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How to Register Your Dog as a Service Dog in Illinois
Dogs make a difference; there’s no stronger proof than a service dog. While most dogs offer their owners unconditional adoration and affection, service dogs provide the same benefits — and so much more. For people with disabilities, service dogs make everyday tasks easier and safer. If you have a qualifying disability and reside in the […]
PTSD Service Dog Tasks
Psychological trauma occurs when a person witnesses a highly stressful event, like a car accident, school shooting, combat, sexual assault, or extreme violence. How an individual reacts after an event varies from person to person, some experiencing more extreme emotions than others. Coping and managing after a traumatic experience is difficult, and for some, the […]
Can You Take a Service Dog to School
Every child dreams of taking their pet to school. Having their furry friend by their side could probably make any school day so much more enjoyable. For people with service dogs, however, bringing their canines to school makes their school day possible. To know exactly to what extent and under what laws you can take a […]
I’m not knocking making a connection to whom may need one. You must judge every encounter and act appropriately. Our animals must be under our control at all times. This protects the animal sa well as people by law.We must protect our protectors.
I understand the public need more training than my dog. I put a patched vest on her cuz if I didn’t, people will feel even more open to
petting her. My answer is please don’t approach her, or don’t pet her. She’s working. That’s if they ask. Parents please train your kids to not just walk up to a strange dog. Even one in a store. Ask mom first ASK OWNER SECOND.
I’m not knocking making a connection to whom may need one. You must judge every encounter and act appropriately. Our animals must be under our control at all times. This protects the animal sa well as people by law.We must protect our protectors.
I’m not so sure about the “Do Not Pet” dogma. My dog is a hearing dog, tasked only with alerting me to my cell phone appropriately. My dog is also an ENS dog that began the process at age 3 days (the military conditions its dogs similarly I understand) and she is superbly socialized, as well as obedience trained. She is an Ambassador for trained dogs and does not fail to do her task. I control who and when may pet her and she is a joy to all who do so, and she loves the attention but always breaks to do her job appropriately and without fail. I think to keep her isolated and cordoned off would not only be harmful to her spirit, but would convey a sense of servitude rather than service with joy that my dog exemplifies. Perhaps if she had other tasks to do it would be an issue, but she has proven that in her case (and mine) that it is not. With living creatures, nothing is set in stone. This is but one example.
Thanks for calling this out. I’ve recently been struggling taking my dog into restaurants because they assume she is an ESA. I’ve been training her for the last couple of months to be a psychiatric dog and I choose to allow people to pet her because it’s comfort and love she brings to me when I need her. That is her job, also she’s a natural at it so why take it from her.. She’s starting to sense when others are having a moment, she’ll look for my approval and once I tell her it’s okay she’ll just sit near providing her same loving, unbothered purpose she provides for me when I feel some type of way (anxiety, panic attacks or flashback…) since I’m new at this I always wondered why if my animal is able to perform do I need to separate work and play so much? Should this be reevaluated? Possibly, I could see if she had more physically demanding tasks that it might be different. Also I’m very sure I don’t require her to wear a vest and it gives me so much more panic that public places assume she’s not providing me a service, her breed also plays a role in the stereotype that I need a much bigger dog. Leaving the house lately has been hard but much better when she’s with me. I honestly wish I knew more about how other people with service dogs deal with so much adversity. She’s been great at training but it’s the public around me that has made it difficult for me and it’s starting to become a cycle of anxiety. Anyway thanks for sharing.