Service dog handler lobby

[Deleted member 37343]

Yeah, we do "off" to stop doing DPT because "down" was confusing so "off" is his 'get down' c...

Another thing to remember. If you're able to walk to the end of the hallway, or able to get to your bathroom and turn on the faucet or shower, and he gets out of his place 3 times or more, then that means you need to back track a bit. Maybe just get to the door of the bathroom then walk back.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

If you're able to walk to the end of the hallway, or able to get to your bathroom and turn on the faucet or shower, and he gets out of his place 3 times or more, then that means you need to back track a bit. Maybe just get to the door of the bathroom then walk back.

It was more that I left the room and no longer can see him but we have backed up a bit with place.

 

[Kefira]

So I had a question come up from yesterday: is anyone successful navigating super crowded or chaotic environments? Our particular issue is a classroom that's way too full and has long tables in kind of a U shape, but the instructor wants breakout groups in the same room, so it's already too many people, and then we were trying to get to another corner of the room past people moving chairs and tables and bags on the floor and everywhere. I mean, classmates were crawling on the floor to get under tables because it was easier than trying to walk around through there.

I started him on a tactical heel last year for really crowded hallways or convention type settings, but we aren't a very good height match so it's awkward and I don't think it would help because this looked like an obstacle course to a human, let alone him. He was having to jump over bags and there was a column in the room you had to step over a corner of a bench to get around and all sorts of nonsense.

On a happy sharing note I found the right person to talk to in the department office to ask for help and got two small needs met. We can now come into the building from going outside without an unnecessary walk because I got card access to a door with some spots for him to go nearby. We also are being given access to a small unused room where he can be out of vest on breaks between classes for decompression if needed. Yay self-advocacy even when it's exhausting.

 

[Changing4Best]

I had a SD for many years, but my last vet bill was $350 and then she got incontinence. Since I live in an apartment and the rug is NOT mine, I had to let her go. I miss her a lot, but she helped me get through the roughest times in my life here where I moved to. So I am grateful for all she did for me. She used to go grocery shopping with me, to Dr.'s offices and all around town. I had no car, so folks would give us rides, including to church. She even accompanied me when I went up front of the church for Communion. There was one kid near where I sat that kept petting her whenever we would close our eyes to pray. He knew he was not supposed to pet her! He did so anyway. I could tell he was petting her, because she would let me know. So I ended up moving to another seat in the church to avoid this kid. Other than that, I had no problems.

One store owner refused us access. I just didn't shop there. I was kind of ticked off about it, but hey, you can't win 'em all!

 

[lostforgottensoul]

tactical heel

We will be starting that soon.

I also saw where someone was walking their service dog in a store and when they got to a place that only one body could go through they waiting for the handler to go first, followed behind, then came back into a normal heel.

Tactical heel seems much better, to me, for crowded spaces as not only are you taking up just one space but your SD is protected between your legs from bumps and kicks and other accidental things that happen in crowded areas and, I think, much less likely to become freaked.

On another note, can you set this up for practice? It is hard as it involves many people so I can see how you wouldn't be able to but that is the only way I have been able to learn how to navigate in a certian area and how to teach him to. To set it up as best as I can and practice.

This sounds like school so do you live on campus or have several freinds that can help? A classroom where you can set the tables the same and have your friends mock this to the best of their abilty is the only thing I can think of.

But a tatical heel is a very smart move and it is likely your best option there. Maybe in an out of tatical heel to navigate but that seems like the smartest move.

There's another I found:
Pettom
Pet Mat Blanket for Dogs & Cats Car Travelling Outdoor Activities Waterproof and Portable with Storage Bag 39" x 27"
Dead Link Removed

I got this one. Just bought it last night in "green" (which is the bag. The mat looks brown) but since we will be doing place and settle further way from things that make him reactive and moving closer and closer, we need to do this on a mat soon. His dog mat got peed on by the cats so won't leave it down and will put it down and do settle each day after work and maybe before work and start taking it outside.

I haven't gone anywhere with him since the pharmacy/gas station trip as I am trying to find the best way to approach it.

BAT is a great tool but how to do it is another question. Been reading up and watching videos on it but we are getting the mat soon. So that's good.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

One store owner refused us access. I just didn't shop there. I was kind of ticked off about it, but hey, you can't win 'em all!

Yes you can as denying access is illegal.

It is worth the fight for those teams that come behind me that won't have an issue now that the owner is educated.

It is the same is denying someone access due to a wheelchair. It is illegal!

 

[Kefira]

I also saw where someone was walking their service dog in a store and when they got to a place that only one body could go through they waiting for the handler to go first, followed behind, then came back into a normal heel.

Yeah, this is often what we do for just tight spaces and is what we ended up doing in the problematic classroom, because I trust my classmates not to mess with him. But in crowded environments with strangers it's been problematic because people can come up behind and try to pet him. Thus the tactical heel in the repertoire even though it's difficult for us. Really sad that it's just one more thing we do to protect ourselves from uneducated rude people.

The good thing is he loves to learn new things and the tactical heel opened up the ability to train leg weaves and other more spatially aware things.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

The good thing is he loves to learn new things and the tactical heel opened up the ability to train leg weaves and other more spatially aware things.

Yes!

Chopper has a thing about legs. I think he was kicked before. So we work on this slowly and often.

It's good as a standing position as well. Chopper's command "between".

But yes, it is uncomfortable weird way to walk (for me, as Chopper is rather big, I feel like I am walking like a corn cob is up my butt) but it provides the dog the biggest amount of protection.

What is your command for the tactical heel? We have "between" which is sitting between my legs and we are working on luring to walk but I have not figured out a good command for it as his normal heel is simply heel. Heel between and between heel sound rather stupid. I ask for it on command with "between" and maybe just say "walk" or "foward" and "back" as those are his commands to walk fowards and backwards. I'm unsure.

That's rather more advanced but with his things with legs I am doing as much leg work as I can.

Michael Ellis with Leerburg has some amazing videos on this as they train competition dogs and have amazing leg commands.

 

[Kefira]

What is your command for the tactical heel? We have "between" which is sitting between my legs and we are working on luring to walk but I have not figured out a good command for it as his normal heel is simply heel.

My SD already knows left heel and right heel (keyed to "Side" as a command). He also has a command for sitting facing forwards between my legs "Anchor". We've worked on this type of heel some for lines without commands, just luring, but we were just working on it tonight using "Center". That way he's got side and heel, and then center heel from an anchor.

He's starting to get it. I was working him from anchor then taking a couple tiny steps forward and marking progress. We mark progress "that's it" and success but hold with "good". So we started from anchor with that's it and then a Yes and treat as soon as he was standing between my legs, and by the end of a 20 minute or so session tonight we were going from anchor to center with a good and hold to treat, able to take a step or two then back to anchor. I'm really pleased with where we're at. I'll hopefully be able to work with him some in a bigger space soon and see if we can get it moving now that he knows a bit what we're doing- he still thinks it's weird to be between my legs for very long and wants to go to a heel or side after more than a few steps.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

He also has a command for sitting facing forwards between my legs "Anchor". We've worked on this type of heel some for lines without commands, just luring, but we were just working on it tonight using "Center". That way he's got side and heel, and then center heel from an anchor.

Ah, great commands!

I like "center". Have no idea why I didn't think of that.

"Anchor" I didn't use as it has been shown as like an actual anchor (staying no matter how hard they are pulled in all directions) and I was looking to use that. When we get to counter balance on stairs and pulling me up and stuff we will need a few commands. "Steady" will be to allow me to push down on him for both getting up from a sitting position and counter balance on stairs. And then "foward" to walk foward, "stop" to stop walking and I was thinking "steady" may not be enough so was thinking of "anchor" and then of course "pull".

He is a pitbull and is made to pull heavy things so I know he can do it. I just don't want to confuse him crossing commands for several tasks like that. Steady meaning to steady yourself to let me push down on you but also steady to let me pull up a bridge handle and you not move.

But, we will see as it goes. I seem to figure out the best commands as we are learning the task.

I like "center" though and that could even be "center heel" as a walking command. You don't trip over that. Not everyone uses heel as their heel command. Just speaking personally I can see Chopper understanding "center heel" if practiced from heel to center to heel to center etc.

And yes, luring would the best way to start in my opinion and a marker. I don't add commands right away. But this is the perfect time to start adding an exacterated hand signal for it. It is always best to add the hand signal before the cue in my experience anyway.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I got Chopper's mat and it works well. Perfect size I think. The green bag zipper atraches so can come off and the bottom is green plastic feeling water proof material. Not plastic but like that kind of feeling like a wind breaker coat. That feeling. Then the top is furry and soft and brown. And so you just fold each side into the middle and roll it into the bag and it velcros close and has a long handle.

It's nice. The other ones are thicker and bigger I think. He may need something thicker as this is much like a blanlet on the floor but so far is working. I may get a yoga mat if need something thicker to start.

Anyway, wanted to share pictures of it:

It looks like he doesn't fit on it but he does.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

we're running entirely off our program's protocol

Can I ask what program you went through and how would one go about applying and being accepted into a workshop like that? I haven't called any place but most seem to be for veterans. Not all but even googling service dog training workshops they seem to be a scam. Like a 3 day thing etc.

I found one dog trainer local (not a service dog trainer) and a 3 week board and train was like almost 4 grand! Like what the f*ck!! And that, she said, doesn't include the e collar price, which I have already. I cannot believe normal dog trainers get paid that much!! Plus it is a board and train. I don't want to leave him somewhere like that.

There is a service dog on youtube named Ollie for a girl with cystic fibrosis and he was trained living with the trainer for 8 months and I am trying to find out where that was. Also, a veteran was on a place's local news as he need a service dog and wanted to train his GSD as he has a special bond with her but she had major issues like major fear and stuff. A little girl raised money for the trainer by selling limonaid. The trainer was in AZ. They show the before and after. I would fly Chopper somewhere like that but there are SOOOO many scams and places that board and train that abuse the animals. SOOO many stories like that so I am so scared to do that. Plus, my complete absolute money limit would be 2 grand and that would deplete my savings completely. Though i will if I have to.

I can take a week or even two off of work to go somewhere and do intense training. Our main issue is being over threshold in public. Whining and just over all stressed I think. Though the whining I think is excitment of seeing and wanting to meet new people. I am doing the very best I can to ease into it very slowly, move closer, train "leave it", "settle", "look at me" etc but I am limited to how far or how much I can walk and I am just wondering what other options are out there. I also want to make sure I have done all I can before washing him out if it comes to that.

He is doing MUCH better and so maybe I just need to he more patient but was just seeing if a trainer can help with just that. The excitment and being over threshold in public. I was even looking at paying for streaming videos in Leerburg University which would get me dog training certificates. Which i dont want, I just want to train my one single dog.

Anyway, sorry, I didn't mean to ramble. I'm just seeing what kind of options might be available for us to help the training along.