Sounds wonderful. I don't have a service dog but I do have one of the types of dogs that would make a very good one. Golden Lab. Maybe I should start working with him.

Yes once you put the harness on the dog you can feel the first step It's so much easier, and once the dog is trained to walk its amazing. The dog goes everywhere with her. Area restaurants already know them and she carries cards with the law and etiquette around the dog, just to educate everyone. And gladly I can say she was asked to leave the mall only once and only because the guard was ignorant of the law that protect them. Two days later we solved that issue with the mall manager. Oh and that day she didn't leave .

that is so cool that your daughter has a dog, a best friend too. She is very lucky, and it warms my heart to hear that a young person, who shouldn't be living this life with MS, have the opportunity to experience such an aide. I bet the dog doesn't even feel like and aide to her! I hope you get to benefit from the dog. How does that work in a household where more than one person could use a help like that? Does the dog assist you too?

Oh yes specially when we are out and I sit on an armless chair. If she has her gear on she knows its work time. Out of gear shes a clown. We have a second dog on training just in case the first one is unable.

Thanks for bringing up this great topic. I love dogs (and cats and all animals really). I think that it is wonderful that she has an assistance dog. I wish all of us could have one. Dogs are absolutely wonderful. They love working for a living. It really makes their lives and our lives as well.

I love hearing about people with an assistance dog. I know one lady who has recently got one in Canada. She had to wait a while & then attend a training camp(?) to learn how to handle the dog & adapt to each other. She loves the dog & it means her husband can go out in peace. It even knows how to hit an alarm button on their phone that immediately calls her neitghbour. how cool is that? She hasn't been dx with ms but her health issues match it & she is considerably challenged.

We have our first celebrity apprentice show on tv currently & one of the charities that a celebrity supports is assitance dogs. They keep popping up on radar more & more.

Such a positive story, so glad to hear your daughter has one of these assistance dogs. Keep up the posts on your journeys please.
Hugs to both of you with this challenge in your family.

I apologise since I'm sure this will sound ignorant... I've heard great things about service dogs. But no one has ever really explained what they use them for. Can you give me some examples of how she helps you/your daughter? I am curious as to the exact benefits that they would provide.

Hello. The dog becomes one with the handler, she picks things from the floor, or anywhere else, help with balance by leaning on her, pull a wc, help her get up if she falls and prevent panic attacks as they provide comfort in stressful situations. Also when she is emotionally down she has a reason to get out of bed. The dog will go potty only on command and if she needs to go she alerts my daughter. That dog is everything to her. We acquire her within weeks after my daughters dc.

"We acquire her within weeks after my daughters dc" Lucky her! My understanding is there is a couple of year wait. But anyhow, good for her.

Sending you and your puppy lots of hugs! Make sure to give your daughters companion extra treats and petting from us on DS.

Thanks for the information. Sounds like a good relationship between the two of them and I'm glad (s)he is able to help your daughter so much!

Thank you all for your beautiful messages. Yes, there is a long wait for the dogs, but my other daughter had lent her stud and was owed a puppy, she went to pick it up with a dog trainer who evaluated all the puppies and found the one with the right caracteristics and has been working with them since she was seven weeks old. One has to follow all the trainers instructions and practice a lot, its very rewarding. My daughter said thanks for the hugs.