Service dog for sleep apnea

I wouldn't think of going ANYWHERE without my Service Dog. He has changed my life and makes such a difference in my favorite way of vacationing [cruising] that I would never go without him. Oh! Sure! There's lots of adjustments that MUST be made [where to place the potty box, what filler has the ship used, timing on when I go to anything so that my dog is comfortable and on and on.]

If I weigh all the variables that can happen while cruising with my dog, it's still worth it to me to feel safe with him onboard!

If your dog is a legitimate Service Dog he/she behaves in such a way that no one would ever doubt him/her or you.

I'm very proud of my dog and his behavior in the public venue. When people come up and ask if they can touch him, first, I thank them for asking and I always allow a pat or two and remind them that he has to go back to work.

These dogs are amazing and the public is in awe of what they can do and how wonderful they act.

Be proud of being the handler of your Service Dog. The more you expose him to the public the more comfortable both of you will be!

The person with this apnea dog also wanted to tour the galley and the ship allowed the dog to attend the galley tour. I have no trouble with it in the dining room but in the galley shouldn't have been allowed.

I have also seen a untrained service dogs on a cruise. I remember it peed in the buffet, barked and growled at people. True service dogs are highly trained and do NOT do this.

The person with this apnea dog also wanted to tour the galley and the ship allowed the dog to attend the galley tour. I have no trouble with it in the dining room but in the galley shouldn't have been allowed.

 

I have also seen a untrained service dogs on a cruise. I remember it peed in the buffet, barked and growled at people. True service dogs are highly trained and do NOT do this.

Here is how the DOJ [Dept. of Justice - Overseer of the American's With Disabilities Act] sees it: If the Handler or the general public are invited into the area then the dog is invited. Remember; it's the Handler who is covered by the Federal Gov. The Service/Working Dog is considered his "medical equipment."

The dog who peed in the buffet area is gross and disgusting. The Handler MUST be sure that the dog is healthy, been out to potty prior to entering a public space and NEVER allowed to growl or bark EVER!!!!! Sometimes the "bark" is a necessary element to "alerting" the Handler but, growling serves absolutely no purpose.......NONE!!!!!

I would have gone directly to the Hotel Manager and filed a major complaint. The Handler would have been questioned and if they found him/her to be out of line they would be remanded to their stateroom for ALL their future meals. DONE!!!!! I've seen a person being escorted off the ship with luggage and "FiFi" in tow!!!!

 

I would have gone directly to the Hotel Manager and filed a major complaint. The Handler would have been questioned and if they found him/her to be out of line they would be remanded to their stateroom for ALL their future meals. DONE!!!!! I've seen a person being escorted off the ship with luggage and "FiFi" in tow!!!!

Wow! I wish ships would do more cracking down like this. Less people would try to beat the system. It ruins things for cruisers with true service dogs.

Wow! I wish ships would do more cracking down like this. Less people would try to beat the system. It ruins things for cruisers with true service dogs.

It's really up to the complaining passenger to be respectful, complain in a quiet manner and make a lot of sense, then people will listen to you. Unfortunately, usually the complaining person is loud, rude and acting so badly that the best the folks in charge can do is quiet them down by giving them a "freebee", it's ridiculous. In the long run it does NOTHING to abate the situation or change anything for future passengers who have Service Dogs.

Yes, the ships are afraid to step on toes but once they're very clear about the ADA laws and what they can and can not do they feel more empowered. And, can assert their authority by reading the rules and regs. to the poorly behaving Handler and then enforce their rules with the knowledge that they're life Teflon, they can't be touched by any future law suits or complaints.

I am shocked at the many people who "Assume" they know what a service dog looks like or does.

I have a 20 pound American Dingo or Carolina Dog as my service dog. For 0ver 35 years my husband had to wake me up at night to see if I was sleeping or unconscious. My blood sugar is not always stable at night.

"Susie", my dog was now wakes me up if my blood sugar falls too low. She doesn't bark but paws or nudges me until I wake up. The trainer taught she to train her by wiping a 2 x 2 gauze square in my mouth when I was at different sugar level. When she went to the low one she got a treat. She naturally sensed the change in my body by smell and it was extremely easy to train her.

I then hired a licensed dog trainer to learn the service dog part. She rarely barks and has been socialized with other dogs, children and adults. Waiters are surprised to see here when we leave and say they didn't realize she was even there.

I also have a mobility issue and she can bring me my phone when I fall and my cane if I ask her. She does go everywhere with me. Walmart, restaurants, the theater. She can open the doors with the handicapped switch. She is an important addition to our family

She was a rescue dog and in two years there were maybe 5-7 people she just didn't like. She growled , barked and would get between them and my scooter. I trust her that maybe that stranger should keep his distance. So I can't guarantee that it will never happen.

I let people pet her if they ask and I give her the ok. I think that the more people understand how a service dog performs their job, the more acceptable they become to the public. I see her as a great ambassador for service dogs and a teaching tool.

I have not flown with her yet, I am not sure how she would react to the unknown changes in air pressure. I considered taking her next week on our cruise, but I will leave her with my daughter instead. I am worried about how people will react and I would never leave her in a cabin without me. It isn't fair to her. I would take her to the dining room and I bet no one would know she was there. But I don't want to bother other people.

This thread makes me feel bad for people with service animals and "invisible" needs. Try not to make judgments based on how someone looks or the size of the animal. They truly can make life easier for those of us that need them.

By the way she is not certified by a particular agency.

I am shocked at the many people who "Assume" they know what a service dog looks like or does.

I have a 20 pound American Dingo or Carolina Dog as my service dog. For 0ver 35 years my husband had to wake me up at night to see if I was sleeping or unconscious. My blood sugar is not always stable at night.

 

"Susie", my dog was now wakes me up if my blood sugar falls too low. She doesn't bark but paws or nudges me until I wake up. The trainer taught she to train her by wiping a 2 x 2 gauze square in my mouth when I was at different sugar level. When she went to the low one she got a treat. She naturally sensed the change in my body by smell and it was extremely easy to train her.

 

I then hired a licensed dog trainer to learn the service dog part. She rarely barks and has been socialized with other dogs, children and adults. Waiters are surprised to see here when we leave and say they didn't realize she was even there.

 

I also have a mobility issue and she can bring me my phone when I fall and my cane if I ask her. She does go everywhere with me. Walmart, restaurants, the theater. She can open the doors with the handicapped switch. She is an important addition to our family

 

She was a rescue dog and in two years there were maybe 5-7 people she just didn't like. She growled , barked and would get between them and my scooter. I trust her that maybe that stranger should keep his distance. So I can't guarantee that it will never happen.

 

I let people pet her if they ask and I give her the ok. I think that the more people understand how a service dog performs their job, the more acceptable they become to the public. I see her as a great ambassador for service dogs and a teaching tool.

 

I have not flown with her yet, I am not sure how she would react to the unknown changes in air pressure. I considered taking her next week on our cruise, but I will leave her with my daughter instead. I am worried about how people will react and I would never leave her in a cabin without me. It isn't fair to her. I would take her to the dining room and I bet no one would know she was there. But I don't want to bother other people.

 

This thread makes me feel bad for people with service animals and "invisible" needs. Try not to make judgments based on how someone looks or the size of the animal. They truly can make life easier for those of us that need them.

 

By the way she is not certified by a particular agency.

Carol, thank you for introducing Susie to us. She sounds like a wonderful assistant to you.

It's truly a matter of desensitizing the public to the various kinds of Service Dogs that are out in the world. ;)

I hope, one day, you will have a comfort zone for cruising with Susie.

Here is how the DOJ [Dept. of Justice - Overseer of the American's With Disabilities Act] sees it: If the Handler or the general public are invited into the area then the dog is invited. Remember; it's the Handler who is covered by the Federal Gov. The Service/Working Dog is considered his "medical equipment."

 

The dog who peed in the buffet area is gross and disgusting. The Handler MUST be sure that the dog is healthy, been out to potty prior to entering a public space and NEVER allowed to growl or bark EVER!!!!! Sometimes the "bark" is a necessary element to "alerting" the Handler but, growling serves absolutely no purpose.......NONE!!!!!

 

I would have gone directly to the Hotel Manager and filed a major complaint. The Handler would have been questioned and if they found him/her to be out of line they would be remanded to their stateroom for ALL their future meals. DONE!!!!! I've seen a person being escorted off the ship with luggage and "FiFi" in tow!!!!

Roz, I look forward to your posts, and was hoping to see you weigh in on this. My take, however, on the galley tour is somewhat different than yours, but you have a lot more direct knowledge of the ADA than I do. Based on Specter v. NCL, the Supreme Court stated that the cruise lines had to adhere to some of the aspects of the ADA, like accessability, but that without a "clear instruction from Congress" specifically amending the ADA to include foreign flag cruise ships, that the "internal operations and policies" of the ship did not have to meet the ADA.

I am shocked at the many people who "Assume" they know what a service dog looks like or does.

I have a 20 pound American Dingo or Carolina Dog as my service dog. For 0ver 35 years my husband had to wake me up at night to see if I was sleeping or unconscious. My blood sugar is not always stable at night.

 

"Susie", my dog was now wakes me up if my blood sugar falls too low. She doesn't bark but paws or nudges me until I wake up. The trainer taught she to train her by wiping a 2 x 2 gauze square in my mouth when I was at different sugar level. When she went to the low one she got a treat. She naturally sensed the change in my body by smell and it was extremely easy to train her.

 

I then hired a licensed dog trainer to learn the service dog part. She rarely barks and has been socialized with other dogs, children and adults. Waiters are surprised to see here when we leave and say they didn't realize she was even there.

 

I also have a mobility issue and she can bring me my phone when I fall and my cane if I ask her. She does go everywhere with me. Walmart, restaurants, the theater. She can open the doors with the handicapped switch. She is an important addition to our family

 

She was a rescue dog and in two years there were maybe 5-7 people she just didn't like. She growled , barked and would get between them and my scooter. I trust her that maybe that stranger should keep his distance. So I can't guarantee that it will never happen.

 

I let people pet her if they ask and I give her the ok. I think that the more people understand how a service dog performs their job, the more acceptable they become to the public. I see her as a great ambassador for service dogs and a teaching tool.

 

I have not flown with her yet, I am not sure how she would react to the unknown changes in air pressure. I considered taking her next week on our cruise, but I will leave her with my daughter instead. I am worried about how people will react and I would never leave her in a cabin without me. It isn't fair to her. I would take her to the dining room and I bet no one would know she was there. But I don't want to bother other people.

 

This thread makes me feel bad for people with service animals and "invisible" needs. Try not to make judgments based on how someone looks or the size of the animal. They truly can make life easier for those of us that need them.

 

By the way she is not certified by a particular agency.

I have no problem with service dogs who provide a service to someone with an "invisible" disability. Your third paragraph says it all. Well trained service dogs are invisible, and well trained to be in social circumstances where pets would not be welcomed. Any dog that is so poorly trained as to pee someplace is not only not house-broken, but is not trained to the level that a service dog should be, to only do it on command, even if in an acceptable location.

Roz, I look forward to your posts, and was hoping to see you weigh in on this. My take, however, on the galley tour is somewhat different than yours, but you have a lot more direct knowledge of the ADA than I do. Based on Specter v. NCL, the Supreme Court stated that the cruise lines had to adhere to some of the aspects of the ADA, like accessability, but that without a "clear instruction from Congress" specifically amending the ADA to include foreign flag cruise ships, that the "internal operations and policies" of the ship did not have to meet the ADA.

 

Cruise ships are always in the; maybe, should have, would have, could have category when it comes to the ADA and their laws. Because ships are foreign flagged it complicates the ADA spectrum, and because some of them do dock, embark and disembark in USA Ports they MUST follow our Federal Laws. They pay port fees, as do we the consumer, according to the USA Laws.

 

Now, if the ship is leaving from France and is only cruising through Europe they DO NOT have to follow the ADA Laws. So, if you have a Service Dog and the ship is not docking in a USA port be aware that you can be refused entrance.

 

Now, can they argue that they are foreign flagged and don't have to follow ADA and DOJ Laws that are set down regarding Service Animals, they could try it but they'd be losing a lot of business, not only from the folks who are part and parcel of the ADA but also the general public who admire, respect and enjoy the company of the very few Service Dogs who do cruise. The ADA is mandated to follow rules and regulations for ALL who are disabled not just the Service Dog Handler.

 

If you've ever cruised onboard Holland America you would see how many folks use canes, walkers, wheel chairs and the like. Most of these people are retired and choose to spend their retirement dollars onboard a 5 Star floating hotel. And, it's not just HAL that caters to them and loves their money! It behooves them to follow the ADA rulings.

 

I have no problem with service dogs who provide a service to someone with an "invisible" disability. Your third paragraph says it all. Well trained service dogs are invisible, and well trained to be in social circumstances where pets would not be welcomed. Any dog that is so poorly trained as to pee someplace is not only not house-broken, but is not trained to the level that a service dog should be, to only do it on command, even if in an acceptable location.

Please, if you are witness to such behavior from a dog onboard a cruise ship go to the Hotel Manager and file a complaint.

I have cruised with two different dogs since 2005. A total of 23 cruises with them and neither one of them ever had a bathroom accident...EVER!!!!

It takes a lot of work to cruise with a dog. Their needs have to met before yours and you have to make sure they're behaving correctly at all times and in all places. That said, with a properly trained dog and handler it's a beautiful thing to see and I'm so proud to part of such a team!

We are on a ship now wth a lady & her scooter with a basket. There is a sign on the basket that says "service dog" & her toy poodle (bow on her head & with a pink tutu) is riding in the basket. Makes me wonder..... but of course I cannot know....... Curious however.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

My experience is anecdotal but I think too common today. I was in an online support group with a young woman with PTSD. She got a Guardian livestock dog almost 150 lb and simply bought a jacket for the poorly trained dog.they are never meant for service work.(see link) He bit multiple other animals, went after people, finally she gave up the pretense after it killed a dog in the park.

the next one I met with a phony service dog was a friend's family member, mid-50's, likes to travel. She ordered an online kit from the internet so the small lapdog could fly with her, go out to dinner. She happily stated at family gathering she had no need for a service dog.

This is the guardian breed:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/caucasianowtcharka.htm

I long for a service dog both for stability walking and help picking things up, getting through doors etc. Yet I cannot afford $20k dog and at the same time feel there are far more deserving people for dogs whose cost is subsidized. I cannot stand people who lie and cheat, making if harder for those in need of a dog to be accepted.

We are on a ship now wth a lady & her scooter with a basket. There is a sign on the basket that says "service dog" & her toy poodle (bow on her head & with a pink tutu) is riding in the basket. Makes me wonder..... but of course I cannot know....... Curious however.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If the dog misbehaves or eats at the dining or buffet table or, in any way, acts badly you have the right to complain and ask questions. Otherwise, you're right to wonder!

Another one I spoke to on disability website had anxiety so simply bought a huge Eastern European guard dog. After biting a child and then the second episode of killing a smaller dog in the park, she stopped bringing him all over Manhattan.

 

My last dog may be a mobility service dog, as my spine worsens. I dread these people so taking advantage that the ADA protections are ended.

If that dog bit anyone in New Zealand, where I live, it would have to be put down. No ifs, no buts. We don't tolerate dogs who bite people, or kill other dogs.

Of course, if that happens, it's the owner's fault, not the dog's.

A genuine service dog is a treasure, and it can be large or small. The owners of fake service dogs spoil it for everyone, and particularly for the owners of genuine service dogs.

While I do not have a service dog ,I do have an invisible disability . I have had people look at me in disdain, when I need to use a crowded elevator or ask to sit in the disability seating at the drill on board ship.

I have COPD, but you would not know it looking at me, unless you make me climb a flight of stairs :rolleyes:

I absolutely detest those who pretend to have a need for a service animal, just to take their family pet on a cruise. I would give anything to not be in my spot.

For all those who need a service dog ,do what ever you need to keep them with you ! For all those who are sneaking their pets on board ...Shame on you!!!

Having said that .....

Please do not judge weather someone has a disability by first impressions ,things may not be as they seem.

Happy cruising !

Reader

Another one I spoke to on disability website had anxiety so simply bought a huge Eastern European guard dog. After biting a child and then the second episode of killing a smaller dog in the park, she stopped bringing him all over Manhattan.

 

My last dog may be a mobility service dog, as my spine worsens. I dread these people so taking advantage that the ADA protections are ended.

But a guard dog has only on e function, that is to guard someone or something which may include severe bodily harm to a threatening person.

A service dog won't cause harm to a third party except when the service dog senses that the third party has very bad intentions.

We have very similar laws here in the U.S. If a dog, no matter what the breed, is a nuisance to the public, therefore a danger to others, it may be seized by a governing body and after it is put into quarantine for a certain amount of time, it is either released to its owner or put down.

We have very similar laws here in the U.S. If a dog, no matter what the breed, is a nuisance to the public, therefore a danger to others, it may be seized by a governing body and after it is put into quarantine for a certain amount of time, it is either released to its owner or put down.

Roz

I hope to be lucky enough to meet you and Horton onboard one day.. :)

Reader

Roz

 

I hope to be lucky enough to meet you and Horton onboard one day.. :)

 

Reader

You'll know Horton, he's the really handsome four-legged one!

You'll know Horton, he's the really handsome four-legged one!

Thanks for the laugh!:D

Also, Canine Companions for Independence, based in Santa Rosa, CA. and all over the U.S. Breed, PuppyRaise and train their amazing Service Dogs to give to the deserving public at absolutely NO COST! By the time you receive one of their dogs it is worth in excess of $25,000 and only increases in value as time goes on.

I'm so lucky to have had two of their amazing dogs.

They're paid for by donors who believe in the organization and what these dogs can do for so many.

If you're interested in finding out more about this wonderful organization who train; Service Dogs [dogs who perform daily tasks]; Hearing Dogs [for deaf and hard of hearing]; Facility Dogs [dogs who work in the healthcare setting]; Skilled Companions [children & adults with cognitive & developmental disabilities; and the Wounded Warrior Project. You may contact them at: 1-800-572-BARK [2275].