Five Tools To Make Teaching Loose Leash Walking Easier
Autumn is well under way and much of the country is awash in color, leaves and crisp air. The beautiful fall conditions make things just perfect for taking a stroll with your Service Dog or Service Dog in Training! Enjoying a walk together isn’t much fun, though, if it’s a constant battle. Here are 5 training tools to help you teach loose leash walking so that everyone can enjoy the nice weather!
Emotional Support Animals Don’t Have Public Access (Plus 4 Other ESA Facts)
People often believe Service Dogs and ESAs are the same things, with similar access rights. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Emotional Support Animals aren't Service Dogs, they don't have public access, and they don't require specialized training. Keep reading and dig into the nitty-gritty facts about ESAs. Emotional Support Dogs Don't Have Public Access Contrary to popular belief and pop culture, Emotional Support Animals don't possess public access rights. They do not belong in grocery stores, restaurants, or in places of public accommodation. This includes hospitals, doctors offices, pharmacies, and other medical environments. Nothing grants ESAs public access rights, not even a vest or an ID card, because, under U.S. federal law, ESAs do not have public access rights. Period. End of story. ESAs may accompany their handlers only in places where pets are allowed, with a couple of notable exceptions. ESAs Have Access to Housing Both Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals are permitted to live with their handlers under federal housing law. It’s not unusual for a landlord to require a physician letter or other form of documentation from those who use Service Dogs. ESA status does not exempt someone for being responsible for any damages caused by their ESA. ESAs Don't Require Specialized Training Unlike Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals don't require specialized training however they must be capable of working safely, which means no timidity, no fear, no aggression, no out of control behavior, and no excessive vocalizing. Emotional Support Animals Aren't Service Dogs Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are an important type of working dog, but they are not Service Dogs. Let's say it again for the people in the back -- ESAs differ from Service Dogs. While ESAs add value to their handler's lives, legally, they have the same rights as pets, unlike Service Dogs. Service Dogs receive accommodation under America's disability access laws, whereas ESAs do not. To learn more about the difference between therapy dogs, Service Dogs, ESAs, and other working dogs, check out this article. Emotional Support Animals Are Pets Legally, ESAs are pets. They're allowed in no-pets-housing but outside of that, ESAs are simply pets. Someone gets an ESA when their doctor, psychiatrist, or therapist says animal companionship would benefit them and writes a letter documenting that fact. Most ESAs were simply family pets before their handler obtained a letter of necessity from a medical caregiver. .
The Difference Between Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Emotional Support Animals and More
Service Dogs and Assistance Dogs aren’t the only dogs in the world who do amazing, life-changing work, but they are one of the few types of working dogs clearly defined and protected by United States federal law. Too many people don’t understand the differences between many types of working dogs, though, and it’s time to clear up some of the confusion.
5 Great Ways to Spoil Your Dog in the New Year
It's that time of year again: Christmas is over! You may be looking for new ways to spoil your dog in the new year and there are many things to do to make them feel special, now that you have some more time to spend focusing on them. It's important not to forget your furry friend during the mew year! In this blog post, we'll be discussing five great ideas on how you can ensure your pup doesn't feel left out. Ways of Keeping Your Dog Happy in the New Year 1. Ensure Your Dog is Well-Groomed One of the best ways to ensure your dog doesn't get left out is by grooming them. There's nothing worse than a pet that looks unkempt during one of the most festive times of the year, so you must keep up with their grooming routine. This includes: Brushing their teeth Trimming their nails Keeping them clean overall An excellent way to ensure your dog always looks its best is using quality pet shampoo. Not only will this keep your pup clean, but it will also leave them smelling wonderful. 2. Prepare Some Treats The best types of treats you can get for your pup are ones that promote healthy eating habits. These include natural dog chews, which support a healthy lifestyle and taste delicious. Your dog will love getting treats like these during the new year, and you'll love knowing that they're good for them! 3. Get Them a New Toy Why not get your dog one of the new toys that were released for Christmas last year that now have a discounted price in the January sales? There are many types of toys available for you. It can be hard to know which one is right for your pup. One of the best toys you can get your dog during this time is a plush toy. These types of toys are great because they're soft and cuddly, making them perfect for snuggling with on those cold nights. 4. Get Them a New Bed Your dog deserves the best, and that includes their fancy new bed. You can find some great products on eBay or Amazon that your pup will love. Another type of bed you might want to consider getting your dog is a memory foam bed. They are comfortable and reduce pressure points and relieve pain in your pup's joints. 5. Take Them for a Walk One of the best things you can do to keep
Brace and Mobility Support Dogs: Everything You Need To Know
Brace and Mobility Support Dogs are a type of Service Dog trained to provide their disabled handler with assistance moving from place to place. This invaluable service is matched only by these dogs’ ability to also help with other chores and tasks, like opening doors or retrieving dropped items. Due to the unique nature of their work, though, Brace and Mobility Support Dogs have special needs. Read on to learn more!
The Benefit of Service Dogs
According to various experts, it has been confirmed that keeping service dogs has incredible benefits for the owner. After all, they help you combat post-traumatic stress and can also be helpful in reuniting broken families. According to the data extracted from the National Institute of Health, around 30% of the military veterans in the US experience stress when they come back home. Secondly, not many of them seek help because they fear social taboo and ostracization. Because the service dogs are highly applauded for so many benefits, the designated dogs will help one to de-clutter their mind from stress.in this feature, we will shed light on the incredible benefits of service dogs. They’re More than a Companion Unless you have been living under the rock, you will know that service dogs are trained in a way that can improve the quality of life of military veterans. Check out an online pet shop that has service dogs. No wonder, such dogs offer more than just conventional companionship throughout one’s life. Especially those veterans who suffer from an anxiety disorder or mental health issues, they can bring a cute service dog home. They will help declutter the mind, reduce social anxiety, provide additional security and paddle unconditional love. Up to The Task If you don’t know, like the conventional service members out there, the service dogs are trained in a way that they will help with all the tasks at home. For instance, when it comes to opening doors or turning on the lights, service dogs will be highly beneficial in this regard. Furthermore, they will also help in retrieving lost items and help you with medication. If you have reservations about your security, they will ensure that you’re always protected. If you haven't seen the videos of service dogs, go through YouTube and you'll find a plethora of options. Additionally, the service dogs will also help in keeping the veterans up to date with their routine activities. Staying Constantly Alert When veterans are experiencing a certain medical crisis, the service dogs will keep everyone alarmed. For instance, if a person has anxiety issues, the service dogs will help in catering to a panic attack. This way, the owner will be better prepared about everything. Furthermore, they will be mentally prepared to have a safety net to rely on. However, if a person is alone and all by themselves, it will be hard to rest assured about their health. Aiding Mobility Service dogs
2021 Updated Service Dog Air Travel Guidelines
In early 2021, the Department of Transportation (DOT) updated Service Dog travel rules for Service Dog travel by air. In a nutshell, the new DOT Service Dog rules ban Emotional Support Animals on planes and require all Service Dog handlers to fill out two forms at least 48 hours prior to traveling. One of the new DOT Service Animal forms concerns training and behavior and the other health and wellness. For dogs joining their partner on flights longer than 8 hours, an elimination habits form will also be required. The new updates also change the definition of "Service Animal," for the purposes of flying, to include only dogs. No other species of animal, including miniature horses, will be recognized. Ideally, the new DOT rules will ensure dogs traveling in the passenger compartment of the plane are well-behaved and trained for public access. While there's a little more work required on the part of Service Dog handlers prior to flying, overall, the new process is more streamlined. All airlines will utilize the standardized DOT forms. Owner-trained teams, teams which trained under an individual trainer or organization are all treated the same Owner-trainers (people who have trained their own dog), those who have worked with a private trainer or organization-trained dogs will utilize the same form. The forms do require the name of a trainer, however if you've trained your dog yourself or if you no longer have contact with the trainer who originally worked with you (which is extremely common) you may use your own name or that of another trainer as long as you and your animal can meet Service Dog Standards. Some airlines, like American Airlines, allow electronic submission of the forms, whereas others require the forms to be emailed or brought to the desk. Copies of the 2021 Service Dog travel forms can be downloaded here. The new updates also address and standardize a few other common Service Dog travel concerns. Per the DOT, the 2021 Service Animal Final Rule: Defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained by an owner-trainer, individual trainer or training organization to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability; No longer considers an emotional support animal to be a service animal; Requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals the same as other service animals; Allows airlines to require forms developed by DOT attesting to a service animal’s
What Is Pet Sitting, And Why Is It Necessary?
From everyday work to planned vacations to unexpected medical emergencies, there are lots of reasons you may need to leave your furry friend behind. Whether you have a pet or a Service Dog, it's helpful to have backup care in case you need it. Pet sitting is the best possible solution for any working pet owner. It is an alternative to the dog kennel system. Pet sitting is a type of daycare where you leave your pets during work hours. But rather than going to a specific institution, you can hire possible care and support for your pet at home. Dog Sitting vs Kennel Boarding When you need to leave your dog behind there a lot of things to consider. While some dogs are fine staying in a kennel, others may may experience stress or emotional issues. These issues can be brought on by a lot of factors other than just training — some are natural features of their breed. For example, herding dogs such as German Shepherds may actually try to herd the other dogs in the kennel, which of course is a behavior that's tough to train out. Other factors that can complicate boarding are medical conditions or dogs in heat or pregnant. Luckily, there's another solution: dog sitting in the owner’s home. Finding a Dog Sitter Has Become Easier Luckily, finding a pet sitter has become easier over the last decade. Today, there are a lot of great services that can help you find a pet sitter. These professionals will keep your pet supervised and look after them while you’re gone. But before you choose to bestow your pets to them entirely, you must get your pets familiar with the pet sitting team. That way, the experts will be able to handle your pets professionally and efficiently without fearing any extreme circumstances. Pet Sitting Costs Are Similar to Kennel Boarding You might be surprised at how comparable pet sitting prices are to kennel boarding. With a kennel, there are a lot of overhead costs from the building itself to all the equipment and gear required to take care of all the animals. If you have more than one pet, you may also save money because pet sitters often don’t charge or charge very little to care for multiple pets. In some cases, a pet sitter may be less expensive. Pet Sitting May Be The Healthier Option Most people don't think about dogs getting sick, but
Dog Bites: Seven Things You Need to Know
If you partnered with a service dog, one of your concerns likely involves what would happen should you encounter an off-leash or out-of-control dog. Most of the time the other dogs you encounter are generally well-behaved. However, there's always a risk that another dog could distract your canine partner from doing their job — or worse. But what happens if a dog bites you or your dog? Here are seven things you need to know about dog bites. 1. All dogs need to be socialized Of course, an extremely important key to reducing incidents is training, specifically exhaustive socialization with your dog. The more situations your dog is exposed to the better and safer they will perform. That being said, accidents do happen. 2. Evaluate the dog bite and the seriousness of the incident Fortunately, most dog are not serious. However, if blood is drawn it's important to get appropriate medical attention quickly in order to avoid infection which lead to complications later. If a dog bites you, take these steps right away: Wash the wound. Use mild soap, and run warm tap water over it for five to 10 minutes. Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth. Apply over-the counter antibiotic cream if you have it. Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage. Keep the wound bandaged and see your doctor. Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the wound. Watch for signs of infection, including redness, swelling, increased pain and fever. Depending on the situation, you may also want to collect the information from owner of the dog who bit and witness information if applicable. Don’t forget to collect the dog owner’s insurance details too. Photos of any injuries and other documentation may prove helpful in the future. 3. You may be entitled to dog bite compensation Depending on the severity of the incident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages due to the injuries sustained, and the pain and suffering you underwent. Hire a dog bite lawyer in Oklahoma City or a city near you to help with your compensation case. 4. Understand about liability Every dog owner is strictly liable for any bites if they knew or ought to have known of the dog's vicious or dangerous nature as experienced in past occurrences. The burden of proof lies with the victim as it's their responsibility to prove that the dog owner knew or should have known of the dog's
The Hidden Complications of Fake Service Dogs
Rules exist for a reason and when it comes to service dogs and service dog law, some have come to view them more as "guidelines." Whether it's someone who wishes they could take their dog everywhere or those who deny access to properly trained service dog teams, both groups harm the service dog and disabled community as a whole. Most people love their dogs, and usually, when someone tells a service dog team they meet in public that they'd like to know how to make their dog a service dog, their likely intent isn't malicious or meant to be hurtful. Nonetheless, it's a poorly thought-out aspiration. It's similar to saying, "no offense," before insulting someone. This issue is far more complex than it seems on the surface, especially when it comes to able-bodied people who actually carry out their wishes by faking service dog status with their pets. Read on to learn more about what you're insinuating by wishing for a Service Dog if you're not disabled, how masquerading pets as Service Dogs is not only extremely disrespectful, but also harmful, and some important points to consider about service dog partnership and the service dog community. Service Dog Handlers Are, By Definition, Disabled First, per U.S. federal law and the ADA, Service dog handlers must be disabled. Service Dogs perform tasks that their disabled owners would otherwise have difficulty completing on their own. If you do not have a disability, then you do not qualify for a service dog. Period. End of story. Full stop. There are no exceptions. By expressing a desire for a service dog, you're also wishing for the accompanying disability. For a disabled person, hearing an able-bodied person openly wish for a disability (even if you don't actually say those words) is deeply hurtful. It suggests you don't take them or their disability seriously and furthermore, it makes light of the thousands of hours of training and socialization their partner has undergone to perform his job. From time to time, when disabled service dog handlers or service dog trainers are out in public, they're approached by someone with a wistful look and a story about how their dog would be "just perfect!" for service dog work. They wish they could take their dog everywhere, too, but there's one problem: they don't understand that the right to be accompanied by a fully-trained service dog comes with a cascading pile of problems