I have extreme anxiety about leaving home alone… I wonder if a service dog could help with this?
7 Likes
Service dogs can go where no regular dog can go. 
Edit: Some of my anxiety disappears when I touch my corgi.
4 Likes
@Airparticle I know but I was wondering do you think it’ll help??
2 Likes
My dog help with my anxiety, but I still have anxiety issues in the end of day, though my dog not service dog.
2 Likes
It might help you. You can train your dog to comfort you when you’re panicking. You can also train your dog to let you know if people are really there or not (that’s what I would do if I trained a dog to be my service dog). But it’s a lot of money to get your puppy trained to do all that, and TONS of money to pay for an already trained service dog.
4 Likes
@Airparticle thanks for your insight
@LilyoftheValley I was thinking of self training… I was also thinking a Yorkie? I want something small
3 Likes
I think it would be great for you. If you can find a service Yorkie in budget or whatever insurance allows then I think it is worth investigating.
Best wishes.
2 Likes
@ThePickinSkunk thanks I can get a Yorkie for around $500 my pdoc knows a breeder and I can self traine it
1 Like
A Yorker may not be able to give deep pressure to calm anxiety. But just in case, look into what Yorkers can do in that regard
2 Likes
You will have to leave your house to walk it
@LilyoftheValley according to google any size dog can
@Rainstorm I mean public places it scares the pee out of me and I refuse to do it I’d rather do without than go alone
2 Likes
1 Like
Cool! Good luck!
I do recommend hiring a professional trainer to help you with the training that involves deep pressure
3 Likes
@LilyoftheValley I’ll consider that… Did you know in Arkansas you can take a service dog in training anywhere???
1 Like
That’s great! You can look around for the best price and best trainer.
1 Like
@LilyoftheValley there is online training help too
1 Like
I second getting help to train the dog if you go that route. Service dogs shouldn’t bark is a big one. I have Smooch as an ESA because of how hard training a service dog- and finding the right dog- can be. A qualified trainer is a big investment but is worth it. I used to do obedience competitions for which I trained my own dogs, and I wouldn’t feel qualified to train my own service dog.
2 Likes
If it helps, there is a group of qualified and certified animal trainers and behaviorists, and you can do a search for ones near you. It’s iaabc.org . A qualified trainer will be expensive. When we looked at a behaviorist for Ghost’s mouthiness, it was a $300-something for the eval alone. A good, competent, qualified trainer or behaviorist is worth their weight in gold.
2 Likes
Petco offers some dog training
I have to look up what that test covers but might be worth it
1 Like
@LilyoftheValley @Happy_H what y’all think, I screenshoted what is covered in the test
Petco would help me train and pass this test… And I can YouTube the deep pressure stimulation and whatever else I need my Yorkie to do?? Is this a good idea??? Would this be enough?? I know how to teach the basics since my mom’s dog knows the basics
1 Like