Consider whether an Assistance Dog is right for you
Maybe you have read or heard glowing statements about the benefits of an Assistance Dog. Assistance Dogs can undoubtedly change lives, but do you have a realistic understanding of how an Assistance Dog can actually help you? Unfortunately, having an Assistance Dog will not miraculously cure your disabilities and fix your health issues. You will still need to continue to seek professional support to manage your symptoms. Maybe your Health Care Provider has recommended you train your own Assistance Dog, but do they really understand what that entails – the physical and mental effort, the financial cost, and the time that will be required?
Financial Cost
Can you afford it financially? Dog ownership costs on average $2000 per year. Purchase of a suitable dog is likely to be $600-$6000. Training support costs from $2000-$5000. Public Liability Insurance is expensive but necessary. NDIS does not fund training an Assistance Dog or a Skilled Companion, or purchasing and maintaining a pet dog. NDIS may fund assessment, matching and provision of an eligible assistance animal, food, grooming, transportation, routine veterinary services and yearly reviews to maintain accreditation.
Effort
Do you have time and health to exercise and train your dog every day? Although initial training sessions for a puppy may be only a few minutes at a time, you will need to do several short sessions a day. You will need to take your dog to a variety of different places – at least three outings each week – for training and environmental exposure purposes. Dogs also need to be taken out of the home daily for age-appropriate exercise to develop and maintain a healthy fit body suitable for a working role. Working dogs require “down time” such as a sniffy-walk to help them relax, a trip to the beach, or a casual walk with a doggy friend, to reduce stress and prevent burn-out.
Interested In Learning New Skills
Are you genuinely interested in understanding how dogs learn, and how to train complex skills effectively? To be able to train your own Assistance Dog, you need to learn how to be a “Dog Trainer” – is this something you are really interested in?
An Assistance Dog is never fully trained – the “Use It Or Lose It” rule applies, and ongoing maintenance training is required for the working life of the dog. The dog may need to learn new skills if your medical needs or lifestyle changes, and this may require you to update your training techniques and abilities.
To be an effective team, you also need to learn how to be a good “Dog Handler”, which involves effectively managing, directing and benefiting from your Assistance Dog.
Well Organised
Are you able to organise the physical requirements of managing an Assistance Dog? You won’t be able to “pop out to the shops” with an Assistance Dog. You need to ensure that the dog is bathed and/or brushed and clean before any outing, has proper toileting opportunities, you’ll need to carry water and training rewards, sometimes you’ll need to take a mat, also a clean up kit for emergencies, ID card or other documentation that validates your dogs ability to access public areas.
Self Motivated
Are you able to keep records of your training, and follow a structured training plan? I can give you the skills and training knowledge that you need, but it is up to you to maintain your training log, and do the necessary training and environmental habituation between sessions.
Observation Skills
You need to have a good ability to notice changes in your dogs behaviour that may mean your dog is stressed (and needs to be removed from the situation), or is being over-worked and needs a rest. You need to recognise any physical or behaviour change that may suggest an injury or illness.
You need to monitor your dog’s weight to ensure it is neither over-weight nor under-weight.
Flexibility
Do you recognise that a dog is a living creature that may make mistakes, or get distracted?
What is your back-up plan should your dog have an off-moment and not perform 100%?
Will you be able to provide your dog with sufficient rest and relaxation, to allow them to de-stress?
Emotional Strength
Do you have the emotional confidence to take your dog to a variety of different places for training purposes? Do you have a support network to help you with this if need be?
Are you prepared for the public attention that having an assistance dog will create?
Will you be able to appropriately deal with people wanting to pet your dog? Or trying to get your dog’s attention by making noises or barking at your dog? Or taking videos or photos?
If you have an “invisible” disability, having an Assistance Dog will immediately change this. Will you find it distressing if people ask intrusive and inappropriate questions about your condition, and why you have an Assistance Dog? Or will you be able to use this as an opportunity to inform and educate people about the roles and rights of Assistance Dogs?
Will you be able to cope if a business asks you to leave or refuses you access? Not everyone understands Assistance Dog Law, and at some point it is likely you will be challenged which can be upsetting.
Will you be confident enough to leave your puppy alone (in a safe place) for training purposes? You need to ensure that your young dog is not with you constantly; all dogs must learn to be comfortable when left alone for reasonable periods of time to prevent separation disorders.
Capacity To Represent
When you work with an Assistance Dog, you also become an ambassador for the service dog community as a whole. Will you be able to conduct yourself accordingly, even in the face of difficulties such as access challenges?
Support System
Do you have someone else who can take care of your dog if you are unwell, in hospital, or travelling?
How will you manage your dog if you cannot take them out with you because it is too hot? Or because they are unwell?
Do you have someone who can help with training? Training certain skills may require the assistance of a second person.
Well Thought Out Plans
Are you able to think with your head, not your heart, and choose an appropriate breed of dog, not just pick a dog because you like the way it looks?
Are you prepared for the possibility that the dog you choose may not end up being suited to working as an assistance dog? Or that your dog may need to retire early due to medical issues, or as a result of a bad experience such as a dog attack that causes them to lose confidence? Would you be prepared to start all over again?
Some dogs may take longer than anticipated to develop sufficient emotional maturity for the role. Would you be prepared to give your dog extra time?
What would you do with your unsuccessful or retired Assistance Dog? Do you have family or friends who might take the dog? Would you keep it, and if so, do you have the finances, space and time to get another prospective Assistance Dog to train up?
Time
If you are raising a puppy, your dog will not be ready for service for 2-3 years – do you have other ways to manage your disability until your dog is ready?
If you are raising a puppy, you will not be able to leave your puppy alone for more than 2-4 hours at a time (age dependent). How will you manage to do this?
Transportation
Do you have suitable transportation for your dog, to take your dog out for training or exercise, or to take your dog to the Vet?
Housing
Do you have sufficient space in your home to accomodate a dog? Crate training is advisable as it aids in toilet training and keeps your puppy safe from hazards when not being watched. Do you have space to set up one or two safe crate spaces?
Is your yard suitable for play, exercise and toileting?
Is your yard adequately and securely fenced, with lockable gates?
Will you have to fence off fish pond, swimming pool, raised garden beds or retaining walls, for safety reasons?
Do you have stairs inside or outside your home? If so, are you able to carry your puppy up and down the stairs until they are old enough to do this safely? (Allowing young puppies to use stairs increases the risk of hip dysplasia)
Previous Experience
Have you previously owned, lived with, and trained a dog? If not, I strongly recommend that you gain some experience in this. Find out how a dog fits into your life, what adjustments you will need to make, and if it is something you really enjoy. If a friend or family member has a well-behaved dog, ask if the dog can stay with you for a few weeks, or offer to look after the dog while they are away. Take on a dog as a short-term foster – I recommend volunteering to provide “respite care” for one of the guide dog providers, or foster a greyhound through a reputable rehoming service.
Alternatives
Is an Assistance Dog actually the best way to mitigate your disability? Assistive Technology is improving dramatically. Is there a technological solution that is more portable, less intrusive, more affordable, more cost-effective or more reliable?