service dogs

[smith2267]

As a high functioning ASD adult, a dog would help me socialize and ease my isolation.
Of course, any dog could do those things, even a non-service dog.
The advantages to me of a service dog would twofold: 1. I love a breed that is discriminated against, pit bulls. Service dog status might protect us, if in fact you can request a breed and if they use that breed. 2. I could take, use, and live with the dog in more places.
The problem I possibly have is ethical. I don't honestly need the dog for safety, I am an adult and high functioning. I worry I might be taking a dog away from someone who needs it more.
What do you guys think?

 

[Dragon's Tooth]

I personally would like a service dog or to be able to train one of my dogs as a service dog (my dogs are a breed that would work well as service dogs and one in particular has the right personality even if I would prefer my other dog). I would like this mostly because when they are service dogs they can go places normal dogs can't, I could and would take my dog internationally with me on trips (that would help my stress levels so much) and it would help my confidence a lot if I could have said dog. I know they do give out service dogs to people in my position.

I wouldn't think of it as an ethical question because dogs have been bred to essentially be attuned to man's needs. The training they are given is based on what you need I believe. If you just need a dog for emotional support they probably aren't going to teach it to pick up the phone. They would probably just teach it to go toilet on command (so you don't have a dog pissing in a mall for instance) and other helpful stuff like that. Nothing you wouldn't or couldn't teach a dog for home life.

My dogs are two of my emotional crutches and they help me out in many ways. Even without the service dog training.

If you are desperate to take your dog EVERYWHERE then go for a service dog. I know they do give them out to people who have issues like aspies do. If you are more happy for a dog that is a companion and can't go as many places then go to a shelter and give a dog a home who might lose his or her life because no one wanted them. I would think there are people in this world who do need the dog much more than a high functioning aspie who would probably be ok with a normal dog. I guess it comes down to can you be happy with a normal every day dog or do you need to have the dog with you twenty four seven. Dogs do become your shadow (I have two shadows and some times it's nice to tell them to F off instead of tripping over them 24/7).

If you don't need the dog to go everywhere with you or you can live without that part of dog ownership then let someone else have the dog. I know they are limited and you could be taking from someone in much more need than yourself. You can train your dog to have the skills that you need it too in you opt not to get a service dog it just won't be able to go everywhere like a service dog can.

 

[Arashi222]

Honestly if you are considering that you might need a service dog just check them out. Talk to the people that train them depending on your state if you live in the USA you can get on a waitlist pretty quick sometimes matching the dog right away. However usually they pick a breed of dog that is attuned to your issues. Like you don't have small dogs for seeing eye dogs it would be a safety issue. However, I have seen small service dogs like shitzus and such for autism and other needs before as well. Go with your gut its not taking the animal away from someone else.

 

[total-recoil]

My dog is closer to me by far than any human being. I continue to learn about dogs and continue to understand them far better. The dog I handle is a large, high pedigree German Shepherd and very much an Alpha Male. I play games with him all the time with a ball or toy but use the games for training (like release command). You could say I use a program because Sheps are intelligent dogs and need to be stimulated mentally to remain functional and healthy.
The odd thing is I no longer see my shep as dog but think of him as a friend and I learned dogs can be very loyal and loving. They can become very devoted. Mine tends to throw tantrums if I text on a mobile phone and can be a bit clingy and will tear things up if I ignore him by twiddling the phone. I also learned the importance of being gentle when you train large dogs and patience.
I've been far far calmer since being involved with dogs.

As a high functioning ASD adult, a dog would help me socialize and ease my isolation.
Of course, any dog could do those things, even a non-service dog.
The advantages to me of a service dog would twofold: 1. I love a breed that is discriminated against, pit bulls. Service dog status might protect us, if in fact you can request a breed and if they use that breed. 2. I could take, use, and live with the dog in more places.
The problem I possibly have is ethical. I don't honestly need the dog for safety, I am an adult and high functioning. I worry I might be taking a dog away from someone who needs it more.
What do you guys think?

 

[smith2267]

I did a little quick research. It seems that the ADA allows you to train your own dog, mine wouldn't really need any out of the ordinary. Like I said, just being a dog would help me. For purposes of going into restaurants and such, a dog that is only for the purpose of emotional support and companionship cannot be considered an assistance dog. But I could care less about going into restaurants. The fair housing act has a more liberal definition, and that's what I would care about, since I would get a pit bull I would want to avoid housing discrimination.
Anyone know anything different?
I think all I would need is a note from a health professional saying I needed the dog because of my disability

 

[Soup]

More & more service dogs are being trained to assist Aspies & Auties. Kids have benefited from this early intervention in that service dogs have prevented them from sinking so far into themselves that they become handicapped by their autism & lose all communication/hygiene/personal care abilities. Adults are being helped by these dogs as well. I know for a fact that they do not train pit bulls as service dogs due in part to the social prejudices & fears about the breed & many places being closed to them. They do train Labs, shepherds & a few other breeds so you'll have to check into this in your area. I know that the regular non-service dogs we live with have done wonders for my husband & myself. He's a much calmer less anxious person since we got the dogs. they force you to keep to some semblance of a normal routine (esp good for the isolated Aspie). They insist you get moving & feed them, walk them, pay attention to them & clean behind them. they force people out to buy food & take them to the vet.

A cool thing they do is nudge a kid out of sinking deeply into a stimfest at inconvenient times & stop inappropriate stims too. These strategies have been quite successful. As for the ethical concerns if you need this support, then get it for yourself. they're training more & more dogs (even for hypoglycaemic people!) & you are as deserving as anyone else. Either way, cases get prioritized by urgency so you'll be assisted when it really is your turn.

 

[smith2267]

@soup, I just need a dog really, it doesn't need special training to help me. I guess, to be honest and blunt, I am wondering if I can thwart housing discrimination by saying it is an assistance dog under the fair housing act (which is different that the americans with disability act). It isn't really a lie. A dog would ease my problems.

 

[Soup]

If it is an assistance dog, wouldn't you have to show certain paperwork to support your claim? Why not apply for an actual legitimately trained service dog? It definitely wouldn't be a lie since these dogs are life altering to those fortunate enough to have one.

 

[smith2267]

@soup, from what i can tell, in the U.S. there are 2 different definitions. One under the americans with disabilities act, and one under the fair housing act.
For what i want, I need only meet the definition of the latter. It seems all that would take is a dog with a heartbeat and a note from my doctor.
I only want a pit bull. That is very important to me.

 

[Dragon's Tooth]

I found a group in my country Australia which trains dogs specifically for aspies and auties ... so that takes away the ethical thing. I dunno bout other countries but here in Australia you can have your dog certified as an emotionally supportive dog so that its harder for someone to deny you housing under discrimination acts.

 

[@iam_cloud]

As a high functioning ASD adult, a dog would help me socialize and ease my isolation.
Of course, any dog could do those things, even a non-service dog.
The advantages to me of a service dog would twofold: 1. I love a breed that is discriminated against, pit bulls. Service dog status might protect us, if in fact you can request a breed and if they use that breed. 2. I could take, use, and live with the dog in more places.
The problem I possibly have is ethical. I don't honestly need the dog for safety, I am an adult and high functioning. I worry I might be taking a dog away from someone who needs it more.
What do you guys think?

Actually pit bulls are very sweet dogs. They'd be very good at what's called passive protection. If you can find a pit-lab mix that would be even better, helping with both protection and social interaction. I know that if I hadn't adopted my Shiba Inu mix, I'd be a hermit. I should mention here that I'm a dog sitter / walker. Also you may want to see if there's a branch of PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) in your area. They have lots of information on just this kind of thing.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I will probably be getting a pit bull soon.

 

[Loomis]

Soup, I just need a dog really, it doesn't need special training to help me. I guess, to be honest and blunt, I am wondering if I can thwart housing discrimination by saying it is an assistance dog under the fair housing act (which is different that the americans with disability act). It isn't really a lie. A dog would ease my problems.

I have a well trained airedale terrier who is my therapy dog. He is an ex-conformation show dog, a champion. He was fairly well behaved when I received him but I have continued to train him. The apartments where I live have a 25 lb. limit on any dogs and they must be neutered. My dog is 50 lbs. and intact. (My contract with the breeder requires he remain intact because she has breeding rights.) The housing authority knows all of this and allows me to have him because as a therapy dog he is not subject to the rules. My psychiatrist wrote that the dog helps me because of my problems with socialization. All of this is legitimate and honest. I am not taking a dog away from anyone because I trained him myself. Although he is not certified as a therapy dog he could be because he has all of the qualities a therapy dog needs for certification. He is not a "service dog" and therefore cannot go anywhere that ordinary dogs cannot go. The only thing he can do as a therapy dog is live in my apartment.

 

[Ste11aeres]

I have a well trained airedale terrier who is my therapy dog. He is an ex-conformation show dog, a champion. He was fairly well behaved when I received him but I have continued to train him. The apartments where I live have a 25 lb. limit on any dogs and they must be neutered. My dog is 50 lbs. and intact. (My contract with the breeder requires he remain intact because she has breeding rights.) The housing authority knows all of this and allows me to have him because as a therapy dog he is not subject to the rules. My psychiatrist wrote that the dog helps me because of my problems with socialization. All of this is legitimate and honest. I am not taking a dog away from anyone because I trained him myself. Although he is not certified as a therapy dog he could be because he has all of the qualities a therapy dog needs for certification. He is not a "service dog" and therefore cannot go anywhere that ordinary dogs cannot go. The only thing he can do as a therapy dog is live in my apartment.

So there is a distinction between a therapy dog and a service dog.

 

[Loomis]

So there is a distinction between a therapy dog and a service dog.

From Wikipedia:

"Therapy dogs are usually not service dogs or assistance dogs but can be if designated as such for people with PTSD. Service dogs perform tasks for persons with disabilities and have a legal right to accompany their owners in most areas. In the United States, service dogs are legally protected at the federal level by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Therapy dogs are not trained to assist specific individuals and do not qualify as service dogs under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Institutions may invite, limit, or prohibit access by therapy dogs. If allowed, many institutions have rigorous requirements for therapy dogs.

Many organizations provide evaluation and registration for therapy dogs. In the United States, some organizations require that a dog pass the equivalent of the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen's test and then add further requirements specific to the environments in which the dogs will be working. Other organizations have their own testing requirements. Typical tests might ensure that a dog can handle sudden loud or strange noises; can walk on assorted unfamiliar surfaces comfortably; are not frightened by people with canes, wheelchairs, or unusual styles of walking or moving; get along well with children and with the elderly; and so on."

 

[Aspieistj]

My dog is so important to me that I generally don't go anywhere she can't go. She is an enormous comfort to me and I do wish she were actually a service dog. She is a Lab, but unusually small and only 41 pounds. I would pay to have her trained to behave quietly at all times if she could be certified. She is a wonderful dog but very high spirited and absolutely LOVES all humans and other dogs. I have taken her to obedience and she is plenty smart. However, I am not a good alpha to a dog even though I do everything I have been told to make the dog see me as an alpha. I think I just love dogs too much and don't convey the appropriate strength to them. If I thought I could get her declared a service dog I would pay a lot of money for the two of us to learn how to work together better. She does everything the trainer tells her so I know it is my behavior that requires changing. Is there some guideline I can find as to what I have to do to be allowed to have a service dog as an Aspie? If so, maybe she and I could be trained so that she would be appropriately calm around other people and dogs and not try to play with them without my permission. If I were accompanied by a dog in a service harness I believe I would be treated less judgmentally by the public and feel more confident. It is my understanding that people can't ask someone with a certified service dog why they need the dog. Not being physically handicapped, blind or deaf tends to make people think you don't have just cause for a therapy dog. Actually, I am so dedicated to educating the public regarding AS that I wouldn't mind answering such a question. Everything about living for me is easier when my dog is with me.

 

[Loomis]

How was the definition of "service animal" changed July 23, 2010? | Service Dog Central

To be a service dog, the dog has to be able to do "something" you cannot do because of your disability.

"Effective March 15, 2011, 'Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual´s disability. Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting an individual during a seizure, alerting individuals to the presence of allergens, retrieving items such as medicine or the telephone, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. The crime deterrent effects of an animal´s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.' ”

 

[Aspieistj]

I think my dog's presence gives me confidence and definitely decreases my depression and anxiety. I suppose I would need a psychiatrist to certify that I am depressed, have AS and benefit emotionally from the comfort of my dog. Wonder what that would cost.

 

[Judge]

Actually, I am so dedicated to educating the public regarding AS that I wouldn't mind answering such a question. Everything about living for me is easier when my dog is with me.

That sounds like a winning combination on so many levels.

 

[Tarragon]

I found a group in my country Australia which trains dogs specifically for aspies and auties ... so that takes away the ethical thing. I dunno bout other countries but here in Australia you can have your dog certified as an emotionally supportive dog so that its harder for someone to deny you housing under discrimination acts.

That sounds very interesting - have you any links for more information please?