Cruising With A Service Dog....everything You Ever Wanted To Know!

[wizard-of-roz]

Mornin' all:

Welcome home Queen B and Master H! We did miss you both. Very quiet for a time. Then Ms. Fairbourne posted some inflamatory info and I just had to protect the person that was involved, but not here to defend said self! :D:):p:o

 

Quam: Oh My Dog! She is gorgeous!

 

You are a very bad girl! But, I love you anyway!

[wizard-of-roz]

If you travel through an airport and maybe lose something or leave something on an aircraft, just have a look here what they've done at Amsterdam airport - if you link to this site there are some other stories that are great too - you may want to make a coffee before you start, if like me you may be there for a while reading them!:)

 

http://sfglobe.com/?id=14013&src=share_fb_new_14013

 

That was fun! Thanks for the entertainment!

[wizard-of-roz]

Lucky me... I got to meet Horton today! :D What a handsome boy! :D But I forgot to get a picture! :eek:

 

Roz, I'm glad you were able to come to lunch today with all the things you have to do after a cruise. :)

 

Marcia, I loved having lunch with you and some very nice cruising folks. I hope to cruise with you again.

 

Thanks for sharing the adorable pictures of my Brenda.

[wizard-of-roz]

Welcome home Roz and Horton...hope you both had a great cruise.

 

Roz - you promised a story about a church elevator?...I am holding you to it!

 

PS - glad to hear you are both getting famous!

 

Keith

 

Keith, thank you.

 

I had gone to a church dinner. Upon leaving, and in order to get to the underground parking, you have to use a very small elevator. The stairwell was being upgraded and was closed. I entered the elevator and a woman who had entered before me said, [in a very loud voice] "get off, get off, I don't want that dog in the elevator with me!"

 

There was no way that we could exit without Horton's rear end touching her and she proceeded to shove him away with her foot. I said, "madam, you touch this dog in any way and I swear, I'll deck you!" I couldn't believe I actually said that.

 

Horton and I got off, never looking back into the elevator and waited for the next one. When I exited to walk to my car, who do you think was parked in front of me and had to wait for me to leave in order that she could leave? Oh! No! I exclaimed, I can't leave just yet, I have to go back upstairs because I left something there........NOT! I got such inane pleasure out of keeping that wretched woman waiting for me to move my car. The garage was stifling hot, it had been 110 degrees during the day and the garage felt like a Turkish steam bath. I was sweating it out but it was sooooooo worth watching her getting so aggravated with me!!!!! I'm a bad girl!!!! :( :p

Edited September 29, 2014 by wizard-of-roz

[Quampapetet]

Haha, yes, definitely a "she"; I wouldn't put a pink collar on a boy pup! :)

 

She's a Portuguese Water Dog. She's VERY good for a cuddle!! :D She loves to be held on one's shoulder - too bad she will soon be too big for it! Her hair is so, so, so soft and fluffy that I just want to bury my face in it. :D

[Caribbean Chris]

 

Be prepared to run into a few [very few] of the "dog haters!" You will want to move your dog away from them and avoid being in small spaces with them! If you have to exit an elevator or sit in a different area, do it! ;)[/b][/color]

 

The other day, we had our weekly lunch with my brother and his wife & daughter. Raylene was quietly settled by my feet, tired from her morning training session. Another couple was escorted to a table nearby (but not overly close) and noticed the dog. Shortly after, they asked to be moved to a much less desirable table.

 

First time this has happened. Usually, the problem is reverse - getting business accomplished whie many dog lovers want to get their hands on her!

 

I am guessing some people are allergic (my husband used to have sneezing fits years ago) or are fearful, afraid of being bitten (someone asked me if my dog bites recently in the grocery store.) Maybe traumatized by a dog once.

 

But shove my dog with your foot, and you, too, may end up trapped in a hot basement parking garage!!:D

[Sarachan74]

I too have had issues of this sort. Shortly after getting Jules, I would ride the regular bus home from school.

 

We encounter this lady on the bus that started having screaming fits, saying get that dog away from me. She was very vocal about it and caused a lot of ruckus.

 

I tried to calmly tell her that he wouldn't hurt her but she didn't listen.

 

Whenever we see her on the bus today, we simply go to the back of the bus to avoid her.

[fairbourne]

Roz, you had me laughing in my porridge this morning! :p:D

 

Now that's the sort of thing I would have done! LOL!

 

We have a neighbour who is terrified of dogs and refused to come over to our house unless the dogs were locked out in the courtyard. That was until she met Aruba. As Aruba was only very young at the time, I explained to this lady that Aruba would not bother her at all and if she remained calm and didn't show any interest in her or the other two dogs, they would have a quick sniff :rolleyes: and then as she was perceived to be "boring" in their doggy eyes, they would leave her alone. This lady was prone to the usual "ooh don't touch me, ooh etc etc" with much waving of arms - all of which to any dog will be a challenge in as much as "wonder how we can make this human MORE excited"!!!

 

So over she came with her husband and to give her her due she did exactly as I said and sat down and ignored the dogs. Soon after, Aruba, bless her, slithered over and lay at her feet with her puppy nose on her shoes, and I couldn't believe it, pretty soon this lady's hand was down patting Aruba and Aruba being Aruba, she just accepted it all without any fuss. When I said to her, you're stroking a dog, she hadn't actually realised it! Her hand had gone down automatically.

 

I'm not saying she is over her fear of dogs, but it's a great start.

 

I've only been scared of a dog once, and that was a rescue Shepard/husky type and despite the best and long efforts of my friend who rescued her, she just could not be trusted near anyone. She went for me, ripping my coat for no reason. Thank goodness I had a thick coat on! So the inevitable happened, but my friend did more for that dog than anyone could have done, even the ex-army dog trainer she took her to for help said so and sad as it was, my friend said she couldn't bear putting her back to the rescue centre as they may have rehomed her again and then someone may have had her and been very bad to her. But the rescue centre would probably not have rehomed her again and as my friend said, she's at peace lying in the field amongst the rabbits she used to love to chase. We all think something very, very bad must have happened to her in the past. She was a beautiful girl.

[wizard-of-roz]

Awww....Fairbourne, such a sweet story. :)

 

Now, I'm at work, more settled than this past weekend and I can remember some of the instances onboard the Crown.

 

Getting onboard and attending the muster drill all went very easy for Horton and me. Then came our Traditional Dining first night: A lovely couple was placed at the table next to us and although each of our tables was a table for two, they were very, very close to each other. [You can't put a 90lb dog under a table for two.] And, because we were next to an aisle that was going to be used frequently for the servers as well as the other passengers seated behind us, I had to put Horton on the floor between our two tables. Well, the couple next to us did not like dogs and immediately got up and left.

 

I thought that was the end of it and the next night there were two ladies seated when I arrived with Horton.....when they saw him they gasped and said, we can't eat with a dog on the floor. They, too, asked to be moved.

 

I suggested to the Matre d' that he not place anyone at the adjoining table. He started to give me such a story about the seating procedures.....Blah, blah, blah....is all I heard! :rolleyes: He finally got the point, and tried to place one more couple, who loved eating with Horton and the rest of the week went much better.

 

This is going to happen every time. It would be smart that if a person requests to be seated in Traditional Dining and they have a Service Dog that they put them at a table that would not subject other diners to the dog unless otherwise requested. A table for 4 is perfect. The dog can go underneath with lots of room for my legs and his lying down, without the hassles of angry feelings, shoving feet and aggravation!!!!! :( It means I eat alone but to go through the hassle of interviewing just the right couple, it's easier to eat with just Horty and me and I don't mind at all!

 

Although, in my future cruising, I may just eat in the buffet or Anytime Dining.

 

Actually, it's kind of fun to watch the faces of the folks who are already seated and you come walking over with a huge Black Lab to join them.......The looks on their faces can be priceless! :eek:

[Insuregal]

Another puppy photo, as it isn't letting me add two to one message for some reason.

Quam, this puppy is adorable! I would really love to give her a good cuddle, same as fairbourne!

 

Thanks so much for posting the photos!

Beckie

Edited September 29, 2014 by Insuregal
Missed previous message with dog breed.

[Sarachan74]

Roz,

 

Lowes did not have cedar chips. They had kennel bedding, which is small cedar chips or flakes. Will that work?

 

Is that what you was referring too?

 

Sarah

Edited September 29, 2014 by Sarachan74

[DisneyKidsDad]

Awww....Fairbourne, such a sweet story. :)

 

Now, I'm at work, more settled than this past weekend and I can remember some of the instances onboard the Crown.

 

Getting onboard and attending the muster drill all went very easy for Horton and me. Then came our Traditional Dining first night: A lovely couple was placed at the table next to us and although each of our tables was a table for two, they were very, very close to each other. [You can't put a 90lb dog under a table for two.] And, because we were next to an aisle that was going to be used frequently for the servers as well as the other passengers seated behind us, I had to put Horton on the floor between our two tables. Well, the couple next to us did not like dogs and immediately got up and left.

 

I thought that was the end of it and the next night there were two ladies seated when I arrived with Horton.....when they saw him they gasped and said, we can't eat with a dog on the floor. They, too, asked to be moved.

 

I suggested to the Matre d' that he not place anyone at the adjoining table. He started to give me such a story about the seating procedures.....Blah, blah, blah....is all I heard! :rolleyes: He finally got the point, and tried to place one more couple, who loved eating with Horton and the rest of the week went much better.

 

This is going to happen every time. It would be smart that if a person requests to be seated in Traditional Dining and they have a Service Dog that they put them at a table that would not subject other diners to the dog unless otherwise requested. A table for 4 is perfect. The dog can go underneath with lots of room for my legs and his lying down, without the hassles of angry feelings, shoving feet and aggravation!!!!! :( It means I eat alone but to go through the hassle of interviewing just the right couple, it's easier to eat with just Horty and me and I don't mind at all!

 

Although, in my future cruising, I may just eat in the buffet or Anytime Dining.

 

Actually, it's kind of fun to watch the faces of the folks who are already seated and you come walking over with a huge Black Lab to join them.......The looks on their faces can be priceless! :eek:

 

Roz,

 

You and Horton can sit with us and Orson anytime!! :D

[wizard-of-roz]

Roz,

 

Lowes did not have cedar chips. They had kennel bedding, which is small cedar chips or flakes. Will that work?

 

Is that what you was referring too?

 

Sarah

 

Sarah, our Lowe's didn't carry them either. I had to go to Osh to get them and then I went to a private gardener who buys them from a supplier and he got them for me.

 

Finally, I went to artificial turf and it's the only thing that Horton uses on my patio. He ONLY goes to the bathroom in a potty box; at home and a potty box at work. The turf lays on pea rock, in a oil drip pan [used for 18 wheelers, purchased at an auto parts store.] When I leave for work in the morning, I flip it over, spray the rock and the back side of the turf with Clorox spray, let it marinate in the sun and flip it back over when I get home.

 

At work I hired a company called Doggy In The City, they provide a 6x6 wooden box, with real sod [that is changed every two weeks]for $80.00 a month. The box sits in the corner of our underground parking garage, out of the elements and Horton thinks it's the "north 40!" The garage is private and gated. I can let him loose to walk and run around. He goes directly to his box and then goes exploring. His world is protected from strays, germs and diseases, hot asphalt and the dangers of automobile traffic.

 

Horton rarely goes potty anywhere but in a box [either did Brenda].......so it's very second nature to him. When we're out and about in the world, he'll go just about anywhere, except concrete.

 

What you bought is good too. It's actually better than the large chips that the ship uses.

 

I spoke to the Hotel Manager and asked if they could purchase a smaller chip or just use wood shavings.

 

The best plan is to train your dog to go into whatever filler is put into the potty box - excepting the paper pellets [of which Princess does not use anymore], Horton is a champ at the potty box.

[wizard-of-roz]

Roz,

 

You and Horton can sit with us and Orson anytime!! :D

 

Thank you so much, me too you!!!! ;)

 

You would think that it would discourage me from cruising......NO WAY! My occupation is to Cruise and my job is the means to my occupation!

 

If I were in a wheelchair it would be so much easier because the cruise line would have to make accommodations for my chair, therefore making room for my dog. Walking in with a dog makes for a whole set of different kinds of needs.

 

The road is long and fraught with a lot of different challenges when it comes to traveling with our dogs but I'm not a quitter and it really is getting better and better!

[Quampapetet]

Thanks; I'm glad you guys enjoyed the puppy pictures! I pretty much have to look at them (or new ones the trainer takes) every day to get my puppy fix! ;)

 

The last time I went to a performance, a couple sat next to me (the people I was with were on the other side of me) and the woman petted my service dog and asked about her and all. She then managed to spill her beer all over herself, my pants, and my dog. She felt really bad, but I told her it was okay and wasn't the first time someone has spilled beer on my dog. Her man got extra napkins and we cleaned up. A short time later, they left their seats and they never came back! The people I was with and I thought maybe they were too embarrassed, but had no idea how they could go sit elsewhere. We joked that it would be really funny if they ended up being in the wrong seats, LOL! At intermission, an employee of the show group let me know the couple asked to be moved because the woman was allergic to dogs. Hmm, yeah, that's why she went and petted my dog without asking and chose to be next to me rather than have her man next to me, right?! :p Some people use the "allergy" excuse when they don't have allergies. Oh well, more room for my dog to lay out!

 

On my last cruise, I preferred taking the seat next to the window so my dog could lay between the table and window (all my group's tables were next to the windows and I think sat eight). The cruise before that, my two friends and I stayed at the one four-top booth our group had, so we had the extra space for my girl under the table. The other one, we had a variety of table shapes and sizes for our group and moved around each night between them, so it was just like sitting at a regular restaurant where she curls up under the table.

[rangeley]

Welcome back Roz!!

[wizard-of-roz]

Welcome back Roz!!

 

Thanks, Cindy. Getting back into the groove of work is not easy! And, the older I get the more difficult it is!

 

This was a great cruise. We had one imposter onboard with her "medical alert, nipping, growling Chihauhua!" :mad:

 

Had I set Horton loose on that little bugger it would have been fun to watch!

 

The woman kept "it" in a baby stroller. How it could alert her to anything, is beyond me!:p

[wizard-of-roz]

Thanks; I'm glad you guys enjoyed the puppy pictures! I pretty much have to look at them (or new ones the trainer takes) every day to get my puppy fix! ;)

 

The last time I went to a performance, a couple sat next to me (the people I was with were on the other side of me) and the woman petted my service dog and asked about her and all. She then managed to spill her beer all over herself, my pants, and my dog. She felt really bad, but I told her it was okay and wasn't the first time someone has spilled beer on my dog. Her man got extra napkins and we cleaned up. A short time later, they left their seats and they never came back! The people I was with and I thought maybe they were too embarrassed, but had no idea how they could go sit elsewhere. We joked that it would be really funny if they ended up being in the wrong seats, LOL! At intermission, an employee of the show group let me know the couple asked to be moved because the woman was allergic to dogs. Hmm, yeah, that's why she went and petted my dog without asking and chose to be next to me rather than have her man next to me, right?! :p Some people use the "allergy" excuse when they don't have allergies. Oh well, more room for my dog to lay out!

 

On my last cruise, I preferred taking the seat next to the window so my dog could lay between the table and window (all my group's tables were next to the windows and I think sat eight). The cruise before that, my two friends and I stayed at the one four-top booth our group had, so we had the extra space for my girl under the table. The other one, we had a variety of table shapes and sizes for our group and moved around each night between them, so it was just like sitting at a regular restaurant where she curls up under the table.

 

When Horton and I go to the theatre there is NO WAY that anyone could get near him to touch him, let alone spill something on him! I choose seating that allows him either to lay at the end of a row or I sit in the back where the handicapped is located. I also get to the theatre in plenty of time to be able to pick and choose the most safe spot for him!

 

This last cruise a crew member got a "caution" sign to place in front of him so no one wheeled their chair into him!

[Sarachan74]

Roz

 

Do you have any tips for actually getting Jules into doing his business in the potty box. He goes in it with rewards - but he just stands there doing nothing. The cedar chips are very aromatic, I have put some grass clippings in there just a few but nothing yet.

 

Any help would be great!

 

Sarah

[wizard-of-roz]

Roz

 

Do you have any tips for actually getting Jules into doing his business in the potty box. He goes in it with rewards - but he just stands there doing nothing. The cedar chips are very aromatic, I have put some grass clippings in there just a few but nothing yet.

 

Any help would be great!

 

Sarah

 

Sarah, when I first got Brenda in 2002 is when the idea of the "potty box" came to me. Then, I was using the oil drip pan for the base and kitty litter [which I stopped using because she would track it into the house.] I then went to mulch, real sod and finally the pea stone with the artificial turf.

 

Brenda had no choice, it was the only place she could relieve herself......I did not take her anywhere else. Brenda was raised on a huge property in Sacramento, with the river in her back yard. Using a potty box was a big deal for her.

 

I started by putting her leash on, saying the key word from CCI [which at the time was "toilette", they've now changed it to "hurry."] I would take a step into the box, stop, use the command, give her time to investigate and then walk out of it with her on lead, I would repeat this over and over. I did not reward her [i always forget to bring a treat out with me, is the only reason.]

 

I would circle the box, walk over it with her attached, stop and say the word over and over again. After a few minutes if she didn't go, I'd walk into the house, undo her leash and go about my day. An hour later [when I knew she had to go] and, after her meals, I took her out again, on leash and repeated and repeated and repeated, until, finally, she peed and peed and peed. Then she pooped and that's when I threw a party. I rewarded her with huge pats and baby talk!!!! Eventually, with great persistence on my part, she would step out onto the patio herself and use the potty box.

 

When I brought Horton home from CCI, I took him out to the patio and walked him onto the potty box and said "hurry!" He hesitated at first, walked into a million circles and finally went. Now, he too, goes out to the potty box when he needs to. He also goes in a potty box at work.

 

I NEVER had any reluctance in my voice or any other expectation and the dog feels that from you.

 

Keep it up. I wish we lived closer and I'd have Horton go in Jules' potty box and show her how easy, peasy it is!

 

Remember: Our dogs get our uneasiness with "stuff" and they pick up on it. The nerves and stress and frustration runs right down the leash to the dog. Shake it off, take a deep breath and I promise after time she'll do it.

 

Make sure that the box is stable and not moving under her and use a filler that's easy to walk on like the artificial turf or real sod. Then you can experiment with other stuff once she's got the hang of the box!

[alexspepa]

S Then she pooped and that's when I threw a party. I

 

Roz you owe me a soda for the one i just spewed all over my keyboard when I laughed out loud.:D

[wizard-of-roz]

Roz you owe me a soda for the one i just spewed all over my keyboard when I laughed out loud.:D

 

You're on! That didn't take much training! :p

[fairbourne]

Roz, I don't think you know how funny your stories are! ;):D

 

Aruba isn't being trained to go in a potty box, but we do try and get her to go in the same places - she runs out into the courtyard on concrete for busy (wee wee) and then we take her up to an enclosed run on grass to go big busy (we say hurry up to our two dogs) but I think busy and big busy are just not different enough commands for a dog to grasp; so pee is busy, busy, busy and she now goes on command when I need her to, eg before we go out, bedtime. And big busy we just say big, big, big. But she's got her routine now, so we kind of know when she needs to go.

 

If she's reluctant to go big big big before we go out - and she has to go before we go out, no poos or pees on our walks for obvious reasons - I do the walk around her, with no eye contact - and the no eye contact is important - in circles and believe me it does work.

 

Sarah, maybe try this as Roz has also suggested. We sometimes had Aruba on the leash to take her up to her run, just so she doesn't go and poo elsewhere in the garden, but take the leash off when she's in there. Its much easier now we have the routine but sometimes I would be in that run for a while walking and walking round and round in circles - all the time Aruba's giving me funny looks (it's hard to not look at them and no eye contact is hard to master too!) And it would always be when we were in a rush to go out somewhere! Our trainer told me to take her off the leash (enclosed area like this) as the dog can feel a bit uneasy if we get too close when they're trying to do their business, and then they refuse. But I guess it's what the dog gets used to and there would be situations where you just would not let the dog off their leash.

 

As for tails being stood on - I have to watch hers like mad when in the supermarket if we've stopped and Aruba is sitting for just a couple of seconds or a couple of minutes, as people just do not look where they are going with their trollies.

 

I've been trying to upload photos via photobucket with no luck - this recent iPad upgrade has thrown lots of stuff out of sync and I wish I hadn't done it after I read about all the bad bugs with it.

 

This is Aruba with a new little human friend she met while at the garage waiting for my car to get fixed the other day! I think they would have quite happily stayed like that all afternoon - Aruba certainly had the best deal! :D

[fairbourne]

Thanks; I'm glad you guys enjoyed the puppy pictures! I pretty much have to look at them (or new ones the trainer takes) every day to get my puppy fix! ;)

 

The last time I went to a performance, a couple sat next to me (the people I was with were on the other side of me) and the woman petted my service dog and asked about her and all. She then managed to spill her beer all over herself, my pants, and my dog. She felt really bad, but I told her it was okay and wasn't the first time someone has spilled beer on my dog. Her man got extra napkins and we cleaned up. A short time later, they left their seats and they never came back! The people I was with and I thought maybe they were too embarrassed, but had no idea how they could go sit elsewhere. We joked that it would be really funny if they ended up being in the wrong seats, LOL! At intermission, an employee of the show group let me know the couple asked to be moved because the woman was allergic to dogs. Hmm, yeah, that's why she went and petted my dog without asking and chose to be next to me rather than have her man next to me, right?! :p Some people use the "allergy" excuse when they don't have allergies. Oh well, more room for my dog to lay out!

 

On my last cruise, I preferred taking the seat next to the window so my dog could lay between the table and window (all my group's tables were next to the windows and I think sat eight). The cruise before that, my two friends and I stayed at the one four-top booth our group had, so we had the extra space for my girl under the table. The other one, we had a variety of table shapes and sizes for our group and moved around each night between them, so it was just like sitting at a regular restaurant where she curls up under the table.

 

Quam - we did, we did - she's so gorgeous! :)

 

We haven't been to a restaurant yet with Aruba, and I was thinking a table against a wall or window so I can get her under the table and out of the way of passing traffic, but that may not always be possible of course.

 

We had a vet check this week with kennel cough vaccine - popped up her nose before you could say "Aroooooba" She didn't even notice! Weight now 26.7 kilos or 58.74 lbs! She's now slightly taller than Poppy. Max has lost 8 kgs, so he's lost a whole Puppy Aruba! She was 8 kgs when she arrived! He doesn't have to lose any more, so we will just have to keep him on track.

[wizard-of-roz]

Roz, I don't think you know how funny your stories are! ;):D

 

Hey! There's nothing funny about going potty!!! :(

 

I know exactly what you're talking about with watching their tails. I've had to move Horton more times than I can count to protect that ginormous tail of his!

 

I love that picture of the little girl and Aruba. So, so sweet!!! Horton got so much attention aboard the Crown Princess. He loved every minute of it! :)