The Situation with ESAs: NOT Service Dogs (But Not Strictly Pets Either)

Related to my fake SDs post, I recently saw a girl take her ESA Sheltie into a restaurant, and the manager did not question it and allowed the dog and handler to enter unquestioned.  The dog was well-behaved.  What's the problem with this?  The problem is that the dog is not a Service Dog but only an ESA, which means that it is breaking health codes stating that dogs are not allowed where food is served.  To someone who doesn't know the difference, a Psychiatric Service Dog and Emotional Support Dog sound virtually the same, perhaps even interchangeable, but the difference between a Service Dog and a Support Dog is big enough to be a legal matter.

Note that ESAs do not have to wear identifying vests--I just wear mine as practice for being "On Duty" in my SD vest.

So, then, what is an ESA?
An emotional support animal is any companion animal (not just a dog) that is used by an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability for therapeutic benefits.  Companionship does not an ESA make--the handler must have a verifiable disability as listed in the DSM.  ESAs do not have to be trained in disability-mitigating tasks as Service Dogs do.  They merely provide their handlers with the therapeutic benefits of owning and interacting with an animal.  ESAs do not have to wear identifying vests, tags, or IDs.
Fun fact: currently, according to Dartmouth, I am an ESA!  This is why I have an ESA vest and wear an ESA tag.  Mom and I are currently working on changing my status to a full SD though, so wish us luck!

What can an ESA not do? 
Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not Service Animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA, and therefore they do not have the same access rights with their handlers as Service Dogs.  Service Dogs can go anyplace a wheelchair is legally allowed to go; ESAs cannot--this means that ESAs cannot go to restaurants, movie theatres, stores, Disneyland, or any other place of public access with their handlers.

What can an ESA do?
An emotional support animal is not exactly a pet, but neither is it a Service Dog--it's more of a pet with privileges.  Under the Fair Housing Act, individuals with a verifiable mental or psychological disability can have their ESA with them in their housing, even if it has a "No Pets" policy.  ESAs can also travel in the cabin of airplanes with their owners to provide their therapeutic benefits during the flight.  Apart from that, ESAs have the same access rights as pets.

Just like with fake SDs, ESAs entering places of public access can cause problems for real Service Dogs (and it's also illegal).  So, if you know someone trying to take Fido with him or her as an ESA to places of public access, please (please) educate him or her on the issues of doing this--please help keep Mom and other SD teams safe and independent as they go about their lives.  ESAs are not SDs and can harm SD teams as much as pets can, because at the end of the day, ESAs are just pets, too.  Please join me and help me protect the rights and safety of SD handlers and their four-legged freedom fighters!

xoxoxo
Kelsie Iris


Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html    

I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In: the Problem with Fake Service Dogs

Usually I am a pretty happy-go-lucky dog--not much bothers me nor upsets me.  Recently, however, I have stumbled upon a problem (or, rather, the problem has growled in my face) that really needs to stop.  Within the span of a few days last week, I ran into not one, but two fake Service Dogs!  It made me realize how prevalent this problem is--if there are at least two in sleepy little Hanover, how many might there be wandering around Mom's hometown in California?!

But fake SDs make it seem like vests/IDs are necessary, which is a problem.

So, you might ask, how do you know a dog is a fake Service Dog?  If it's wearing a vest, isn't it a Service Dog?  The answer, however, is actually no: you can't tell a real Service Dog from what he or she is wearing, nor whether he or she is certified.  Under the ADA, Service Dogs do not have to wear any identifying equipment nor be certified.  So then, if a completely uncertified dog wearing nothing walks into a restaurant, how do you know if it's a real Service Dog?  The best indicator of a real Service Dog is behaviour.  While the ADA does not specify any behaviour that a SD must exhibit, aside from knowing disability-mitigating tasks, it does grant businesses the right to excuse a SD team if the dog shows aggression, unruliness, or a lack of housetraining, and SD teams know this.  Even owner-trained teams work very hard to make their four-legged companions ready for public life and practice public access training--I've seen this from some wonderful teams on Instagram.  While it is not required by the ADA, many teams work towards passing the CGC and/or the PAT, and many organizations require their dogs to pass either or both.

A dog that looks like it isn't working isn't necessarily a fake, even if behaviour is so important in determining a fake SD.

One of the SDs I encountered growled at me multiple times as Mom was trying to get take-out from a restaurant.  Because this constitutes aggression, Mom could have asked management to ask the dog to leave, but she was too anxious to do so.  Unfortunately, the restaurant staff didn't know their rights and didn't ask the dog and handler to leave, so I had to endure quite a bit of growling (which, I'm proud to say, I handled without even blinking).  The owner even had the audacity to comment on how well-trained I was!  Of course I'm well-trained--I'm a Service Dog.

The other SD showed no restraint whatsoever when it saw me, even though I was all the way across the street--it barked and lunged at me, and it didn't seem to know Leave It, despite its owner's repeated, high-pitched at giving the command.  Unlike the first fake SD, this one was actually wearing a SD vest, but unlike me, it didn't seem to have any idea what wearing a vest actually means (and anyway, any dog can wear a vest).  Witnessing this dog's clear lack of training unnerved Mom quite a bit--luckily, I handled myself beautifully (who cares about a little bit of barking?), so she feels quite a bit more confident in me, even if she now doesn't trust the general public to be courteous and honest.

Clearly, I can still be on the job despite a little growling!  I'm distraction-free since '15!

So what's the problem with fake Service Dogs?  Surely you're not actually hurting anyone if you want to bring Fido to Starbucks with you?  But you are, more than you can even imagine.  Hopefully my encounters with fake Service Dogs show how distracting and potentially dangerous fake Service Dogs can be to a real team, particularly with the growling incident (and who knows what the lunging SD would have done if she'd been allowed to get near me!).  Aggression shown towards a real SD is dangerous because SDs are typically trained to be submissive and not to fight, especially because any form of aggression can not only get them kicked out of a place of public access, but also because it can distract them from their jobs.

Okay, so say Fido is a very sweet dog and wouldn't hurt a fly--are you then not hurting anyone by bringing him to Starbucks?  The answer is still no: you are still hurting SD teams by passing off your precious pet as a SD.  How is this possible?  There are two main ways:

1. Your pet is a distraction to real SDs.  As I've mentioned in my "Dos and Don'ts" SD etiquette post, distraction is incredibly dangerous to an SD team.  If I can't focus on my job, Mom can get hurt, and unfortunately, no matter how nice Fido is, he probably isn't trained to completely ignore other dogs, which means he'll try to say hi to me and try to distract me on the job.  Service Dogs have to remain focused on their handlers at all times--for example, a Seizure Alert Dog needs to stay focused on his or her handler in order to help his or her handler through a seizure.
2. Oftentimes, fake Service Dogs are registered through an online "Service Dog Registry," like NSAR or USSDR that seem to have "official" names.  For a certain price, you can buy everything you need for your fake Service Dog: vest, ID cards, and sometimes even a doctor's note!  The problem with this is that Service Dogs don't need certification or registration under the ADA--however, with a growing number of people flashing their "official" SD IDs to get into restaurants and movie theatres, businesses are starting to think that SDs need some kind of official identification.  This hurts real SD teams, especially owner-trained teams, who often don't carry with them or even have any kind of "official" documentation for their four-legged companion.

Similarly, you can't always believe that an SD team is "legit" just because they have the "right" gear and supposed paperwork.

The ADA is not trying to make an "elite" group of citizens who can bring their dogs with them anywhere they go--it's trying to make the world a more equal place by allowing people with disabilities to have the help they need wherever a normal person would go.  Bringing Fido, therefore, also is disrespectful to SD teams anywhere, particularly the disabled handlers--please feel grateful that you don't have to have assistance wherever you go and that you are able-bodied and/or able-minded enough to live an independent life.  While under the ADA it is a right to have a SD, it is also a privilege to have a Service Dog--it is a privilege to be able to lead a more normal life thanks to the help of a canine companion.

SDs are really just furry wheelchairs, heart monitors, etc.  If you don't need a special piece of medical equipment or don't have a disability, then Fido should not come with you to Starbucks, sorry.

So, if you know someone trying to pass of Fido as a fake Service Dog, please (please) educate him or her on the issues of doing this--please help protect Mom and other SD handlers across the globe.  We need to put a stop to this growing problem, so we can keep everyone safe and happy.  If I never encounter another fake SD again, I will be the happiest dog in the world, because I won't have to worry about keeping Mom safe.  Please help me reach my goal!

All my love,
Kelsie Iris


Disclaimer: while my images do come from the USSDR, I do not approve of using their company for registering fake service dogs, but while it's terribly ironic that I'm using their photos, I do believe in the positive messages that the pictures communicate.  I believe in educating and spreading a positive message whenever I can, even if the source is not something I actively support.  (if anything, it just goes to show how legitimate these companies seem--case and point!)


Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html   

KI Recommends: Blue Buffalo (Dog Food)

With so many dog food brands available, how do you choose?  Mom spent days trying to figure out what to feed me--she wanted the best food with all the meats, fruits, veggies, and vitamins I would need to stay healthy and happy.

What should you look for in a dog food?

1. Meat or a protein source as a first ingredient
2. Plenty of fruits and vegetables
3. Vitamins and minerals (if you're not sure if it's a vitamin or chemical/preservative, double-check!)
4. Grain free (if allergies apply)

Note that the first five or six ingredients in a dog food tend to be the more prevalent and most important.  Make sure to choose a dog food that has plenty of healthy, wholesome ingredients as its first five or six listed.

 What should you avoid in a dog food?

1. Animal by-products (leftover bits of animals -- while leftover organs that humans don't eat are perfectly fine, these can often include hair, horn, and hooves)
2. Animal "digest"
3. Food that does not list meat or a protein source as the first ingredient
4. Few or no fruits and/or vegetables
5. Corn/corn meal as one of the main ingredients (as well, too many grain products)
6. Artificial colours
7. BHA/BHT (preservatives)

This is what I eat! (Mom might switch the flavour)

Blue Buffalo has LifeSource Bits!

I personally eat Blue Buffalo Wilderness: Duck Recipe.  I highly recommend Blue Buffalo because it contains all of what you want in a dog food and none of what you don't want.  It has little dark brown LifeSource Bits sprinkled throughout the bigger kibble pieces, and these contain important vitamins and minerals to keep me happy and healthy.  Blue Buffalo comes in a variety of flavours and types, including puppy formula, cans, and grain-free (to which Mom might switch me because I might have food allergies).  It was one of the three dog foods that my rescue, For Dog's Sake, recommended to its adopters!

Here's an example ingredient list from the dog food that I eat (notice the variety of meats, as well as the many fruits and veggies):

Deboned Duck, Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine), Tapioca Starch, Peas, Turkey Meal, Pea Protein, Tomato Pomace (source of Lycopene), Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg, Flaxseed (source of Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids), Natural Flavor, Potatoes, Alfalfa Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate, Potato Starch, Dried Chicory Root, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Caramel, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Oil of Rosemary, L-Lysine, Parsley, Kelp, Blueberries, Cranberries, Apples, Spinach, Blackberries, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Barley Grass, Turmeric, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Copper Sulfate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Nicotinic Acid (Vitamin B3), Taurine, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Biotin (Vitamin B7), Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, L-Carnitine, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Beta Carotene, Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.

 Stay tuned for a review on Taste of the Wild--Mom mixes in canned Taste of the Wild with my dry food!

Cheers,

Kelsie Iris

Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html   

They Have Stars in Their Eyes (How To: Watch Me)

Watch Me can be helpful for photo shoots!

Focus is one of the most important aspects of a Service Dog's career.  We have to focus on our handlers constantly to ensure their safety--a lack of focus could place our people in danger.  Sometimes we can do our job without looking at our handlers constantly (eg a guide dog), but sometimes we need to be able to watch our handlers, particularly when they request it of us.  Enter Watch Me: it's a focus command that plays out exactly how it sounds--as a dog, I need to watch Mom and keep my eyes on her until she releases me or gives me another command.  Here's how to train it (it's pretty easy):

• Mom put a treat in between her fingers and made sure I noticed--I kept my eye on the treat. (for dogs who aren't as food motivated, try a small toy)
• She then raised the treat up right next to her eyes, and because I was focused on the treat, my eyes followed where her hand went.
• When I looked where Mom wanted me to look, she gave me the treat to reinforce what I had just done.
•  Mom repeated this and slowly incorporated the words "Watch Me" ("Focus" is also a good word to use).  She also started just raising her hands up to her eyes and treating me with her other hand until I could do a perfect Watch Me without the need of treats!

Watch Me should be a pretty easy command to learn for most dogs, but as I've always said, each individual dog has his or her own learning speed--an easy command for one pooch might be hard for another, depending on that dog's breed, history, age, and motivation, amongst other factors.

Now I can focus on Mom whenever she asks me to "Watch Me"--I even know how to do it without the hand signal!  Even without the command, though, I tend to watch Mom a lot to make sure she's okay (and I'm proud to say that when I'm around, she is okay).

TTFN,
Kelsie Iris


SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html  

Musings from a Mutt at the Montshire Museum

I thought I'd give a little PUPdate for my readers, since I've been posting so many training tips and recommendations recently! I'm really starting to hit my stride as a Service Dog--Mom doesn't even worry about me in public anymore because I'm so good (which is huge for her anxiety).  Three disability-mitigating commands now have joined my repertoire: Ground Me (when Mom is sitting, standing, and lying), Press, and Block.  I now now about 27 commands but am familiar with about 40--Mom keeps telling me how smart I am because apparently I'm light years ahead of schedule!

Today we took a small trip to the Montshire Museum in Vermont with a new friend.  We had gotten coffee earlier, where Mom had me try a Gentle Leader for the first time.  It felt very strange at first, which made me want to try to get it off, but Mom insisted that I try it and showed me that it's actually not that bad.  It really helps me understand how to stay in a better "Heel" position, and it reminds me to focus on Mom when I'm working.  You can see me wearing it in my pictures of me at the Museum!

The exhibits were really fun--I liked exploring the Museum!

The Museum was a fantastic experience for a novice Service Dog like me.  Kids swarmed everywhere, and there were many exhibits that were interactive and strange for a pup--they even had fish and turtle tanks!  Mom let some of the kids pet me, and it absolutely made my day.  I made sure to be extra sweet to them--even with some gentle tail wagging--and I even rolled over to accept some belly rubs (my favourite!).  I think they liked me a lot--one little girl even gave me a kiss on the head!

I loved the kisses and pets from the kids!

Mom took me around to look at some of the different exhibits.  Some of them I didn't understand, and some of them were very strange to me.  Sometimes Mom even had me Paws Up on some strange surfaces or Down-Stay in some odd places, like under that arch in the first photo.  I knew she had a reason for asking me to do all this, so I followed her every command without hesitation--it's fun being on the job and listening to Mom!  I even aced exposure to a new object: a wheelchair.  Apparently, it can have a person in it, but this one didn't--even then, it wasn't super scary at all, because it was kind of like a shopping cart (and I don't mind shopping carts).  Mom kept telling me what a Good Girl I was the entire Museum trip!  I definitely want to go back if I get this much love and attention.

Life as a Service Dog is so rewarding.  People constantly tell me how talented and smart I am, and if I could speak, I would tell them thank you and that I'm just doing my job.  I'm always blown away by how nice people can be about me and how positive people have been about receiving me in public places.  I'm even more impressed by the parents who tell their kids that I'm a helper dog and can't be petted--I'd like to believe that they're raising a generation who will understand Service Dogs better than this one (because people still pet me despite my five "Do Not Pet" patches).  I love being able to help Mom and stay by her side.  I can't wait until I'm a Dartmouth Service Dog so I can come with Mom all over campus and keep her safe and comfortable!

xoxoxo
Kelsie Iris

Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html 

KI Recommends: Safety and Style, Martingale Collars

What is a martingale collar?  Mom had never heard of one before she got me--the rescue from which she got me required that she pick me up with a "no slip" collar (i.e. one that can tighten so it can't slip off) and recommended a martingale collar, so Mom looked into it.  She and I have done some research since then, and we now are big supporters of martingale collars when they're used correctly!

Tightening loop on my new martingale collar from If It Barks

A martingale collar consists of a length of fabric with a ring at each end.  A loop of fabric passes through the rings, and this produces the ability to tighten the collar to prevent it from slipping over a pup's head (this is particularly useful for breeds like Greyhounds and Salukis, whose necks are wider than their heads and for whom flat collars are not necessarily the safest choice).  Unlike a choke chain collar, which Mom does not endorse, a martingale cannot tighten indefinitely--it can only tighten as far as the loop can go.  If fitted correctly, it will tighten only to the width of the pup's neck and will not choke him or her, but because it tightens and prevents the pup from slipping out of the collar, it keeps the pup safe and happy.


I recently got a new martingale collar from If It Barks, and I'm in love with it.  Because I have a larger head than my neck, unlike a Greyhound, Mom got my collar with a buckle on it so that she can take it on and off easier than my last martingale collar, which often got stuck around my ears.  This collar is especially helpful because it has two D-rings so that Mom can put my 6+ tags on one ring and my leash on the other!  My collar is light and durable, and it's machine washable (which is handy since I love playing in muddy water).  If It Barks helped Mom design the collar, and they were quick in the delivery and super supportive after delivery.  I highly recommend them for any of your collar or leash needs!  They have quite a few wonderful designs, but you can also design your own collar from their templates, like Mom did.  My new collar is sleek and stylish, and it keeps me safe!

My collar matches my vest (and leash, not pictured) perfectly!

Cheers for now,
Kelsie Iris











Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html 

Here I'll Stand and Here I'll Stay (How To: Stay)

Stay is a basic in a dog's education.  It is a safety mechanism for me as a dog and a control mechanism for Mom as my handler--it makes sure that I am staying safe and in the right place at the right time.  It is also very useful in that it can be paired with other commands, including Sit, Down, and Stand.  In fact, Down-Stay is a huge benefit to a Service Dog, who needs to be able to be down and in one place whenever his or her handler is working, waiting in line, shopping, etc.

However, Stay can be hard for a pup to learn, especially an energetic girl like me!  I really want to be at Mom's side all the time, so it was hard at first for me to learn that sometimes I have to be separated from her.  Mom persevered, though, and here's how she taught me to Stay:

• Mom had me Down (I could have also done a Sit).  She then put up her hand as her hand signal and took a step backward and waited half a moment.
• When I stayed as she did that, she returned to me and gave me a treat.  She repeated this a few time before she started pairing it with the word "Stay," her verbal cue.
• Slowly, she increased the number of steps and the time she waited before returning to me.  She told me that it's important to return to me because otherwise I might have learned that I could move after a Stay, and she wanted to make sure I knew I had to Stay until I was released.
• Once I mastered that, she started moving out of sight--it was so hard for me not to follow!
• Switch Stay positions between Sit, Down, Stand, and any other position you can think of to increase exposure, willingness, understanding, and mental flexibility!  Mom tends to like Down-Stays, but really, Stay should be able to be done in any position at any time and for any length of time.

Try this: play Red Light-Green Light!  Have your four-legged friend Stay and Here repeatedly to get him or her listening to you.  See if he or she can even do it without vocal cues and with just hand signals!  This will also prepare you for the Drop on Recall if you plan on doing advanced obedience trials.

Stay can be useful for photoshoots!

Mom loves to use Stay to pose me when she takes photos of me!  I now know that when she whips out her phone or camera, I should Sit-Stay or Down-Stay and look pretty!  I also now know that when I wear my vest, I should Down-Stay whenever Mom stops for more than a few seconds, like when she's in line at Starbucks.  Stay is so useful!

Tail wags and puppy kisses,
Kelsie Iris

Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html  

Just a Spoonful of Treats Makes the Puppy Go Down (How To: Down)

One of the most important commands I have learned is Down.  It is convenient and comfortable, and it can often serve as a safety net and control mechanism and can come in handy in an emergency.

Down as I watch Mom: I love my job!

Why should a Service Dog learn Down?  Easy: any dog should learn Down!  That's why it appears as one of the test items on the CGC. It's like going through elementary school for humans--it should be part of every dog's basic education.  Particularly for Service Dogs, it serves as one of the top vital commands that any SD should know (check out this article: http://www.anythingpawsable.com/vital-public-access-skills/#.VVDdL2Y5vV0) because it acts as a gateway to other commands (e.g. Under) and is part of an SD's daily routine in the public sphere (e.g. Down-Stay while waiting in a line).

Down was hard for me to understand at first, and then after I understood what Mom wanted from me, I confused Down with Sit and would do them interchangeably.  Now I do both as though I had been born knowing how to listen to Mom!  Here's how Mom taught me Down:

1)   Mom had me Sit since I already knew how.  Then she put a treat in her fingers and guided my nose to the ground.  I didn’t really understand what she wanted at first, so I tried to figure it out—I stood, I liked, I even did a Leave It, but nothing seemed to work.  Finally, I laid my entire body on the ground, and immediately I got the treat!  That definitely made me want to do that again.

2)   Mom repeated the same exercise, and each time, I learned faster what she wanted.  As she was doing this, she started pairing the action with its command, “Down.”

3)   Soon she held the treat in her left hand and made a downward motion with a flat palm while saying “Down.”  I quickly understood that her hand signal meant the same thing as the command and the treat lure.

Now I Down like a pro!  I’ve even learned that when I’m wearing my vest, it’s best to Down if Mom stops for more than a few seconds—it usually means we’re in line somewhere or another situation where she needs to stay in one place for a while.  Mom didn’t even have to teach me this—I just picked it up naturally.  But I think it shows how useful Down can be and how active a role it plays in a Service Dog’s life.

Cheers,

Kelsie Iris 

Check out these posts of mine:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html 

It's Official!

Goodbye, "In Training" patch!

I can be considered a Service Dog under the law!  Mom snipped the "In Training" patch off my vest last night, and I trotted to CVS today with a full SD vest on--it felt amazing!

This is the wording of the ADA:  Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.

These are among my current tasks:

• Ground Me (I'm pretty consistent at it and on multiple have even noticed Mom's anxiety and have responded to it without her having to ask me)
• Block (Somewhat consistent, or at least my back block.  Working on front and sides!)
• Waking Mom from night terrors (Mom hasn't had a single full-length one with me there to wake her up in the night!)
• Press (new, as of two days ago, but I already know it)

While I have not had a formal CGC or PAT, Mom has been testing me on individual items, and I can currently pass both tests.  I still have to wait until I'm home in California, though, before I get professionally tested.  Mom is shocked that I can pass the PAT after only three weeks--she thought I wouldn't be able to do that until the summer!  I guess hard work and studying have really paid off for a little pup like me.

I'm still not recognized by Mom's school as a full Service Dog--I'm still only an Emotional Support Dog--but Mom is looking for a way to change that because I'd love to do a Ground Me when she's feeling paralyzed in class.  Paws crossed that this goes smoothly!

Mom still plans to keep the "In Training" bandana on me from time to time in public places to help others be more forgiving of the mistakes I'm still bound to make.  They should be few and far in between, because I've really learned a lot over the past few weeks--I even love going in elevators now!  I've handled crazy supermarkets, crowded restaurants, quiet spaces, elevators, aisles, shopping carts, children, squirrels and other distractions, real life task situations (Mom's had some challenges in public), and so much more that I can't even begin to describe it all!  I think I'm ready for this honour.  I think I'm ready to be Mom's wingdog.  Cheers to the next 10-15 years by her side!

So many tail wags,
Kelsie Iris

Check out these posts:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html 

KI Recommends: SD Vest

As I was gnawing a hole through my blanket the other day, I realized that it might be helpful to SDiT teams for me to post recommendation of certain items and products--it's hard enough navigating Owner-Training without having constantly ask "How do I get a SD vest?" or "What kind of patches should I have?" or even the basics, like "What food should I feed my four-legged friend?"  Mom says that she asked all these questions and more when she was expecting me to arrive, and I can only imagine that it was difficult to try to sort through all of them.  So that's why I'm here: to help others who have the same questions!  I don't claim to know all the answers (I'm a dog, after all), but I can at least give suggestions and recommendations based on what has worked for me!

I thought I'd start with a big topic: how to choose a SD vest.  Mom spend hours pouring over websites trying to find the right one for me, and personally, I love my vest (find it at www.wiredog.com ).  I highly recommend it--it's comfortable, large enough for quite a few patches, and adjustable.  Mom especially loves the rubber handle because she can grip it while I give her DPT.  The blue is a gorgeous colour (it comes in more colours, too), and it has reflective piping for low-lighting situations.  It's a little heavier than a cape-style vest and doesn't have pockets, but overall, I think it's a very good vest.  Mom even had the option of getting it embroidered with my name on it!  (she decided to fill the space with patches, though)

In general, I also really recommend the website www.petjoy.com to help with some of your vest and other SD needs!  They have some great stuff.

This WireDog vest came with the SD patch--Mom sewed the rest!

As you search for The One, your perfect vest, it'll help to answer some or all of these questions:

• How big is my four-legged friend?  This can actually limit your options!
•  Do I prefer the look of a certain style?  (eg some people really prefer capes)
• Does my disability require any special type of harness? (eg one with a handle)
• Do I want a pocket or ID pouch?
• Do I mind of what kind of material it is made?  If yes, then what is my preferred material?
• Do I want patches already sewn on, or would I prefer to select my own patches?
• Is price a factor in my decision?  If so, what is my upper limit?
• What colour do I want it to be?  Mom knew she wanted blue for me!

 Hope this helps!  Don't hesitate to let me know if you'd like me to give a recommendation on something specific!

xoxoxo
Kelsie Iris

Check out these posts:
SD team etiquette -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/dos-and-donts-of-encountering-service.html
Confused?  Here are some terms and abbreviations -- http://kelsieiris.blogspot.com/2015/04/as-abbreviations.html

Sit-A-Dee-Do-Dah (How To: Sit)

It’s been a while since I’ve posted training advice, so I thought I’d start at the very beginning (it’s a very good place to start).  The first command Mom and I worked on—after my name—was Sit.  It’s a good basic command, a foundation command and a gateway to others, and it is pretty easy for most dogs to learn.

I was lucky—my foster mom had already worked on Sit with me a little bit, so all Mom needed to do was solidify Sit for me.  That being said, Mom ran me through the basic process of training Sit so that I would have a solid foundation in it.

1)    Mom took a treat in her fingers and held it above my head.  As my nose went up to the treat, I could feel my hind end lowering to the ground.  I got the treat when I sat all the way down, which made me take note of what I did.

Doing Sit to pose for a picture!

2)    Once I worked out that I needed to do this to get the treat and started doing it consistently, Mom started pairing the action with the verbal command “Sit” so that I could learn to associate my action with her command.

3)    Eventually, Mom worked on using a hand signal with her hand—a cupped palm facing upward, as though holding a treat—and started giving me treats from her non-signal hand so that I could learn the hand signal.

4)    Eventually, I learned the connexion between the hand signal, the verbal command, and the action!  Now Mom can give me the signal or say the command, and I will promptly sit down—I even sit when I simply hope to get a treat!

Hopefully this is helpful for anyone else looking to learn how to sit!  If you have any other methods or tips, feel free to comment below.

Mom isn’t a huge fan of psychically forcing dogs to follow commands (e.g. physically encouraging a dog to do the action, rather than luring), so she did not push on my rear end to get me to sit, even if some other trainers do use that method.

I’ve learned that Sit can be very useful—I met a cute little girl today who loved giving me hugs and kisses when I was doing a Sit!  She was super sweet, and so I’m glad I could sit still for her so that she could become my newest friend!

Cheers,

Kelsie Iris