There have been numerous studies carried out that shows dogs
and animals in
general help alleviate stress and anxiety and lower blood pressure of
hospitalized chronically ill patients. But what can
a fibromyalgia service
dog for you and
are they a
suitable addition
to your life?
First of all having any pet requires
commitment on behalf of
the owner. Dogs can live
for 10 15 years and
they need
to be
feed, groomed, exercised and loved. Youll also need
to ensure that your garden, if you have one, is fully fenced and dangerous
household items
are placed out of dog-reach.
Service dogs for fibromyalgia sufferers is not
uncommon, however you
will need to be legally recognized
as having a
disability under the ADA of 1990 (Americans with Disabilities Act) before you can apply for one.
If you already have the necessary disability paperwork
youll need to fill in forms at your chosen service
dog center and be prepared for a long
wait, there can be long waiting lists. It can also be an
expensive procedure so ensure you understand what costs are involved.
There may be the possibility of disability insurance covering all or some of the costs involved, so it pays to do some investigation into this first.
Think about too, what you need your service dog for. Retrievers are common service dogs as they take well to training and can do things
like retrieve items, help with household tasks,
open doors and turn off and on light switches.
All of
which would be a great help if your mobility is impaired.
But they also
provide more than practical help, service dogs can provide a reason for getting up in the morning and help patients become more active. Having a constant
companion can ease pain, as a dog gives you focus
away from the pain and they have shown to improve energy
levels and sense of well being.
Smaller breeds are also being used as service dogs, but for very different reasons
their body heat.
One sufferer with
fibromyalgia, Nancy Gordon
was introduced to a Xoloitzcuintli or Xolo (small Mexican hairless dog) and
found that within 15 minutes of the dog lying on her
wrists the pain with gone. Xolos are renowed for their
exceptional body heat and she went on to have one as a service dog, trained to lie
around her
neck and shoulders. You can vist Nancy's site here:www.pawsforcomfort.com
For information about
natural methods of treating fibromyalgia symptoms continue
reading and sign up for the free newsletter below.
To find a dog trainer in your area visit The American Dog Trainers Network that lists dog trainers by state.
Sign up for Jane
Thompson's free Fibromyalgia newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover more about Fibromyalgia Service Dog at
http://www.eliminatefibromyalgia.com?source=is
Remember
that dog
who just knew you didn't want
her piddling
in the house? Some dogs just need a slight sense of disapproval from you,
and they virtually housebreak themselves.
But you dont have one of those dogsor you wouldnt
be reading this!
So how do we house train
the dog who just doesnt
seem to get it? Believe it or not, its simple.
I have two key
words for you:
Confine and Observe.
While
there is a great deal
to know about food and water scheduling, timing can vary from dog
to dog. So well just concentrate here on
the main concept which is to confine
your dog to an appropriately sized
crate when you cannot observe her.
A properly sized crate is
large enough for your dog to stand up and turn
around, but hardly bigger than that. If you have a puppy in a large crate, shell think shes got a
bedroom with a bathroom built in. Shell wee in one corner and sleep in
the other.
The correctly sized crate
consists of bedroom only with
no bathroom. So if your crate is too large, go to the pet
store and purchase a crate divider so you can
temporarily reduce the accessible area.
Fido should be in her crate unless you can observe her 100%.
This means that when the dog is loose, she
has your
undivided attention. Consider attaching a 6 foot light cord to the collar so you can
more easily locate the dog, and prevent her from leaving the room without you. Simply step on the cord to stop her.
At the first sign your dog needs to go, whisk her outside. Those signs include
circling, sniffing, anxiousness, whining among other symptoms.
When youre not observing your dog with full attention, you confine her to the crate. That being said, you do need to ensure your dog has
liberty periodically so shes not all day in the crate. By being diligent now, youll be able to give Fido years of liberty with
no worries. So its well worth the investment in time at this stage.
Be sure you spend time playing with your dog, and also let her wander outside the crate. Avoid tossing her in the crate as
punishment. Alleviate your guilt feelings by placing bones smeared with peanut
butter in with her.
This method makes it impossible for your dog to have an accident.
Youre either right there to take her out, or shes in the crate
where she wont want to go. When youve had a month with no
accidents, you can begin to let the dog earn a little more liberty,
five or
ten minutes at a time.
That means she can be
out of your sight for a few moments at a time. But only a few.
You want to build slowly on a record of success until your dog literally forgets that the house ever contained a bathroom.
For each week with no
accident, you can give Fido a few more moments of liberty at a time.
However, if there is an accident, go back a step, and reduce that liberty. One
accident in the house erases progress made for the several previous days.
Confine and Observe your way to house breaking success. In the course of just two or three months, youll have a dog you can trust in the home. Its going to be worth the effort!
Marc Goldberg is a dog trainer specializing in the rehabilitation of difficult dogs and improving relationships. He is
Vice President of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and Editor of SafeHands Journal. The author also educates professional dog
trainers in his techniques. Visit him on the web at
http://www.chicagodogtrainer.com or
http://www.dogtraininginchicago.com.
