You can train your own dog to what you need. Some need to retrieve what you drop. Others help with balance and walking straight. Our dog is being trained to keep A distance between my husband and other things he may walk into. Also to calm him when he starts having panic attacks. Our dog is a Mexican heeler smart as anything and a natural herder. We are working with a trainer and her to learn what we need her to do. She refuses to be separated from him. She goes everywhere with us.

Wishing you great success and a real bond with your dog. Daughter has seizure disorder and her dog was locally trained. He has been a Godsend. He is trained to retrieve objects by name...keys, remote, phone, etc. He will also bring in groceries if light enough. He developed his own response to her seizures, barking, nudging and sitting in protect mode. Now he sometimes alerts before a seizure. He's a Golden retriever and is well known about town for his excellent behavior. He has done wonders for her confidence.

We have a 4 yr old lab that began sticking with me or close by. Before I was diagnosed. She picks things up for me. When I start listing she walks beside me and moves me back to where I should be. If I am having a hard time getting up she will come and either sit or stand beside me. She will move her body to help me get up. She even lets me lean on her for balance. I am very fortunate to have her

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member - color me interested...IMO there are all sorts of possibilities here.

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There are several places in Virginia that train Service Dogs. I did a quick Google search and was surprised at how many there are. Mostly it seems to be retrieval type activities and things like opening doors and turning on or off lights. I had a friend who had a dog that was supposed to help stop him if he fell, which seemed a bit unfair as he weighed twice what the dog weighed. One of the websites I looked at said you have to be in a wheelchair to be eligible.