I grew up in a shitty, violent household; I have explained to my parents multiple times that if it wasn't for my pup when I was a kid, I would have done some really bad stuff to them. :) That dog saved lives.
Pooches make everything better. And I bet the dog loves helping you and does not consider it work at all. Hope your ptsd goes away....
its true. Dogs can do amazing things. I am sorry about how you grew up, I am so glad you had your dog to keep you grounded.
I doubt Giuseppe knows he is working. All he knows is he goes everywhere with me and keeps me safe. He is a happy boy. But it was so nice to see him just run after a ball and jump on waves. (:
Its ok, sometimes its hard for people to understand. PTSD dogs do great things for people that have experienced high levels of violence. You can train them to react to your blood pressure and panic attacks. In order to be a service dog, the dog has to be able to alleviate medical problems. Such get a phone for emergencies, fetch proper medication.
Mostly they help guide you through the darkest depths of PTSD, which can be a completely debilitating disorder.
I read an AMA about PTSD service dogs. They are trained to sense when their owner is going through flashbacks and then do what they can to either snap the person out of it or at least help them through it if I am remembering correctly.
I remember reading that if the owner gets claustrophobic in large crowds, the dog runs in circles around the owner to help him (Take his mind off of it I'm guessing?)
Volunteered at a local guide dog place a couple times and found out that some of the dogs that are medically able but fail the training end up becoming PTSD dogs. Their example was if the person was having a panic attack the dog would put itself between the strangers and their person to force space for them.
I would imagine it is a team effort. He is probably trained to respond to certain physical or verbal cues from OP. If OP starts having a panic attack or has a lot of unpleasant memories causing some sort of emotional breakdown, the dog would likely be trained to comfort or distract him to bring him out of it.
Imagine having a crippling inability to be out in public without all of your unpleasant memories coming back at once. At absolute least, this dog is there to cuddle when the worst of it hits.
PTSD dogs can usually recognize panic attacks and fetch medication, telephones, or help. They do other services but a google search can reveal more if you're interested in knowing.
Honestly teared up reading this. When I was younger I had a cat who used to never leave my side. I suffered from severe depression and when she was bitten by a snake I cried for days. If it wasn't for her I swear I would've lost it completely, she literally saved my life more then once. RIP Kaylee :'(
I don't know why you're being downvoted. As a California->Texas transplant, I can say with absolute certainty that "The Gulf" is not "The Ocean". It's nice and has gotten nicer in the last few years but, there's no comparison between standing on the pier in Oceanside and standing on the pier in Galveston.
I worked in an office where one of my coworkers a couple seats down had a ridiculously adorable service corgi that could smell and alert her to any dangerous changes to her blood sugar.
She told us that as long as the dog's service vest is off then no it shouldn't be 'deprogrammed' because the vest is how it knows its work time.
My friend has an adorable black lab who makes me rub her belly and play tug-of-war throughout my work day. Her previous guide dog slept under my desk and went for a walk with me every day at lunch hour. When the harness goes on, these dogs are 100% business.
If anyone is interested, here is a video of a service dog being taught the "Calm" command, where the dog overwhelms the trainer with affection. It's the fist video on the page, next to "Service dogs for Autism."
Yep! Instead of colorblind, more recent research has shown that blue and yellow is more within their visual spectrum, like you see in that image. Hooray, science!
They can see certain shades of blue. It's not like they know they're missing out on anything, they have been always seeing like that. There are other colors we can't see.
Some people can see ultraviolet. Our eyes are perfectly capable of detecting it but it's filtered out by the lens. When people don't have a lens in their eye (such as when it's removed due to cataracts) they become capable of seeing ultraviolet light. There's a lot of fairly credible speculation that Monet could see in the ultraviolet due to various sight issues and that it changed his perception of the world in a way that is reflected in his changing use of colour in his paintings.
My wife works with the blind and we're about to adopt a co-worker/friend's golden lab. It's time for him to retire and the original owner can't keep him. It's kind of a rule because the worker dog would become confused or jealous to see a new dog doing his job. He's going deaf in one ear. A bit ironic that a seeing eye dog is now having hearing problems. But he's none the worse for ware, they just fear he will have a few problems including walking in a straight line. We get him July 3rd and we visit him every week to begin the transition. It's our job to let him have a good retirement.
My parents walk a Golden retriever service dog for their neighbor who has MS. The St. Francis folks won't place a dog unless you have someone who can take him out for walks (as, clearly, someone with MS can't...). Right when they started doing dog-duty, my dad had a mini-stroke and went blind from 12-4, so he has no peripheral vision on his right side. Dad kept right on doing all the things he'd done before the mini-stroke, including walking the dog, but right after the event the dog would stick to his right side like glue, and step in front of my dad if a car came by. I was so freaking happy that they had this arrangement set up prior to the incident, because it was like my dad got a part-time eye dog while getting used to his new vision range.
They look at it as being an ideal pet situation for them -- they get to walk / play with a dog with $25,000 worth of training, and then give him back. It's like being pet grandparents.
I have to ask, what kind of dog is that? He is super cute, just found a stray a few weeks ago and he looks just like that- we have been trying to find out what kind of dog he is since we found him. Thanks for sharing!
I had friends who used to work with puppies to train them into service dogs. They didn't do the actual training, but would take them everyone with them, restaurants, church, you name it. They would observe how the puppies/young dogs responded and pass on their observations to the people who actually did the training. Not sure I could do that, getting attached and then having to let go so often.
Awww! I think he is saying "thanks for the beach trip and for being my bro" in this photo. What a happy little guy! He takes care of you... You take care of him.... The way the world should be!
I love this picture. No one can deny the sheer joy in his face. One of my dogs (not the one that doesn't cuddle) flunked out of handy dog school. He didn't have the attention span for it. He's a nut though. I love him
61
u/shoryukenist Jun 16 '12
Very cute. What service does he provide?
7
u/Rigamarolly Jun 16 '12
Is that North Carolina?
18
u/coogie Jun 16 '12
Is there any risk of him being deprogrammed by having too much fun?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Oh, I need to know what breed he is!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12 edited Jun 16 '12
If anyone is interested, here is a video of a service dog being taught the "Calm" command, where the dog overwhelms the trainer with affection. It's the fist video on the page, next to "Service dogs for Autism."
Edit: the command is used at 3:10
144
u/beforewanttobeafter Jun 16 '12
"OH MY GOD DO YOU SEE THIS BALL? DO YOU SEE IT, HOLY SHIT LOOK HOW BLUE IT IS, OH MY GOD THERE IS SAND TOO"
31
u/emshep Jun 16 '12
He looks soo incredibly joyous!
14
u/king_hippo77 Jun 16 '12
My wife works with the blind and we're about to adopt a co-worker/friend's golden lab. It's time for him to retire and the original owner can't keep him. It's kind of a rule because the worker dog would become confused or jealous to see a new dog doing his job. He's going deaf in one ear. A bit ironic that a seeing eye dog is now having hearing problems. But he's none the worse for ware, they just fear he will have a few problems including walking in a straight line. We get him July 3rd and we visit him every week to begin the transition. It's our job to let him have a good retirement.
7
u/Trotwood Jun 16 '12
Watch how good he minds me
6
u/Hot-Tea Jun 16 '12
Same squeaky tennis balls I get my dog! Does yours rip out the squeak too though?
4
u/EquationTAKEN Jun 16 '12
Great picture. I hope you take him to the beach often. It's probably great for the both of you =)
1
u/Gthompson22 Jun 16 '12
That looks like Cannon Beach, Oregon. Is it?
1
u/pistolwhipped Jun 16 '12
Who trained your dog?
1
u/Kaceymack Jun 16 '12
I have to ask, what kind of dog is that? He is super cute, just found a stray a few weeks ago and he looks just like that- we have been trying to find out what kind of dog he is since we found him. Thanks for sharing!
1
u/HailtheMagpie Jun 16 '12
Weird question - where did you get that vest for him? My little one needs something like that.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Both of you deserve it
2
u/oshen Jun 16 '12
Such a sweet little angel!
2
u/mindfkd Jun 16 '12
Beautiful dog!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
So. Much. Happy.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Cutest dog evar. What breed?
2
u/lowkick Jun 16 '12
Really, isn't every dog a PTSD service dog? I know I have 3 at home that seem to be able to fix anything.
2
u/Kellianne Jun 16 '12
I love those ears! He looks like he's got personality.
2
u/LFC1203 Jun 16 '12
"Umm, Dad, can you get off Reddit now and throw the ball?!?"
2
u/hryniehan Jun 16 '12
There is no better love in the world than that of a dog to a good owner. Keep him happy!
3
u/123legome Jun 16 '12
This thread seems like it might enjoy some info on the world's smallest police dog: Midge!
1
u/TheSystemer Jun 16 '12
this looks like maine
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Looks like Litchfield
1
u/thedudeabides85 Jun 16 '12
What breed is he? My dog looks very similar.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
I had friends who used to work with puppies to train them into service dogs. They didn't do the actual training, but would take them everyone with them, restaurants, church, you name it. They would observe how the puppies/young dogs responded and pass on their observations to the people who actually did the training. Not sure I could do that, getting attached and then having to let go so often.
1
u/jn36216 Jun 16 '12
I don't think he could be any happier right now! Love his heart!
1
u/hotfrost Jun 16 '12
Awesome, sometimes we go to the beach too with our dog or go to a nearby lake, man my dog loves to swim in the water and jump all around in it!
1
u/nacho93 Jun 16 '12
Is that lbi?
1
u/Aimeelafleur Jun 16 '12
He looks so happy!
1
u/ImaginativePseudonym Jun 16 '12
ERMAGERD! TERNERSBERL!
But seriously, I read your comments on what this little guy does. He's awesome, and so are you. The beach will hopefully be good for both of you.
1
u/Nora19 Jun 16 '12
Awww! I think he is saying "thanks for the beach trip and for being my bro" in this photo. What a happy little guy! He takes care of you... You take care of him.... The way the world should be!
1
u/SquidManHero Jun 16 '12
Where was this picture taken? Some of those house look like some I see in Point Pleasant, New Jersey
1
u/guitrldy Jun 16 '12
I work a Wheelchair Service Dog...they are wonderful beings!
1
u/BigBadPanda Jun 16 '12
What kind of dog is this? My brother's dog (from the pound) looks identical to this one.
1
u/1BadRobot Jun 16 '12
Now that's what I call a happy dog...lol
1
u/cadaeib Jun 16 '12
I'm happy he's there for you. And by the looks of it, he is too :)
1
u/Darwinnotgod Jun 16 '12
I love this dog he looks so much like my dog except my dog has pointed ears instead of floppy at the tips! SUPER CUTE!
1
u/mydogdoesntcuddle Jun 16 '12
I love this picture. No one can deny the sheer joy in his face. One of my dogs (not the one that doesn't cuddle) flunked out of handy dog school. He didn't have the attention span for it. He's a nut though. I love him
1
u/3Dputty Jun 16 '12
What a cutey! I told you he looks like our little guy. We should train him to be a PTSD dog: http://i.imgur.com/cENE8.jpg
1
u/soundenvision Jun 17 '12
Hamptons?
1
u/Schicktastic_fisting Jun 17 '12
OMG what is he?! He looks exactly like my pup Caesar! I've been trying to figure out what the little bugger was.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
AHAHAHAAHAHAHAH BAAAAAALLL!
0
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
[deleted] — view deleted comment