Unleashing Confidence: Our Journey with a Service Dog

Since she little, my daughter has gravitated towards animals. Over the years, she’s ridden horses, had dogs, raised ducks and helped at barns. While I knew the important role animals play in her life, I had no idea how transformative getting a service dog would be to her confidence and independence.

Our service dog journey began with a panic attack. Having panic attacks wasn’t new. But the location of the panic attack, touring a university campus on a high school field trip, was the catalyst our service dog journey.

This panic attack made our daughter realize she couldn’t go to university without a support animal. The campus environment is just too overwhelming – lots of people, different buildings and lots to process.

We had no idea how difficult it is to get a service dog.

We quickly learned there are no organizations in Canada where a student can apply for a psychiatric service dog (to help with anxiety, panic attacks, autism and other neurological needs). Rather, the only options are to try and purchase a fully trained service dog ($30,000+ if you can find one) or train your own service dog.

We chose the train your own dog option.

Not a family pet

We’re less than one year into our service dog adventure. It started with working with a respectable breeder and getting a puppy with the right disposition. From there, we were fortunate to find an experienced trainer, who is guiding us on our journey.

Even though we’ve had dogs for years, it didn’t take long to realize raising a service dog is much different than a family pet. It requires significantly more training, patience and treats. Oh, so many treats!!! I can honestly say I wasn’t prepared for how much we spend on treats (as we’re taking the positive reinforcement approach).

While I had initially hoped there would be grants or service clubs who could help with the financial costs, sadly none are available. I’ve written letters to service clubs that go unanswered. Spent hours researching funding opportunities, only to find people with hidden disabilities do not qualify for supports.

Significant investment

As a mom raising a child with a disability, I’m used to paying for therapy, tutoring and other supports out of pocket. It’s a lot. Yet, the costs of training a service dog were more than I expected.

Sadly, this mean a vital support is out of reach for many of the people who need it the most.

While the costs are high, the difference in my daughter after a few months of training was so remarkable that we’re finding ways to burden the costs (primarily line of credit).

From trepidation to confidence

The benefits have been numerous. Within a few weeks, my daughter formed a close bond with her puppy. The two quickly became inseparable.

And the amazing part – with no training this young puppy was able to alert her to an oncoming panic attack. The first time it happened we were at the mall. Sensing her anxiety with this overwhelming environment, her dog got up on his hind legs, pushed on her body, encouraging her to sit down. Once on the ground, he put his full weight in her lap, refusing to leave until she had calmed down.

I knew right then this connection is magical and we would do whatever we could to make sure this incredible puppy became a fully certified service dog.

Partners in success

We’re now approaching our dog’s first birthday, and 10 months with our family. And we couldn’t imagine life without him.

Thanks to his support, our daughter is now able to go to places that were previously too stressful (stores, farmers markets, medical appointments and more). He gives her the confidence she needs and is quick to alert when she’s disassociating or feeling stressed. And having her dog to focus on, helps her block out aspects of the busy environment.

While training a service dog isn’t for everyone, for those who are able to put in the time and effort, the rewards are significant. As a mom, I love watching the transformation from a girl who resisted going into a grocery store to a teenager who is able to navigate this space thanks to her furry companion.

If you’re considering a service dog for yourself or a loved one, start by getting clear on what you want from the animal. Are there specific tasks you need them to perform? What disposition do you want? Is there a specific breed and sizes that’s best suited for your needs?

And most importantly – do you have the time and resources to train the dog on your own (with a qualified trainer) or would you prefer getting a fully trained dog?

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best on your journey. Yes, it will be filled with some challenges (and maybe an occasional poop in a public area), but the rewards are worth the effort.

In a few weeks, we’ll be having a birthday party to celebrate our 1-year-old family member. He’ll be treated to a homemade dog cake, more treats (the treats never end) and lots of love. While I know he’ll enjoy the attention, it’s nothing compared to the joy he gets spending time with and supporting our daughter.