How can a service dog help someone with autism? Interview with Jeremy Dulebohn
I first spoke with Jeremy Dulebohn, a gifted service dog trainer with over 30 years experience, in August of 2020. At the time, I knew nothing about service dogs or how they could help my child with autism. Fast forward to April 2022 when I had the pleasure of spending a week with Jeremy as he delivered Rocco's service dog, Oakley, and put me through dog handler bootcamp, so to speak. I knew immediately the he is a special human who's passionate about using his talents and the gifts of animals to make a difference in the world. It's an honor to have him on the podcast today.
Jeremy has placed over 1300 service dogs (which includes training the families, handlers, and teams who work with the dogs) for people who have all types of needs. When people hear about our Oakley, I am often asked, "how can a dog even help someone with autism, aside from the emotional support aspect?" Jeremy's answers might surprise you, as dogs can help those with ASD in far more ways than you might guess.
Other questions we dive into together in this episode:
-How can a service dog help someone who doesn't have autism but has other needs?
-How long is the wait for a service dog?
-How can families manage the cost of a service dog if finances are a concern?
-Benefits of a service dog that are often overlooked.
-How to know if you're ready for a service dog or if you should wait.
Come find out more on my latest episode.
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