Do I qualify for a service dog or esa?

[Skyfeatherl]

Hi, I have quite a few questions and hope I have come to the right place to post.

I have been wondering if a service dog is right for me and wether or not what I have qualifys for a service dog or only as a esa?

I currently have a dog that I take with me to limited places that allow any dogs (tractor stores, pet stores, feed stores, local general store, markets etc) Ive trained my current dog to stop at roads and brace against me until I give the command to cross. He is also trained to not cross even if I give the command and a car is coming. This has saved my life on at least two occasions. He is also trained to take me to the car, when a panic attack occures and I cant get myself back into control. I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. When one occurs I become disoriented and tunnel vision occurs. I get dizzy and have fallen over at times from them. My dr has prescribed medication and we are waiting to see how it works out before we try any other steps.

Now I do not know if my problems qualify for a service dog or am I just needing emotional support? I ask because I have a hard time functioning in public so either my husband goes with me or I take my dog to places that allow pets. Its sort of like I need an "anchor" so would that mean an emotional support dog? But then if a panic attack occurs and its bad I have to have assistance otherwise I fall or blindly walk into things due to the need to flee the area. My dr said he wants to see how this new medicine helps me before he lables me disabled. It affects my ability to work. I had to cut back to two days and I work privatly in someones home with one person, it makes it easier for me to cope. Taking the medicine causes me to be very lethargic, so we are messing with the dose, the hope is to make it so I can function in public without having constant panic attacks, then its to work on me no longer needing somone there to help me get thru the fear of going places because Im afraid that I will have a panic attack, agoraphobia.


OK. I will end this here, and see what anyone has to say. I still have other questions but will wait on those for now. Thank you so much



















 

[Kirsten]

It doesn't matter whether the animal is a service dog or an ESA, the criteria for qualifying is the same:  you must be legally disabled.  Whether or not you are is a discussion to have with your own doctor.

If you determine with your doctor's help that you are qualified, then you choose which one based on what you need the animal for.  If you need it for companionship, emotional support or therapy, then you need an ESA.  If you need the dog to do something for you that you cannot do for yourself, then you need a service dog.  That's the difference.

I just posted more about his on a similar topic.  You can read what I said here:  http://servicedogcentral.org/forum/index.php/topic,15033.msg111183.html#msg111183

[Skyfeatherl]

Im working with my dr with different medicines now in hopes of becoming stabilized to the point where I dont have panic attacks multiple times a day. He said that if this latest prescription doesnt work that he may "lable"(sorry cant think of the proper term) me disabled. I do not want to be disabled, I dont want to feel like a basket case anymore either. Thats why we have tried other things until now. He has written in my medical files that having my dog with me helps me cope with situations that can cause a panic attack and that he is benificial to me. But when he asked if I wanted him labled as an emotional support dog I said I wasnt sure. That I wanted to learn more about what that was first.

Thats why Ive come to this site. Which then made me question whether what I need is an emotional support dog or some sort of service dog- even if he does put down that I am disabled- would I even want a service dog? I know how much work owning a pet can be. Ive always owned dogs and various other animals, I used to train reining and cutting horses until some trumatic things happened in my life that helped me get where I am now.


I suppose one thing I was trying to ask was if I am disabled would my disability require the assistance of a service dog? Does the inability to stop myself from walking into a dangerous situation (such as traffic) even be a job for a service dog? I know my current "pet" dog helps prevent me from doing this.  but thats because I trained him to do this over several months. When I feel a panic attack coming on I give the command for him to take me to the car. Once there I try to get myself back into control. breathing into a paper bag to try and get my breathing under control so I dont pass out, sitting witht he doors locked so I feel safer and more in control. I may take one of my pills that Im prescribed and wait until it takes effect. If I can manage it, I once again go back to doing what I had been trying to do. If not then Im forced to go home, at times having to cal someone to get me and leave my car behind since I can not drive during a panic attack.

If my health issues do not qualify for a service dog then does it qualify for an emotional support dog and if so qhat exactly does having an emotional support dog do for me? Are you allowed to take them places or no? Because if you cant take them to places where you require assistance of support in the form that I di then what is the point of having one?

These are just some of the questions I have. I just wish to understand everything better before I talk again with my dr. I like to investigate everything ahead of time. It helps me feel more in control so I dont panic as much.


Thank you for your time

[Kirsten]

Require it?  No.  I don't think there is any disability that requires the use of a service dog.  It is one of several options which might be an appropriate choice for some people and not for others.

You are working with your doctor on medication.  You should try working with a therapist as well.  Neither therapy nor medication is a substitute for the other.  Each works in different ways and in combination they are more effective than the sum of their parts for most people.

My head is getting a bit muddled with two new people asking almost identical questions.  As I said in another post, the standard for disability is the same regardless of whether the person uses an ESA or a SD.  You're either legally disabled or you're not.  There are not degrees of being disabled under federal law.

Under the ADA,  a disability is, "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual."

"[M]ajor life activities include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working."

A person who is disabled by severe mental illness might choose an ESA, or a PSD, or any of a number of other options in order to help manage their condition.

An emotional support animal is a pet.  The only situations where it is different from any other pet are 1.  "no pets" housing, 2. commercial aircraft.
http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/esa

And here's our article on PSDs:  http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/psd

You might want to print both out and the definition of "disability" above and take those with you to your next meeting to discuss with your doctor.

[Kirsten]

You should probably also read the section of the forum on "the down side of service dogs."

There are some specific issues for people with anxiety disorders that are often overlooked.  Handling a service dog is emotionally stressful.  Total strangers will approach you because of the dog and where they wouldn't ordinarily address you, they will when you are accompanied by a dog in a place where dogs are not a common occurrence.  Sometimes they will ask you invasive questions, like "what is wrong with you?"  Sometimes they will yell at you and tell you to get out with that bleeping dog.  Sometimes they will try to grab your dog's leash or tell you you are cruel.  Very often people will try to mess with your dog or engage you in some way while you are trying to do something else.  Like they think you are the floor show or something.  This is part of life with a service dog.  It's a part that may make it a very bad choice for a person with an existing anxiety disorder.  For some people the net result is beneficial and for others it is harmful.  Taking into account your personal symptomology and how you handle these kinds of stressors, you and your doctor should discuss whether you are likely to benefit from it more than it will cost you.  Though honestly, I think that might be a better discussion with a therapist, but that is up to you.

[Skyfeatherl]

Thank you for your replies. Ive been reading as much as I can.

As of now I am not "legally" disabled. I am trying everything I can so I can beat this and it doesnt come to that. But Im also a realist and like to know every avenue open to me in the future.

I have thought about how much more unwanted interaction I may get from people in public due to having a dog with me. Ive already experianced some of that since I do take my pet dog with me to most places that allow it. He wears a harness that I hold onto when I get dizzy(he is a newfie so he can handle my size when I fall against him or need help standing),  his leash is not just held in my hand but worn over my shoulder so my hands are free. This has made it so when the urge to flee a situation due to a panic attack I dont just run off blindly into a possible dangerous situation. Upon coming up to the curb my dog will stop and prevent me from going into traffic.-

taking him with me I get confronted by people all the time who either are very rude by trying to call him over to them- even from a stopped car in the middle of the road when traffic was going by. People try to pet him all the time, I just keep walking and my dog is trained to ignore them. If Im not panicking I tell people to not touch him, sometimes If I am calm enough Ive even managed to strike up conversations with people. Continuesly petting my pet makes it so I calm down and feel more comfortable. I live near my childrens school and try to walk to pick them up. Ive talked with the principle about having it brought up at a school meeting with the students (the meetings occur every week) to inform children about respecting others, not running up to strange dogs, not petting a dog without talking to its handler first etc, common sense for the most part- but most parents dont teach there kids anything these days.

Im still weighing the downside and the upside of having the aide of a dog. With a sd Id be able to go more places, my anxiety is limitied when I have someone with me, but its not always convienant to find a person that I trust to go with me- they have lives that dont coincide with my daily needs.
For now, my ability to go anywheres its already very limitied. Grocery shopping occurs late at night when less people are there and usually only if my husband can go with me. Picking up my kids from school and going to my job. Thats all I do. Its all I can do without the aide of another.

Even if I do become completly disabled Id like to explore as many avenues as possible. I am going to continue working to beat this- to overcome it if possible. I have 3 children I need to raise and being limited to where I can go with them is hard. My health insurance is bonky. It wont cover therepy at the moment unless I want to out of pocket 50% of the cost. I cant really afford that since I had to cut back on working due to my conditions. I used to go to counsling and after a year of it I had gotten no better and no worse but she had thought part of my problem may be from  traumatic event(s) that happned to me, some of it I had blocked from my mind completly, but its obvious from my need to get away from a group of men that I still recall it in my subconscience or whatever. Im currently looking into a place that charges on a sliding scale based on your income. Hopefully I will be able to go back again.

PLease excuse me if I repeat myself on here over and over again. Sometimes I dont realize I am doing it, other times I think i have even if I havent- I over anlyze everything a bit to much.


Once again, thank you for taking the time to try and help me by giving me what information u know personally.

[labs4ever]

ESA is a term that is used for "pet" in  non pet housing.  The difference between an ESA and an SD is that  the ESA has no additional tasks trained,  it is  simply a  well behaved pet,  that provides emotional comfort.   The examples you have given, like  having your dog find the car,  and   having him stop at curbs and  such,  would be more what is considered "tasks" and  would be under the categroy of  SD.   Habving said that, it sounds like you are still in the decision process,  as  to wether or not  you are diabled by your  panic attacks.   This is a good place to ask questions, and   you are on the right track with research.   I wanted to say I am so glad you didn't say YES  without knowing what you were jumping into.  Oh, and ESA's do not have public access rights for the most part.  ON some transportation, but  not   into non pet friendly stores.   I am glad your  dog helps you out as much as he does!  Keep up the good work, it is tough, I have anxiety stuff too,  but finding the right   cocktail of things to help wether it be  this med and that med and  that therapy and that adaptive thing like grounding,  or bretahing or dog, or all of it can take a while.   Keep asking questions!   

[Skyfeatherl]

Thank you for your reply. From what youve said your right an esa is not something Im looking for since I rely on the tasks I have already tought my dog. And I dont need a dog to be termed an esa since I own my home and do not worry about that end.

Ive read some of the articles on training your own dog to be a service dog. I do not believe I am qualified to do this. So I am researching trainers in my area and plan on contacting them to see if any of them have experiance with service dogs. My current dog is still very very young. I got him at 4months of age and he is almost 12 months (will be on the 25th) He is still very much a puppy- but he is a newfoundland so he has a very calm temperament. Since I am home so much I spend a lot of time training him, it relaxes me. I also train my husbands dog in agility- but we just do that at home because I probably could not function in an actual trial. My dog has years ahead of him in training. I know his limits at the moment. I need to work more with him on leave it regarding food. Currently if someone dropped a piece of food he would want to go for it. Given the command to leave it he will stay away from it but keep his eyes trained on it until we are at least 10ft away then foget about it. But he will lay under a table and stay calm and ignore what we are eating, Ive only tested that for up to 2 hours at a time though.


Could you reccomend any good sites or articles on training your own sd? I feel every dog should have a job. So if the drs and I can manage my issues and I "beat" it to the point where he no longer thinks about listing me as disabled then I wont need an sd but having my dog traind to do the things I have required is still fine. Working with him on the training Ive given him so far has forced me to go outside and do things I normally wouldnt do on my own. Just the simple act of taking him along with me makes it so I can take my kids to the park.


Its my hope that I will "beat" this. That going to the grocery store wont be such a trial and I wont rely on a person or a dog. But like u said researching it all now is good. I like to have stuff to talkt o my dr about instead of just where Im at now. I like to look to the future.

[labs4ever]

I think the way to beat it is  to  adapt to it,  learn skills  like   distraction techniques,  CBT  (cognitive behavioural therapy)  knowing what triggers your anxiety and   slowly exposing yourself to that.   

HOnestly this is the best place, I have found to ask questions.  Many smart people here.  Sophie is my fifth  SD, but the first I have trained myself.  I  have had four  guide dogs from a program, but when I lost the ability to walk,  I  had to give up my fourth dog,  Sophie is cross trained in guide work, and  seizure response. and wheelchair mobility work.   I would stay away from  the Face Book groups, but that is my own opinion.   We have had disscussions about owner training before.   It is not something for everyone,  but honestly, you have already trained him yourself some!     I think though, getting  a trainer  is a good idea,  and btw,   I wouldn't recomend   putting any weight on your dog until  he is  fully grown, as in his hips and  bones are grown, if you put  weight on him to early, it could damage him.  If you are seriously thinking about  having him be an SD, he should get a behavioral temperment test along with hips elbows and knee  check.   

[Skyfeatherl]

Thank you very much. When I purchased him from his breeder his eyes, hips, elbows etc were already checked and cleared. He goes back at 1yr for another check with his vet. (we work closely with our vet due to my husbands dog having health issues, Im a bit paranoid and take them for checkups all the time) I used to work a lot with handlers and breeders, so I out a lot of research into who I got a dog from and their lines. Since newfs can have a lot of hip and joint problems I wanted to make sure I found a reputable breeder who was working to better the breed- not just make a quick buck. I try not to put weight on him, except it has happened twice when I became dizzy and had to lean against him until I got to a wall and could slide down to the ground.

Until recently I was able to help distract myself by squeezing an object in my hand that was pointy- it would cause a tiny bit of pain and Id focus on that instead of whatever was making me over react. Sometimes focusing on my phone and pretending to do something on it helps, makes it so I dont have to pay attention to others around me. When I have Kota with me, petting him and making sure that he is ok helps me now. When Im out with him I have to pay attention to my surroundings because I dont want anything to happen to him, such as glass on the ground, needle tips, unsecured dog running around.

Once again thank you for your responses. This site has made me feel a little bit better. Seeing- reading- that there are others out there that have different issues that some are like mine. Makes it so I feel as though Im not so alone. There are no support groups in my area, I have a friend who has panic attacks also but we can only talk via txt, due to our busy scheduals with our kids and family.

Thank you so much!!!

[Roxie]

When I purchased him from his breeder his eyes, hips, elbows etc were already checked and cleared. He goes back at 1yr for another check with his vet.

I must be crazy, but it is my understanding those tests have to be done at around 18 mo. to 2 years old for them to be valid. I don't understand what you are talking about?

This is a puppy under a year, and you are using him in public as a SD? And you aren't legally disabled? And you are exerting weight on this puppy?

You are walking in areas with glass and syringe needles on the ground!?

I'm getting all confused... I follow the story, and then the facts change. Why are you using a puppy as a SD? You aren't disabled, the pup is under a year old. I don't understand what's going on.

[Kirsten]

I don't think she is using him as an SD in terms of expecting public access with him.  I think she said they were going where pets are permitted and that he is helpful to her but that she doesn't consider herself disabled.

I do agree that a yearling should not be bearing weight or doing any balance work other than possibly counterbalance, assuming he has enough weight to do that.

Some clearances can be done at an earlier age than others.  If a breeder told me the dog had been cleared, I'd expect to be given copies of the certificates.  However, most likely what has happened is that a regular veterinarian has given a regular physical exam and declared the pup healthy.  This is the normal case with pet dogs.  We, with working dogs, are the ones that are paranoid about certified body parts and systems.  Pet dog or working dog, I do expect the breeder to give me photocopies of the parent's health certificates on request, such as CERF or OFA, and I'd want a photo copy of each parent's official pedigree (which will include titles as well as most health certs of all ancestors for 3 generations or more).  I can check online databases for most certifications, but I like to keep these things in my dog's personal records and if she's as serious about genetic histories on her dogs as I am, she'll have the information at her fingertips anyway and will be pleased that I care enough to want it.  Because it means I am a person who will follow through with the rest of testing, and will report back what the results are because I'm as interested in the genetic health of her breedings as she is.  Breeders don't tend to do genetic testing on the pups themselves before placement because this is costly, will not change the pup, and may be of no interest to the future owner.  She would of course do it all with her breeding stock if she is a good breeder because that WILL affect future pups and is therefore well worth the expense.

OFAs can't be official until the subject is 24 months old.  But PennHIP will do them earlier.  I have no first hand experience with PennHIP because I think if I asked a vet to do them in this city the vet would faint.  OFA is headquartered here, in my city.  If you do hips, it is automatically assumed you'll be running them across town, or that your vet will, and dropping them off in person.  So I have a decided bias in favor of OFA because of where I live.  I've also done a small amount of research for OFA indirectly related to TPO plate comparisons.

[Roxie]

So he is your best friend and helper with a temperament of sweet? And you just take him with you to regular places all dogs are welcome because he's a really cool dog and both of you are happy hanging out together?

If he has to walk in areas with dangerous stuff on the ground, maybe you can teach him to wear boots?

[Skyfeatherl]

Im sorry, what I meant was his sire and dam have been tested before breeding and that he had been health checked by a vet before I purchased him. The breeder I used if very thorough. She has a 3 yr waiting list on her puppies and goes above and beyound whats needed. She does PennHip certain pups in her litters depending on the buyer. She knew in advanced that I was looking for a dog that would possibly be used for more then the average "pet buyer". Before my issues became as severe as they did I had been hoping to "get out more" and once again do what I had done in the past. I have friends who do weight pulling with their dogs, carting, and water work. I was very interested in joining them possibly. I did not want to put all that money into a pup to find out later on that he wouldnt be able to be used for what I had hoped. I am more then willing to go the extra mile and do everything possible to make sure that a dog I get has a better chance at what I need. Money is not an issue when it comes to whats best for the dog.

I am not using him as my sd. I am not legally disabled, I am trying everything I can to NOT be. But Im also realistic and due to my anxiety issues I like to know everything wayyy ahead of time. I need to know about all choices out there for me. I dont like walking into the drs office and having something mentioned to me that I had never heard about before, or done research into before, that would cause me to get upset and thats not good for someone with severe anxiety like me. I weigh the pro's and cons of something. Every medicine ever prescribed to me I research first. Every calming technique I look into before trying.

I mentioned that he has on two occasions helped me by me leaning against him when I became dizzy. I try not to do this, but when it came between a choice of putting some weight against him or crashing I naturally reached out for help. Im only 100lbs and thats a lot of weight for a dog, currently my boy is small- he is only weighing in at 104lbs as of last month. I did away with stairs (installed ramps) in favor of him, knowing its best for them not to go up and down stairs as puppies.

When I said I have to watch the ground for dangerous items its because this is the real world. Unfortuantly people are disgusting and do drugs and litter. Even teh school park that my kids play on have to be cleaned daily because groups of gang wanna be teens wil trash the place, smash bottles everywhere and I have found needles on the ground at another park on 4 occasions. Its a sick world we live in, in the city nxt to me some people purposely put them in the sandbox, a child found them while playing, by the grace of god he was not stuck by the needle. So yes I watch the ground when I have my kids or my dogs with me.

I grew up and spent alot of time in places where having your dog come in with you was common. Its natural for me to have a dog alongside. If I go to a place that doesnt allow a dog, they wait outside, ever since my issues became severe 6 months ago I stopped going most places all together. I can get everything I need from two places for the most part now. One of those places allows pets. The other a grocery store chain does not, so I go late at night and with my husband. There is a food market that will allow well behaved pets in, and I go there on occasion when I need something we ran out of.

So yes, I suppose you could say, as of now Kota is my friend, he has a fantastic temperament. I trust him to do what he has been trained to do. If I have an attack and blindly go towards danger he stops me. Are we happy hanging out together? Well Im happy that I have him, because so far he has made it so I can do some normal activities with my own children again. The past 6 months have been hell. I take him places that he is allowed to go, not for the fun of it, but because I feel safer. I dont have to fear that I will have a bad attack, faint or hurt myself and be alone. If I know its about to happen, I can tell Kota to get me to the car faster then I could try to do it on my own.

Ultimatly Id rather not have to rely on him when I do. I want to be healthy and go out in public like a regular person. Like I said, I want to beat my issues and not ever need help from someone else. Im here on this site to learn what I can. So I can discuss things with my dr better. So if it does come to the point where I am disabled and if it looks like a SD could be right for me and help then I know as much as I can and head in the right direction. I dont call my current dog an SD, I call him my pet. He has been trained by me and my husband to help me with things I need help with. But by no means do I consider myself qualified to train him to be a SD, nor do I know if he would ever be able to become a an SD. Thats why I asked about training ur own and looking for a trainer.

[Roxie]

If I go to a place that doesnt allow a dog, they wait outside,

Oooooo! Please be careful! I Don't know about other parts of the US, but here (Lincoln - Omaha NE) there is much dog theft going on of purebreds and dogs that look expensive. The dogs are stolen then quickly sold on Craigs List or just on the street.