Assistance dogs

[FairlyNew]

Has anyone owner trained an Assistance Dog? I'm looking for recommendations of web groups, websites or books specifically for mental health issues (anxiety, stress disorders).
Thank you

Just bumping to see if anyone sees this 🐶

Hi, I just noticed this topic existed as I was looking at what MN has for people with disabilities. I have trained my own assistance dog for PTSD. It's not an easy thing unless you are very experienced as a trainer and a dog handler already - just being able to select for the right temperament is a challenge. You could have a look at this: www.assistancedogs.org.uk/ for a place to start. There are a lot of books around to advise, but I'd warn you that unless you know what you are doing you might invest a lot of time in what is just a pet (which is not necessarily a bad thing, but that may not be what you want or need).

Thank you @Quveas Do you have a book recommendation? I'd need to owner train as I can't afford private trainer and don't qualify under ADUK as my diagnosis doesn't match any of their affiliated organizations.

I do know a lot about training - 60+ years with dogs and qualified behaviouralist - but I will be honest that I am nervous about recommendations here. It could be "as long as a piece of string". So anything I say has so many warnings on it... but...
what is the diagnosis? what experience of any kind do you have? what do you think an assistance dog will do for you? Send a PM if you'd prefer not to put details on line, but I am going to say that I am hugely uncomfortable just giving you "a book" (it doesn't work like that). The more detail you can provide then the better my advice might be - BUT it is hugely difficult and there simply aren't cheap shortcuts. Many dogs simply aren't suitable no matter what you do. My dog was "spotted" at 2 weeks, and studied for 5 more before I chose him - and he is EXCEPTIONAL. That is not just pride in my dog - he's now 7 and he turns heads every day. But it really isn't easy and there is no simple answer. So you need to understand that your dog may never come up to standard and you can't just dump him if he doesn't - he may never be anything other than a pet.

If you'll accept that then I'll try to advise...

Your dog sounds amazing, what does he do to turn heads?

I have anxiety and depression which is helped by medication but still spirals. I come under the Equality Act as an undiagnosed mental health condition so do not qualify for most assistance dog charities and organizations. I struggle to be out and about by myself so see an Assistance Dog as an auxiliary aid to support trips, provide an emotional support, someone to talk to and distract me. I would like a dog to find an exit, guide me through crowds, block people from my personal space and deep pressure therapy.

I fully understand a dog is family.

@FairlyNew I trained my own dog.. BUT I was lucky that she is temperamentally suited to this type of work.

We were at an event last week and someone asked where I got her from, as they have been on a waiting list for years for an assistance dog for their daughter.

It IS possible to train one's own dog, IF they are temperamentally suited for it..Unfortunately one doesn't know how a dog will mature out...but usually, if the parents are trained and ''Biddable'' the offspring stand a good chance of being so as well.

A quiet unobtrusive dog who isn't phased by traffic, busy shops, trains, buses &c.

Quiet , friendly and confident is ideal.

Dogs for Good. We trained with them in Evesham and they helped us source a labrador puppy from the purple pups guide dogs scheme for our autistic son. They also train and remove dogs but you need to be living within an hour is to their site to qualify due to various parameters and needs of removing a trained therapy dog.