Service dog rollercoaster

[shadowchaser]

The ada states two questions ... is this a service dog and what tasks does it perform. They can also ask for proff of rabies vaccinations. It is illegal to bring any dog into contact with the public without this vaccination. They can not request or require paperwork or id of certification nor can they require an identification vest. I personally recommend the vest as it does stop alot of questions. They can not ask you to have the dog perform its tasks either. Think about a medical allert dog here "man I need to see your dog perform its task so that we know it is a legitimate service animal ... " "ok but do you have a strobe light available so I can induce a seizure? "

 

[popeye]

MERRY CHRISTMAS ABBY!!!!
She got her vest in the mail today and she was so excited we couldn't get her to sit still. The first is my son with Abby trying to hold her still for just a second. The second is a close up of her patch which when she first saw it she licked it. I am one proud Papa right now.

 

[shadowchaser]

Nice! Is that one of the LDT vest?

 

[popeye]

LDT vest? I don't know what that is. I ordered it when we sent her for training. From workingdog.com they offered to sew the patch on for me. I couldn't sew if my life depended on it. But I still would try lol.

 

[shadowchaser]

LDT is a leather company that also makes canvas vests.

 

[shadowchaser]

Sorry just looked it up LDS not LDT. Only reason I asked is because yours looked similar to the ones they sell there. bridgeportequipment.com is another good resource to go threw. They regularly have kongs on sale for very low. Right now they have their deskunk shanmpoo (Suki trys to make friends with the skunks. She does into a play bow and they perfume her every year) for only 2 dollars. It can be up to 8 or 9 dollars a bottle locally.

 

[popeye]

Well today did not go at all like it should have. Abby wouldn't listen for anything. She pulled on the leash barked and tried to jump on another dog and whined the whole time my son was in his Karate class. I probably shouldn't be writing this right now as I am still very angry. But today Abby caused me alot more stress than she alleviated. I knew the whining was an issue when I got her back from the trainer. But I tried everything the trainer taught me to do to quiet her down and she refused to be quiet. I even resorted to a treat which I am not supposed to do but still she refused to be quiet. I am so mad right now I could punch a wall and not even feel it. She even whines at times in line at the store which drives me nuts.

I am beginning to think about taking her back to the trainer. problem is the trainer is 6 hours away. I don't know what to do. I am sorry I know I sound defeated and right now I am. But I suppose tomorrow is another day and we will see how she does.

 

[AdamAnt]

Yep, take a deep breath and know better days are on the way, Popeye. I've not had a service dog, but I've trained several dogs, and the one thing I know is there's no substitute for age....she'll mellow and mature as she gets a little older, and remember, she's still more bonded to her trainer than she is you at this point!

Hold on...have faith in her!

 

[snugglepuss]

Popeye, hang in there.

I work with dogs as my side profession, which is really my passion.

I used to work at the shelter in Whistler BC, and totally agree with you about spending a little more for food. When we used to get donations of dog food that was purchased at the grocery store, we would not use it. Not because we didn't need it, or didn't appreciate the donation. There is too much filler used in those foods, and many of our dogs were coming from situations where they were already dealing with being malnourished.

When your girl starts to whine, are you able to check in with your body and see where your stress level is? Often they pick up on the most subtle of cues that we might not be fully aware that we are projecting. I deal with dogs now who have anxiety and who also have some behavioural issues, and find that when I am feeling frustrated, they pick up on it in a second, and their behaviour changes. I need to remind myself then that I need to breathe.

 

[popeye]

Well we kind of figured out where the problem is. I need to walk Abby alot more than I have been. She seems to settle down after a good walking and is more relaxed. problem is she needs to be walked for almost an hour or more before she gets her energy level to where it needs to be. Plus I cheated at my therapy session I gave her a bone and she relaxed. I am not supposed to use that in public but it worked. So for now I guess it's just walk her alot and then take her places.

 

[popeye]

Well later today I found an old trick that worked. When I was a kid my dog skippy would do this. I took an old RC car and attached a squeak toy to the back bumper of it and had the dog chase it around the back yard. Abby went nuts for this Idea. She ran for as long as the batteries held out. Almost 30 minutes. Then a little while later we went shopping and she did perfect. I just needed to figure out a way for her to run off some of that energy and as long as the rc car holds up I might have found the perfect thing. Plus the kids got a real kick out of watching her chase it from the bedroom window.

 

[popeye]

Did I mention that my wife's brother and his wife will not allow me and my service dog into their home? Apparently since their 2 dogs are nasty towards other dogs they will not allow my dog to come to their house. So for christmas I was not allowed to go to their home. It wasn't me they didn't want there it was the dog but they have understood this since I talked to them in the first place that Abby is basically a part of me and if she is not allowed then I will not come. I was given a huge guilt trip about the kids having presents there and everyone wanting to see us and my wife stood up for me saying that they knew about this and we are sorry but we will not be attending.

Since then bro in law and sis in law are both pissed off at me saying I was being childish, stating that I acted like a child who was told to leave their toy at home. I am mad at them plain and simple.

Anyway Abby was welcomed at the public library yesterday. The librarian even asked me a few questions about possibly having children read books to her on certain days of the month. I am currently not 100 percent confident Abby could do this but I am grateful that they view her as a possible "employee"