Going Home Lecture: Part I

I learned two things this morning (and a whole bunch more than that last night at the lecture, but I'll get to that in a moment). First: our night instructor is not above the ultimate cliche when it comes to wake-up calls at TSE. Secondly....your stereotypical Italian mama (you know the kind, "eat, eat! you're too skinny, eat!!!!") should NEVER own a German Shepherd. That's what I sounded like this morning, trying to coax Prada into eating. I guess she figured that since we only did one route yesterday she should only eat one meal today to keep herfigure :P Silly puppy.

Going Home Lecture:

The infamous Going home Lecture was every bit as long as the retrains claimed it was (for once).  It summarizes how to deal with…

a.       airports, especially the first time through

b.      weather changes

c.       how to introduce your dog guide to

                                                              i.      the house

                                                            ii.      family and friends

                                                          iii.      other pets

d.      how to maintain the dog’s training without the rigorous school’s rigorous training regimen

e.       aDog Guide Protocol for Non-Handlers

I.                    Airports:  Airports are very busy places with lots of distractions, scary things, and interesting smells.  They can be equally stressful for handlers, though.  Because dog guide teams are such a rare phenomenon frequently airport staff are not familiar with the do’s and don’t’s of flying dog guide teams

a.      Tickets:            There’s a new charge for pets circulating around.  This does NOT apply to service dogs.  If a gate agent doesn’t get it you have two responses to choose from.

                                                              i.      Wrong Answer:  look, lady, it’s the law so give me my gate pass and move on!

                                                            ii.      Right Answer:  Actually, this si a service dog, and according to ADA regulations the airlines can’t charge for them.  I have a card with the details, if you’d like to hang onto that for future reference.

Stay polite and respectful regardless of the ticket agent’s attitude.  They’re just trying to do their job and not get in trouble for negligence.  If they really don’t’ get it, ask to speak with a manager to explain the law, not complain about the employee.  Remember, the employee isn’t trying to ruin your day, but is probably under a lot of pressure to enforce charges and regulations, and the rules are always changing so cut them a little slack.  You’re an exception, not the norm.

b.      Security

                                                              i.      Metal detectors:  Just like at the courthouse, the harness will beep.  (following is from the last 3 years' experience, not from the original post).  I have found that it’s simpler to just remove the harness and put it in one of the conveyor belt bins.  Make sure the TSA agent sees it, though, and knows you’re blind.  I usually just wait until I’m at the very head of the line (near the detector) before removing the harness so I know it’s been spotted.  Then, walk the dog up to the detector, have Juno sit, lengthen the lead, and command “rest”.  Walk through, then call Juno.  The collar will beep, and the agent will want to pat Juno, and sometimes you (the procedure’s a bit gray, here, so just go with it) down.  Prada loves this.  She thinks TSA exists just to pet her.  After this is done, allow the TSA agent to lead you to the end of the conveyor belt and collect your things.  Smile, say “thanks’, and move on.  In my experience it never happens the same way twice because nobody’s exactly certain of the rules.  Suggest this procedure, then allow for variations they exist with the exclusion of a couple of no-no’s listed below.  Remember, they’re doing their job, not trying to harass you.  Staying calm, positive, and low-key makes the experience much less stressful for you, the agent, and Juno.

                                                            ii.      Puffer Machines:  I personally have not had to deal with this 9again, not from original post).  But on occasion, in some airports, agents may try to bring you through those air-puff machines that search for explosives.  You are not required to comply with this, so inform them that that is very stressful for the dog and ask to be sent through the metal detector or wanded or whatever else they’d prefer.

                                                          iii.      Separation:  TSA cannot separate you from Juno.  It is illegal and very punishable for them to forcibly separate you from your dog.  Do not surrender control of your dog to anyone (TSA or otherwise, with the notable exception of the Secret Service, but that’s another story J ).  TSA can also not require you to remove the harness, but I generally don’t enforce this one.  They don’t know this is the law and are more likely to argue it than the “don’t separate” one.  It’s no big deal to pull the harness off for a couple seconds and let them lead you and Juno while they check out Juno and the harness, so just roll with it.  No harm done.

c.       Gate:   Getting to the gate can be confusing, especially if you don’t fly often.  On our first flight, going home, the TSE instructor led me sighted-guide to the gate.  For most future flights up until the last year or so I requested a gate assistant from TSA.  Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes for someone to be available, but they’ll help you find your gate.  I fly so often, and usually through the same airports, that I can find my own way (well, Prada knows her way through Portland , Huntsville, and Atlanta International so I find myself giving directions to other infrequent fliers—very amusing J ).

                                                              i.      Pre-boarding:  Pre-boarding is available and cannot be denied to a disabled person.  When you reach the gate, ask the gate agent for pre-boarding.  They will contact you when it’s time to pre-board and help you to the jetway before the other passengers board.  Pre-boarding is nice to use because it takes a little longer for us to find our seats (ask a flight attendant for that one) and scoot Juno into her place.  I don’t always remember to request it, but when I do it makes life much easier.

d.      Seating:  MYTH #1  you are not required to sit in the bulkhead.  TSE lectures claim it is less convenient for the dog to sit in bulkhead but Prada and I generally prefer it.  That’s a difference of operational opinions.  Gate agents are required to make it available to you if possible, but you are not required to sit in a bulkhead if you do not want to.

                                                              i.      bulkhead

e.      in-flight

                                                              i.      takeoff/landing:  For your first few flights, and if Juno persist in being nervous about the giant shaky roaring thing she’s been crammed into, please don’t’ sleep during landing and take-off.  These are, for the above-mentioned reasons, very stressful for Juno.  Calm and comfort her.  Scratch, play with the ears, and praise.  Don’ts cold for crying, just tell her to be quiet.  If Juno tries to get into your lap, push her down but again, don’t’ scold.  That adds to the stress.  Prada sleeps through these now, so I tend to as well.  But it’s subject to your dog’s disposition whether or not you get to do this.  Prada is such an experienced flier I rarely have to calm her during any part of the flight anymore, not even extreme turbulence.

                                                            ii.      food and water:  Make sure you park BEFORE you get to the airport!  Restrict food and water (cut out the last meal and reduce the one before that) before flying to limit the amount that needs to come out, and then make sure Juno does a #1 and #2 before reaching the airport.  Some large airports are required to provide a relief area for service dogs inside security, but they’re a pain to get to (out on the tarmac) and few people know this regulation and will likely kick up a fuss about it.  Do not allow flight attendants to give Juno water, otherwise you may end up with park time happening under your seat.  An ice cube melting in your hand is ok, though.

f.        Arrival

                                                              i.      M&A’s:  An M&A is a “meet and assist” agent.  These are people kept on staff at airports to assist traveling unaccompanied minors and persons with disabilities between gates on layovers and to baggage claim from the arrival gate.  When you debark the plane, ask a gate agent to call an M&A. On occasion an M&A will misunderstand and bring a wheelchair.  You are not required to use it if they bring it.  If the M&A insists on using it, put your carry-on in the chair and grasp the side of it.  They’ll get the point eventually.  Because of how long they take to arrive at some airports, and some rudeness I have experienced with them, though, I rarely request them anymore.  I’m good enough with directions that I can find my way around.  If you’re not confident, though, I would definitely recommend getting an M&A

                                                            ii.      Greetings:  Mom, Dad , this is for you (back to original entry).  When Prada and I arrive, please don’t make a big to-do, just pretend that it’s totally normal for you to pick us up.  We can do exciting greetings later, but for now Juno, and in my case Prada, is stressed and needs to go outside to park ASAP.  That is the first thing you do when you debark:  get outside.  Don’t go get your bags until you’ve parked your dog, otherwise Juno may not be able to hold it anymore (depending on the length of your flight0 and may park inside.  This is embarrassing for you and a mess for someone to clean up, and makes Juno unhappy because she knows she’s not supposed to do that.

II.                  Weather Changes

a.      Snow:  All TSE dogs have seen snow before—they grew up in the Northeast, after all.  Some of them like it, some don’t.  (Prada loves it, see Snowpawcalypse)

                                                              i.      Boots:  As I mentioned before, put the bots on to protect their paw pads from the salt and chemicals used to melt the snow, and against shards of ice inside the snowbanks

                                                            ii.      Cane:  If it’s snowing, bring your cane.  There are several conditions which will really confuse the dog that you’ll want more information on.  1)  snow drift in the way 2) snow drift on the curb can both confuse and stress a dog out, and you won’t know why the dog has stopped until you get that cane out and poke around a bit.

b.      Extreme Heat:  This will be particularly relevant to me, since Prada and I will be primarily located in Alabama.

                                                              i.      Boots:  Check the temperature of the pavement with your hand.  If it burns your hand, it’ll burn those sensitive puppy pads.  Put the boots on to protect the pads.  If you notice the dog hurrying from shady patch to shady patch on the sidewalk, that’s a good indication you need the boots.

                                                            ii.      Overheating

1.      Vet on speed dial:  Keep your vet and emergency clinic on speed-dial in case of a heat-related emergency.  Dogs can have heat strokes.

2.      Carrying water:  I carry a collapsible water bowl around with me to give Prada water at our destinations, and plan to carry a small spraybottle to spritz her off on hot days.  If you carry water for yourself, you should carry water for the dog.

3.      Ice water:  This is very unsettling to a dog’s stomach.  The immediate and drastic change in temperature can cause nausea and vomiting.  Bathing in ice water is equally bad.  Hypothermia, enough said.

4.      Cold towel:  This is a good way to cool a dog off.  Wrap Juno in a cool, moist towel.

5.      Wetting down:  Behind the ears, on the belly, and on the paws are the heat-release points.  The blood runs very close to the surface of the body there and can easily be cooled.  Wet down these areas with room-temperature water to help the dog cool off.

6.      Symptoms of overheating:  If your dog’s walking like a drunk or seems unusually lethargic, or displays any of the normal human symptoms of overheating, that’s a good sign that Juno needs to go inside and get a drink.  If you’re really worried, take the dog’s temperature.  A good temperature is about 102.5.  103 is iffy, 104 is BAD.  As you can see, we have a very narrow margin for error here.

I know I haven’t covered half the stuff I listed above, but this is a ton of information so I’m going to stop here and continue later.

(In retrospect I should’ve broken this up into at least two, if not three posts.  I can’t fix that right now, much as I’d like to, but hopefully this structure makes it easier to digest.)