10.

Answer 10

A dog that will be able to help in multiple ways is going to be larger. That's why most assistance service dogs are going to be Labrador or Golden Retrievers or Shepherds and sometimes Doberman Pinschers, Standard Poodles, or Standard Schnauzers.

Answer 11

You get a trained service dog, there's no reason for your parents not to like a big dog. They are far more capable of helping you and much easier to train. I say get either a Lab a Golden Retriever, or a poodle.

Answer 12

I have a Golden Retriever. Although he is not a service dog, I think he definitely could be. He is 10 months old and is incredibly clever. I would recommend not getting a puppy however, as they are so much work and it will take them time to learn. I would recommend a service dog that is already trained.

Answer 13

Get an older dog from a shelter. It will already have experience and some training and will be more laid back than a puppy. One of my dogs is a 40 pound lab terrier mix that I rescued. She is always happy to run and play but if all I want to do is lay around and be lazy she is content to lay by me and snooze. She is so appreciative for rescuing her also. When I got home from hospital from cancer treatment I was bedridden for 28 days and she laid by my side the whole time refusing to leave except to go outside and go potty she even laid her head on my side where the surgery was like she was trying to comfort me. My little Lulubelle is awesome!

Answer 14

I am not Dale. I have a service dog now this one is 9 years old and I had her for 9 years. We trained together because I wanted her for my needs only. She can pull a wheel chair, power and regular kind. I would get a large Labrador yellow if in hot weather or black if in a cooler climate. I got my black lab in Florida. She brings me things, Picks up things that I drop all except keys, and Zippo lighters. Bic lighters are alright. Keys can cut their mouths. She use to hit the handicap buttons on buildings where they have them, she alerts me if my sugars are low or high. She detected a heart attack I had. She amazes me on how smart she is. I use a harness for her when she pulls my regular wheel chair. You can contact Paws with a cause. Or get a puppy like I did and start with puppy school then go from there to obedience school, and socialization with obedience school. In 8 months she or he will be a Service Dog. All you need Is a Scarf you can get from the Americans With Disabilities Act.gov. Service Dog. Register with Service Dog or contact me and I can give you all the info you will need. Good Luck. Golden retrievers are high maintenance due to long hair, German Shepard is very good they can adapt to a single room apt. pulling a wheel chair will be good for them. remember they do get hip problems and age quicker than a lab. Labs also will protect you to their death. I believe they are just as loyal as a Shepard. I would give my life for my dog as I know she would for me. Joan.

Answer 15

A doctor has to prescribe a service dog then you get one from a company that does nothing but breed, train and raise Real service dogs.

Answer 16

why not try and older animal? I know this means less time with you but it will require less exercise,

want to be with you more and you will be doing a good thing for the animal.

So many older animals are hard to re-home - just because you are in a wheelchair does not

mean you cannot contribute to society. Make it part of your life to do this - there will be good

dogs and better dogs - all will have benefited from being part of your life as you will from .

being part of theirs.

Answer 17

Golden Retriever.

Answer 18

Your doctor has to prescribe a dog for you in order for you to get a REAL SERVICE DOG. Then a trainer will pick out the right PUPPY from a certified BREEDER and train them for YOUR specific needs.

Answer 19

I also have Spina Bifida and chose to train my own service dog. For you I would highly recommend you get one from an organization, but please talk to your parents first and explain to them why you would benefit from one. A medium to large dog would be your only option Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions, my email is open.

Answer 20

GOLDEN RETRIEVER 100% they are very loyal.. loving...kind...willing dogs. I will always always own a golden. They are absolutely amazing. if your looking for a dog bit smaller.. border collies are awesome as well!