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<\/a>. It takes persistence and constant\ntraining to work with a service dog for special needs, so be prepared\nfor the long haul. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\nBoth\nadults and children with disabilities can benefit from having a\nservice dog. The results are hard-won but can be astounding. Some\nindividuals with Autism even achieve independence in their daily\nlives because of their service dog<\/a>. It takes persistence and constant\ntraining to work with a service dog for special needs, so be prepared\nfor the long haul. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Out of over 500,000<\/a> service dogs in the US, choosing the right one can be more than a little challenging, but we interviewed real moms and asked about how service dogs have helped their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, we'll cover:<\/p>\n
One mom, Susan L. shared her story about her child\u2019s service dog. Her child has Autism Spectrum Disorder and they believed that she would benefit from a service dog. The family found a certified trainer, got a dog, and were working towards getting the dog fully official as a service dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They invested a lot of time and money. They even trained it themselves to find a lost person in case their daughter went missing. Children with Autism sometimes have a dangerous tendency to elope. This means that the Autistic individual doesn\u2019t understand the dangers of going off on their own and can be in peril while they are alone without supervision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, after the family had the trainee service dog for a while, the dog began to change. It was a sweet and loving addition to their family, but because of an unanticipated hormone change in the dog, it was no longer suitable for service dog work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even after the long process of getting through training and great expense, this family still did not have a service dog. However, this did not mean that their dog was not part of their family. The dog loves their ASD child and provides help to their child in many ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dog helps to calm the child by allowing the child to lay her head on her and feel her fur. The dog is a part of their family and a calming presence to their ASD child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another mom, Pheonix R., shared her story with service dogs for her special needs<\/a> child. She is a dog breeder and has successfully bred 6 dogs who have become service dogs. She gave her son a dog when the dog was 4 weeks old and they bonded well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother shared that her son\u2019s dog knows how to stop her son\u2019s self-harming behaviors and how to help him avoid an anxiety attack. The dog also assists her son from going to sleep<\/a> and staying asleep by providing deep pressure<\/a> by laying on her son. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This\nmom shared a few tips for families who are hoping to get a service\ndog. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And\nif you\u2019re just starting out, here are a few beginner tips to\nconsider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.\nGet in touch with someone who trains service dogs to help choose the\ndog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.\nFind a good match for your child from a breeder or even from the\npound. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3.\nYou can also train the dog yourself to perform service dog duties. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4.\nYou can also breed the dogs yourself if you are able. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bridgette P. cautions that 1 out of 5 service dogs in training do fail out of training. Here are some reasons that she shared that service dogs \u201cfail\u201d in being able to do service duties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Certifications for service dogs do not exist, so don\u2019t expect to get a certification for your animal. There are scams that offer a \u201ccertification,\u201d but these are not legitimate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, service dogs do not have to wear a vest. Be aware as you are out in public with your animal that the only things that people can ask about your service animal are: \u201cIs this dog trained for a specific disability\u201d and \u201cwhat is the task for this animal?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A service dog should only focus on their handler and nothing else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A\nservice dog can be cued into when they are working and when they are\nnot working by putting on their vest and take off their service vest.\nThis way the dog is able to take a break. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bridgette P. shared some final tips about service dogs. Not all animals are able to be service animals. You need an animal with good temperament, exceptional intelligence, and a bond with the handler, dog and person with ASD. If one of these fails, then your service dog may \u201cfail out\u201d of their duties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.\nBe sure that your child will actually respond well to a dog. Some ASD\nchildren do not respond well to dogs or are not gentle enough to have\na dog. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2.\nDecide ahead of time what you want the service dog to do for your\nchild. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3.\nBe sure that your child is not allergic to the breed of dog you\nchoose. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you feel that your child would benefit from having a service dog, there are lots of ways to get started, even though it may take a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you feel that your child would benefit from a service dog, don\u2019t be discouraged by the fact that it may take a while. Simply take the task one day at a time and seek help. There are organizations that can help you with training your dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also scholarships for children to find and train a service dog. Do some research and contact your local organizations. CKDogs<\/a> is one option to help you begin your search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
