Need Advice - Page 1

I work with people with Psych disorders, primarily military coming back with PTSD + other illnesses, men, women or children who are victims of violent crimes and have PTSD + other illnesses. GSD' have worked best for adults and Labs for kids (labs more acceptable by schools). But I have had a few females that are afraid of GSD.  Due to their illnesses it is had to overcome another few.

My situation:  Sometimes you run dry of thoughts. (Please keep in mind these are people on disablity (approx $1500 mo. gross) so high maint. breeds are out.)  And only working breeds are successful.  Also all Bully breeds are out except Boxer. 

My Advice:  I need a new set of eyes, so to speak, to help me think of some breeds and why.

I no rookie: Just need you help.  By the way, rescues haven't work. "Dogs with psych problems don't mix well with people with psych problems.

By the way I have really enjoyed and learned from this forum. Some serious some really way out there.

Thanks in advance!
Tuff

I hate to say it, Poodle. do not care for them myself. they are smart, intellignet dogs and non threatening. depending on what you are looking for you can get them in different sizes also, tea cup, standard.

Belgian Tervuren?  Working dog, but the long coat can make the dog look less threatening.  There is someone in our neighborhood with one, and it's a great dog.

Opal

How are these dogs supposed to help the people?  Since many people with PTSD have borderline personality disorder and see things as "all good" or "all bad" - I would be afraid if the dog made a mistake, the PTSD person  might  take it as a personal slight and  seriously abuse the animal. 

I would be very interested in the theory behind this - it might be something I need to look deeper into with my own practice.

Thanks!

Golden Retriever -- good w/people; have a "kind" look about them; intelligent

luvdemdogs - try Googling it.  They're not right for every person but for a lot of people w/PTSD and other issues a dog is a lifesaver.  It has to be the right dog, but the concept is that the dog is always there, they can talk to it and it doesn't judge, petting dogs gives them physical contact that they need and may not get anywhere else, they have 'someone' there so they're not alone and they now have a responsibility of taking care of someone else so they have a reason to get up every morning.  There was just an article on MSN about this recently, but there's also a lot of good scientific studies to back it up.

Goldens are  so dysplastic plus a lot of them are skittish not to mention the shedding,why not just use Labs? they are healthy low maintinece and super tractable if you get decent breeding <a href="http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/kellyshaefer/?action=view&current=autum.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b54/kellyshaefer/autum.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A long-lived, healthy, interactive choice for a person who cannot really train and may even prefer a dog who creates his own fun might well be schnauzers and a handful of relatively calm, biddable terriers (I said relatively!).  That would include westies, cairns, and wheatons.  These dogs are like TV shows -- creating action but very personable and healthy/durable.  They are also smaller and thus less trouble than golden-lab size dogs.

Poodles might be good, but their coats are high cost and effort and they need more direction from their people.

 

Danbee. thanks - I did some googling - I think they're a bit superficial in terms of putting the dog with the diagnosis.  I can see the dogs aid in the symptoms of depression (often suffered by those with PTSD) and possibly provide some emotional safety if the person has severe flashbacks, but there's so much more to PTSD that might put a dog at risk, IMO...  I would like to see some better studies. 

I disagree with the rescue comment.  Sometimes a broken person needs a broken dog to pull them out of the hole they are in...someone needs them.  Sometimes that helps more than anything...the need to be needed.  The need to be loved regardless of how broken.  The rescue would need to be screened very carefully of course but watch one of those programs about convicts and rescues.  That is a prime example of damaged goods reaching out to damaged goods and wanting the dogs to make it where they themselves couldn't.  If convicts can do it why not PTSD?  Just my thoughts on it.