Service dogs and training

[Sideways]

It's great that you don't need patches to keep people away.

The organisation I did my training with spent a lot of time teaching me how to manage the public when I’m with my dog. Because it’s a rare for me to not get approached when we go out.

It’s not fair. It shouldn’t be like that. People should leave us alone.

But the reality is - people don’t leave us alone. And no matter how educated the public get? It’s probably always going to be like that.

One of the realities of having a service dog is that it’s going to attract the attention of people around you. People are going to behave unreasonably.

For me, it’s important not to get to hung up with anger about that. So where I can, I de-escalate situations where the public are being unreasonable. Because getting into a screaming match is counterproductive.

And when I can’t defuse a situation by simply speaking to the person respectfully? I leave. I shouldn’t have to. But there it is - the world is unfair.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

One of the realities of having a service dog is that it’s going to attract the attention of people around you. People are going to behave unreasonably.

Yes, I know. We have been training for a year and 3 months. He is a pitbull. The public approaching us is nothing new. The extremes in which they do, no matter how many times I ask them not to, how bitchy I get, how nice I am, how I say it people persist way past any reasonable expectations. Trying to pet is one thing. Hitting him with a cart and throwing rocks at him is another. And I have a right to put whatever patch I want to on my dog. The business can tell me to take it off (and I will) but I still have a right to put it on him. And I feel I can exercise that right in places that have felt unsafe and I cannot go to, even with him (such as Walmart) for a while now due to that. And maybe I am not managing symptoms right and maybe it is all wrong for me to do so but if it keeps people away enough so I feel safe enough to go to those places then great. For right now. In the future I probably won't need it but right now I do.

 

[EveHarrington]

Are different then service dogs.

ESAs require zero training and only provide emotional sup...

Yes, I am very much aware that ESA’s are different than service dogs.

My point is that crazy ESA people are going to make the world suck a lot more for people like you who have legitimate service animals.

——> They already have.

Delta Airlines has already changed its ESA/Service Animal guidelines because of crazy crap that ESA and their owners have done.

This is just the start. It IS going to get more restrictive for you. Count on it.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

This is just the start. It IS going to get more restrictive for you. Count on it.

But that's the ACAA. Not the ADA. It should get more restrictive to fly in my opinion and I personally don't mind showing my doctor's letter to an airline to prove I need a service dog. But that's just me.

The ADA has turned down regulations in the past. CA has become more restrictive and Florida is following suit by cracking down on those that fake and making harsher punishments.

But when Logan Paul can fake a service dog to fly for free (someone that can afford the fee) and then video it and get away with it...we have an issue.

 

[Justmehere]

I personally don't mind showing my doctor's letter to an airline to prove I need a service dog. But that's just me.

Me too! Ugh. There is a friend of my extended family, who openly pretends his dog is a service dog when he has no disability and openly admits this, just to fly free "and have fun with my dog." His fun makes my life harder.

 

[Gs172003]

Me too! Ugh. There is a friend of my extended family, who openly pretends his dog is a service dog w...

That crap.ticks me off. I went to visit the zoo recently and three women had "service dogs in training" there (puppies). In training my behind. They were posing them on statues and taking pictures. Pathetic.