Cruising With A Service Dog....everything You Ever Wanted To Know!

[Sarachan74]

Roz

What ship did you sail on? Is it possible that princess will provide sod?

I'm going to start potty box training him on Monday morning? Is cedar chips all they use? When I was at an ACB convention - Jules refused to use sawdust (?) or maybe wood shaving? I don't remember exactly. Is 4x4 the normal size for the box or can you request like a 6x6,5x5 box etc?

Sorry asking so many questions!!

Sarah and Jules

[frecgenswl82]

Hi Honey's, I'm home

Welcome home to both of you.

First; welcome to Sarah & Jules.

Also welcome to Sarah and Jules


There were two other dogs onboard; a coon dog [medic-alert], named "Chase" who every time he and Horton saw each other they did the cutest dance. He had his own box in the crew closet and there was a Chiauhau[sp] who was a Service Dog as much as I'm the Queen of England! :rolleyes:

Roz I didn't know you were the Queen of England, Your Majesty LOL. I think that Horton and Chase could recognise that both of them are TRUE service dogs, hence the dance. Maybe the little dog was for seasickness, just kidding.

Strangers are in love with our stories and our dogs!

I like the stories and the information and help given.



Now, who are you referring to as an "old bird" - Seriously, I mean SERIOUSLY!!!! I double-dog-dare any of you to keep up with this old codger!!!!!!!! I'm a fury to be reckoned with when it comes to walking from the Dining Room to the Theatre and someone tries to beat me to a seat!!! I make "Roadrunner" look like road kill! :)

It must of have been someone who sneaked on this board and used user names to post bad information about you. LOL

Welcome home again. You were talking about you and Horton getting on a crowded elevator and your adventures.

All the best Susan

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Sarachan74']Roz

What ship did you sail on? Is it possible that princess will provide sod?

I'm going to start potty box training him on Monday morning? Is cedar chips all they use? When I was at an ACB convention - Jules refused to use sawdust (?) or maybe wood shaving? I don't remember exactly. Is 4x4 the normal size for the box or can you request like a 6x6,5x5 box etc?

Sorry asking so many questions!!

Sarah and Jules[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Sarah,[/B][/COLOR]
[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I was on the Crown Princess. In all the cruising I've done with Princess they've never used sod. They use a 5x5 box [wood], lined with heavy duty plastic and the filler has been those dang paper pellets [Brenda hated them.] Labs have webbed toes and the pellets poke at their paws. They then went to wood shavings; small cedar mulch and now they're using a larger mulch. [/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I suggest a combination of the shavings and the mulch.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I used to think that Brenda wouldn't go on anything but grass, I soon learned that she would go on most anything but concrete and paper pellets. Small, pea stone also works well but they haven't used it yet.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]I find Princess to be very receptive to their passengers. To bring on real sod could be doable. It all takes time and planning. The filler has been an issue since I started cruising with Brenda in 2005.[/B][/COLOR]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]Horton and Brenda learned to go on the very easy to get and keep clean, "mulch." I actually like it. It's virtually odorless and the dogs like it.[/B][/COLOR] Edited September 28, 2014 by wizard-of-roz

[Sarachan74]

I bought the earthgro mulch, it was shredded not in chips. Jules refused to go on it, he went everywhere around it though! Could the shredded mulch be causing discomfort?

[wizard-of-roz]

[quote name='Sarachan74']I bought the earthgro mulch, it was shredded not in chips. Jules refused to go on it, he went everywhere around it though! Could the shredded mulch be causing discomfort?[/QUOTE]

[B][COLOR="Indigo"]Something I noticed about mulch is that it can get some pointy edges on it. Which is why when it's piled pretty thickly it tends to get less edges on it. I know that if Horton gets poked or if something falls off a table and spooks him or hits him he shies away from that very thing. Brenda wasn't such an easily spooked dog as Horton is.[/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR="Indigo"]I try not to react too much because he's so sensitive to my voice and the way I react.[/COLOR][/B]

[B][COLOR="Indigo"]Everything I do with him, if it's new, I have to do with a very positive and upbeat attitude. He's does better if I do it with positivity rather than doubt in my voice. [/COLOR][/B]

[COLOR="Indigo"][B]The more you do something with your dog the easier it will be. Don't give up![/B][/COLOR] Edited September 28, 2014 by wizard-of-roz

[Quampapetet]

I have not been on a cruise in several years and never on Princess, but my last two cruises I made my own potty by putting plastic garbage bags as a floor liner, then disposable potty pads, then squares (same size as pads) of faux K-9 Grass on top. Even if they don't allow you to have it on your balcony, you could still put faux grass on top of the mulch, if you wanted to. It isn't cheap, but I like it better/cleaner than the mulch. My service dog goes on mulch and other surfaces, but grass is her favorite.

[Quampapetet]

As promised, pupppppyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! :D Edited September 28, 2014 by Quampapetet

[Quampapetet]

Another puppy photo, as it isn't letting me add two to one message for some reason.

[fairbourne]

Quam

What a delightful pup - I love her white paws! What kind of dog is she? I'm presuming a "she" with the pink collar? :). Thank you for sharing - she looks like she would be up for a good cuddle too! :D

It never lets me post more than one photo either by uploading ... But now I know how to do it the DKD way. BTW, where is DKD?

[fairbourne]

.....

Hi Honey's, I'm home,

 

Welcome Home Roz and Horton - we all missed you Your Majesty! Actually some of us were quite, well very, jelly, jelly, jelly and went and booked a short cruise for later this year!!! :D

 

So many people approached me and told me they were "lurkers" on this thread and even mentioned some of you by name......it was so weird. It's time we got agents!!!!;) Strangers are in love with our stories and our dogs!

 

[Dawgone Fabulous]!

 

Horton made so many new friends and I had to fight folks for his professional photos. He's going to be in more strangers albums! He's such a sweet and handsome dog!

 

[]Brilliant! I just knew he would be the star of the show, aren't our dogs just fabulous in bringing so much pleasure into ours and others' lives!

 

Now, who are you referring to as an "old bird" - Seriously, I mean SERIOUSLY!!!! I double-dog-dare any of you to keep up with this old codger!!!!!!!! I'm a fury to be reckoned with when it comes to walking from the Dining Room to the Theatre and someone tries to beat me to a seat!!! I make "Roadrunner" look like road kill! :)[/

 

LOL! I've no idea what you could pawsibly be talking about?! ;):p. I imagine it's something to do with that Aunty Nancy Fancy Pants, she's been doing a lot of A-rooooooing lately! I think she needs to go on a croooooose! LOL!

Edited September 28, 2014 by fairbourne

[Caribbean Chris]

Glad you're back, Roz! We missed you!!

 

Great to hear about Horty's onboard adventures and "Lurker Loves"! So funny about the photos.

[Caribbean Chris]

Quam, what a precious puppy!! More details, please....

[S.S. Cruisers]

Mornin' all:

Welcome home Queen B and Master H! We did miss you both. Very quiet for a time. Then Ms. Fairbourne posted some inflamatory info and I just had to protect the person that was involved, but not here to defend said self! :D:):p:o

 

Quam: Oh My Dog! She is gorgeous!

[fairbourne]

If you travel through an airport and maybe lose something or leave something on an aircraft, just have a look here what they've done at Amsterdam airport - if you link to this site there are some other stories that are great too - you may want to make a coffee before you start, if like me you may be there for a while reading them!:)

 

http://sfglobe.com/?id=14013&src=share_fb_new_14013

[dobiemom]

Lucky me... I got to meet Horton today! :D What a handsome boy! :D But I forgot to get a picture! :eek:

 

Roz, I'm glad you were able to come to lunch today with all the things you have to do after a cruise. :)

[alexspepa]

If you travel through an airport and maybe lose something or leave something on an aircraft, just have a look here what they've done at Amsterdam airport - if you link to this site there are some other stories that are great too - you may want to make a coffee before you start, if like me you may be there for a while reading them!:)

 

http://sfglobe.com/?id=14013&src=share_fb_new_14013

 

I saw that the other day...absolutely fabulous.

 

makes you want to lose something on purpose.

[alexspepa]

Welcome home Roz and Horton...hope you both had a great cruise.

 

Roz - you promised a story about a church elevator?...I am holding you to it!

 

PS - glad to hear you are both getting famous!

 

Keith

[wizard-of-roz]

As promised, pupppppyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! :D

 

She's a doll. Very Labradoodleish looking. Good luck with her. I bet you're looking forward to a long and successful partnership.

[wizard-of-roz]

Glad you're back, Roz! We missed you!!

 

Great to hear about Horty's onboard adventures and "Lurker Loves"! So funny about the photos.

 

The photos are not cheap and people wanted to buy the one's that I didn't. So strange!

 

When you travel with your Service Dog be prepared for strangers who fall in love with your dog. They're so enthralled by the SD that they want to spend time with them, take their pictures and love on them. It's very sweet!

 

That said, there were some people who didn't want to be near Horton and wouldn't even stay on the elevator with him.

 

Be prepared to run into a few [very few] of the "dog haters!" You will want to move your dog away from them and avoid being in small spaces with them! If you have to exit an elevator or sit in a different area, do it! ;)

[wizard-of-roz]

Mornin' all:

Welcome home Queen B and Master H! We did miss you both. Very quiet for a time. Then Ms. Fairbourne posted some inflamatory info and I just had to protect the person that was involved, but not here to defend said self! :D:):p:o

 

Quam: Oh My Dog! She is gorgeous!

 

You are a very bad girl! But, I love you anyway!

[wizard-of-roz]

If you travel through an airport and maybe lose something or leave something on an aircraft, just have a look here what they've done at Amsterdam airport - if you link to this site there are some other stories that are great too - you may want to make a coffee before you start, if like me you may be there for a while reading them!:)

 

http://sfglobe.com/?id=14013&src=share_fb_new_14013

 

That was fun! Thanks for the entertainment!

[wizard-of-roz]

Lucky me... I got to meet Horton today! :D What a handsome boy! :D But I forgot to get a picture! :eek:

 

Roz, I'm glad you were able to come to lunch today with all the things you have to do after a cruise. :)

 

Marcia, I loved having lunch with you and some very nice cruising folks. I hope to cruise with you again.

 

Thanks for sharing the adorable pictures of my Brenda.

[wizard-of-roz]

Welcome home Roz and Horton...hope you both had a great cruise.

 

Roz - you promised a story about a church elevator?...I am holding you to it!

 

PS - glad to hear you are both getting famous!

 

Keith

 

Keith, thank you.

 

I had gone to a church dinner. Upon leaving, and in order to get to the underground parking, you have to use a very small elevator. The stairwell was being upgraded and was closed. I entered the elevator and a woman who had entered before me said, [in a very loud voice] "get off, get off, I don't want that dog in the elevator with me!"

 

There was no way that we could exit without Horton's rear end touching her and she proceeded to shove him away with her foot. I said, "madam, you touch this dog in any way and I swear, I'll deck you!" I couldn't believe I actually said that.

 

Horton and I got off, never looking back into the elevator and waited for the next one. When I exited to walk to my car, who do you think was parked in front of me and had to wait for me to leave in order that she could leave? Oh! No! I exclaimed, I can't leave just yet, I have to go back upstairs because I left something there........NOT! I got such inane pleasure out of keeping that wretched woman waiting for me to move my car. The garage was stifling hot, it had been 110 degrees during the day and the garage felt like a Turkish steam bath. I was sweating it out but it was sooooooo worth watching her getting so aggravated with me!!!!! I'm a bad girl!!!! :( :p

Edited September 29, 2014 by wizard-of-roz

[Quampapetet]

Haha, yes, definitely a "she"; I wouldn't put a pink collar on a boy pup! :)

 

She's a Portuguese Water Dog. She's VERY good for a cuddle!! :D She loves to be held on one's shoulder - too bad she will soon be too big for it! Her hair is so, so, so soft and fluffy that I just want to bury my face in it. :D

[Caribbean Chris]

 

Be prepared to run into a few [very few] of the "dog haters!" You will want to move your dog away from them and avoid being in small spaces with them! If you have to exit an elevator or sit in a different area, do it! ;)[/b][/color]

 

The other day, we had our weekly lunch with my brother and his wife & daughter. Raylene was quietly settled by my feet, tired from her morning training session. Another couple was escorted to a table nearby (but not overly close) and noticed the dog. Shortly after, they asked to be moved to a much less desirable table.

 

First time this has happened. Usually, the problem is reverse - getting business accomplished whie many dog lovers want to get their hands on her!

 

I am guessing some people are allergic (my husband used to have sneezing fits years ago) or are fearful, afraid of being bitten (someone asked me if my dog bites recently in the grocery store.) Maybe traumatized by a dog once.

 

But shove my dog with your foot, and you, too, may end up trapped in a hot basement parking garage!!:D