Protect Those Paws

Extreme weather conditions mean that you need to protect the pads on your service dog's paws. You can teach your pup to wear booties or you can use Musher's Secret. One of our DAD families used Musher's Secret this summer in 100 degree weather - walking on both pavement and sand - and it worked beautifully. Whether it's blazing hot or freezing cold, you have two terrific alternatives to protect those pads.

Traveling with a young service dog

These questions were posed by one of our DAD families. Their puppy is 12 weeks old and will soon be traveling with the family.

When we make a hotel reservation, do we mention we are traveling with a service dog?

Yes. Always give the hotel a heads up that you will be checking in with your service dog. The same rule applies if you are flying with your service dog. Call the airline when making your reservation and ask their guidance about the best seat, based on the kind of aircraft, for you and your dog.

What if we stay in a downtown hotel and there are no grassy areas for potty breaks?

Ask hotel staff for suggestions about where to take her. Service dogs need to be comfortable going potty on any surface, since there may not always be grass available. To practice, take your puppy out on your street or sidewalk for her first potty of the morning (do this a few times before your trip to make sure she okay with it). Praise and reward for going potty on pavement. And, of course, always bag and properly dispose of puppy poo.

What if we're on the 33rd floor and it's 2:00 in the morning and the puppy needs to potty? 

When you make your reservation, tell them you are traveling with a service dog and ask for a room on a low floor near an exit. A dog past 4 months old, if pottied before bedtime, will not need a potty break in the middle of the night unless there is a tummy ache involved.

How many hours can we drive before we need to stop for our puppy to get out and stretch and stuff? 

Depends on the age of the dog. Under six months, maybe every four hours or when the dog indicates she needs a break. Over six months, whenever the humans need a break or the dog indicates the need for one.

Where do you recommend we stop for these breaks, i.e., gas station or rest area or something else? 

After a dog has all of her shots, rest areas are fine. They are usually kept pretty clean. Be careful of areas around fast food restaurants, gas stations, and such. There can be a lot of litter, even broken glass - things you don't want your dog to be around. Parks with hiking trails are a wonderful place to take a break, too.

When you start traveling with your service dog, remind yourself that she IS a service dog and can go anywhere you go. Sounds silly ... but we all have those "family dog" rules so ingrained in us (mostly where they cannot go) and it takes some adjustment in thinking to plan our lives around our service dogs' rights to full public access.

http://diabetesalertdogs.com/

http://www.deethedogtrainer.com/