I have a legal ADA protected Service Dog with full on tactical gear to designate her as such so she can go literally anywhere I go to be my medical aid. Event so, I don't choose to take her everywhere, like my granddaughter's 6th birthday party at a pizza parlor/arcade this past weekend. Despite all her training and non-reactionary skills I felt it wasn't the place for her and too much stimulation and too much sensory overload and too many littles running amok and why test her that way?
I get a lot of anxiety about taking her places, even with her training and gear and two doctor letters and a badge and certificate and gear and patches and her all, I still feel really nervous taking her in places and worry about some not so well trained dog testing her. And if she felt I was being threatened I do not doubt she would defend me and I would not want to be in the middle of a dog altercation or have to deal with the owner of the unruly dog. I don't like it when people without service dogs feel entitled to take them everywhere. Like the local home DIY big box stores. Dogs of any sort are welcome there and it really stresses me out when I am with my SD. She ignores them all and does her job, but I feel stressed. And as much as we have a bond and have worked together, I always keep a close eye on her around the 6 yr old and the 9 month old granddaughters. She likes to give them kisses and lay in bed with them and she will growl protectively if you come at either of them suddenly in her presence.
It was hard to read this, but having been a Vet Tech for many years, and having been bit more than once, and having had to get rabies shots, I get why you felt you had to do what you had to do. But as an animal lover it was hard to read. I belong to a lot of online dog groups and the majority of people have nothing good to say about going into dog parks. So then they end up in regular parks. If they aren't going to be keeping the dog on a short leash and minding its behavior they have no business doing this. But I know not everyone here in the midwest sees it the way I do. But it is nothing like what you describe on the West coast, thank goodness.
Glad the littlest Robinson was safe and well at the fashion show!
Oh, wow, was that daughter #2?? She's GORGEOUS! <3
And I'm glad you didn't end up ruining the fashion show or the dog. MOST of the time, the fault lies with the owner. SOME of the time, the dog is just messed up in the head. Still, you can't take chances with the littles around and large dogs. Srsly.
Our 90 lb LabraDOG (Lab/hound mix) was an energetic, enthusiastic bundle of energy when meeting people and would cheerfully run over small people. He was not *allowed* to run over small (or any other size) people. Good leashes make good dogs. Good training AND leashes in public make better dogs. Our Buddy LOVED his daddy, but he would turn into a neurotic mess if daddy wasn't around. Thus, a really good leash & a dog-mom used to handling 1200 lb horses. :D Oh, yeah, and NOT TAKING THE DOG TO A FASHION SHOW.
I have a legal ADA protected Service Dog with full on tactical gear to designate her as such so she can go literally anywhere I go to be my medical aid. Event so, I don't choose to take her everywhere, like my granddaughter's 6th birthday party at a pizza parlor/arcade this past weekend. Despite all her training and non-reactionary skills I felt it wasn't the place for her and too much stimulation and too much sensory overload and too many littles running amok and why test her that way?
I get a lot of anxiety about taking her places, even with her training and gear and two doctor letters and a badge and certificate and gear and patches and her all, I still feel really nervous taking her in places and worry about some not so well trained dog testing her. And if she felt I was being threatened I do not doubt she would defend me and I would not want to be in the middle of a dog altercation or have to deal with the owner of the unruly dog. I don't like it when people without service dogs feel entitled to take them everywhere. Like the local home DIY big box stores. Dogs of any sort are welcome there and it really stresses me out when I am with my SD. She ignores them all and does her job, but I feel stressed. And as much as we have a bond and have worked together, I always keep a close eye on her around the 6 yr old and the 9 month old granddaughters. She likes to give them kisses and lay in bed with them and she will growl protectively if you come at either of them suddenly in her presence.
It was hard to read this, but having been a Vet Tech for many years, and having been bit more than once, and having had to get rabies shots, I get why you felt you had to do what you had to do. But as an animal lover it was hard to read. I belong to a lot of online dog groups and the majority of people have nothing good to say about going into dog parks. So then they end up in regular parks. If they aren't going to be keeping the dog on a short leash and minding its behavior they have no business doing this. But I know not everyone here in the midwest sees it the way I do. But it is nothing like what you describe on the West coast, thank goodness.
Glad the littlest Robinson was safe and well at the fashion show!
Oh, wow, was that daughter #2?? She's GORGEOUS! <3
And I'm glad you didn't end up ruining the fashion show or the dog. MOST of the time, the fault lies with the owner. SOME of the time, the dog is just messed up in the head. Still, you can't take chances with the littles around and large dogs. Srsly.
Our 90 lb LabraDOG (Lab/hound mix) was an energetic, enthusiastic bundle of energy when meeting people and would cheerfully run over small people. He was not *allowed* to run over small (or any other size) people. Good leashes make good dogs. Good training AND leashes in public make better dogs. Our Buddy LOVED his daddy, but he would turn into a neurotic mess if daddy wasn't around. Thus, a really good leash & a dog-mom used to handling 1200 lb horses. :D Oh, yeah, and NOT TAKING THE DOG TO A FASHION SHOW.
O.o
What in the WORLD goes through people's heads???