Desired Behaviors

01/19/2023

I was having a panic attack & Atlas was tasking. Even w/people boarding & kids squealing out “doggie!” Atlas was focused. Then came a boy with a puppy straining on the end of a flexi-leash. Its eyes were huge with fear searching for shelter in the chaos. He saw Atlas & attacked, lunging, barking, & snapping. The handler & parents did nothing: no comfort for the terrified pup; no apology; no concern to see if their dog had injured mine. Atlas ignored it but the attack shook him. A few minutes later he missed a seizure alert for the first time in months. I starting seizing out of my seat & hit my head on the window.

This is an increasingly familiar experience for service dog (SD) handlers as more people violate the boundaries of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Non-disabled people tell us:

“No one complains about my dog in stores!”
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“She’s my baby, I can’t leave her!”
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“It’s not like I’m hurting anyone!”
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“He gets scared alone so I bought him a vest.”
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“I got a doctors note online!”
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“I bought a certificate & ID so my pet can go everywhere!”
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Whether ignorance or arrogance many people are convinced that it’s their right to use ESA & SD laws to manipulate the system, break the rules, & avoid federal prosecution. But the reality is most dogs aren’t equipped to handle stressful public situations & can behave unpredictably when they are thrown into an environment they aren’t trained to handle.

Faking a SD is not a victimless crime. It puts disabled people & their medical equiptment at risk. It causes us to be harassed, refused service, & illegally barred from resources non-disabled people enjoy. Businesses that have bad experiences with pets illegally bar disabled handlers from Ubers, hotels, restaurants, stores, & housing. Every year people lose their SDs because of attacks, harassment, & injuries. Many handlers become afraid to risk leaving their homes.

It‘s exciting to bring your dog with you to pet-friendly stores, restaurants, & hotels! But bringing your dog into spaces illegally has far-reaching ramifications that you can’t always see. Help protect disabled people’s lives. If a business isn’t pet-friendly leave your pet at home.

12/21/2022

A vest doesn't make a service dog.

Service dogs are not legally required to wear identification! The training is what makes a dog a service dog.

Hundreds, and even thousands, of hours go into basic obedience, task training, and public access! THIS is what makes a dog a service dog.

12/20/2022

AKC’s Sisudatu You’re My Treasure


Service dog in training. 8mo and I’m early stages of public access. Sisu is being trained for medical alert, medical response, and psychiatric task work.

12/20/2022

It’s incredibly important for service animals of all kinds to tuck under tables in establishments or at the very least to press flush against a wall, table, or chair to provide access to OTHER patrons. Service animals while allowed anywhere legally once task trained still must be trained to be courteous to other customers. They must not disrupt, disturb, or block other visitors from entry. There are not laws governing the position or way to do this. They just must be under control and out of the way of others. We train our dogs to lie down comfortably and relax unless they need to task. When another patron is coming close and needs additional space we train our dogs to sit in order to create the best experince for everyone in the establishment.

12/12/2022

Head trainer and training group owner- Advanced canine behavior and training certificate of completion.

12/11/2022

12/11/2022