Puppy help......what kind to get
05-13-2010, 10:14 AM
#1
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The doctor suggested we get my DD a puppy as a companion/service dog. There are orgainzations that will donate a trained puppy/dog to you as a service dog if you have siezures, blind and a lot of other medical conditions however TBI is not one of them. Seems unfair but everything lately has been unfair when it comes to DD.
My questions is what kind of a dog should we get???????? My house is tiny,tiny she wants a lad. I say they are too big yet what I have read they are great service dogs. I have also read that people with TBI usually have a small dog like a poodle or maltapoo. I am so confused, then there is also the money issue not only of the cost of the dog/vet which I don't know how I am going to afford it but if it is big dog the cost of the food. Does anyone have a service dog if so what kind????? And what do they do for you? I hope I am not getting to personal, you could PM me if that would be more comfortable.
Any suggestions on what breed of dog would be great help. :-D
Thanks
My questions is what kind of a dog should we get???????? My house is tiny,tiny she wants a lad. I say they are too big yet what I have read they are great service dogs. I have also read that people with TBI usually have a small dog like a poodle or maltapoo. I am so confused, then there is also the money issue not only of the cost of the dog/vet which I don't know how I am going to afford it but if it is big dog the cost of the food. Does anyone have a service dog if so what kind????? And what do they do for you? I hope I am not getting to personal, you could PM me if that would be more comfortable.
Any suggestions on what breed of dog would be great help. :-D
Thanks
05-13-2010, 10:18 AM
#2
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I am partial to Lab's. they are a bigger dog, and eat plenty but they are very smart, don't need grooming (tho they do shed) they are the sweetest dogs. Will she be able to walk with the dog a lot?
I have a young friend that is OCD and nervous, she has a little chihuaua dog that helps keep her calm, though the dog is not trained as a service dog, she functions better when she has the dog with her.
I have a young friend that is OCD and nervous, she has a little chihuaua dog that helps keep her calm, though the dog is not trained as a service dog, she functions better when she has the dog with her.
05-13-2010, 11:11 AM
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Lab's are wonderful dogs. Easily trained and very loyal. They do need exercise and will take up a lot of room in a small house.
We had one for 14 yearas and lived a good bit of that time in a single wide trailer. It can be done if you want to.
As far as costs go, shouldn't Joyce be getting some sort of disability payments? I know they are not much but she must be entitled to them.
We had one for 14 yearas and lived a good bit of that time in a single wide trailer. It can be done if you want to.
As far as costs go, shouldn't Joyce be getting some sort of disability payments? I know they are not much but she must be entitled to them.
05-13-2010, 11:26 AM
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Most of the service dogs you see are labs or golden retrievers. A friend of mine has a mixed Lab/Golden, for her service dog. He is SO smart! We have a yellow lab, he is HUGE but really sweet after he calmed down...stayed puppish for about two years though!
05-13-2010, 11:38 AM
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I would think that a small dog would be too easy for a handicapped person to trip over them. Smaller dogs also have a tendency to be "yappy", I would also think about a dog from a shelter, a lab would be a great dog for her, in spite of the size.
05-13-2010, 11:52 AM
#6
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Others have already spoken of Labs and Goldens as wonderful service dogs. Another great service dog is a German Shepherd. Again, a larger dog. They are very smart and easy to train. They are also very loyal and protective of their master and family. If your daughter spends a lot of time alone in the house, this might be a very desirable trait.
Larger dogs do eat much more than their smaller counterparts as puppies. But as they grow older, they tend to eat about the same. I have a 7 year old 80 lb. Redbone Coonhound and a 50 lb. bag of dry dog food (
Larger dogs do eat much more than their smaller counterparts as puppies. But as they grow older, they tend to eat about the same. I have a 7 year old 80 lb. Redbone Coonhound and a 50 lb. bag of dry dog food (
05-13-2010, 12:03 PM
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Have you tried contacting Canine Assistants? They do NOT exclude TBI. It is ANY child or adult with special needs.
http://www.canineassistants.org/
Not every dog is in tune to siezures. This organization can give you a much better shot at ensuring you receive a dog that will alert to siezures. Most of thier dogs are labs or goldens.
http://www.canineassistants.org/
Not every dog is in tune to siezures. This organization can give you a much better shot at ensuring you receive a dog that will alert to siezures. Most of thier dogs are labs or goldens.
05-13-2010, 12:12 PM
#8
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another idea is to get a retired breeder -
possibly a miniature poodle, you do have to be careful that you get a dog from a REPUTABLE breeder and not a dog that's been out in a kennel with no human contact....
we got two retired toy poodles that lived in the house and they are GREAT - cage trained, not yappy, already spayed when we got them, etc...
I don't know what "TBI" is, but if you want a 'cuddle' dog, why not get one small enough to fit - labs, goldens, shepherds etc are good dogs but not lap dogs..
possibly a miniature poodle, you do have to be careful that you get a dog from a REPUTABLE breeder and not a dog that's been out in a kennel with no human contact....
we got two retired toy poodles that lived in the house and they are GREAT - cage trained, not yappy, already spayed when we got them, etc...
I don't know what "TBI" is, but if you want a 'cuddle' dog, why not get one small enough to fit - labs, goldens, shepherds etc are good dogs but not lap dogs..
05-13-2010, 12:19 PM
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I have diabetic seizures when I have insulin reactions. My chihuahua can sense these and will stay on me until I awake. He will also retrieve help and he has never been trained, just does this naturally. Chihuahuas are one-person dogs and require daily love and nurturing. If they are not held they will pine themselves to death. I really love my chihuahua and will always have one.
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