Oscar and Louise: How a Support Dog Helps with Daily Living and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
Updated: Jun 24
Support Dogs is a national charity dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children and adults with various challenging medical conditions.
They provide, train and support specialist assistance dogs to achieve this.
This year has been great for hearing about support that is available for people living with EDS. Support Dogs has united, trained and qualified support partnerships for those living with epilepsy, autism and disability.
I'm so happy to share the stories of those who have benefited that have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Earlier: 🐾Megan and Lyra
... and now, meet
Oscar and Louise!
At just 37, Louise lives in constant pain.
Diagnosed with genetic connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) aged 18, the past 20 years have been a real battle.
But now that she and her pet chocolate Labrador have graduated as a successful Support Dogs partnership, Louise, from Bournemouth, has a brighter outlook on life.
Oscar has been trained by national charity Support Dogs, which trains and provides specialist assistance dogs to help adults and children with a range of challenging medical conditions, to help wheelchair user Louise with a range of tasks.
He can pick up dropped items, help Louise to get undressed, open doors, give an alert bark if Louise needs help, push access buttons on lifts and doors, fetch her medication and he loves to load and unload the washing machine.
Louise also has autonomic dysfunction, a complication of EDS, which means being upright causes her heart to race, blood pressure to drop and breathing to dysregulate, so she runs out of breath trying to do simple things.
What This Support Dog Partnership Means for Louise 🐾❤️
Louise Pharmacy Technician Louise Horse Riding Before a Virus Worsened Her Condition Louise Drummer in Rattlesnake ‘n’ Tailfeathers
Louise, whose powered wheelchair has to be tilted to accommodate her neck pain and autonomic dysfunction, said:
“Support Dogs is amazing – it helps so many people. What Oscar can do now makes my life so much easier.
“Before I moved to where I am now, I was initially trying to do things I shouldn’t have been – I shouldn’t have been upright, but I didn’t have a choice.
“My new home is more accessible and Oscar enhances that. I’ve got an automatic door and he can press the button – he likes to put his paws on it.
“If I didn’t have him, I’d probably struggle with things like doors, or I’d be trying to bend down – things I shouldn’t be doing for safety reasons. Even putting my arms in the air causes issues because it makes your heart work harder. Oscar just makes everything easier.”
Having had Oscar trained is also giving Louise the confidence to go on theatre trips.
Louise worked in a pharmacy and was a drummer in a rock ‘n’ roll band called Rattlesnake ‘n’ Tailfeathers and a keen horse rider before a virus worsened her condition three years ago.
Practical and Targeted Support:
She said her EDS affects “literally every joint”, which can dislocate. “Things that shouldn’t be painful were painful,” said Louise.
“My neck joint is a massive problem as it causes migraines, so bending down is a massive issue. But having Oscar being able to do pick-ups helps with all of that.”
The Training Stage
She got Oscar as an eight-week-old pup, after her condition forced her to give up her job. Louise took the pooch along to basic obedience training and Oscar gave her a purpose.
She thought he might make a suitable assistance dog and looked up Support Dogs.
Oscar was accepted onto the programme in late 2024 and following residential training at the charity’s centre in South Yorkshire last September, Louise and Oscar continued putting what they learned into practice at home, before graduating earlier this month.
To find out more about the work of Support Dogs,
please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk
or call 0114 2617800. With thanks to Tracy Walker, Communications Officer and Louise for sharing this news ❤️
Support Dogs Specialise in three specific programmes creating partnerships built on trust.
Support dogs are trained to provide safety and to facilitate a more independent and socially inclusive life for both the autistic child and their family.
For people with Epilepsy
Support Dogs are trained to provide a 100% reliable, potentially life saving alert up to 1 hour before an epileptic seizure. This enables the client to find safety and be in control over their seizure, allowing a much more independent life.
For people with Physical Disabilities
The client’s own pet dog is trained to perform tasks which are specifically tailored to their individual needs, providing them with greater independence and safety.
▶️ Watch baby Derek Training 🐾
Working with Rescue Dogs
Support Dogs are champions for dogs who need a second chance.
They source many dogs from owners who sadly are needing to rehome their dog because of unforeseen circumstances or from rescue centres and council pounds.
🐾 There are many dogs out there that have huge Potential to Become Support Dogs 🐾
Established in 1992, Support Dogs works across England, Scotland and Wales and provides all its services entirely free of charge to those in need of them. However, the charity relies solely on voluntary donations and receives no government funding.
Registered charity number 1088281.
Educational Resources
▶️ Subscribe to Support Dogs to see more dogs in action!
See Also:
Watch Puppy Roundup Episode 1
Founder members of ADUK
Support Dogs are one of the founder members of Assistance Dogs UK. ADUK believes that we urgently need clearer definitions in law of assistance dogs, alongside consistent standards for training and welfare that all working assistance dogs can aim to meet – whether trained by ADUK members or otherwise. They continue to advocate for this clarity and consistency in order to ensure that disabled people are able to access public places with their trained assistance dogs.
ADUK provides a kite mark of excellence in assistance dog training.
All ADUK dogs adhere to the highest training and welfare standards as set out by Assistance Dogs International and the International Guide Dogs Federation.
Assistance Dogs International Logo International Guide Dog Federation Logo Assistance Dogs UK Logo
More Good News Stories!
Stories such as Louise and Oscar's are just a snapshot of the work and therapeutic partnerships created by Support Dogs.
Read more stories from people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and learn the different ways assistance dogs can help people with disabilities.
🐾 Emma and Jeff the Red Fox Labrador.
Emma says she feels like she’s living again.
Anne has skeletal instability.
“Now when I’m walking with him, it’s as if my brain feels as though there’s an extra body part on the ground, and it’s re-opened up my sensory and motor pathways. “I can hold onto Rafa and he stops me from falling.”
As well as competing at Crufts, having Lyra trained has given Megan more confidence, including to go to university and get out and socialise more.
Support Dogs can be found on social platforms:
💫 Submit a Story
Use this form to send an inspiring story, ask a question, or simply recommend a product or service that helps ease some of your EDS related and disability symptoms.
Reason for Contact
Research and Further Reading -
How support dogs can help Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Disability and Autism.
There is growing interest in the connection between assistance dogs emotional wellbeing, stress reduction, and quality of life.
🧾 read more
🧾 read more
🧾 read more
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About me :-)
Read more:
I enjoy creating colourful health and wellbeing pages, adding useful links and ideas as I find them.
Linktr.ee/Hypermobility brings together Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and hypermobility information, alongside creativity, general wellness and small things that can help people feel a bit better.
To help with signposting, there is a Research Feed, on my EDSease website with some of the latest Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome news from PubMed.
I’ve always found journalling helpful for wellbeing, so I’ll be adding creative wellbeing gift sets on Etsy soon.
Emma x
Affiliate Note: expand to read
Some links may be affiliate links, including Amazon and Awin links. I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my websites, blog content and creative projects.
Related Finds
Draw Your Pet Workshop! Bookings donate to Mental Health UK via ClassBento.
The Ultimate Dog Lovers Gift Set: Journal, Craft, and Pamper Kit on deals site Wowcher
Books:
Among the stories you will also meet Service dogs Kodak and Rocky, who play a vital role in the author’s life when arthritis affects her mobility.
The trials of training the dogs, the comfort they give, and the positive effect they have, plus amusing anecdotes about their differing characters, are all chronicled in this informative and inspiring memoir – Dogs, Horses, and Me.
Essentials:
Treat both dog lovers and their pups to this all-in-one gift set, featuring an interactive journal, DIY crochet kit, and a relaxing dog massage bundle, all presented in a stylish reusable tin. Buy on offer with Wowcher.
DOG Crochet Kit
More helpful daily living and creativity finds on my Amazon Storefront:
Final thoughts 💭
Another lovely good news story from Support Dogs. Louise and Oscar’s partnership shows how trained assistance dogs can offer practical, tailored support for people living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other long-term conditions. From opening doors to fetching medication, Oscar’s support helps reduce strain, improve safety and make daily life feel a little more manageable.
With thanks to Tracy Walker Communications Officer, and Louise for sharing this news ❤️
To learn more about Support Dogs and the work they do with disability assistance dogs, autism assistance dogs and seizure alert dogs, visit Support Dogs.
You may also find further information through Ehlers-Danlos Support UK, PoTS UK and Assistance Dogs UK.
