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Therapy Dog for Son

The Service and Therapy Dog forum is for all service and therapy dogs regardless of whether or not their status is legally defined by federal or state law, how they are trained, or whether or not they are "certified." Posts questioning or disputing a person's need for a service or therapy dog, the validity of a person's service or therapy dog, or the dog's ability to do the work of a service or therapy dog are not permitted in this forum. Please keep discussions fun, friendly, and helpful at all times.

  


Member Since
06/22/2012		 
 
Barked: Fri Jun 22, '12 1:02pm PST 
My husband and I are researching and all we can and are very seriously considering getting a therapy dog for our son with severe anxiety. We are looking for any information/ideas/pros/cons we can get our hands on.

We have picked a breeder who has had outstanding success with her Australian Shepherds as therapy dogs. We will get a puppy and train the dog with our son and three other children.

Any thoughts on where to turn for training/success stories/when things went wrong... I want to hear the good, the bad, the ugly. Anything that is helpful and what to expect is very much appreciated.

Thanks!
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Harley, SD,- CGC, TDI

Super Service- Boy!		 
 
Barked: Fri Jun 22, '12 3:03pm PST 
What you want is not a therapy dog. A therapy dog is a pet that that goes to places like nursing homes, hospitals, libraries, etc... to bring joy to others.

What you are talking about is either a service dog or an ESA.

For both, the person must meet the ADA definition of disabled. A diagnosis does not make a person disabled. It is how that diagnosis effects the person. The condition must substantially limit one or more major life activity in order for the person to be disabled.

There are differences between what a SD and what an ESA are.

A SD is trained to do task and/or work to mitigate the person's disability. This means that the dig must DO something the help the person with the disability. Providing emotional support alone, or just making a person feel better by the dog merely being present does not count. If the service dog is going to work outside the home, it must also be trained to behave properly in public. It takes, on average, 18 mo-2 years to fully train a service dog from a puppy.

An ESA (Emotional Support Animal) is a pet that makes a person feel better just by being there. An ESA needs no special or advanced training. However, there are also not allowed in non pet friendly public places and are not covered under the ADA. They are, however, covered under the FHA and ACAA and allowed to be in no pet housing and on planes.

I hope this helps you figure out exactly what you need.
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Member Since
06/22/2012		 
 
Barked: Sat Jun 23, '12 7:56am PST 
Thank you very much. My son has severe anxiety and it does stop him from doing a lot of things-even things he desperately wants to do (play at the park with other kids, etc) he has panic attacks in new situations or anything with water (bridges, lakes, piers, etc).

It sounds like we need an ESA. We are hoping to train the dog to sense his anxiety and help stop it before it escalates and help him through the attacks (stopping his hands from slapping together, trying to keep him grounded and responsive).

We are also hoping it will help him to socially connect with others- even if it is just that other kids/people are interested in the dog and all it's "cool tricks: to help him to be able to talk to others. We do plan to extensively train the dog.

His pediatrician is the one who told me he had severe anxiety (although I obviously already knew) so should I talk with his pediatrician about the ESA? We wouldn't fly with it- we have too many kids to fly- and don't worry about renting- we still are going to have the dog certified as a therapy dog with the hopes that my son will come with me to visit nursing homes/libraries etc and be calm in the new situations with the new people.

We also have other children so the dog will be a companion for them. Thanks!
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Harley, SD,- CGC, TDI

Super Service- Boy!		 
 
Barked: Sat Jun 23, '12 12:24pm PST 
There is no need to approach any doctor on an
ESA unless you are going to fly or need a housing exemption. An ESA is really a pet with a fancy title. There is no certification, registration or licensure of ESAs or SDs. Just remember, with an ESA, they are not allowed on non pet friendly public places, so they can not go to Wal Mary, the grocery store, restaurants, etc...
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