Oh my I’m so excited - just heard I’m getting matched with my assistance dog very soon!

[WellThisIsShit]

I’m soooooo excited!!!! I’ve been waiting, well, a long time and I can’t believe it’s actually happening. It’s like a dream come true. I literally cannot believe it’s happening! Not telling anyone in real life just in case it’s tempting fate... but I thought sharing on here is different and I have to tell someone, I’m So Excited, I just can’t hide it, as the song goes ha!

But now I’m scared too, an actual dog, me in charge of a dog, oh my god it’s really happening... I don’t feel ready! But I’m desperate and so ready at the same time!!!

[SmellyPooHead]

What lovely news! Don't over think things, they will give you all the support and advice you need
Agree that you have to update your user name now though

[WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants]

Thank you for sharing your good news!! 🐶

There's so little of it around at the moment, it's even more appreciated!!!

You'll be allowed to travel to meet your pup as medical/care/mental health/caring things are all still 'allowed'.

Can I ask in what way your dog will be providing assistance?

I think what you should do us wait until you go to meet them, I'm sure they'll be able to answer all your questions then and you'll still have several weeks to prepare

I really wouldn't worry about an assistance dog sleeping with a 10 yo. Their nature & training has to make that as safe as safe can be. However, they might suggest DDog only sleeps on your bed or on it's own bed for very good reasons.

I'm so excited for you snd can't wait for updates & photos!!

PS. Your user name always makes me smile, snd actually you're getting a dog, so there will be plenty of shit 🤣

[HoofWankingSpangleCunt]

What great news! I'm very pleased for you and it's so refreshing to read a happy thread for a change .
Congratulations! 🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

[RileyG73]

I can't believe you've been given no advice so far. It seems a long journey to make, it's not just a case of 'oh you want a dog? Here you go!'.
I understand you'll be trained when you get the dog but surely they've put you in touch with someone? :(

Is there a group on Facebook you could join for support?

[Furries]

That’s amazing news, can totally get why you’d want to let it out on here. After a long wait, you must be feeling so pleased.

I’d probably say don’t worry too much about what you need to be doing. In everyday pet ownership, you’re always going to get differing opinions of the right/wrong ways to go about dog ownership.

I’d wait for your introduction and training. If the match is good, they will a) know your dog inside out and b) will have plenty of advice as to best practice for living with an assistance dog - which is going to be very different to the multiple views people here will have as to how to incorporate a dog into their lives.

Your happiness and enthusiasm jumps off the page when reading your posts. Combine this with the amazing training that goes into assistance dogs. You’re going to settle in just fine.

The timeline you’ve given means it will be a bit more of a wait. It would be really lovely to see an update a few months down the line - no pressure though, I hope that came across ok.

Your post has been a lovely bright spot during these crappy times. Wishing you all the best for the last steps of the process.

[LoveFall]

Pick of the Litter is really great.

[VetOnCall]

Congratulations! That's wonderful news. I used to do some work for two of the main AD charities (Hearing Dogs and Medical Detection Dogs) and they are incredibly professionally run. You'll be given all the support and advice you need by the dog's trainer and you'll be allocated a partnership instructor as well who will work with you and the dog to get him/her settled in with you at home and get you working as a team - they provide support for the lifetime of the dog. They are truly incredible dogs, absolute life changers.

[briebuiltthiscity]

Slightly off topic - but for anyone who enjoyed Puck of the Litter - check out Dogs - also on Netflix- one is them is probably my favourite documentary ever.

[Pumpkinpied]

Brilliant, best post I’ve read in a long time. I am biased but Labs are wonderful dogs and he or she will make a life changing addition to your home.
‘Pick of the litter’ is one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, so heartwarming, even for the ones who don’t quite make the grade.

[briebuiltthiscity]

Actually dog groups generally are reallly good and supportive- I bet there must be one for assistance dogs.

[CoffeethenCrochet]

In the city we live in there's a lot of dog groups on Facebook. Very useful for vet recommendation etc. Would you need assistance dog insurance? Is that different to pet insurance? If not we use Animal Friends and have had good experience so far. Paid out fully on a big OP only 6 weeks after we bought ddog home from rescue. So lucky we had it from day 1!

[CoffeethenCrochet]

And another vote to watch the Netflix documentary. Was really interesting to watch!

[WellThisIsShit]

@DangerHedgeHog oh I will try and find that documentary...

You’re right, I can’t wait until all the proper training, yay! But I’m also so excited and want to get as prepared as possible so I can make the most of the training, so if goes as well as possible, and I know all the questions I should be asking.

I have a feeling the process will all be a bit different due to social distancing and the Covid situation, so want to be super prepped - Swot-lady that’s me!

I want to get the flat prepped, and things like insurance and vets sorts too...

[CoffeethenCrochet]

Yay! Happy news! So pleased for you OP, here's a biscuit for your new assistance dog and flowers for you

I knew that biscuit option would be needed one day for a ddog on here our biscuit tin is always fully stocked for ddog.

[briebuiltthiscity]

Oh yes - Pick of the Litter is amazing if you have Netflix give it a go.
I don’t know much about assistance dogs - but am guessing they will be very well trained when it comes to sleeping arrangements, etc.

[DangerHedgeHog]

Netflix doc is called Pick of the Litter btw.

[WellThisIsShit]

Oh that’s the slightly rubbish bit @grassisjeweled they come ready named, as s/he’ll be a young adult when I get them.

I hope it’s not a hideous name! I wonder if I could rename to something that sounded similar or something?

[DangerHedgeHog]

I have always had dogs but never an assistance dog and working dogs are a lot different to pets. I presume that you will have lots of support to follow the advice and just get to know each other ...

There was a good documentary on netflix a while back about various american people meeting their assistance dogs and it was very interesting to see the process.

Do ask your questions about everything when you go or email some afterwards if you forget. Stick with the professionals - they have done this many times! Don't pay any heed to a bunch of internet randoms!

[WellThisIsShit]

Anyone got any dog advice? I suddenly feel totally unprepared!!!

Tbh I remember feeling similar when I was pregnant with DS

It won’t be a puppy obviously, so I won’t have to do any of the usual puppy training tribulations... but still I suddenly feel like I don’t know anything about dog ownership, especially with a child (10yrs old).

Like, when I had a dog growing up we didn’t do crating stuff, and we lived in a big country house (vs me now in an small urban environment!), so the dog wasn’t allowed upstairs. Now, the dog will be allowed in my room definitely, and onto my bed as that will be part of his job (though on a special rug to save my covers in hoping)... but should I shut him away in the lounge so there’s no chance of him sleeping with DS? Or is that not something to worry about particularly?

I must admit I’m thinking of him as welcoming a pet into the house and what my rules would be then, mostly ... so I know I’ll be changing these plans when I get trained, but I’m keen to have some plans already... to get some basic dog knowledge at least!

[nickyschof]

Congratulations. 😀

[grassisjeweled]

Huge news, wow! 💐 Any ideas on names?

[WellThisIsShit]

Ha ha, good point, not really befitting is it?!

Well this is... actually rather uplifting and life changing news actually! Hee hee

[WellThisIsShit]

I am a bit worried though, what if I can’t travel to meet him/her, to do the initial matching?

FYI the process is that they do an initial matching meeting to check that we will make a good team (basically that we like each other / the dog likes me and I’m falling head over heels I should say!). Then I have to say goodbye whilst they do the final training which is another few weeks (5-8weeks I think but a bit unsure, will have to look it up now I’m finally here!).

And then after that it’s the final journey when I go stay there to get trained myself before I get to take him/her home...

But now I’m stressing, on that first journey, will I get stopped or does this count as an essential journey?

Silly, Im probably jumping ahead as I don’t even know when it will be, still at least a month I think... so lock down might be different by then. But oh please I don’t want to have to wait longer...I will if I have to of course, but ohhhh, it’s just so tantilising!

[RileyG73]

Awesome!!!! Whoever they are I'm sure you will be best mates, what a life changer!!
Absolutely change your username to something more befitting :)

Update us soon, I'll keep an eye on the thread

[DangerHedgeHog]

I propose WellThisIsWoof!