My Life as a Service Dog

As a service dog, my life has been dedicated to supporting my veteran with his balance difficulties. It has been a remarkable journey filled with obstacles, but also immense rewards. I have been by my veteran’s side over six years, and I have witnessed firsthand the impact that I have had on his life. This is my story.

I was born into a world of service. The individuals who raised me as a puppy are experienced in training me to become the finest service dog possible, and they instilled in me a strong sense of duty and loyalty. From a young age, I knew that I aspired to serve those in need. When I was just a few months old, I was selected to be a service dog for a veteran who suffered from severe balance challenges.

My training commenced when I was still a puppy. I learned basic obedience, such as sitting, staying, and responding to commands. However, as I matured, my training became more specialized. I was taught how to walk alongside my veteran, providing him with physical support and balance. I also learned how to retrieve items for him, such as his cane or phone, when he couldn’t reach them himself.

My most important training was learning how to detect and respond to my veteran’s balance issues. This was done through sophisticated training, where I was taught to recognize the specific movements that my veteran’s body produced in any direction other than our objective during a balanced episode. When I detect this movement, I am trained to adjust his body back to the center of balance and provide him physical support until the objective is reached.

Once my basic training was complete, I was matched with my veteran, and we began our journey together. At first, it was a bit overwhelming for both of us. My veteran had never had a service dog before, and I had never worked to support a human before. But we quickly bonded, and our teamwork improved with each passing day. Our formal training together was three (3) times a week and lasted over a year. After the specialized training our work together continues and will last a lifetime.

One of the biggest challenges we faced was public perception. Many people assume that service dogs are only for individuals who are blind or have hearing-impaired disabilities. It was difficult for some to understand that my veteran’s balance issues were a disability that I was trained to assist with. We faced many stares and comments, but my veteran always managed it with grace, and I was there to support him every step of the way.

Despite the challenges, I have had a profound impact on my veteran’s life. Before I came into his life, he struggled with daily activities and was often confined to his home. With my assistance, he has gained independence and has been able to do activities he thought were no longer possible.

We have traveled together to places like Lake Tahoe for hiking mountain trails, visiting Washington DC and taking my veteran to climb the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, walking the Vietnam Memorial, a war he served in and even visited the White House. Suffice it to say I attended events that my veteran never would have been able to attend without me by his side.

I also provide my veteran with emotional support. Veterans who suffer from disabilities, such as balance issues, may also struggle with neurological health issues caused by dioxins, commonly known as Agent Orange, highly toxic, and classified as a human carcinogen. I have been trained to recognize when my veteran needs comfort and support during stressful situations as he battles the effect of these insidious diseases. My presence alone has a calming effect on him.

My life as a service dog has not only been about helping my veteran, but it has also been a journey of personal growth. I have learned to be patient, focused, and adaptable. I have also learned the importance of teamwork and the incredible bond that can form between a human and a service dog.

Sometimes our activities can be boring for me. When we go to a restaurant my time is spent under the table out of the way from servers and people until it is time to go again. I make myself available for his needs. He jokes that I am his moving handrail. I kind of like it.

For fun and exercise, we play catch with the frisbee, swim, and spend time on the treadmill together. I have my own treadmill because it is more fun to run fast. During the day when he is working on the computer, I snuggle up on a luxurious bed under the desk until it is time to get back to work.

As I continue to accompany my veteran on his journey, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and make a difference in his life. Being a service dog has given me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I could have never imagined. I am proud to say that I am not just a dog, I am a service dog, and I am making a positive impact on my veteran’s life every day.

Author – Jeff Daley, PhD