Yay! So happy for you both! Maybe he'll be volunteering there someday.

Wonderful news! Congrats!

My son does, it's been a wonderful experience for him. He loves it and now volunteers there. He was with the same horse for six months, then he was ready to trot more but the horse was older and having some difficulty with his joints with the cold weather, so he was transitioned to a younger horse. The transition went well and ds actually likes this horse more because he's peppier to work with and very expressive. He's doing very well with the program.

Anything that calms the senses helps give the individual more spoons the rest of the day. I regret waiting so long to invest in one for my son. I bought him one made of fabric from one of his special interests on one side and plush on the other. He uses it during the day on his own as needed as well as every night.

Therapy Dogs are dogs who have been trained to bring comfort and joy to others. They are certified and fully insured. Therapy dogs visit schools, hospitals, assisted living, courtrooms, funeral homes, hospice patients, work with first responders, etc.. Emotional Support Animals are pets who provide emotional comfort to a person with a mental illness just by being present. They, like therapy dogs, are not required to granted public access. Some places do because of confusion between the three categories, which puts true service dog teams and the general public at risk since the dog has had little to no training to be in those situations. Service dogs have gone through 2 years of training that includes basic obedience, performing tasks that mitigates the individual’s disability, and public proofing. They are considered medical equipment. The dog doesn’t have public access rights, it’s the disabled individual who has the right for their service animal to accompany them in all areas where members of the public may go. Service dogs are with the individual they are trained to help 24/7. This is important for the bond and the work they do. Service dogs are a lot of work, the training never really stops. Your dog goes everywhere with you, including the bathroom stall. It takes longer to go places. You have to look for appropriate potty areas for the dog before entering buildings, dispose of the waste properly. You also have to be realistic with what you are asking the dog to do. Consider all types of weather, unloading your cart, loading your dog, etc. The temperament of the dog and bond with the individual is huge. What tasks could a dog be trained to do that would improve your child’s ability to leave the home and perform necessary functions for daily life. If you can list at least three things that a dog is actually trained to do, then a service dog may be what you need. If not and just the dog’s presence helps, you are wanting an emotional support animal for home.

Oldie, but a thread I found quite helpful. I had printed it off and was just clearing out my high school binder and came across it. It's been 5 years, jump in with updates and additional thoughts.

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