Service dog questions

[OurBigTrip]

Yeah, as a form of non violent protection. But she is a service dog with one of her jobs as the ability to provide me non violent protection. I know exactly what she is trained to do and what she is capable of.


The only thing I ever questioned was how she would deal with robots. And no one can tell me that's she's not going to be good anywhere because none of you know how she has been trained or what her job is.

If you know exactly what she is trained to do, then why are you asking people that admittedly know nothing about what she is trained to how she will react in a specific situation? Why not ask the trainer?

 

[OurBigTrip]

Yes, it is. It's a dogs way of saying back off.

Not a trained service animal.

I'll post this again, since you must have missed it:

10. Q: What if a service animal barks or growls at other people, or otherwise acts out of control?

A: You may exclude any animal, including a service animal, from your facility when that animal's behavior poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others. For example, any service animal that displays vicious behavior towards other guests or customers may be excluded. You may not make assumptions, however, about how a particular animal is likely to behave based on your past experience with other animals. Each situation must be considered individually.
Although a public accommodation may exclude any service animal that is out of control, it should give the individual with a disability who uses the service animal the option of continuing to enjoy its goods and services without having the service animal on the premises.

http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm

 

[DisneyBigSis]

Growling at someone is not non-violent.

Also, a lot of service dogs are trained to making noises to alert. That's all she is trained to do is to growl. Just tell the person to back off. Just like a another dog might bark to alert

She is protecting me from having an episode with her growling also. She growls, and the person back off. I feel less frightened and less scared and less likely to have an attack.

Do you know how easily service dogs can get stressed out. Her main job is to bother stressed out and keep me calm.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Yeah, as a form of non violent protection. But she is a service dog with one of her jobs as the ability to provide me non violent protection. I know exactly what she is trained to do and what she is capable of.


The only thing I ever questioned was how she would deal with robots. And no one can tell me that's she's not going to be good anywhere because none of you know how she has been trained or what her job is.

If your dog decides to start growling and baking in a crowd it could easily create a panic among those in the crowd. A panicked crowd is a very dangerous situation.

 

[DisneyBigSis]

If you know exactly what she is trained to do, then why are you asking people that admittedly know nothing about what she is trained to how she will react in a specific situation? Why not ask the trainer?

Because, I was on here reading other stuff and I believed it would be a great place to come to get support and help. Not have my dog attacked for doing her job.

All service dogs have first. First flights, first time is big crowds, first time being near fireworks. Most of the time the dogs experience these things for the first time after they've been trained. So me asking about something she's never seen before is a legitimate question and concern.

It IS me looking out for her, myself and other guest unlike you who have believed that I don't care about the safety or comfort of others.

 

[DisneyBigSis]

Not a trained service animal. I'll post this again, since you must have missed it: http://www.ada.gov/qasrvc.htm

And I'll post this again. My dog will not growl at you unless you lay your hands on me and I scream/cry/ etc. she's not going to growl because you're too close or because you approved me too fast. She's going to growl because you grabbed my hair. Hit me. Pushed me. And if you were to physically attack me I'm positive CMs would have to removed before my dog.

 

[DisneyBigSis]

If your dog decides to start growling and baking in a crowd it could easily create a panic among those in the crowd. A panicked crowd is a very dangerous situation.

She would never growl or bark in a crowd. Because she isn't trained to bark or growl randomly.

 

[asta]

If your dog decides to start growling and baking in a crowd it could easily create a panic among those in the crowd. A panicked crowd is a very dangerous situation.

My family would be part of the panicked crowd. A growling dog and we would have to leave the area/line immediately if not sooner. I wonder at the lawsuits this individual and WDW would be open to if animals like this were allowed in the parks.

I wonder if an appropriate use of the DAS would be a very real fear of dogs and not being able to be confined in a line with one. (Sorry, I know sarcasm does not communicate well in writing.)

 

[already]

Yeah, as a form of non violent protection. But she is a service dog with one of her jobs as the ability to provide me non violent protection. I know exactly what she is trained to do and what she is capable of.


The only thing I ever questioned was how she would deal with robots. And no one can tell me that's she's not going to be good anywhere because none of you know how she has been trained or what her job is.

Actually, you said you "think" she wouldn't attack.

3. With the exception of roller coasters service dogs are allowed on rides. Does anyone with a service dog have experience actually bringing their service dogs onto the rides? I mean our dogs are trained REALLY well but one of Drika's jobs is to protect me non-violently. The first week I had her she actually had a chance to display what that meant... Basically a lot of growling to tell someone who is acting threatening to back off. She would never actually attack someone I think unless they attack me first. That's what I was told when I did my training. But I could only imagine her finding at least Pirates or the Haunted mansion fairly threatening. I don't want to ruin any other guests experiences by Drika trying to protect me from an animatronic. (For you who don't have any experience with service dogs don't worry, she was trained to NEVER attack or "protect" me from children.)

Also, just curious. Is your trainer ok with you tying up your dog when you go out in public?

This is usually a big no-no. I would consult with your trainer if this is ok. Service dogs are expensive and have had hundreds of hours of very specific training. Trainers usually are not ok with tying up a service dog, making it an easy target to be stolen.

The fact that you think your dog can distinguish between adults and children and not attack, but not a non-human robot is confusing. A service dog should be unflappable around all outside stimulus.

But regardless of what you say your dog is trained to do, if it utters a single growl, she has violated service dog laws and can be asked to leave immediately.

 

[OurBigTrip]

And I'll post this again. My dog will not growl at you unless you lay your hands on me and I scream/cry/ etc. she's not going to growl because you're too close or because you approved me too fast. She's going to growl because you grabbed my hair. Hit me. Pushed me. And if you were to physically attack me I'm positive CMs would have to removed before my dog.

You keep changing the circumstances under which she'll growl...above, you say only with a physical attack, but in another post, you say she growls to alert you.

That's all she is trained to do is to growl. Just tell the person to back off. Just like a another dog might bark to alert

Which is it?

 

[DisneyBigSis]

There is 'trained' and there's 'TRAINED'. My dog is trained, bit not to the extent a service animal is. I do not bring my dog out into public places. I do not put him in situations he is not trained for. A service is incredibly well trained. These animals have a job to so. And they do it. My question would be what the OP considers an 'attack' and why there could be a situation where the service animal would feel it's 'person' was being attacked. That is confusing to me. But, in all reality, service animals, that have been properly trained, are not going to be a threat to anyone..

Yeah, she's not a threat to anyone. In the case that she growled the man had become irate with me. He was trying to rob me let at night while I walked to my hair. He charged me. Try to grab my hair. I stepped back hit my head on the back of my SUV. He then grabbed my arm tried to pull me forward. I resisted. He shoved me against car. I screamed at him to stop. My dog growled at him. He noticed my dog stepped back. And ran off. She never attacked him but also probably saved me from a much worse attack.

 

[OurBigTrip]

How did your dog react during your trip in May?

 

[DisneyBigSis]

To the OP....what kind of situation would your dog feel was threatening to you? I'm just curious. There are going to be a lot of different situations at WDW, with all sorts of people. Not to mention those people that have no idea your dog is 'working'. I think you may have to make some choices here. You may have to forgo some attractions.....a lot of them are not going to be able to accommodate your dog. And you certainly don't want to leave the dog tied up somewhere...and Disney isn't going to allow it. You may want to have some alternative plans in place...just in case. And as recommended, head over to the Disabilities board...lots of great info there for you.

My main plan is for her to go to the dog day care near the resorts during the day. I think with all my family and my boyfriend near me I should be fine. But worst case I want to be prepared. I figured I might need to. I just though it was interesting that you could bring your dog on the ride. I'm more curious as to how most dogs handle it. We have an uneven number so ride swap wouldn't be a problem.

As for the type of situation it has to be very severe. I've already shared the one instance that she had to growl. As you can see I was clearly in danger. And she could have reacted violently but was well trained not to.

 

[fbb]

2. If I do need to bring her into the parks how does the riders swap work with a service dog? Can I forego the riders swap and simply tie her up on the exit side of the ride for the few rides that she can't go on?

Come on. Of course you can't tie her up at the exit.

 

[Aurora0427]

Growling at someone is not non-violent.

That's actually not entirely true. Dogs cannot speak. Growling is their way of letting someone know to leave them alone or that they are hurting. Besides barking, it's their only mechanism for verbal communication. My 3 year old and our golden play all the time. Sometimes the 3 year old doesn't know when to quit, and our dog will make a sound similar to a growl. He never bares his fangs and it's not an ugly sound, it's just his way of telling her "stop harassing me!" Now, if they growl and snarl and bare their fangs, that's different, especially if it's accompanied by a movement to strike.

I understand the reasoning behind service dogs not being allowed to growl for any reason- they will be placed in positions that are much different from a regular pet. The standards are just higher.

OP: only you and your trainer can make this decision. You still have 3 more months to get to know your dog. Maybe you can practice taking her to crowded and chaotic places. Good luck.

 

[already]

And I'll post this again. My dog will not growl at you unless you lay your hands on me and I scream/cry/ etc. she's not going to growl because you're too close or because you approved me too fast. She's going to growl because you grabbed my hair. Hit me. Pushed me. And if you were to physically attack me I'm positive CMs would have to removed before my dog.

What would happen if somebody next to you trips and falls into you, pushing you rather forcibly and accidentally grabbing your hair to break their fall?

These circumstances are things you need to know if you have a trained protection dog.

 

[DisneyBigSis]

Actually, you said you "think" she wouldn't attack. Also, just curious. Is your trainer ok with you tying up your dog when you go out in public? This is usually a big no-no. I would consult with your trainer if this is ok. Service dogs are expensive and have had hundreds of hours of very specific training. Trainers usually are not ok with tying up a service dog, making it an easy target to be stolen. The fact that you think your dog can distinguish between adults and children and not attack, but not a non-human robot is confusing. A service dog should be unflappable around all outside stimulus. But regardless of what you say your dog is trained to do, if it utters a single growl, she has violated service dog laws and can be asked to leave immediately.

Since one of her jobs is to help me socialize with strangers she is very calm and well mannered in public. She's great in crowds. My trainer knows I don't feel comfortable bringing her into a lot of places. He's told me it's okay. She would be extremely hard to steal. And she actually has been 100% paid for by me and my family. Thousands of dollars for training and to make sure we got a good pup with good breeding so that she had a better chance of not flunking out. If she were to stollen it would only be of mine and my families concern not my trainers. Even though, I know he truly loves and cares for her and all of the dogs he trains.

 

[Aurora0427]

Also, a lot of service dogs are trained to making noises to alert. That's all she is trained to do is to growl. Just tell the person to back off. Just like a another dog might bark to alert

She is protecting me from having an episode with her growling also. She growls, and the person back off. I feel less frightened and less scared and less likely to have an attack.

Do you know how easily service dogs can get stressed out. Her main job is to bother stressed out and keep me calm.

I understand that she is trained to growl to get someone to back off, but that may not be appropriate for WDW. As our big trip posted, that violates service dog rules. Would growling in this manner be considered a "direct threat"? I don't know.

I get why she would be growling, and I understand that it's part of your therapy. The problem is, other people wouldn't.

 

[DisneyBigSis]

Actually, you said you "think" she wouldn't attack. Also, just curious. Is your trainer ok with you tying up your dog when you go out in public? This is usually a big no-no. I would consult with your trainer if this is ok. Service dogs are expensive and have had hundreds of hours of very specific training. Trainers usually are not ok with tying up a service dog, making it an easy target to be stolen. The fact that you think your dog can distinguish between adults and children and not attack, but not a non-human robot is confusing. A service dog should be unflappable around all outside stimulus. But regardless of what you say your dog is trained to do, if it utters a single growl, she has violated service dog laws and can be asked to leave immediately.

And again for the 100th time "think" as in she's not trained to but I couldn't imagine her standing by and watching as I was beaten to death. But it's possible with her restraint that she wouldn't do anything. But I HIGHLY doubt it. It's just not in dogs nature to not protect their owners. Even the best trained dogs it seems crazy she wouldn't.

 

[wilkeliza]

If the ride does not allow dogs there are temperary kennels you can leave the dog in. I'm not sure how big they are but you as the handler have to put them in and out.

I understand this will be your first time out at WDW with your dog so there will be some things to keep in mind.

Some sections of the parks can get very crowded. Think carefully what your dog may do if someone places a hand on you to guide themselves around or break a stumble. These aren't threatening situations but may be perceived as a threat.

There are many places now that have sounds that are similar to gun shots, the fountains at Epcot are one and the pirates game in MK makes several cannon noises all over Adventureland. In those areas how might your dog respond.

I don't want to discourage from bringing your service dog but just wanted to give you clues to what might cause issues.

In my time as a CM I met 1 PTSD dog and he did not handle fireworks well and was always circling his handler. His handler told me he only came to the parks a few hours at a time and never stay for fireworks due to the nature of his PTSD dog. There will have to be a lot of you paying attention to your service animal as much as him doing his job.

Finally note if you do bring him and determine the first day it just isn't going to work you can not leave him unattended at the hotel. There is a boarding facility rather close that has great views if you need to leave him for any reason.