Health care in the country is so unfair! That will be the end of what could easily become a political rant.

There has got to be a program out there to help Joyce!! I hope someone somewhere is smart enough to point you in the right direction.

I have a dog that is Australian shepard, blue heeler mix. She is only 35 lbs, VERY intelligent and as loyal as they come! She sheds, but she truly understands EVERYTHING that she is told to do, and she is eager to work. Just another breed/mix to consider.

When I took our new puppy to dog obedience school there was a woman in the class who kept dogs for a year getting them ready to become service dogs. (Must have been heartbreaking to have the dogs leave after a year of teaching and loving.)
The classes were through the local kennel club. Maybe check your local club for information.

I don't think you have to stick to a full blooded dog. Check the dog shelter and let them know what you want a dog for. The one here is very helpful. If the dog is young he will bond and almost all dogs are protective and trainable. A little time and love might get you exactly what your looking for.

I am not a fan of chihuahuas but my aunt has one. She is an insulin dependent diabetic. Too much insulin and her blood sugar goes low and she will have a seizure. That dog will wake her up in the middle of the night if her blood sugar is low. The dog has never been trained. But seems to be very good at sensing things like that. I saw a couple of people have mentioned them as well. Might be a good pick. Small enough to hold and cuddle. Small dog small appetite. seems like a smart dog without training. Good luck with the dog search.

dogs are great friends, but i hope you are prepared for the responsibility. They are not toys or tools that you can put on the shelf when you are tired. They are living beings that you bring into your home and family. They can cost you as much as $50 a month in the long run. They need care too. Don't stretch yourself too thin.

I'm not trying to discourage, just inform. You are bringing another life, and everything that comes with it, into the mix.

I had a boxer that was a great dog. She would even check the heartbeat of a gentleman that was staying with me while he recouperated from a heart attack. He was such a story teller I didn't believe him until I saw her do it. However, you really should try to get a dog that's been specially trained. Trained dogs, even though they're large have been trained to stay with their person and won't do a lot of roaming or getting in the way. Also, by the time they're trained and placed they're out of the puppy stage. Check with some of your local fraternal organizations, like the Lions, Elks, Moose, Eagles, or Masons and see if they would help defray the cost.

Hope all goes well with finding an organisation who can help match the perfect companion for your daughter. I am sure her quality of life will be enhanced by having a service dog and also you will benefit knowing she has another protector in her life. I have not much useful advice to give, as things are so different here in Australia. I wish you all the very best and don't give up asking questions and seeking advice, it's amazing how much you can source if you persist. Love, light and peace from the land of Aus.x

Ok here's another idea on a dog...still a big one but very low metabolism so nowhere near as hyper as a lab and doesn't eat a ton. A Great Pyrenees. Now when you look them up you will see that they are livestock guardian dogs. What they won't tell you though is that they are incredibly sensitive dogs. They bond with whatever/whoever they grow up with. I know people who have them as medical alert dogs. Our first one Bandit used to let me know when my bp was up. he would come and stand against me and push till I sat down. I finally figured out what he was doing when he did that! Every single time my bp was up. Bandit even alerted us that dd was going to start having her periods. Our gp now is not that tuned in to me....he's still a pup though and is more tuned to dd. They are very big dogs though and require grooming but if you want a dog that is devoted and protective of your dd I can't recommend one enough. This is Tucker with my dd....she's 13 and 5' tall to give you an idea of size.

I'm partial to large dogs. I find them gentle giants. Whose gonna mess with something that size and because of this I don't find them aggressive at all, just big teddy bears. I've had a golden and 2 labs. Both are extremely smart and loyal. My neighbors lab knew my golden had lung cancer. I kept seeing him sniffing his chest and was wondering what was going on. Long story short, took him to vets low and behold - lung cancer and into pneumonia! I also had a cat that was very intune with me he was very smart!! I believe love makes the biggest difference with animals!