Advantages & Disadvantages of Owner-Training***Please note that this is not all of the pros & cons, and based on my own observations, research, and experience in owner-training***
Advantages & Disadvantages of Programs***Please note that this is not all of the pros & cons, and based on my own observations, research, and discussions with handlers who worked with a program***
Things Programs & Owner-Training Have in CommonAt the end of the day, both program training & owner-training have the same goal in mind: to produce a finished dog who will perform tasks to aid their disabled handler, behave appropriately in public, and be a good representation for service dog teams everywhere. While each have their differences, advantages, and disadvantages, they also have a few things in common, including:
Is One Really More Expensive than the Other?It depends. I wish I could give you a straight answer, but it really does just depend on several factors. Program Costs
Even after that initial cost of $14,000-20,000 or your decision to go with OT, you still have the cost of caring for a high-valued animal for it's lifetime. That means high quality food, expert health care, gear, training aids, emergency funds, and basic dog requirements. To give you a basic idea of the costs of owner-training that we encountered in our first years check out this PDF below. Please note that this isn't everything, just a rough summary.
Will a Program See My CRPS as a Qualifying Disability?This is really two questions. 1) Is CRPS a qualifying disability for working with a service animal in the eyes of the law? YES. If the pain is debilitating enough to where it interferes with your ability to lead a normal life and it would be beneficial to have an assistance animal (your need cannot just be for emotional comfort), then yes CRPS is a qualifying disability. 2) Will a program recognize CRPS as a real disability? I would hope so. More and more chronic pain is being accepted as a valid need for a service animal. Some programs even have Fibromyalgia listed as one of the disabilities they work with - Fibro isn't the same as CRPS, but there are similarities. Fibro just gets more press time. Also, you can probably send them information on your disability and consult with them in person, through email, or over the phone to clarify what you are needing. CRPS service dogs most often do mobility work, sometimes alert and psychiatric work, all things most programs work with. Doesn't a Service Dog HAVE to Be Professionally Trained?This is a sticky question. Here's why. No. Anyone, professional trainer or not, can legally train their dog to be a service animal as long as that person is disabled and genuinely needs the aid of a service animal. In the U.S. there is no national registry or certification required. That being said, it is extremely difficult to consistently train a dog to the lofty standards and expectations that service dogs are held to. These dogs are not robots, but they have to be rockstars about obedience, strange noises, not sniffing or eating things in public, ignoring everyone but their handler, and so much more. This is not a job for just any dog, and it's not a lifestyle for just any person. Training is never really over because you have to keep practicing and using your dog to keep them sharp. Additionally, with a condition like CRPS, which is progressive, you need to be able to continue to teach your dog new tasks as the need may arrive. Many owner-trainers do end up working with a professional dog trainer in the beginning, especially in evaluating the right dog for the job. It's recommended by many service dog sites and other handlers that you have prior dog training experience before you decide to do owner-training and I have to agree. If you have no experience training animals, this will be damn tricky for you to tackle alone. Additionally, I have a special situation in which having no job means that I can devote all of my time to Robbie and his training. Not everyone is that fortunate, and many end up only working with their dogs first thing in the morning or late at night after a long day at work and on the weekends. Training still gets done, but I can imagine it would be hard to be consistent and faithful in the training. When I could still work, after a long day, I would want nothing more than to curl up in ball of pain and hide from the world. The thought of pushing my limits at work only to come home and deal with a stubborn, energetic puppy eager to learn & play & be crazy... well, it makes me tired just thinking about it. I applaud the owner-trainers doing just that. I get stressed out & overwhelmed spending so much time with Robbie day in and day out, but I know that it has helped his training and strengthened our bond. We don't spend all day training, usually only 2-3 sessions throughout the day, but we spend all of our time together. Everything is training, and so even when we aren't doing a formal session, the opportunity for him to learn is still there. But, like I said, our situation is unique. This won't be the set up for most people. Check out this link for Standards for Service Dogs from the International Association for Assistance Dog Partners website. This is also a great site for specific state by state requirements, as well as other countries who recognize the use of service dogs. Closing NotesWhy I Chose Owner-Training
I can't tell you what to choose. I am partial to owner-training, but I warn against it if you aren't ready to fully commit. I'm talking about long hours, days where you'll be convinced you're a failure, frustrations, moments when you have to not be emotionally involved, and times when you will seriously doubt your decision. It will be worth it in the end, but it is extremely grueling to train a service dog, even more so when your disability is a beast like CRPS. Be prepared for your dog to accidentally cause a pain flare more than once. It't not just basic obedience and good manners, it's teaching to not to greet other dogs unless given permission, it's asking them to ignore that fry under the table, it's teaching them not to use the bathroom whenever and wherever they want, it's teaching them to ignore coos of "cute puppy" and people trying to pet them, it's teaching them to remain calm under any circumstance, and on top of all of that teaching them to perform complicated tasks with any distraction at the first cue, plus so so much more. Your dog can't be a pet some days and then a service dog other days. Standards for behavior that you hold them to in public must continue even when the vest comes off so as not to confuse the dog. It's rough on you and it's rough on the dog, but completely and totally worth it if you can succeed. Program training is a great option for many people, and if you're on the fence about owner-training, I'd advise that you seriously consider working with a program. They turn out amazing dogs, and obviously have a great track record! If you decide to go with owner-training, then keeping following our blog and feel free to email me questions or message us on Robbie's Facebook page. Check out the links below for more information on program or owner-training.
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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