As a result of his service overseas and in the U.S., Derrick developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He found himself in constant fight-or-flight mode and unable to deal with crowds.

For Derrick, attaining a service dog to help with his PTSD was a years-long process, which he says is common among service members. He describes the decision-making process in three stages: admitting that you need help (usually the lengthiest part of the process), discovering what options are available and then, actually taking the necessary steps. He credits his wife, Sarah, with encouraging him to finally follow through. “She knows me better than I know myself,” Derrick said.

When Derrick was ready to move forward with choosing a dog, it was puppy love at first sight. Sarah happened upon a service dog training group at the local farmer’s market. The couple met Thor, and the rest is history. “Sometimes the service dog picks you, not the other way around,” Derrick said.

When choosing a service dog, it’s imperative that the personalities of the breed and the owner mirror each other – and Derrick and Thor are a match made in heaven. The Belgian Malinois breed, described by Derrick as “German Shepherds on steroids,” has a strong personality, and are extremely athletic and dedicated to their owners. “I have an on-the-go, active lifestyle, and Thor fits that bill,” Derrick said.

Once Thor was chosen by the Pehlmans—or rather, he chose them—he went through an intense training process that took about 9-10 months. While he lived with his trainer 24/7 during that period, Derrick was a huge part of his training and still participates in remedial training to keep his commands sharp.

They go on frequent outings to keep Thor on his paws, too.

Though it might be tempting to pet him, Derrick says the best way to treat a service dog is to pretend like they aren’t there, so they can do their job. “You’re not going to hurt the dog’s feelings by not petting him,” Derrick said. It is perfectly OK to greet Thor – and he gets a lot of attention. “People usually say, 'Hi!' to Thor more than they do to me,” Derrick said.

And don’t worry – Thor gets plenty of affection. At home, Thor is like any other pet, playing with the Pehlman’s teenagers or snuggling on the couch. The only difference is he’s constantly ready to switch into service dog mode. He even has a furry friend – a lab named Finnegan. Finnegan and Thor are two peas in a pod, although the differences in the two dogs remind Derrick what a perfect partner he’s found in Thor.

Derrick and Thor just celebrated their first anniversary on May 1, and we couldn’t be happier these two heroes found each other.