Re: Service Dogs For Vets

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@butterfly123 wrote:

@Noel7
I re-read the posts and I was wondering what the title of the documentary is?
Thank you, and @momtochloe for posting this information.

I knew about the rescue/shelter dog program and I would like to watch the documentary.

Thank you both!

The survice dogs are saving lives for the people who help keep us safe and alive.
Very inspiring.

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@butterfly123

i am so sorry, I don't know the title. I saw the last half hour or so some time ago, and then the other night I saw almost all of it after the first few minutes, I never caught the title.

I googled it today and kept coming up with a different dog documentary. I will keep looking and let you know if I find out.

mstyrion 1 · ‎09-18-2014

@momtochloe wrote:
@Kachina624 wrote:
It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.
@Kachina624 I smell what you're cooking but I think a Service Dog can be found among dogs that may have not been necessarily bred for it.

As you can see, I am a big supporter of SDP but even they have dogs that are deemed not good matches for their main purpose which is physically supporting a human throughout their day. With those that may not be suited they are either adopted out to friends and volunteers but sometimes there are those that help vets with PTSD.

For me, I think it takes a keen eye and great trainers to find and then train those dogs to help with a specific, given purpose. Often shelter dogs are so thrilled to have a human they are more than willing to help wherever they can with proper training.

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Good post, mtc.

There are many more categories of service dog than just guide dogs.

A guide dog is an example of an extremely specialized training course and perhaps breeding is a priority.

Other service dogs (for the deaf, for the mobility impaired, military, search and rescue, cadaver, VA etc etc) can certainly be trained without specialized breeding.

Trainers learn to identify dogs with personality traits that make them a good candidate for specialty training. They are not just "picked up" from the shelter.

~Enough is enough~

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

@Noel7

Hello!! I saw a show some time back about dogs being given to Vets with PTSD or other types of trauma. The ones I saw were not trained for any specific reason other than be nice and gentle dogs.

They gave the Vets a different view of life, along with the fun and unconditional love, as do most canines and felines. It is really heart warming to see these homeless/unwanted dogs given another chance at a life with humans that actually return their love.

I saw tonight on the "Commander-In- Chief Forum" show, on NBC with Matt Lauer and the 2 CIC Candidates, where this was talked about. They said between 20-22 Vets per day commit suicide, and that is tragic and so sad. It is hard to even hear those types of numbers connected to our Vets and suicides.

What a great group that K9's For Warriors is for both the dogs and the Vets. I am not sure if that is the sane Group or Cause of the show I have seen. Either way these are some great people doing some great things for our Vets and homeless canines.

Great thread for everyone to read, and maybe learn about how many Vets take their own lives every single day.

Thank You Noel,

hckynut(john)

hckynut(john)

SPACKLE · ‎05-25-2010

This is a separate line from the complaint about dogs in grocery stores.

I thought about putting this up the other day, imo service dogs for vets and disabled others is a miracle that can happen and save lives.

I must admit my first thought was oh no a continuation of the ewww Doggie paws in stores post, I am very glad to see it is not.

i am a disabled vet myself, but by god's grace PTSD is not one of my disabilities, however a vet friend of mine does have PTSD, and he has one of these SERVICE DOGS, which they completely are. His german shepherd is a life saver and gives him emotional support to the point that he now is able to go in public for a few hours and feel safe and calm. I just do not understand how doubters can say these AMAZING beings are not service dogs. What greater service is there for those who served?

We have a bloodhound puppy who is currently being trained in S & R but when he gets his official Canine Good Citizen he will also do emotional support for children in hospitals and elderly because he has a people personality. He will not be an official service dog like others will prolly say (ie DOGS IN THE STORE post) but I am willing to bet the people and the families of those people that he brings joy will beg to differ.

Ok I am now off of my soapbox, animals are amazing and very NEEDED by some, and those that question their validity should really rethink that opinion

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@SPACKLE

THANK YOU for your service and THANK YOU for your post.

I hope a lot of people read what you have shared because so many have the wrong idea about service dogs and even comfort dogs. They have no idea there are so many ways these dogs help people and become a lifeline for vets and others.

How wonderful of you to train a dog to give emotional support to children in a hospital!

I'm glad you found this line, it's actually a tribute to people like you and the dogs, you are doing amazing work.