(These are questions folks have actually asked us!)
- “What is a Service Dog? I’ve never even heard of one!”
- “What is your dogs name?”
- “Can I pet him?”
- “I thought Service Dogs couldn’t be pet? How come he can?”
- “Then why do you need him with you?”
- “What does he do for you?”
- “What’s it like having a Service Dog?”
- “Where did you get him?”
- “How do they train him?”
- “Why that breed?”
- “Does he bark?”
- “Why doesn’t he bark?”
- “Will he bite?”
- “Can he go on a plane?”
- “Really?”
- “Where did you get that vest? I want one for my dog.”
- “You don’t look crazy! Are you?”
- “You’re not handicapped! Are you?”
- “How did you find out about Service Dog’s?”
- “What’s the deal with the dog?”
- “C’mon are you kidding?”
- Can he fly on an Airplane?
- Where does he sit?
- Do you have to buy him a ticket?
“What is a Service Dog? I’ve never even heard of one!”
A Service Dog is “The” best worker a person could find and a loyal and devoted friend! But if you want more info go to this site:
See link
“What is your dogs name?”
This is tough one since “ Finnie” (his most commonly used name as he has a lot of cool nick names like most well loved dogs) often sounds like “Vinnie “ with my Boston accent! Kind of funny most of the time as it makes him sound like a Macho mafia dog as in “My Cousin Vinnie”! He happens to be very sweet and gentle.
“Can I pet him?”
Sometimes I let people pet him. I have a sign on him “Ask to pet” as it often feels like I have a rock star with me when we are traveling. ” Finnie ” is so friendly and adorable that kids and adults alike are often almost magnetically drawn to him. He always seems to know who likes dogs or who needs a “wagily tail” and a kiss. But if I am busy it can be a big distraction and sometimes even annoying. However we do our best to be the best Service Dog “Good Will Ambassadors” as we always hope to raise awareness about Service Dogs by being a good power of example so that others might be inspired to find a dog or to welcome a Service Dog into their place of business. You never know we might be the only walking example of a Service Dog team some people will ever see. As they may know someone who needs one or perhaps they may need one themselves we do our best to show a good Service Dog at work.
“I thought Service Dogs couldn’t be pet? How come he can?”
Since “Finnie” works mostly at night it really doesn’t distract him from his work to be petted unless I am sitting for an extended period like in a movie theater, airplane or a boring meeting! Where the environment might lend one to sleep, hot and stuffy or dark and quiet I will set a boundary and politely tell folks “No not right now as he is working”.
“Then why do you need him with you?”
Because the bond between Service Dog and his/her partner/handler is strong and it is important to keep him well trained and well bonded so he doesn’t forget his job. Like you or me if you only work once in awhile it is easy to get rusty. Also he must be kept socialized for our day to day life in the office and our frequent travel escapades, as he is essential for travel.
“What does he do for you?”
Well he keeps me from being harmed while I am in a state of sleep during which time I am capable of sleep walking or getting stuck in a nightmare that can last hours and disrupt my life the next day from exhaustion due to lack of rest. He also does a few other tasks that I don’t feel comfortable talking about as they are related to my personal medical condition. I hope you can understand that.
“What’s it like having a Service Dog?”
It is amazing! I feel very blessed. It is like having your best friend go everywhere with you and yet he never bothers you as long as you take good care of him. Having a dog in places where dogs rarely if ever go like airplanes, offices, museums, hotels, the dentist’s office and other locations where people rarely see dogs I get to witness people opening up to him in very sweet ways. Often we receive greetings that are usually reserved for family and close friends. He often brings out the kid in people and gracious smiles. From the authoritative police officer to the pompous CEO sitting next to me on an airplane to the very seriously focused Professional attending to me I get to see the warm human side of them which makes my life a lot more interesting, fun and fully alive. I also feel a much greater level of confidence and assurance that I never had when I wasn’t getting the rest I needed and never knew when my next sleeping incident might occur. The anxiety is gone and I am a much happier guy. Although I am still a regular human being with all the stress most of us have and many of the typical reactions we all get from time to time as a result. But it is hard to get angry or impatient with such a kind and loving creature by your side who reacts to my every emotion and action. Service Dogs really are like Angels especially when you need them most.
“Where did you get him?”
That’s a long story but click here and it will tell you. (In person I give out a calling card with a link to this site.) Go to Tim’s story
“How did they train him?”
(Same as above) Go to Tim’s story
“What kind of dog is he?”
Finnie is an English Black Labrador Retriever born in England and was bred to be a service dog. He is smaller than average and calmer than most labs. He fits under desks and chairs with greater ease than a larger dog. And makes it much easier to fly, work in an office setting and travel to places that aren’t designed with a dog in mind.
“Why that breed?”
I am not sure but I think it is because of the personality traits Labs possess of calmness, friendliness and a strong desire to learn. The fact that they are very easily trained, have a wonderful disposition and drive enough to want to learn but not so much that he will become too aggressive or possessive which can cause a lot of trouble in public settings makes a Lab almost ideal for this type of work.
“Does he bark?”
Almost never! Mostly only when he is trying to signal me or is trying to protect me in a dangerous situation, which is a very rare occasion. But if he smells fire or senses extreme anger in someone that might harm me he will bark but usually only once. It would be very disruptive for Service Dogs to be barking while in public areas.
“Why doesn’t he bark?”
Would you want a dog barking in the movies, at dinner or on a plane? It isn’t easy to train a dog not to bark but it is essential for service dogs. He does communicate with me through looks, nudges and slight whines or noises that are soft and delicate. But as one bonds with her/his Service Dog these sounds and nudges become not so subtle as a level of communication evolves between you like a mother looking at her child or a husband and wife giving each other “the” look.
“Will he bite?”
Only me! And that’s only when I am sleep walking and nothing else works. Thankfully Labs are “Bird dogs” and don’t break the skin. But it is a pinch enough to wake me when in a sleep trance.
“Can he go on a plane?”
Yes he can go anywhere I can go at no additional cost (mandated by Federal Law) except maybe the White House since Bo runs the show there!
“Really?”
Yes really! I know it sounds fabulous but it is serious business. I once awoke from a sleep walking incident banging on the cockpit door demanding they open up because I really needed to pee. Thankfully the wonderful flight attendant had a child who was a sleepwalker and she knew what was happening. She woke me and very gently guided me to my seat. When the Co-pilot came out wondering what was going on she handled it for me with grace and style. Other than a little loss of my dignity and some weird looks from my fellow passengers no real harm was done. But in this error of post 9/11 it would be a punishable offense with a possible jail term.
“Where did you get that vest? I want one for my dog.”
Often people think this is a con or a joke. Like we are trying to put one over. It isn’t. Service dogs are very serious business and anyone who has their dog impersonate a service dog could be arrested and fined or imprisoned. Don’t do it please! It will make it hard for those of us who really need a service dog! Check out the Service Dog Law page for more details.
“You don’t look crazy! Are you?”
This is an “actual” real question a woman asked me in AZ. I think what she was trying to say is I don’t have any obvious medical disability so it must be something mental or emotional. Asking someone about his or her intimate personal medical condition is not only rude but can be very embarrassing for the person you ask. Isolation is one of the side affects of any handicap as no one really wants to be different from others so often times we avoid attention. I always appreciate when I am treated just like everyone else.
“You’re not handicapped! Are you?”
Again what you see is not always what you get. Handicaps come in many forms. Sometimes it is hard to talk about them with people you know never mind perfect strangers. Be kind if you can to people with service dogs. Who knows maybe you or some one you love may need one someday.
“How did you find out about Service Dog’s?”
Actually I discovered them from witnessing other Service Dogs on the street, in several airports and in a few downtown areas in big cities on my various travels. I then researched the “web” much like you are doing right now!
“What’s the deal with the dog?”
I love this one! Usually I say “Why don’t you ask him?”. Since it is very intrusive to ask someone about his or her Service Dog in such an aggressive manner I do my best to keep it light and not get defensive. However I usually go out of my way to educate people as to the etiquette of Service Dog style communication. That is why we started this website and why we use humor and levity to get across our points.
“C’mon are you kidding?”
“Yes I’m kidding. I dressed my dog up in a vest and it is actually April 1st. April fools!” That is an actual answer I gave some one. I try not to be flip but when someone is this rude I just try to have fun with them and then I get serious about it and tell them about this website. If your one of these folks I hope the site helped and I hope you got a chuckle or two as your checked it all out. Life is so short so if we can’t laugh at ourselves then who can we laugh at! Humor is the best medicine sometimes.
“Can he really fly on an Airplane? Your not joking?”
Yes he can fly on an airplane.
“Where does sit?”
He sits right at my feet partly under the seat in front of me. This allows him to rest his head on my feet and he then knows if I am getting up in a sleep walking state as I need to lift his head to leave my seat. He also gets to take a good snooze without worrying that he didn’t do his job.
“Does he have to buy his ticket?”
No he doesn’t have a credit card! Seriously, no, I am not required to pay for him to fly under the Federal Law “Americans with Disabilities Act” airlines are required to let him fly for free. But we feel it is essential that he be well behaved and of course clean and well groomed as a courtesy to the other passengers. We feel each Service Dog is an unofficial “Good Will Ambassador” of all other Service Dogs and we do not wish to cause any problems for other Americans with disabilities. We also put on his service dog vest, which is not required by law, so others will know he is working while on the plane. It then helps others understand why their pet dogs can’t fly in the cabin. Sadly he does not get Frequent Flyer Miles!