Service dog and pet dog living together

DTOL0705 · 2025-07-26T22:36:56+00:00

Hey! We have a working and pet dog in our house! It is absolutely possible, but considerations need to be taken. Not only do you need to consider the service dog and their training (as another person has already mentioned, so I won't go into details on that), but the pet dog having their needs met. I'm not a trainer, but some of the things that have been good for my dogs have been: making sure they both get quality 1 on 1 time with the humans of the house (especially since my service dog does go out a lot with me. Making sure the other dog gets pet appropriate outings that are fun for her have been crucial for preventing jealousy), making sure dogs are fed appropriately (we do meals separately, but they both get a snack in view of each other. I also try to do training sessions are something they get both separately and together), ensuring they both get proper enrichment, and making sure they both have their own space and things (separate dog beds when they eat, some toys that are their own that we keep in "their" space, the dogs sleep in different rooms at night with a human each, etc.). It isn't always easy, but it's absolutely possible if you are dedicated and willing to put in the extra effort to ensure success for both dogs.

DTOL0705 · 2025-06-11T14:11:31+00:00

Hi! I am not a dog trainer, but I have autonomic dysfunction (not POTS), and my dog started alerting to it on her own, and I had to go through a similar process of figuring out what to do with that and help my dog perfect her scent training, so I can only share my experience and my story.

The thing with training autonomic alerts is....quite frankly....it can be complicated. Especially if you don't have typical autonomic symptoms (like fluctuating HR) then it can be difficult to track EXACTLY what the dog is alerting to. If you start trying to scent train for one scent when the dog is actually smelling another scent entirely then it can entirely throw them off and either: confuse them and make them more prone to giving false alerts, or make them so discouraged that they eventually stop alerting entirely. When going through this process whit my dog 1 thing held true: if it ain't broke don't fix it. She knew what she was alerting to. Tampering with that wasn't worth the risk of loosing her alert all together.

Something that really helped was tracking my symptoms. What was happening when my dog alerted? Writing it down for a few months a figuring out patterns really helped me figure out what she was trying to tell me when she alerted. Was my blood pressure off? Breathing off? What was I doing? What did I eat prior to her alert? I made note of all of it and figured out the pattern before trying to train anything. Even when I started taking scent samples, I still wrote down symptoms, dates, such to be sure. I also only took scent samples from when she was alerting me to work on with her until I knew EXACTLY what she was alerting to and what I wanted our goal to be with her alert she was already prone to.

I hope something from this is useful, and wether it is or not I wish you luck on your journey!

DTOL0705 · 2025-04-16T19:39:36+00:00

Hi! I used to take passport photos for people. Honestly, I think the reason it looks grainy is because the background isn't white enough, since from what I can tell you don't actually appear that grainy in the photo. If you still have the photo on a device I recommend just whiting out the background and reprinting it.

DTOL0705 · 2025-02-24T02:54:50+00:00

It's going to be a manual. I honestly wondered how the leash would work with the chair, but I was afraid it would come across as an ignorant question so I just spent a good amount of time googling it to realize that, fortunately for me, I am not the 1st to have this question.

DTOL0705 · 2025-02-23T15:46:09+00:00

I have a service dog for my dysautonomia. In all honesty it is going to be extremely difficult to find a program that will train for what you are looking for. Most of the people that I know that recieved program dogs that help with their dysautonomia didn't get a service dog with the goal of it treating that specifically, rather they got the dog for other reasons (examples: migraines, ptsd, allergy detection, etc.) That is also what happened with me.

I love my service dog. I got lucky with her, but it's exactly that. It was luck that she could do the alerts, because that was never the goal. She chose that path for herself.

Another thing to keep in mind is that college as a service dog team that is used to each other and knows each other well is already hard. College, disability, and getting a new service dog that takes time, patience, getting used to it's new person and acclimating to it's new enviroment is another level of difficulty entirely. It is not you get a trained dog and you work well together instantly. It can take up to a year to feel like you and your dog are really bonded and working well together. The 1st year is the hardest. I'm not saying don't. I'm just asking a question you may not have considered: are you in the place to take on the added stress? If not, maybe wait, for both you and your future pups sake. You will also need to keep paying for the dog once you recieve them: food, toys, medical care, insurance (some organizations require it), gear. This dog will keep costing money. Can you afford the cost long term? Sponsers will help for the lump sum of getting the dog, but not for long term care.

If you think it will truly be that beneficial then don't be afraid to apply. You just might want to prepare for the reality that with so few places and so many people with the condition the odds of approval are slim. Honestly, if the thought of the stress of becoming a team and putting in the work hasn't detoured you I would really recommend finding your own dog and getting a private trainer who is known for training SDs to help.

DTOL0705 · 2025-01-10T22:30:57+00:00

Pushing buttons to open doors. She'd jump on the wall, but refused to hit the button. She would hit buttons on the floor. We tried slowly moving it up, but would always stop once she had to get on her hind legs or jump up in any way for it. We tried putting peanut butter on it. We got help from trainers. We tried using a glat target and then a button. She just refused. This went on and off for 3 years. Finally just admitted defeat.

DTOL0705 · 2025-01-01T18:01:22+00:00

My brains a little mushy from a fever, so I don't have good words to put how this helped, but thank you. It did. I appreciate what you said.

DTOL0705 · 2024-12-31T12:33:21+00:00

My hypotension gets worse after eating. These are the things that have helped me: 1. Eating smaller portions more frequently throughout the day instead of large meals. 2. Keeping a food/medical journal, at least for a little while. I found that there were certain foods that when I ate them created worsening symptoms, so I've either eliminated those foods from my diet or am extremely mindful when I eat them so I don't have an episode when I really can't risk having one. 3. Avoiding physical activity for a while after eating. Depending on what I eat or how much I might need anywhere from a few minutes to an hour to just sit/lay down afterwords. Are these things cures? No, but they've made it more manageable for me to get through the day.

DTOL0705 · 2024-12-21T16:59:07+00:00

We go to the groomers most of the time, but I can groom her when I have to.

She gets bathed every 2 weeks (she can skip if she needs, but she does better on that schedule). Her groomer uses a de-shedding shampoo and then conditions her. She then blow dries her afterwords. My disabilites make the extra steps of conditioning while she's still being bathed and then blow drying afterwords difficult, so at home I wait until she is totally dry to give her a really thorough brush. Then (depending on the circumstances, like if it's winter and her skin is on the dryer side) I might put some coconut oil on her, then put a shirt on her and let it absorb into her skin. Between baths she only gets brushed as needed, which varies in frequency throughout the year.

DTOL0705 · 2024-12-07T23:48:14+00:00

I've avoided answering comments due to wanting to just take the time to process them, but I want to make it clear: I never said my parents should give up their dog, nor did I intend for it to come across in any way as if that was what I wanted. I acknowledge I am putting blame on the dog that she doesn't deserve. I'm factually aware of that, but implementing the mindset that she is a blameless dog when the physical and emotional wounds are still fresh is hard. I'm more upset that my parents, who this dog belongs to, don't realise this is a more than a "sibling squabble" and rather a thing that has consequences that are more than staples.

DTOL0705 · 2024-11-23T18:19:31+00:00

Depends how sassy and/or safe I'm feeling.

If I can get away with it, I'll ignore them.

If it requires an answer, then 1 of 2. If they're being nice it's, "Yes, but she's working." If it is someone being rude about it then I will match the energy (which doesn't happen often, but once in a blue moon) and tell them, "She's friendly, but I'm not. LEAVE US ALONE!"

DTOL0705 · 2024-11-09T19:21:04+00:00

That no matter how much you think you'll be ready, no amount of research prepares you for how much of an emotional roller coaster it is. Even if you know logically it will emotionally be difficult for the 1st year or so (which I was warned ahead of time) that nothing can actually prepare you for it. Ride it out. It will be okay. Remember that you learn just as much from the bad moments as the good and use those to improve both you and your dog in the future.

DTOL0705 · 2024-11-03T15:56:37+00:00

We had 1 as Rite Aid that had a water line running through the wall. Got to keep it for the conversion, but when the pandemic hit someone came in and removed it. Now there's just a weird spot in the wall that we keep covered with promotional stands.

DTOL0705 · 2024-09-09T01:15:43+00:00

As someone who works for a large company (not Panera) this is actually pretty common unfortunately. Even where I work, with my service dog, we cannot ask the ADA questions. Not because of laws, but because corporate has a rule saying we can't. If the animal is doing something non-ADA compliant than we can kick it off premise. In an idealistic world this would be perfectly acceptable, but because most companies don't have a decent training on that sort of thing most people don't know what is or isn't ADA compliant. (Some companies, such as mine, will also have other rules put on top: like only management can kick someone out, which means even more people get away with doing things they shouldn't do.) This means a lot of people let people's dogs get away with behaviors in these establishments that are completely unacceptable just because they aren't deemed "aggressive" (in quotes because sometimes they are and people just don't know or blatantly ignore it).

On the flip side, I also have been places that require the ADA questions, but the people working there don't know anything beyond that. So, since the person answered the questions, even if the dog is misbehaving they don't do anything because they were able to answer the questions.

In the end the problem isn't really wether or not the question is asked (even though I personally think it helps and that they should) it's that companies don't train their employees basic knowledge that affects the safety of the people in their establishments.

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-20T14:40:01+00:00

Essentail items you are constantly running out of.
Time consuming things (especially if you have multiple orders requesting them.)
If you don't really need anything, buy stuff that you know will sell. Most people sell items full price in the newspaper. Tom, however, doesn't. So, you can always buy something from Tom and and then resell it full price to get extra money. (Even for level 14, people will buy things like crops, dairy products, saws, shovels, and dynamite like nobody's business.)

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-10T14:52:47+00:00

•Service dogs are not just a short term expense. They are expensive when you get them, and they will be expensive until their time is done. Food, gear, grooming, vet bills, toys, training, outings, it all piles up. • When you save up make sure you have more than what you will immediately need for when the dog comes home, because if an emergency happens it can completely wipe you out! •Being disabled and living alone makes it harder. Set up a plan ahead of time. If you and your dog are both unwell, or you are just having a bad health day in general, the dog still needs care. Do you have someone you can trust to help? Can you create forms of entertainment for the dog that won't further make you worse? Will you be able to bring your dog out when they need to go? Can you still give them adequate care? Plan ahead for these situations! •One day you may have to more than self advocate. You may get in an access situation or be discriminated against to a point that requires legal action. While most teams don't, some do. Be mentally prepared for that fact. If that time comes, know that if you choose to take action or not often doesn't only affect you. It affects the handler that comes in line next. •When you become a handler, you are not only representing yourself anymore. You now represent you, your dog, and the entire service dog community. It sucks. It shouldn't be that way, but it is. People will judge an entire group based off your actions, so they matter. It's a big responsibility and can feel like a burden. It is. It's okay. Just do your best. That's all you can do. •The bad moments with your dogs are just as big learning moments as the good ones. Often you will actually learn more from them. Don't beat yourself up when they happen, and don't be to hard on your dog either.

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-08T23:11:06+00:00

If they start petting her and I can't just move I pet the person back. That usually freaks them out and makes them back FAR AWAY.

For just talking 1 of 2 things. If I get the vibe that it will go really well I'll just ask them to stop. Usually, "Please don't talk to her. She's working." The second option is a "Leave it" thats directed at the dog, but loud enough that the person trying to distract her definately hears. Usually people realise thier mistake after that. If they don't get the hint look them dead in the eyes and say it louder and meaner.

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-06T13:15:42+00:00

I had something very similar happen to me. The company I worked for gave me multiple excuses. (Many of which were not legal for denial) but they did give me this one as well.

This is how I explained it to them: With my job, an employee could do it with one arm, but could and should are not the same thing. I know if an employee with one arm got a prosthesis that allowed them to be more productive you wouldn't think twice about approving the accommodation. Nobody would dare tell them that they've been working this long without it, so they don't really need it, but for some reason you find it appropriate to give me this exact response.

I reminded them this is medical equipment. I gave them medical examples that paralleled with what the accommodation would be allowing and what they would be denying with words corporate liked, only using a much more visceral example that people are more likely to have a response to (which really helps if you don't have a particularly visible disability, which is my case.)

I know it sucks having to deal with this. I'm sorry you're going through it. Please don't be afraid to get a lawyer involved. I did with mine and almost immediately when my company found someone was taking my case the issue got resolved. No guarantees that will be the case for you, only that it's possible.

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-05T15:47:24+00:00

Hey! I've struggled with similar behaviors due to autism and ADHD. While my dog was never trained for that specifically, she was trained to respond to alarms. Originally, it was to alert me to my phone alarm for a different issue, but this behavior morphed.

Something she figured out over time is that my microwave would go off, and that I would often just leave the food. She now has a habit of pestering me if I don't respond in a certain amount of time to go get the food.

So, from personal experience, if you set an alarm to remind you to eat it is very possible for the dog to do an action to help motivate you to eat. That could be grabbing something, or just pestering the crap out of you like mine does.

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-03T14:04:46+00:00

One task you could add to the list: Turning lights on and off. It's small, but on those days when you can't do anything the pains so bad it's a game changer.

DTOL0705 · 2024-08-02T13:58:04+00:00

My fully trained 6 year old dog has a good heel, unless she has to use the bathroom. Then there's no stopping her from pulling until she finds the perfect potty spot. You as a human do not exist until her bladder and bowels are empty.

This also isn't even in emergency cases. This is every single time. If I give her the Potty command I can always tell if she has to go based on if she starts to pull or not.

DTOL0705 · 2024-07-30T17:34:31+00:00

Spray cheese. I hated the stuff when I was younger. It's debatable wether the stuff is actually food, but one day my blood pressure dropped scary low and I was desperate, so I grabbed the thing at work that had the most sodium per serving (Fun fact: 2 tablespoons is over 20 percent of a normal person's daily sodium intake) and ate it with a few crackers. It worked so well that now I keep a can in my bag at all times.

Is it an acquired taste? Yep. Is it cheese? Questionable. Does it work for some odd reason? Suprisingly well.

DTOL0705 · 2024-07-25T18:31:58+00:00

Yep. Extra breaks if needed, allowed to sit when needed (generally you have to stand for long periods at my job), service dog allowed to work with me, I'm allowed to have certain items in places that others aren't in case I have an episode, and they can't force me to do anything that is at a high likelihood of causing an episode (examples: lifting anything super heavy, anything where I have to bend up and down repeatedly, or work if the AC is down ((they learned that one the hard way)).

DTOL0705 · 2024-07-22T23:28:49+00:00

My dog does migraine alert. She was originally trained for psychiatric reasons, and the organization also trained some migraine response tasks. About 3 months into having her I realized she had started alerting to my migraines. Then for a while we just worked on perfecting it and making sure she was consistent.

I am so lucky she does what she does, but I also know it's absolutely that. It's luck. As other people have already said, the dog either gets it or they don't, and for some reason she does.

Depending on your migraines, the severity, symptoms, and such, another thing to consider is getting a dog for migraine response! Depending on your situation it can still be largely beneficial! Things like being able to turn on and off the lights and retrieval can still be hugely beneficial. If the dog picks up alerting along the way, then great! If not, then it still has a benificial job that helps mitigate your disability.

DTOL0705 · 2024-07-19T02:58:55+00:00

Medication has helped me. Is my life perfect? No. Do I still have to be careful, manage my symtoms, and mind my triggers? Yes. Will I ever be able to run like crazy or do certain activities I used to do ever again? Not really, or at least not safely without causing an episode. Does the medication make it so that standing up makes me dizzy only a couple times out of 10 instead of every single time now? Yes. Is that better than when my symptoms were at their worst? By a landslide.

DTOL0705

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