09/15/2024
Just a note yesterday I met someone who was told to register their dog as a service dog before bringing it to public places. A service dog doesn't need paper work, or a certificate of training, you do not need a doctor's note, or your even dog to be registered (other than with the city)..... Those are all scams! Your dog needs to be well behaved, no pooping or peeing in public. Behavior needs to be excellent no pulling and being distracted, or aroused. No aggression at all, preferably not saying hi to to many people but honestly sometimes it is ok to let them say hello, but never ever soliciting for attention... but always always ask before petting or approaching a service dog... And the other day when I was at the rodeo people were trying to walk over my dog! Never ever walk over top of a SD! A service dog is an extension of ourselves and attacking or stressing out a Service Dog will and a handler has every right and should met these people with firmness. I try to be understanding of special needs people, however people are pushy and mean, and do not respect our space like they should. please please give us space, do not walk over or hoover over our dogs, especially when they are in a down stay. If you fell or tripped in the process of doing that our dogs could be hurt and emotionally damaged to where they couldn't work any more and that blam would fall squarely on your shoulders. Our dogs are still dogs and if attacked or hit they can reasonably defend themselves, the handler if they can physically get involved in the fog attaching they are allowed to harm the animal attacking their service dog. The rodeo tried to deny us access because last year there was a dog that bit someone, well if the handler was newer and people were walking over the dog that is a horrible situation you put that person in, and if the dog was showing signs of stress prior the handler should have left prior to this. Read your dog's body language and leave if out is to much. The venue your going to won't be as accommodating as Disney thru have special taped off areas and stuff for service dogs but I really wish now venues would start setting up a service dog area for us it would help so much of this. The rodeo separates the novis and pets from the experienced service dog. Your not going to get everything right the first time you experience it sometimes you unfortunately have to leave because your dog is over whelmed.
Society seems to think they can bring their ill behaved dogs to stores and public places because service dogs are protected...so they put a vest on and take their miss behaved stressed dog with them everywhere... it is not a free pass there are laws, please if your dog is not trained for big public situations as a service dog, and tasked trained and lunging at dogs please leave them at home. We all love our dogs but if your dog is getting nervous and you don't know because you do not know dog behavior enough to know that lip licking is a precurse to a bite, or that lunging and being distracted and soliciting to see everyone "because they love everyone" is inappropriate and impersonating a service dog is not a victimless crime. We are the victims, and it is against the law, my dog has been attached 3 times and next time I will be getting justice for her and me! because impersonating a service dog is against the law and a dog that does these inappropriate things is not covered by the ADA. If you need a service animal please get training with a professional even if it is just for an hour on how to deal with the public it will be with it. if your pet dog is having behavior problems as a pet please get professional training, dog trainers are highly skilled and know dog behavior, it is the best investment you can do for your pet or service animal to get help for them to be more successful and happy. A dog who does even 6 weeks of training with its owner is less likely to go to a shelter, correct problems before they start. Trash can sniffing is a precursor to trash diving, counter or table sniffing is a precursor to table surfing and stealing food please get help, but get help from the right kind of trainer too, no aggressive corrections, no hitting, no screaming as these things are only going to end with an aggressive dog and someone getting bitten and the dog getting put down. There are a lot of new training techniques and a good dog trainer will ask which one you prefer. There is shaping dog behavior, there is force free, there is appropriate style correctional training using leash corrections works really great but needs a professional trainer. It is an investment but one that you signed onto when you got a dog, it takes time to train your pets. Every moment is a learning moment but the dog needs to be comfortable to do so. If your dog is exhibiting over stimulation and never settles that dog is going to have anxiety and it is preventable in the beginning stages it is correctable. Please educate yourself, you wouldn't work on your car, or your electrical without learning something or getting a professional, or researching abd having someone to show you how to first. This is the same thing as doing the plumbing and crossing your fingers on if the joint will hold.... Maybe for a while but you might make it worse too.
