hello everyone! i’m new to this community but i was looking for some advice. several professionals have suggested i look into getting a psychiatric service dog for my PTSD and anxiety. i love the idea, but there are some things that make that difficult for me.
first of all, i’m a college student, meaning a lot of time spent sitting at desks during lectures or doing homework. i also live in a dorm room. i worry about the dog not getting enough exercise if i don’t have enough time to walk them as much as they need.
secondly, i’m a special ed major and i spend 10-20 hours a week in the classroom, soon to be student teaching and spending 5 days a week in the classroom. i worry about student safety and my dog’s safety within the classroom, but i also don’t wanna leave the dog at home in my dorm all day.
however, i do think a service dog could prove to be extremely beneficial for me. from help with panic attacks, to crowd blocking, to harm reduction i really have been curious about how much better my life could be with a dog’s help. but not at the cost of the dog’s health and happiness.
with all this in mind, what do you guys think? is it worth looking into further, or just table it for now? additionally, any teachers that have behaviors in their classrooms or any special ed teachers with service dogs, your advice and perspective would be greatly appreciated!!