Life with a Service Dog

Here in The Medical Dorm, Nemo has been working with her service dog Secret Agent Puppy for a little over a month.  We decided that this topic needs to be addressed, because someone recently told the two of us that once you get a service dog, you have to educate everyone around you.  The sad thing is that many people do not understand manners when it comes to service dogs, and their handlers.  These manners including not understanding why they cannot pet the dog, or trying to restrict access.  While having a service dog is AMAZING, there are somethings that you get use to / will never be able to get use to.

1. “Can I pet your dog?”: This is the question heard about a million and one times a day.  Apparently, when anyone sees a dog there first thought is that they must pet it, or they will drop dead.  This is only heightened when the dog is wearing a vest / harness.  I guess that they also do not understand that this is MY dog, and that MY dog is working at the moment.  While at times you may allow someone to pet the dog (there are always exceptions) it does not give everyone else a right to pet the dog.  First of all, I probably have a place to go.  Second, my dog is working, and distracting my dog could lead to major problems.  When a service dog is on duty it has to have its full attention on its handler.  NEVER go up to a service dog and out right pet it.  However, know that if you ask to pet my dog I will probably say the same thing I said to the first million, which is NO.
2. “Look at the blind girl”:  This isn’t so much said to my face, but is said in groups.  They look and say things along the lines of, “It’s a guide dog,” or “hey look--she’s blind!”  While there are many guide dogs that do amazing things, my dog is not trained to do that.  Also, blind does not mean deaf, they can hear you.  My dog is trained to be a mobility dog.  It says so on his vest, and harness.  If you have a question, you can POLITELY ask.  I am proud of my dog, and love to talk about all the good that he can do.
3. “You don’t look like you need a service dog”:  When you have an invisible illness, there are always going to be people doubting you.  They do not understand that someone can look “normal,” or “healthy” and still require a service dog.  Just know that if I qualified for a service dog, I qualified for a service dog.  I am “sick” enough to have this dog, and this dog is a lifesaver.   
4. You automatically are the most interesting person in every room:  People see a dog and their heads automatically pop up.  When people see a service dog they go crazy.  They think that they have the right to stare (some more than others).  While I know my dog is absolutely adorable, he is working.  This is my day to day life, and honestly it is not like he is going to magically do a trick.  He is going to go about his day, and help me out.  Double takes are okay, I almost expect that.  However, staring at me is not only creepy, but is going a little bit too far.  
5. People making noises:  Please do not make noises (this includes, but is not limited to clapping, kissing noises, saying puppy, etc.).  My dog needs to have his full attention on me, and you making noises / calling for my dog is not okay.  It happens a lot, but is something that needs to stop.  Everyone with a service dog knows that the dog needs to have their full attention on them.  Making noises is almost the same as walking up and petting my dog.  
6. Lectures:  Some people just love to talk.  They also like to lecture me on my service dog.  Some have lectured me on how making my dog work, and how that equals abuse.  Honestly, please just leave me alone, I promise that service dogs are very well loved and cared for. They are also allowed to be “regular” dogs when off duty.  You also do not have the right to lecture me on if I am aloud to have a service dog, or not.  My diagnosis is none of your business, and I do not owe you anything.  
7. “This is not a pet friendly place, you need to leave”: People do not understand what it means to have a service dog.  They do understand that this dog is helping me with a variety of tasks.  I have been turned away from a restaurant, because they said that they did not allow dogs inside.  However, a fun little thing called the ADA says otherwise.  My service dog is allowed in, because he is trained to help me with specific tasks.  He is allowed anywhere that the general public is able to go, even if other dogs are not allowed there typically.  
8. “Where did you buy your vest, I want to take my dog with me everywhere?”: My vest came with my disability. A person must be considered legally disabled in order to qualify for a service dog. These animals undergo years of training to be allowed to go in public. The reason the dog is there is to assist their handler through specific tasks that mitigate a disability.
9. “Look at that cute face, your dog wants to say hi to me.”: Not to be rude, but I already know my dog is cute. If he is looking in your direction it is probably just because he is looking around, not because he has specifically gone to seek you out for attention. A service dog is taught to ignore everybody except their handler, this is for safety, not to be mean. Yes, the dog is cute and he is extra cute because he has a doggy job but it is important to realize how important each and every service animal is to their handler.
10. Service dog handlers are not mean / abusing their dog: These animals are the most loved dogs you will ever meet.  If the person is training the animal, or if the person is the one the service dog belongs to.  These dogs are with their person 24/7, and this person depends on this dog.  This dog becomes their life, and they are VERY well taken care of.  Trainers spends years training these dogs, and love them with all their heart.  They become a family member, and almost like their own child.  They then give these dogs to their new owner, the person whose life is going to change for the better because of this.  The dog is now that person’s everything, and their service dog is their lifeline.  

Through this we hope that we hope that you can get a glimpse of what life is like with a service dog (or if you have a service dog we hope you found something that you can relate to).  Secret Agent Puppy is more than a service dog, he is a true member of the family, and that goes for all service dogs.  Secret Agent Puppy is a true member of The Medical Dorm, and always will be.  

WE BELIEVE IN YOU!

-Nemo, Tremors and Secret Agent Puppy