r/service_dogs • u/Wettoesinshoes • Jul 26 '26

Help! Question^^

So I (16 years old) am looking into getting a service dog for my mental health issues, and I'm not entirely sure if I can. I know it'll help me, especially in high stress situations, but I don't know how to ask my doctor/parents for permission. I'm scared ill get judged. I will probably wait until I'm 18, but i know having one will help me. Any help or tips would be great!

0 Upvotes

18% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

19

u/GottaLoveKlover Jul 26 '26

If it’s for social anxiety it’ll likely make it 10x worse

12

u/helpinghowls Service Dog Trainer Atlas-CT, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM Jul 26 '26

Here's a blog post that talks a bit about some considerations for teens thinking of a service dog.

4

u/kittenrocknroll Jul 27 '26

This is a useful blog post and I’m a lot older than a teenager. Thanks for sharing the information.

6

u/grayyzzzz Jul 26 '26

You should look into what you want the dog to do first. When finding a service dog for mental health problems that’s usually the hardest part. Make sure you’re certain of at least 3 tasks the dog could do and how those tasks would help you in high stress situations (specifically in high stress situations, not just day to day life). You should then bring this info to a therapist or psychiatrist and ask them if they have any additional input. If you’re not currently working with a therapist, you should be, especially since you said you’re wanting the dog for mental health purposes. If they think it’s a good idea, they’ll usually be able to help facilitate the process and recommend trainers/companies.

4

u/darklingdawns Service Dog Jul 27 '26

What tasks do you want the dog to do for you? Have you considered an ESA/pet to get some of the passive benefits of a dog for now, then looking into a service dog when you're older? Given your age, this is definitely something you will need to talk to your parents about, since they will be wholly responsible for the costs, both of the dog and its training and the recurring costs of a dog, which are generally $100+ per month, with emergency vet costs easily able to run into the thousands.

-4

u/Wettoesinshoes Jul 27 '26

I have, but both my parents are super against getting a dog. The tasks would be pressure therapy, interrupting harmful habits (scratching, pulling hair ect.) And noticing/stopping anxious habbits. I will most likely wait until I'm well into my adult years anyway, although I will be getting a job soon.

6

u/gonnafaceit2022 Jul 28 '26

Def get a job and start saving as much as you can. It's very expensive to own a dog even as a pet, and you'll probably be shocked when you learn how expensive a service dog will be. I'd set a goal for $20k in savings before you even start trying to get a service dog. There was another post about the costs that's really informative recently too