dllfo
Sacramento, CA
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Joined: 02/12/2005
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My wife says there are websites that will help you train your Service Dogs to do various things.
I am in my 5th day of detox off morphine/fentanyl/oxycodone/demerol, etc. I am functioning at a low level, but my Service Dog is at my side.
If you can't find the websites, let me know and I will ask her.
2002 Monaco Diplomat 38PST
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Jennerator
Canada, eh
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Joined: 08/09/2008
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My brother has traveled with his service dog (and a trainee) from Canada through the US to Mexico and back without issues - for years. He credits his dogs with enabling him to do much more than if he didn't have them. They are no troubles at all while traveling.
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dllfo
Sacramento, CA
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Joined: 02/12/2005
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On a lighter note, a couple of years ago, when my Service Dog was only 2 years old, we were south bound on US 101, north of Eureka, CA.
Our young lady (Tolly is her name) walked up to us and stood looking at the door. We figured she may have to use the bathroom, but there wasn't any "good" places to pull over, so I figured I would stop at the next rest stop. After a couple of minutes, she gave up and moved back behind us. In a minute or two she brought her lease up to my wife. Then she stood looking at the door. We got the hint, pulled over on a slightly wider spot off the road and they got out. Tolly went to the only piece of grass close by, got rid of any liquids in her and then immediately got back in the coach. We humans learned a lesson there and now pull over at the first safe spot we can find.
We have heard of people training their dogs to "piddle/poop" in the shower stall. Not too sanitary, but if you were in a hurry or did not have a safe place to stop, I guess it is better than the carpet. It could be cleaned well of course.
BTW, I took a letter describing how Tolly has saved my life several times this year to my Primary Care Physician and asked he enter it into my medical records. He read it, smiled and said ok. He even gave me a prescription stating my Service Dog is vital to my health.
We did this because we heard Hawaii is trying to put more barriers up concerning Assistance Animals. Tolly wears her vest in public and we put the Service Dog and Medic Alert dog patches on it. We have never been asked not to bring her into any establishment. Including Sutter Roseville Hospital when my wife had surgery.
I did make one mistake when I took her up to see my wife. We walked into the hospital, down the hall and got on the elevator. When we got to the second floor Tolly almost leaped out of it, then turned around and sniffed the floor inside. When we got to my wife's room I told her about that and she laughed, saying Tolly has never been on an elevator before. For a (then)2 year old Portuguese Water Dog, I thought she took it very calmly. THEN the good part began. The staff saw me take her in and soon they were all coming around to see her. She stood on her hind legs and put her right front paw up on the bed, so my wife could pet her. You KNOW what is next. The left front paw was there too, then the right hind leg and then she was laying very still next to "Mommy". None of the staff said to get her off the bed.
I told them she was stressed out because my wife had not been away from her since she was about 6 weeks old. They smiled and said it was fine. It didn't hurt that Tolly had been to the groomers a couple of days before the surgery. She was the hit of the ward. When given her choice, she preferred to lay next to "Mommy" and lay her head on my wife's stomach. I think both of them "healed" together.
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RoadXYZ
Somewhere USA
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Joined: 08/09/2003
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My service dog Aka traveled with us full-time during her last 16 months with us on earth. She enjoyed Grand Central Station in Kansas City, especially enjoyed the COE park in Cartersville, GA, and was most welcome wherever we voluntered. She alerted medically, and the only problem we had was we bought Dasani for her whenever we traveled as she got into bad water somewhere previous to us traveling, and we didn't want to take a chance with her health again.
Whenever we had portraits taken our children insisted that we include Aka also, as she had become a member of our family. She died three years ago after being partnered with me for 8 years. When she was diagnosed with end stage cancer and could no longer walk steadily, the vet said Aka got you to the good health you have now, so please let your friend go, she deserves that. Hubby and I were heart broken, and would wake up to check to see if she was alongside our bed for weeks afterward. Tears are rolling down my cheek as I am writing this.
BTW she came from a prison program which trained dogs and where I applied for a service dog. So her trainer chose Aka as her name which I thought was cute. It was pronounced A-k-long A.
We are traveling down the Road "Side by Side"
2004 Alpenlite TT 28RL
2008 Suburban 2500 Lt
Home Base: Tri-Cities WA - USA
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Jennerator
Canada, eh
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Joined: 08/09/2008
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RoadXYZ,
that is so sad to read... My brother is actually going through some devastating news about his service dog, K2, right now. Turns out he has heart disease and likely won't live much longer. The decision to let K2 go is a very hard one for my brother. To Jon, and I'm sure others, these are not animals, but they also represent freedoms. All the best to you.
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