SELF SCREENING
Have you been declared disabled by a doctor?
Have you exhausted other options of treatment?
Do you think a tasking dog could do what other options could not?
Are you confident in your ability to take care of a dog mobility, sight, physiological, psychiatric, and otherwise?
Are you able to comfortably walk or use a mobility device for a distance of roughly one mile, on a daily basis?
If not, are you willing to develop the stamina and ability to walk this distance?
If you need to take a short rest during a walk of this length, you may still benefit from having a service dog.
Do you feel that you can rely on a dog for the tasks you may need and reward for the dog giving those behaviors reliably? (via praise, food, play)
Living and working with a service dog involves interdependence between human and dog. Do you accept the responsibility to be a consistent and fair leader in such a partnership?
A service dog will need quality food, several opportunities each day to relieve, grooming, veterinarian visits, playtime and affection from its partner. Can you provide for the physical and emotional needs of this working companion?
Are those who live with you comfortable with having a dog in the home and are they willing to comply with some basic guidelines NLWD provides regarding the care, control and behavior of your dog? What about your friends and co-workers?
Would you enjoy having more contact with the public?
Partnering with a service dog frequently attracts the admiration and interest of people around you.
Do you like the idea of having a dog around when your dogis not tasking?
A service dog is usually with you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A significant portion of having a service dog is simply enjoying his or her companionship.
These are all important questions to ask yourself and consider before introducing a service dog.
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