Service Dog Advocate

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  1. Reasonable Accommodations, Title 1 & Alternate Accommodations

    Reasonable Accommodations, Title 1 & Alternate Accommodations

    Many people mix up service dog access when attempting to take their service dog to work, as they understand the basic public access guidelines that they deal with on a daily basis. However, they are two completely different monsters. Most service dog handlers are used to the typical Title 2 and...
  2. Sunshine in the darkness: A veteran's path to hope with a service dog

    Sunshine in the darkness: A veteran's path to hope with a service dog

    Sgt. Ryen Macababbad sat on the steps of a former palace in Afghanistan, with her rifle propped up so its muzzle poked into her chin, ready to pull the trigger. It was in the middle of the night in 2012. "All I needed to do was press down," she said in an interview. The road getting there had...
  3. Prospect vs. SDIT vs. SD: Which one is my dog?

    Prospect vs. SDIT vs. SD: Which one is my dog?

    by Veronica Morris, PhD with Bradley W. Morris, MA, CPhil When you're training a service dog, there are three terms used to describe the status of your dog that are sometimes not well understood. They are prospect, service dog in training (SDIT), and service dog (SD). What you should call...
  4. Getting a service dog at 30 almost ruined my marriage. Then, it saved it.

    Getting a service dog at 30 almost ruined my marriage. Then, it saved it.

    As my bond with Wheatie grew, my husband and I drifted farther apart. My husband, Sean, and me, with my service dog, Wheatie.Courtesy Jayne Mattingly Oct. 25, 2024, 2:37 PM EDT By Jayne Mattingly When you marry someone, you vow to stick by them "in sickness and in health," and when my...
  5. Service Dog Access: Know the Rules and Your Rights (Florida)

    Service Dog Access: Know the Rules and Your Rights (Florida)

    Have you ever seen a dog somewhere you might not expect to see one—like in a restaurant, or on a plane? That's probably a service animal. Although some people occasionally take personal pets into public places and pretend they are service animals, the majority will be service dogs trained for a...
  6. NIH Study Underscores Benefits of Service Dogs for PTSD Veterans

    NIH Study Underscores Benefits of Service Dogs for PTSD Veterans

    At the end of 2023, things were looking bleak for Tim Cleveland, a military veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). "I was basically at the end of my rope," he says. "I had been suicidal in the past, was feeling really depressed, and I was tired of meds and going to counseling—it...
  7. SDA Guide to Housing (renting) with Service Dogs (US)

    SDA Guide to Housing (renting) with Service Dogs (US)

    Many questions are asked by service dog teams as the look for a new rental. Can they charge a "pet" fee? What information can the manager/owner ask from me? So, Ill try to guide you the best I can. Please remember this is not intended to be legal advice. Is the owner or management covered under...
  8. Service dogs appear to enhance mental health and social functioning for veterans with PTSD

    Service dogs appear to enhance mental health and social functioning for veterans with PTSD

    by Eric W. Dolan (Photo credit: Adobe Stock) Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a significant issue among military veterans. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that trained psychiatric service dogs can help alleviate some symptoms of PTSD. The study...
  9. Can I Afford a Service Dog?

    Can I Afford a Service Dog?

    I know the title can seem a little off-putting or even rude, but it something that all prospective handers should think about. I had a poster that was explaining to another follower what a service dog was. She said that a service dog was a "designer treatment" for a specific medical...
  10. Puppy Fear Periods: Why Is My Puppy Suddenly Afraid?

    Puppy Fear Periods: Why Is My Puppy Suddenly Afraid?

    By Sassafras Lowrey, CTDI Updated: Apr 20, 2021 | 4 Minutes – American Kennel Club Have a new puppy? There's a lot to get used to and prepare for, but one thing that often gets overlooked is puppy fear periods. Puppies go through an important socialization period from approximately three weeks...
  11. How Much Does It Cost to Train a Service Dog? 2024 Pricing Update

    How Much Does It Cost to Train a Service Dog? 2024 Pricing Update

    Written by: Lindsey Lawson Last Updated on March 22, 2024 by Lindsey Lawson The Importance of Professionally Trained Service Dogs Service Dog Training Cost Areas of Training Service Dog Price Range by Type Additional Costs Service Dog Selection Training Period a Service Dog Most Common Service...
  12. Abhean

    What Is Offered Here At SDA

    It has been a while since I wrote about all the items we have here at Service Dog Advocate. Forums (of course): While everything is open to read for everyone I do ask that you join the site. It is free and the only way you can interact with anything you read here. Blogs: One of the first...
  13. Things I Wish I had Known: from Service Dog Teams

    Things I Wish I had Known: from Service Dog Teams

    Several years ago I wrote an article based on "The Negative Side of Having a Service Dog" where I went through some of the things I have learned after Dougal and I hit the road that I wished I had learned before going down this path. Not that it would have changed things but it may have made...
  14. Why so much Worry?

    Why so much Worry?

    Reading through my daily service dog groups I was reminded of how we worry about how others view us. Even within our own service dog groups, we worry about how other handers view our teams. The most dreaded label is "fake service dog". Sadly, I have seen perspective teams wash their dog and quit...
  15. What Is a Psychiatric Service Dog?

    What Is a Psychiatric Service Dog?

    Erin Boswell Mon, February 19, 2024 at 4:17 PM EST (Photo Credit: ivanastar | Getty Images) Like other types of service dogs, psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) assist individuals with specific tasks directly related to mental health disorders or learning disabilities. These highly skilled...
  16. BASIC SERVICE DOG TRAINING TIPS AND THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN TRAINING YOUR DOG

    BASIC SERVICE DOG TRAINING TIPS AND THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN TRAINING YOUR DOG

    Admin Note: This article was written by Power House on his service dog group. Remember there is not a single way to train a dog as there are many different methods used for dog training. I try to go over different ways of training within this group but it's up to you to decide which one works...
  17. The Road to Having a Service Dog, The Foundation (US)

    The Road to Having a Service Dog, The Foundation (US)

    This is a re-writing of several articles I have written over the last few years, consolidating several articles into one. So, many parts of this should seem familiar to others who have read some of my articles before. Service animals seem to have almost a mystic quality nowadays. There seem to...
  18. Doctor's Letters for Service Dogs (United States)

    Doctor's Letters for Service Dogs (United States)

    This is one of the most argued subjects within the service dog world, that of if a service dog team is required to have a note from their licensed medical professional to have their service dog. Please remember that I am presenting this from the US, so there are other countries where this...
  19. Does Insurance Cover Service Dogs? Exploring Implications, Costs, and Considerations

    Does Insurance Cover Service Dogs? Exploring Implications, Costs, and Considerations

    By Jervis Gonzales Dec 04, 2023 Service dogs provide invaluable support and assistance to individuals with disabilities, helping them navigate their daily lives with greater independence and confidence. However, the financial responsibilities associated with owning a service dog can be...
  20. A potentially fatal mystery illness in dogs is spreading in the US.

    A potentially fatal mystery illness in dogs is spreading in the US.

    Nov. 16, 2023, 3:30 PM EST / Updated Nov. 28, 2023, 11:20 AM EST / Source: TODAY By Maura Hohman A mystery illness sickening dogs in at least 14 states in the U.S. is concerning veterinarians, as some dogs have died from the disease and the holiday season may increase dogs' risk for contracting...
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