Can We Talk About How Veteran Service Dogs Work Hard To Be More Than Just Man’s Best Friend?

Ever notice when you’re out at the gym, or the grocery store, or the train station,places you least expect to see an animal, you see a person walking with a dog? Well, your eyes aren’t deceiving you and these are not just any ordinary canines, they are actually  incredibly trained service dogs. You likely won’t see the effects of what they do or how they help out their owner, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Service dogs assist veterans with different needs in a variety of ways and it is something that, as a veteran supporting community, we should talk about. They aren’t just there to keep company, but to help handlers with disabilities so that they can lead more independent lives.

The Best of the Best

Service dogs can help in the range of physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or even mental disabilities that a veteran can have. About 50% – 70% of dogs picked fail through service training. Dogs must be above average when it comes to their abilities, and this is only the very beginning of determining a worthy service dog. Service dogs in training must be able to exhibit a desire to work, a calm demeanor, high intelligence, and have a friendly and loving disposition. So, it takes more than a good nose to be a service dog.

Testimony

Veteran Toye Hickman is a service dog owner who shared her testimony about how her life has changed since she first got her service dog, as she deals with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. “He understands when my anxiety is going up. He’ll follow me around, he’ll pester me to get up and do something,” Hickman said. “If I’m having a down day, even though he’s a very active dog, he’ll lay right beside me and won’t leave my side.” Toye says her life changed when her service dog Bake entered it just two years ago.


Purple Heart Testimony / Clay the Service Dog

The Purple Heart Foundation believes that service dogs can truly help veterans, and that is why we offer this program to veterans. Watch retired veteran Jim Mirick, in his own words, detailing how much his service dog has helped him. He states, “He and I have such a bond together, he’s very tight with me, he’s irreplaceable to me.” Speaking of service dogs, our newest member to the Purple Heart Foundation family is Clay the service puppy, named after Purple Heart Recipient and former Purple Heart Foundation board member, Clayton Jones who passed in 2021. Clay is in the early stages of his nearly twenty four month training program, and from what we can tell he is determined and working hard through the process as a young student.

Conclusion

When the time comes, Clay will be matched with an honorably discharged veteran and their family, hopefully providing invaluable support while making a significant difference in a veterans’ life. Giving new meaning to the phrase Man’s best friend, our returning heroes, with their new companions, will be able to return towards the path of independence. Click here to learn more about our service dog program.

 

by Aristides Rodriguez

Servicemen and Service Dogs: A Life Saving Connection

Our servicemen and women have to restart their lives upon returning home from battle. These new challenges can present circumstances far different from those of war. Facing these challenges head on can be daunting for many. Easing back into society can tough, especially for those who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). According to the Veterans Administration (VA), between 11-20% of veterans during Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF) have been diagnosed with PTS in a given year.

There are a variety of ways to ensure that transition is as smooth as possible. One of those methods is pairing a Veteran with a service dog. Suffering from PTS can leave an individual feeling isolated from family and friends. Depression and other emotional disorders can surface as well. The method of service dogs is to provide the veteran with a companion trained to help them with basic needs. However, the animal is indirectly re-teaching the veteran how to care for someone, using emotions as communication, and even how to love.

“We think pet dogs, therapy animals and service animals all have a role to play in peoples’ health and veterans’ health. This is all good news. A cold nose is a powerful motivation to get up in the morning,” said Stave Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute Foundation. Mr. Feldman discussed studies between the animals and veterans to The Military Times in a recent article.

“He brought me back from the brink,” said Veteran Colonel Roger Lintz, (US Army – Retired)  of his Service Dog – Niles. Living with PTS does take time to accept that life may not be the same. This veteran, who honorably served his country, was able to find true companionship with his new four legged friend. Niles was able to help him with remedial tasks around the house and would wake him from nightmares. These nightmares and other issues with PTS nearly became too much to handle. Col. Lintz believes that his companion saved his life when suicidal thoughts started to cloud his mind. Watch the full interview:

The American Psychology Association and The Society Military Psychology have found that this alternative method could help nearly 40% of veterans. Especially those who do not show signs of improvement after participating in treatments such as prolonged exposure (PE) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT), which are considered the “gold standard” for treating PTS.

Maj. Todd Olsen had participated in multiple tours of duty since enlisting in the Army in 1989. However, coming back after his last mission sent his life into a tailspin. He was suffering from multiple symptoms of PTS, rebuilding a relationship with his two boys, and filing for divorce from his wife.

Some servicemen and women will attend the actual trainings with their service dog. They get to watch them go through obstacle courses, learn commands, and how to save lives. This, in a way, gives the veteran a sense of purpose again. Their life and bond matter as much to the service dog as the service dog means to them.

Maj. Todd Olsen of Pennsylvania told The Daily Progress that, “It’s not so much training the dog, it’s training the veteran and then pairing them up together. So we weren’t teaching them basic obedience, we were learning the commands and the dogs were learning how we give the commands.”

There have been few in-depth studies about the dynamic between a service dog and PTS. However, The Veterans Administration believes that veterans can experience some needed benefits by owning an animal or being paired with a service dog. The VA also counsels that veterans should speak with their doctor and family before applying for a service dog.

What are the emotional benefits of having a dog?

Dogs can make great pets. Having a dog as a pet can benefit anyone who likes dogs, including people with PTS. For example, dogs:

  • Help bring out feelings of love

  • Do things that are different from natural dog behavior

  • Do things that the handler (dog owner) cannot do because of a disability

  • Learn to work with the new handler in ways that help manage the owner’s disability

  • Are good companions

  • Take orders well when trained. This can be very comfortable for a Servicemember or Veteran who was used to giving orders in the military

  • Are fun and can help reduce stress

  • Are a good reason to get out of the house, spend time outdoors, and meet new people

(Source: The Veterans Administration)

Maj. Todd Olsen continues his transition into “civilian life” by working with his service dog and attending yoga classes. He says, “With the yoga for veterans and the dog, and continuing treatment at the VA, it’s putting me back together.”

The Purple Heart Foundation has provided funds to service dog programs totaling $75,000 over the years. The Purple Heart Foundation remains committed to assisting veterans in all aspects of their lives, including service dog programs, other rehabilitative programs, and disability benefits. You can show your support for these brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country by making a one-time or monthly pledge to ensure veterans continue to get the support and benefits they deserve by clicking here.

by Matt Mantey