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

[wizard-of-roz]

Fairbourne, I hope you're just too busy to write and that everybody and everything is good on that side of the pond!

[Krypti]

Happy National Puppy Day! If you are on social media, use #HappyNationalPuppyDay to see lots of happy puppies.

 

Here is today's happy Scooter puppy photo.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7g8fkSeGGFsZ1hrUnNvdVNlVEU/view?usp=docslist_api

 

 

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

Aww, what an adorable baby!

[Krypti]

Yesterday, Leashes for Living Assistance Dog School had a fantastic outing to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (terminal 2). We had seven dog/handler teams, including one wheelchair and one walker. We practiced airport etiquette, including using the dog relief area, walking politely through crowds or pushing our little dogs in a stroller, for their safety, and situational awareness, looking out for ill-mannered tourist dogs. We saw two, both of whom were pretty badly out of control, but our dogs did great at ignoring them!

 

We met with the head of the TSA at Sky Harbor, who set us up with one of the TSA agents to take us through the security checkpoint and to a gate. We learned a lot:

• Arrange an escort from TSA Cares. They’ll meet you at the curb and escort you through the checkpoint, all the way to the gate, providing whatever assistance you need.
  
• Visit the dog poop area before entering the terminal. It’s too bad the poop areas are outside security. Otherwise, you could go right before boarding.
  
• Go through the Special Needs line (often combined with the First Class line).
  
• If you’re a frequent flyer, it can help to join the TSA Pre Check or the global traveler program.
  
• You can take off your dog’s vest and leash, if you want, before going through the metal detector. You have to maintain control of your pet, though, and you have to be absolutely certain your dog won’t be distracted, even by, say, a child screaming, “DOGGIE!”
  
• Another alternative is to get a leash and collar with no metal parts. I’m making one out of paracord.
  
• If your dog’s vest has pockets, it will have to go through the X-ray machine OR you can empty the pockets and the vest will be inspected on the dog. You can’t carry anything in the pockets – not even paper towels, poop bags, or paperwork.
  
• Transfer your Nature’s Miracle (you do carry some, right?) into a TSA-approved bottle. Send it through the X-ray machine with your other liquids, separate from your baggage, in a clear 1-quart ziplock baggie.
  
• Currently, due to heightened security, “organic materials” need to be scanned separately and not in a bag. If you carry a bag of dog food/treats, take them out of your luggage for a separate pass through the X-ray machine.
  
• A dog that sets off the metal detector will be subject to a pat-down, if it’s got long fur, or a visual inspection, if it’s got short fur.
  
• When you get to the gate, go right to the gate agent and let them know that you need to board first, especially if you have a big dog. You’ll be seated in the bulkhead (even if this is premium seating, and you won’t have to pay extra $$) ahead of anyone else.
  
• When your plane is changing altitude and you feel your ears popping, give your dog something to chew. If your dog is tilting its head or fussing, this may be a sign that its ears aren’t acclimating to pressure. Also, be wary of traveling with a dog who has an ear infection. Talk to your vet if you have questions.
  
• If you’re going to be using a moving sidewalk, you probably want your dog to wear boots just to avoid any potential problems with toenails at the end of the walkway. This doesn’t necessarily apply to all dogs, but it’s a good precaution.
  
• If you have a small dog, bring a stroller. Check the stroller at the gate, then ask for the stroller to be brought to the plane at your destination airport. This will cause a delay in leaving the plane, but you’ll keep your small dog safe from being run over in heavy foot traffic.
  

[wizard-of-roz]

Yesterday, Leashes for Living Assistance Dog School had a fantastic outing to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (terminal 2). We had seven dog/handler teams, including one wheelchair and one walker. We practiced airport etiquette, including using the dog relief area, walking politely through crowds or pushing our little dogs in a stroller, for their safety, and situational awareness, looking out for ill-mannered tourist dogs. We saw two, both of whom were pretty badly out of control, but our dogs did great at ignoring them!

 

We met with the head of the TSA at Sky Harbor, who set us up with one of the TSA agents to take us through the security checkpoint and to a gate. We learned a lot:

• Arrange an escort from TSA Cares. They’ll meet you at the curb and escort you through the checkpoint, all the way to the gate, providing whatever assistance you need.
  
• Visit the dog poop area before entering the terminal. It’s too bad the poop areas are outside security. Otherwise, you could go right before boarding.
  
• Go through the Special Needs line (often combined with the First Class line).
  
• If you’re a frequent flyer, it can help to join the TSA Pre Check or the global traveler program.
  
• You can take off your dog’s vest and leash, if you want, before going through the metal detector. You have to maintain control of your pet, though, and you have to be absolutely certain your dog won’t be distracted, even by, say, a child screaming, “DOGGIE!”
  
• Another alternative is to get a leash and collar with no metal parts. I’m making one out of paracord.
  
• If your dog’s vest has pockets, it will have to go through the X-ray machine OR you can empty the pockets and the vest will be inspected on the dog. You can’t carry anything in the pockets – not even paper towels, poop bags, or paperwork.
  
• Transfer your Nature’s Miracle (you do carry some, right?) into a TSA-approved bottle. Send it through the X-ray machine with your other liquids, separate from your baggage, in a clear 1-quart ziplock baggie.
  
• Currently, due to heightened security, “organic materials” need to be scanned separately and not in a bag. If you carry a bag of dog food/treats, take them out of your luggage for a separate pass through the X-ray machine.
  
• A dog that sets off the metal detector will be subject to a pat-down, if it’s got long fur, or a visual inspection, if it’s got short fur.
  
• When you get to the gate, go right to the gate agent and let them know that you need to board first, especially if you have a big dog. You’ll be seated in the bulkhead (even if this is premium seating, and you won’t have to pay extra $$) ahead of anyone else.
  
• When your plane is changing altitude and you feel your ears popping, give your dog something to chew. If your dog is tilting its head or fussing, this may be a sign that its ears aren’t acclimating to pressure. Also, be wary of traveling with a dog who has an ear infection. Talk to your vet if you have questions.
  
• If you’re going to be using a moving sidewalk, you probably want your dog to wear boots just to avoid any potential problems with toenails at the end of the walkway. This doesn’t necessarily apply to all dogs, but it’s a good precaution.
  
• If you have a small dog, bring a stroller. Check the stroller at the gate, then ask for the stroller to be brought to the plane at your destination airport. This will cause a delay in leaving the plane, but you’ll keep your small dog safe from being run over in heavy foot traffic.
  

 

Thanks for the great info. I have yet to be asked to remove EVERYTHING out of the zipped pockets of Horton's vest. It never hurts to be ready to be asked though.

 

With all the heightened security we should be ready to be asked to do any number of things with our dogs. I was once asked to give Horton a few commands [they were checking to see how well trained he was, is what I was told by the TSA agent!] I didn't mind at all and am very proud of his behavior out in public.

[Krypti]

Thanks for the great info. I have yet to be asked to remove EVERYTHING out of the zipped pockets of Horton's vest. It never hurts to be ready to be asked though.

 

With all the heightened security we should be ready to be asked to do any number of things with our dogs. I was once asked to give Horton a few commands [they were checking to see how well trained he was, is what I was told by the TSA agent!] I didn't mind at all and am very proud of his behavior out in public.

 

They had some new security issues. The "organic materials" one was new. You wouldn't believe how many treats six handlers carry!

 

(I don't carry treats, because Darian doesn't like them. That'll probably change when I get the puppy, though.)

[DisneyKidsDad]

Orson goes for his re-certification test tomorrow. Hopefully when he sees the instructors he decides it's a good time to be on the ball. He's been slacking off lately. Which is why we are going to put in his retirement papers. I think he will do fine. He usually does when the pressure is on.

[wizard-of-roz]

They had some new security issues. The "organic materials" one was new. You wouldn't believe how many treats six handlers carry!

 

(I don't carry treats, because Darian doesn't like them. That'll probably change when I get the puppy, though.)

 

Honestly, I'd like to see them ask any number of questions, maybe it'll scare away some of the fakes!!!!

[wizard-of-roz]

Orson goes for his re-certification test tomorrow. Hopefully when he sees the instructors he decides it's a good time to be on the ball. He's been slacking off lately. Which is why we are going to put in his retirement papers. I think he will do fine. He usually does when the pressure is on.

 

Good luck Orson. It's time DKD, as much as we hate to face it, and I didn't like retiring Brenda [it was a reality I had to face.] She had turned 12 1/2 and she no longer wanted to go to work with me. I had to wake her up to go out the door and getting into my SUV was so hard for her, she could no longer do it without a ramp.

 

I'm so glad I did it when I did, because I had Horton to take me through the most difficult time of my life; losing Morey and then 10 months later losing Brenda. Horton was a great comfort to me. His willingness to go right into my car and face the day with me was pure joy.

 

He'll be 7 on April 29th, I can't stand how quickly their lives ebb! He's still a great traveler and loves to go to the office with me. I hope he stays strong for at least 5 more years.

 

You and Orson will do really well......You two are pros at this!

Edited March 24, 2016 by wizard-of-roz

[DUTRAVEL]

Yesterday, Leashes for Living Assistance Dog School had a fantastic outing to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (terminal 2). We had seven dog/handler teams, including one wheelchair and one walker. We practiced airport etiquette, including using the dog relief area, walking politely through crowds or pushing our little dogs in a stroller, for their safety, and situational awareness, looking out for ill-mannered tourist dogs. We saw two, both of whom were pretty badly out of control, but our dogs did great at ignoring them!

 

 

Thanks for the information, its always good to know the procedures ahead of time. When I flew to Las Vegas with my service dog in January the TSA did not check her or her vest in either San Francisco or Las Vegas. I wonder if it was because I cannot go through the scanner - I have to be patted down along with my wheelchair. Maybe they forgot to check the dog because they were so focused on me. I had her dry food in our carry on; I did not know that it was supposed to be checked separately.

 

One thing I did learn is that you can take a bottle of water for your dog through security. I always keep a bottle of water for Henri in my wheelchair back pack and had forgotten it was there when I went through security. I was going to throw it away, but the TSA said that they could test it and I could carry it with me.

 

The new rules are supposed to go in effect by September of this year that require airports to have a dog relief area inside security in each terminal. That will make it a lot easier to fly. In San Francisco, the relief area is a long way away from the airline boarding areas.

 

Dianne

[DUTRAVEL]

Orson goes for his re-certification test tomorrow. Hopefully when he sees the instructors he decides it's a good time to be on the ball. He's been slacking off lately. Which is why we are going to put in his retirement papers. I think he will do fine. He usually does when the pressure is on.

 

Good luck to Orson tomorrow. Henri and I go for re-certification on Saturday at CCI in Santa Rosa. It should go well since I know her so much better than when we were initially certified in August.

 

It must be so difficult to make the decision to retire your service dog. I hope Henri and I have another ten years before I have to make that decision.

 

Dianne

[Caribbean Chris]

Krypti, thank you for sharing the TSA info from your airport session. Interesting the new thing about organic material/training treats.

 

I don't have any Natures Miracle...very lucky, I guess, that Ray has never had any accidents other than aiming too wide at the ship's relief box on the outside deck once (I do carry paper towels in her vest!) Only took one mistake before she got used to the size. Do the rest of you carry Natures Miracle with you?

 

Years ago, our aging cats + carpet meant we needed to stock something like that.

[Algebralovr]

Good evening! Wow! All kinds of info on here today!

 

Scooter had a HUGE day.

We went to the groomer for the first time. He came home all pretty and with much shorter nails.

 

Then a few hours later, we went to the vet for our final set of shots. He is now protected for the year. Love the vet we found. Her baby was feeling poorly and running a fever but she didn't want to disappoint patients. So she was wearing him in a carrier on her front while seeing patients. She took the time to let Scooter sniff and see the six month of baby. What a great vet!

 

He has gone from 11 lbs at 8 weeks to 19.5 lbs at 11 weeks to 29 lbs at 14 weeks. They recommended that I bring him out every three weeks or so and weigh him on their scale to make sure we have the right dose of heartworm and flea/tick prevention. The flea/tick is a MUST! They are already out and getting bad around here!

 

Here is today's pretty puppy photo. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7g8fkSeGGFsbGMxXy1MVEJSLUU/view?usp=docslist_api

 

Have a great evening!

[frecgenswl82]

Nice pictures of all the different dogs. Never thought about putting smaller dogs in a stroller, makes a lot of sense. Thanks for all the information. Susan one of the Lurkers

[Krypti]

Thanks for the information, its always good to know the procedures ahead of time. When I flew to Las Vegas with my service dog in January the TSA did not check her or her vest in either San Francisco or Las Vegas. I wonder if it was because I cannot go through the scanner - I have to be patted down along with my wheelchair. Maybe they forgot to check the dog because they were so focused on me. I had her dry food in our carry on; I did not know that it was supposed to be checked separately.

 

One thing I did learn is that you can take a bottle of water for your dog through security. I always keep a bottle of water for Henri in my wheelchair back pack and had forgotten it was there when I went through security. I was going to throw it away, but the TSA said that they could test it and I could carry it with me.

 

The new rules are supposed to go in effect by September of this year that require airports to have a dog relief area inside security in each terminal. That will make it a lot easier to fly. In San Francisco, the relief area is a long way away from the airline boarding areas.

 

Dianne

 

Ah, we were told we had to empty our dog water bottles (even the sealed name-brand ones!) before going through. Just proof that every TSA office -- every agent, in fact -- is different. Grr.

 

I love the idea of a relief area inside security! I feel better about my future with a puppy. Darian can hold it for 8-12 hours with ease, but he's old and has nine years of being too lazy to go outside in the heat to pee. :D

[Krypti]

Krypti, thank you for sharing the TSA info from your airport session. Interesting the new thing about organic material/training treats.

 

I don't have any Natures Miracle...very lucky, I guess, that Ray has never had any accidents other than aiming too wide at the ship's relief box on the outside deck once (I do carry paper towels in her vest!) Only took one mistake before she got used to the size. Do the rest of you carry Natures Miracle with you?

 

Years ago, our aging cats + carpet meant we needed to stock something like that.

 

Dogs can have accidents anywhere, and not just of the, ahem, tail-end kind. They can vomit if they get over-excited, drink water too quickly, or eat something that disagrees with them. Having Nature's Miracle on hand is just a courtesy for the places you visit. I've never had to use it, but you never know!

 

As a service dog handler, I feel like it's my responsibility to do my best to represent the community and ensure business owners have no reason to complain. Better to have the Nature's Miracle and paper towels on hand and never use them than to need them the one time I don't have them!

 

Even though I've never been a purse-type of person, I now carry a doggie go-bag everywhere. In addition to my wallet, cell phone, Kindle, and battery/cables for recharging my devices, I carry a travel-size (3.4 oz) bottle of Nature's Miracle in a ziploc baggie to prevent spills, extra paper towels, extra poop bags, and a piece of super-absorbent toweling to dry Darian's paws on those rare times when it rains.. I also keep things like tissues/baby wipes, an ace bandage, and a basic first aid kit.

 

Here's what I carry in Darian's vest:

• Top row: Emergency medical kit, collapsible water bowl
  
• Next row: School ID card (NOT a “certification” or “registration) & school business cards, info/ADA cards
  
• Next row: Vaccination records and service dog letter from my therapist, in a ziploc baggie, poop bags
  
• Last row: lots of paper towels
  

Total weight of the vest and everything inside it: only 0.86 pounds

 

Darian carries this everywhere he goes, unless we go out when it’s stupidly hot outside, in which case I carry all this in my backpack so he can wear a Ruffwear Swamp Cooler vest.

[Krypti]

Orson goes for his re-certification test tomorrow. Hopefully when he sees the instructors he decides it's a good time to be on the ball. He's been slacking off lately. Which is why we are going to put in his retirement papers. I think he will do fine. He usually does when the pressure is on.

 

Is Orson from CCI? What happens when he retires? Do you keep him as a retired pet, or does he go back to the organization?

[Caribbean Chris]

Barb, Scooter is a Pretty Puppy, for sure!

[Algebralovr]

Barb, Scooter is a Pretty Puppy, for sure!

 

Thank you so much!

 

It is so much easier to link in the URL of the Google Drive than to try to attach the photo here. :)

[Quampapetet]

Physical positioning involves blocking (sometimes called posting) to keep people from approaching too closely. Here's an example of active blocking:

 

Ah, gotcha. I know what blocking is, just never heard it called "physical positioning" before.

[Quampapetet]

Do you allow people to pet your dog or just hope people to ask permission? Our boy is doing awesome in training right now. Has no problem being quiet under a table and doesn't beg for food.

 

You definitely don't want anyone petting or otherwise distracting your medical alert dog, which could lead to a missed or late alert. That happened to a girl whose seizure alert dog was distracted by someone who refused to stop and the girl ended up getting hurt, rugburns all over her face, because she didn't have enough time to get to a safe place before the seizure once the dog finally alerted late. (You can Google for the article, as it went viral last year.) No types of service dogs should be petted/distracted when working, but especially not alert dogs.

[Quampapetet]

Note that when my husband and I go on our cruise next year, my dog probably won't be wearing his vest, due to the heat. (He's a chow/golden mix.) Because of that, I purchased two leash sleeves.

 

Have you looked at any of the mesh vests? There are also evaporative coolers you can get if you're really worried, but remember dogs are in all types of climates and do well.

[Quampapetet]

Hmm. I wonder if that would work on scorpions. The only thing I *know* works on them is a blowtorch. (I spend nine or ten months out of the year hunting scorpions in the backyard in hopes of keeping them out of the house.)

 

:eek: I don't think I want to visit AZ!!

 

 

I was thinking of bringing something I could use as a vertical surface, like a plastic tent stake.

 

By the time he's fully trained, he should long be potty trained to squat to pee, as appropriate for service dogs.

[Quampapetet]

Rabies: I don’t have an original rabies certificate and I am not listed as Henri’s owner (I have a copy of the certificate, she did not belong to me when the rabies shot was given) Is this going to be a problem? Has anyone else just had a copy of the rabies certificate to take? As for the other required vaccinations, do you have a certificate or just what is filled out on the Aphis 7001 by the vet? Some countries seem to require information that I don’t have like the manufacturer, brand name and lot number of the other vaccines.

 

I would check with the USDA about whether or not they think the copy of the rabies certificate will be an issue. Rabies is the only vaccine that has a certificate. I would recommend doing titers before your trip so you can prove the other vaccines were done.

 

 

Endoparasites: Some countries require that the dog be treated for endoparasites. Does the dog need to be treated for more than just heartworm? Is treatment for roundworms or tape worms, etc. required? Is a negative fecal test all that you need to satisfy this requirement?

 

You probably will need to give your dog a chewable pill for the parasite treatment - check with your vet well enough in advance to be sure they have it in stock. I had to do it for one country, I forget which, in a certain time frame before we entered, so did it while on the ship and showed them (they came aboard to check the microchip and paperwork) the empty wrapper in the bottle with the prescription info. on it (they barely glanced at it, go figure).

 

 

Leptospirosis – Does anyone vaccinate their dog for Leptospirosis? Is it a safe vaccine? It looks like several of the countries we will be visiting will require this vaccine.

 

Lepto is safe. It only lasts one year, so I have to give it yearly for the Bahamas. It protects against a water-borne disease.

 

 

Colombia – Colombia is on the list of “screw worm” countries. I am concerned because this is our last port and I will not be able to provide the required vet certificate regarding screw worm to re-enter the US. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

I would also direct this question to the USDA.

[Quampapetet]

One thing that shocked me... This morning, I was eating alone at Haymaker, at a quiet table near the exit from the back room. A family of six walked past me, heading for the exit, or so I thought. They stopped where Darian was lying down, and the dad put his baby -- a kid barely old enough to stand up -- right in front of Darian! Before I could even get this absurdity through my head, the kid leaned forward and grabbed hold of Darian's ears.

 

Thank God Darian is unflappable. He didn't even lift his head. I was so proud of him, because he has virtually zero exposure to kids, so this was a totally new situation for him. I think he was just as shocked as I was! I couldn't even think of what to say to that idiot father.

 

 

:eek: What is wrong with people?! He had NO way of knowing how your dog would react to a baby in its face (not to mention the baby grabbing the dog's ears), especially with all the people faking their pets as service dogs these days (the vest doesn't necessarily mean a well-behaved dog)! He was lucky this time, but next time might not be, and the child will be the victim. :mad:

[Quampapetet]

If I'm flying, I definitely want to find an area for him to go in and I make sure that he only gets a few ice cubes to wet his mouth so he's not too uncomfortable while waiting to either enter or exit a plane.

 

By October, US airports are supposed to have service dog potty areas within the secure area by law, which will make layovers and delays much easier! :cool: