a few questions about service dogs

[fay]

We in the process of applying for a service dog for Scott (although he's seizure free he has other medical problems) and I've called 3 different places to get more info and have requested an application from all 3 places too. I'd love to hear about anyones story on getting their dog. Like how long it takes to get approved, how the training with the dog went and how well the dog bonded with you. Scott is wanting to know if the dog is allowed to sleep with him in his bed and if his dog will be allowed to play with him. I think he's worried that if the dog is supposed to helping him, then it can't stop to play and that it might not be allowed to sleep with him. I think that if he read someone's post about it, he'd understand what the dog can do for him and how strong the relationship will be.
I'd also like to know your experience during the process- both good and bad. Any tips, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated too.
We do know that there is at least a one year waiting list and can be up to a 6 year wait to get a dog. We also know that at any point during the process, Scott might not be a good candidate for one either. But we will apply for one and go from there.

[lg]

My BIL has a SD for mobility, the dog doesn't sleep on the bed with him, but in a bed next to him. My sister (diffrent' households) has an assistive dog (not for epilepsy) and her SD LOVES to sleep on the bed. The mobility dog has greater responsibilities than the assistive dog, although many trainers discourage SDs for sleeping on the bed, I am willing to bet many do anyway! Both my families dogs were trained through the same private SD trainer and they didn't go through an organization. They do play with the SDs, both SDs love to fetch the ball. The assistive dog has more FREE time than the mobility dog, but he must go through this trained tasks everyday, even if they aren't needed. It's to keep him reminded of his tasks, and it seems like play to him. The mobility SD also does assistive tasks, but once the harness is in place, he knows it's not time to play, and playing while in the harness is not done. It's so he knows the difference between "work and play" whereas the assistive dog only needs to wear a vest in public, he too knows the vest means business and wont attempt to chase the ball if his vest is on. Both will perform tasks without their harness or vest on, the tasks are more like play to them, both can open and close doors, turn lights off and on, pick up dropped items etc..

To answer your question, yes Scott will be able to play with the SD, and it's encouraged to do many activities with a SD, it helps with the bonding. Scott should be the primary caregiver of the dog, feeding, brushing. playing and walking, all this keeps the dog alert to his partner and not on the other members of the household.

[fay]

Thanks for explaining it to me. Don't worry about any of us feeding, grooming, walking, playing, etc with Scott's dog! He's been looking forward to taking care of his own dog and has been begging for his own dog about 2 to 3 years now and he knows what to do because he helps with Buddy, our dog- when Buddy will let him anyways. Buddy is 13 years old and only likes me and my husband but will tolerate the kids and other animals. He don't bite or growl are anything, he just moves away from them unless he wants to play or be petted by them which is rare. When we aren't around he lets them know when he needs to go out, needs to go for a walk, out of food or water, etc. Scott will def be doing all of it himself and we all know it will be Scott's dog and will be much, much more than just a dog to him. And we all also know that Scott will become much more than just his dog's person too. They will be a special team and no one else needs to be included. In other words, 3 is a crowd in this case. Once they tell us whether he is getting one or not, I will explain to Scott that his dog will need to sleep in it's own bed and then we can start shopping around for the perfect bed. Of course we won't actually buy one until we go for the 2 week training and even then we'll prob stop on our way home with it to buy one. He won't have a problem with the dog having it's own bed if I explain that if he ever had to go into the hospital again, they won't let his dog stay with him if it doesn't have it's own bed and in the hopital even service dogs aren't allowed to sleep in the bed with you.
He's been in the hospital hundreds of times so I know he will understand and won't be dissapointed. As long as the dog can play with him and will love him as much as he'll love his dog, he'll be beyond happy. We are hoping he gets the fog simply because we know what it will help Scott with. The dog will be a blessing to him and to us because Scott won't have to depend on us for a lot of things like when he's dizzy and just needs help sitting up or standing up for a few minutes, waking him up every morning when his alarm clock goes off. He sets it faithfully every night with the hopes that he''ll hear it "this time" and then gets angry when "his Mom" has to wake him up. His words to me every morning is "I not no baby Mom! I too old to have my Mom wake me up". Just having his dog paw him or lick his cheek to wake him when the alarm goes off would make a big diffrence in his independence and how he feels about himself. Not to mention if theres ever a fire. Scott sleeps right through the smoke alarm during our fire drill we have sometimes in the middle of the night.
I can think of several ways that a service dog could help Scott. I'm just afriad that I will forget something important while talking to them during the interview. I'm making a list though so hopefully I won't forget something!

[Mary D.]

Try to write down any questions as you think of them.In the end you should find that it helps alot.
Mary