It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's a...Service Dog?

Bossy the Boston Lobster and I on our first flight ever!

I write to you from underneath a seat at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport!  Since I just completed my first flight on an airplane, I thought I'd share some of my tips and tricks for how to navigate flying with a Service Dog by your side, since Mom had no clue what she was doing until now.  I hope I can help make flying easier for other SD teams, as well as ESA teams!

Before the Flight:

·      Call ahead of time to let the airline know that you are bringing a Service Dog with you.  Some airlines, like Delta, need to know the breed and weight of your dog in order to make appropriate accommodations for you.

·      If you have a PSD (or an ESA), have your psychiatrist write a letter beforehand.  The letter should explain that you have a disability as recorded in the DSM and that you require/are prescribed a Service Dog for the flight (and/or at the destination).  Check with the airline beforehand to see if there’s any specific wording that you need.  Note: having a doctor’s note on you is always a good way to “prove” that you have a verifiable disability that requires a SD.

·      Start limiting water and food intake the night before—you don’t want any accidents at the airport!  Even the best-trained SD can have an accident in an airport or on the plane.  Make sure to potty the pup as soon as possible before and after the flight, especially if you are taking a flight more than a few hours long.  Consider having a layover if your flight is more than three or four hours long to make sure your pup is comfortable.

·      Prepare an accident cleanup kit, because accidents do happen!  Paper towels and/or wipes are a must, as well as dog bags.  Some air freshener isn’t a bad idea either!

·      Make a pup pack, complete with everything your pup might need, the night before.  You might want to include items like a water bottle (I recommend the Gulpy), a little bit of food and/or treats (especially for rewarding in difficult situations), medications (if necessary), and anything you may need immediately upon arrival (eg a puppy seatbelt).

·      Exercise, exercise, exercise!  Try to tire your pup out the day before and morning of, especially if you have a long flight, so that your SD can happily snooze on the plane.

At the Airport:

·      Locate a pet relief area and make sure to utilize it before you go through security (especially because oftentimes it’s located outside the airport—there are only a few airports with indoor pet relief areas).  I recommend using it after you have checked in your bags, because then you’re letting your pup relieve him or herself as close to the flight as possible, which helps you in the long run.

·      Have your documentation handy, whether that’s in your hand, in your bag, or in your pup’s saddlebag, or all three.  You definitely want things to go as smoothly as possible for you—you’re already dealing with a disability, so you don’t need life to be any harder for you.

·      Pro tip: at the gate, ask for Pre Boarding.  Most likely, the attendants will agree to this, and you will be able to board before everyone else so that you and your pup are already tucked away by the time the rabble begins to board.  This will protect paws and tails from getting squished under careless feet!

·      Note that you’ll probably have to go through a normal scanner and might have to undergo a body search, because that special security scanner where you throw your hands up in the air doesn’t accommodate pups. 

On the Plane:

·      First: breathe!  Mom was so worried that I’d be scared on the plane that she nearly gave herself a panic attack.  Best case scenario: your pup will rock it and be the perfect plane companion, like I somehow managed to do despite the fact it was my first time on a plane.  Worst case scenario: your pup has a few issues and makes a few mistakes.  Honestly, it’s not the end of the world.  We all make mistakes our first time doing anything, and your pup probably will, too.  Just roll with it and try to make your pup as comfy as possible—the flight will be over soon!

·      There are three places your pup will be, depending on how and where you’re seated, as well as what size your SD is: the floor, the seat next to you, or your lap.  Figure out which works best for you, and do your best to make it work.  Your neighbor(s) may or may not be dog-friendly, but it is your right to sit in your seat—they can always switch with someone.  Most likely, the floor is probably your best option, but if you’re like me, you’ll magically transform into a lap dog (despite your 35 pounds) when you get on a plane!

I hope this helps out any future SD teams who fly!  It's definitely a tricky world to navigate, so I definitely recommend being prepared and doing your research beforehand.  If you've flown before with a pup and have had some other experiences, don't hesitate to share any of your tips and tricks for flying--I'd love to add them to my post.

Until next time,

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   

"Sorry, I'm All Out Spoons": The Spoon Theory

"Hey, do you want to go grab coffee with me in an hour?"
"Sorry, I can't--I'm all out of spoons for today."

How will you use your spoons today?

What does this mean?  If you don't know about the Spoon Theory, this probably seems like an odd response.  What do spoons have to do with being available for coffee?  And yet, spoons have everything with being able to go grab coffee with a friend, pulling weeds from your garden, or even getting up out of bed in the morning.  The Spoon Theory demonstrates the difference between "normal" people and those with physical or psychological difficulties in experiencing day-to-day existence.  So what exactly is the Spoon Theory?

The Spoon Theory goes like this: Everybody gets some number of spoons to use throughout their day like currency.  "Normal" people, those without any major life-limiting factors, start out with an unlimited number of spoons.  Those with some kind of medical issue, however, start out with, say, 15 spoons that they can use at any point throughout the day.  Every activity throughout the course of the day costs a certain number of spoons--for example, brushing your teeth might be one spoon, while going to a doctor's appointment might be four or five spoons.  The number of spoons that an activity costs varies depending on the individual and his or her specific difficulties in life.  For someone who is mobility-impaired, even lifting up an object can cost a spoon, while for an able-bodied individual, it might not even cost a spoon.
People with limited spoons have to worry about how and when they use their spoons on any given day, because they can run out of spoons very early in the day if they aren't careful.  But sometimes being careful isn't enough: sometimes a day calls for more spoons than you have, in which case, not even your best planning could prevent you from running out of spoons, and it can be very difficult to replenish spoons before the start of the next day.

Then what's the purpose of the Spoon Theory?  Sometimes "normal" people have a difficult time understanding what it's like to live with a life-limiting difficulty, because they know no other reality than their own existence.  It can be easy for them to tell someone who is, say, depressed, "But coffee with a friend will make you feel happy," instead of understanding why that person can't go (and for the record, that statement also represents a misunderstanding of what depression is).  The metaphor of the Spoon Theory bridges that gap in understanding.  It boils down the complexity of life into a simple scenario, but one that is powerful and that works.  Instead of having to explain every detail of why it's so impossible to just get coffee with someone, you can just tell them that you're out of spoons, and if they know the Theory, then they'll understand exactly why you can't.  It also protects your own confidentiality, since you don't have to bear any stigmas by explaining your situation further.  It creates a neutral playing field where everyone can understand one another and be more tolerant.

Please help spread the Spoon Theory--together, we can spread understanding, love, and tolerance for other people and the difficulties they face on a day-to-day basis.  And please, if someone tells you that they're all out of spoons for the day, be understanding--some day, you might experience a situation where you run out of spoons, too.  I hope the Spoon Theory can make us all more sensitive to each other's situations and individual difficulties that we face.  I really do hope we can create a more tolerant world where it's okay to cancel coffee because you're all out of spoons, where you don't even need an excuse any more than "I'm out of spoons."   And I hope we can love each other through it all and lend a spoon wherever possible.

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    

Library Log: Written from Beneath a Desk

Hello, dear readers!

I write to you from beneath a desk at the public library while Mom cranks out her final essay.  It's surprisingly spacious down here--I have plenty of room to flop on my side (Mom is trying to teach me that this position is called "Settle," although I seem to do it naturally!).  My girl has been typing away for three hours now, so apart from napping and keeping an eye on her to make sure she's okay (PUPdate: she is), I have not much to do.  Thus, I write to you!

If Mom could spare a minute right now, she'd tell you that I'm acing my training, especially right now.  I have tried to be as invisible as possible in the library, and it's working!  So many people haven't even noticed that I'm here that sometimes I wonder if they can even see me.  Is my vest an invisibility cloak?  Who knows--it sure seems like it!  I really know "Under" now, too.  I understand that when a desk, chair, or table is in sight, I should probably tuck myself under it and wait there until Mom leaves with me.  Some people might think that I don't like being "Under" constantly, but it's actually not too bad--it's cozy, kind of like being in a crate, which I love (although not as much as snuggling in bed with Mom--shhhh don't tell anyone that she lets me sleep with her!).

Even if I look like I'm sleeping, I'm still very much on the job!  I work K-9 to 5 (well, actually 24/7).

 I have some exciting news: I might even get to be a light mobility dog.  What does that mean?  Mobility dogs help with--you guessed it--mobility for their handlers, like pulling a wheelchair or bracing to help with balance.  As a light mobility dog, my job is a little bit easier: I just help Mom when she's having an episode of really painful knees.  I might even be getting a special harness for the job!
  Mom is also training me in light guide work, mainly just leading her to an exit so I can help her out of the public eye.  The command right now is in Latin, but hopefully I can get to a point where I can just intuitively understand when she needs me to kick into guide-mode.

I need to go now because Mom needs the computer to type her essay, but stay tuned for my post on Spoons tomorrow!

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    

Pupdates, Cupcakes, and Bracelets

In just a week, I'm headed to California to see Mom's home for the first time!  I can't wait to meet my kitty cat brother and sister and my human Auntie.  I've already traveled to so many states since I was fostered in the south, but I'm still excited to see a new place.  I'll make sure to give summer PUPdates, especially since I'll be taking my two tests!

Playing in Nathan's Garden

But now for a PUPdate for the past couple of weeks: I've continued my training my Mom and am still learning so much with every training session and every On Duty outing.  I had my first unvested On Duty public appearance, since it was too hot to wear my vest, and I'm slowly learning that I can still be On Duty even without my vest--a Service Dog, after all, is still a Service Dog with or without her vest on.  It's an abstract concept for a pup to learn, but Mom says I'm doing well, which means I must be doing something right!  With my vest on, though, I can't even try to be humble, because I'm rocking it.  The other day, Mom went to dinner with a friend, and I did a Down-Stay underneath the chair next to her the whole time without her even needing to ask me.  I know I can definitely pass both the CGC and the PAT at this point.  Hopefully, the school recognizes me as a Service Dog soon, especially once I pass my two tests--wish me luck!  While not on duty, I've been snuggling with Mom because thunderstorms are scary for me, and I've also been exploring a secluded, magical fairyland called Nathan's Garden--it's filled with ferns and wildflowers and is a perfect place for a pup to sniff around.  I have discovered that I love playing in water and will splash around whenever I get the opportunity!  I hear California has beaches, so I can't wait to play in the ocean.

Mom's new medical bracelet

Mom now has a medical ID bracelet that she wears around the clock.  It says, "In Case of Emergency, Do Not Separate from Service Dog."  It matches the tags I wear on my vest and collar so that if an emergency should ever occur, Mom and I will not get separated.  It's so crucial that I stay right by her side so I can do my job--if I'm not with her, then I can't keep her safe and comfortable, and that's particularly dangerous in an emergency.  Now, with the bracelet, people will know not to try to divide us--we go together like peanut butter and jelly!  And even if it's not an emergency, I should never be separated from my girl anyway--separating a SD from her handler can have serious consequences, even in day-to-day situations.  I plan on sticking right by Mom's side where I belong, and I'm glad that she now has the bracelet to prove it.

All my love,
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