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Public Access Issue - Three words that can cause anxiety for any service dog handler. We talk about it. You accept that at some point in your life, you will have an access issue, and yet, each time you go out in public, you pray that it never happens. Read below to learn about my first public access issue. ConfidentI researched ADA law thoroughly. My boyfriend and I acted out public access issue scenarios, to practice me remaining calm and standing up for my rights. I watched public access issue videos on YouTube to see what other people did. I read problem stories online and talked to people who had been denied access in the past, and took note of how they handled it. I told myself over and over again that should I be denied, I would remain calm, state my rights, hand out ADA service dog info cards, and stand my ground. I was confident that I could handle any situation that came my way. The day Robbie & I encountered our first access issue, I was confident walking into the restaurant. My boyfriend’s mother & I were out running errands and wanted to get lunch in town. We stopped at La Hacienda in Boonville, MO. Being a Mexican restaurant, I anticipated that there may be a problem with admittance, so I grabbed a few of my service dog law cards just in case. I walked into the restaurant with head held high, and acted as if there was nothing unusual going on. The waiter greeted us and prepared to seat us, but stopped when he saw Robbie. Immediately he three his hands up the air and said, “no no no no.” I tried to calmly explain that Robbie is a service dog and that by federal law, I cannot be denied access. He wouldn’t listen. He called his manager over, and the manager too, started yelling. Last week, my jaw locked open. Thankfully not as wide as Robbie's yawn, but still wide enough so that I I can't really talk. Even though I have felt terrible this week, Robbie's needs still come first and he needed training and attention all the same. Not being able to talk made this quite difficult, but presented a good training challenge for both of us: working on non-verbal commands. This post will include our list of non-verbals, and how we execute a training session with no vocals. My First Dog, JessJess was not trained. We passed an obedience class, but never stuck with it once the class was done. I thought that once she had been taught sit, down, stay, and come that it would always stay in her mind. I was wrong. Dogs need constant reinforcement and consistency in training. Just learning it once doesn't mean they will retain it forever. I always dreamed of having a dog that would always come, that I could play with off-leash, that wouldn't pull on the leash, and that could do cool tricks. I tried with Jess some, but I didn't put enough effort into it and then I gave up. I feel bad about it, looking back, because Jess was a house ornament. She was loved so much, but she didn't get the exercise and attention and discipline that she needed. She only listened to Dad, because he was the one who walked her and disciplined her. She was full of energy, she pulled on the leash, she couldn't be trusted off-leash, and she had nightly rampages through the house. But I loved her. She was my best friend that stuck with me through everything, who let me cry into her coat, and who'd curl up with me in bed after a hard day. If I could go back in time and train her with the knowledge I've gained while working with Robbie, I would do so in a heartbeat. I know the truth now about how it should be. Whether you live in a big city or a one stop sign town (like I do), finding a good vet that will respect you, will understand that your service dog needs extra special care & handling, and will not try to take all your money can be really hard. In big cities, there is a vet clinic every few miles. In small towns, there might be a livestock/pet vet 20 miles away who WILL try to handle your dog like it's an ornery bull, but your best bet is going to be driving to the nearest large city which could be up to an hour away. In this post, I will talk about what to look for in a vet, why service dogs need special care, and how to stand up for your dog's health. Why Service Dogs Need Special Care/HandlingWe spend a lot of time getting our dogs desensitized and well-socialized to all kinds of experiences. It is vital that our dogs don't create negative experiences with certain people and environments, so that they can help us better. If we allow someone to mishandle our dogs, they will see it as us allowing them to be hurt because while they take care of us, it is our duty to protect them from harm. We can never fail our service dog. They are more than medical equipment and deserve our care, just as much as we need theirs.
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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