Questions to Ask Yourself Before Partnering with a Service Dog

Deciding to partner with a service dog is a big decision, not only for the disabled individual, but also for anyone routinely involved in their life. I recommend sitting down with the people who routinely help you and go through these questions together, before embarking on the adventure of finding your service dog partner. 

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#1: ​Am I disabled to the point where I need a service dog to improve my quality of life by assisting me in the management of my condition?

Just wanting an animal to provide comfort or give life meaning is not reason enough for a service dog. Service dogs stand apart from comfort animals because they are specially trained to perform specific functions that help a disabled person participate in daily, normal life. Such actions include opening doors, alerting to medical issues, preventing falls, finding help, and much more. 

#2: ​Do I have a large sum of money I am willing & ready to put into a dog for the next 8-10 years or will I be able to fund-raise the funds? 

Program or owner-trained, all service dogs have gear, food, care, vet bills, and miscellaneous costs that accrue over time. It's unrealistic to expect to only need money at the beginning or to choose one method over another based solely on cost. Additionally, owner-training is expensive in the amount of time it steals from you. Breeds with regular, specialized grooming needs, like Poodles, can cost several hundred dollars every  6 - 8 weeks to be seen by a groomer. Puppies grow out of gear fast. By the time they are adults, you will have bought several iterations of coats, collars, boots, and harnesses. That adds up. 

#3: ​Do I understand that unless I decide working with a service dog isn't for me, that I will have a lifetime of service dogs?

​This means finding and/or training a new dog every 8-9 years, and having the income to care for this dog. 

#4: ​Will I be able to fulfill the daily needs of my service dog no matter how crappy I feel? 

This means that even when you have a splitting migraine or can barely walk, you need to play with, exercise, provide mental stimulation, feed, and give supervised potty breaks to your service dog. 

#5: ​Is there a person in my life who would be able to reliably assist with the care of my service dog on the days when I need extra help or during times when I have long-term medical procedures?

Some people may be fine with helping you, but want nothing to do with a dog or may not follow your instructions on handling your service dog correctly. Before deciding to get a service dog, you need to discuss it thoroughly with everyone in your life who would interact with the dog. Caretaker, spouse, children, and roommates. Decide on rules for the dog and rules on how the dog is handled. A service dog needs consistent handling and can't have bad experiences or develop bad habits with other people because that could affect the dog's ability to perform its duties.

#6: ​Am I ready to have a dog shadow? 

Partnering with a service dog means that dog will be lying nearby when you shower, use the bathroom, heeling as you go into a new room, sleeping under the table when you go out for dinner, out on date night, etc. Service dogs go everywhere that the general public is allowed, with very select exceptions. Some handlers might leave their service dogs at home under certain circumstances, but that isn't common. You may very well find that you spend more time around your service dog than anyone else in your life. 

#7: Am I ready to handle the public attention?

Stares, pointing, and intrusive questions are par for the course. Are you prepared to come up with short answers, field questions, and politely ask people to respect your privacy or to not pet your dog? If you have social anxiety, dealing with strangers demanding to know your life story might get stressful for you. It’s stressful for me, and I don’t have social anxiety. 

#8: ​Am I ready to withstand criticism from friends and family who may think my service dog is disgusting & shouldn't be allowed in public or who don't think I'm really disabled?

It will happen. Hopefully, most people in your life will be supportive and give nothing but encouragement, but others may have trouble seeing past the whole dog part. Remember - most people's associations with dogs may be jumping up, being muddy, being unruly, stealing food, getting fur everywhere, etc. The behavior of a service dog is so completely foreign that they won't be able to understand it until they see your dog in action. If they are willing, ask them to come out in public with you to see that your service dog isn't like a typical dog. 

#9: Do I understand that working with a service dog will be difficult some days? 

You might have days where you climb into your car after a grocery run, in tears, because someone demanded to know if you were training the dog for a poor disabled kid & harassed you when you tell them politely that he was for you. Or times when training will be too much of a struggle and you’ll want to throw in the towel. It is hard, but the motivation of knowing that working with a service dog is the best management tool for you and your condition will help you push through. If this is something you want and feel is right for you - go for it & don't give up!

#10: Do I understand how valuable and priceless my service dog will be?

Their training is extensive, and thorough, and yet can be fragile because of the high expectations placed upon them. One attack from an off-leash dog could ruin your dog in a matter of seconds. When out on walks or working in public, it becomes your job to protect them because protecting you is not part of their job. At home, you protect them by never leaving them unsupervised, even in a fenced in yard. In the car, you protect them by keeping them in a car harness or crash-tested crate so they are kept safe. They will become everything to you, and deserve to be treated as such. 

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If you feel partnering with a service dog is the right choice for you, check out our Consultations to learn more about life with a service dog, or head on over to our Training Courses if you want to owner-train a mobility dog for yourself!