Re: A "FAKE" SERVICE DOG?

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@just bee wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@just bee "Now we live in fear that some dog is going to attack him when we're out."
If your dog is leashed, should be no problem protecting your dog. Just walk out of the way of the other dog.
You should carry "pepper spray" if you are concerned about another dog attacking your dog.

Leashing law in my State. I never leave my house w/o my pepper spray.
I have a Chi mix. Chi's are very protective of their owners. When we go on walks (always leashed), most times we come into contact w/large dogs on long leashes. Most want to play. My dog does not. If she starts growling, I short leash her & move far away from the "playful" dog.
If the other dog starts barking, I walk as far away as I can w/pepper spray in hand.
@Mz iMac

In the past few weeks, our dog has been attacked by an English Bulldog and Boston Terrier who were running loose, a Doberman whose owner dropped its leash and an unleashed pit bull.

The owners did nothing to get their dogs under control.

@just bee Strongly suggest that you carry pepper spray. Works like a charm. Spray directly in their eyes and/or face area.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

@Tinkrbl44

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I always thought Service Dogs were highly trained, very special animals. People should leave them alone to care for the disabled person they accompany in public.

Last week while shopping at Target, I passed a woman who came around the corner with a shopping cart and a German Shepherd dog (on a leash) wearing a beige covering on his back that said Service Dog. (I can't be sure, but that covering just didn't look like other coverings I've seen.)

As the dog passed me, he pressed his cold nose at the side of my leg ... I kept moving because you're not supposed to distract these dogs, but was surprised this could even happen. About 30 seconds later, the dog barked at ... I have no idea what.

How odd! Could this have been a service dog in training? Or was this a "fake" service dog?

What are your thoughts on this?

This was discussed alot in past posts a few years ago.

I encountered the same thing yesterday in a supermarket.

Hers had service dog on it also and I stopped to pet the dog and she said it was an emotional dog for her.

Now, that said, it should have said Therapy and you know she got it online for about 5bucks.

Many years ago when my dog was about 3 and I had rescued her, I was volunteering at Kaiser Hospital and they had THERAPY dogs that actually had to go into an extensive training program that by the end cost 200 bucks and it came with the coat, badge, leash and a badge for the owner that said THERAPY Dog with the dog's name on it.

The dog was trained to visit patients that wanted to pet a dog and allowed the dog in their room. It was very legit.

Because my dog was so good, I went into the program. She had two weekends of training with a fake patient on a bed, one in a wheelchair. They put fake pills on the floor and a wheelchair with a patient an a IV pole. The dog had to pass test to see how it acted, it was quite a few hours for the two weekends. Then if the dog passed that, she had one month training at the hospital. There were many rules that are too long to go into. My dog passed and she got her own Kaiser ID badge.

The Dr. and Nurses loved to see and pet the dogs also. Certain areas of the hospital you could not bring the dog and only one dog schedule for the certain day or couple of hours.

My dog is now retired from it.

Today, people get the coats online for about 5 bucks and no training, but the coat should say THERAPY Dog, NOT SERVICE DOG. There is a difference as you are well aware.

It has made it bad for real THERAPY DOGS, but that is the difference of fake and real.

Also she had her dog in the shopping cart. I didn't say anything to her, none of my business, but the rule in training is a dog is not allowed in a shopping cart. I don't remember if it is a law or not, but we were told no shopping carts.

Of course, my purpose was to take her to the hospital on her volunteer day, and then home.

Duckncover · ‎07-16-2021

Service dogs that are legitimate should have on a vest that has a patch on it that says they are a trained or certified service animal. I have seen several dogs with other types of vests that just say "service animal" in big letters...those are not official. If that dog barked, it should have been at a perceived danger to its owner. Most are taught to move their owner away from a perceived risk. Sounds like the dog you saw at Target was not official. It would make me nervous to see a German Shepherd inside a store. A colleague of mine began training service dogs when she retired. I was amazed how rigorous it is for both her and the dogs. She has usually had goldens, labs, and collies. The whole emotional support animal thing seems rather silly to me...although I know they can give emotional support.

qvcaddition · ‎03-10-2010

Read my post of a ligit THERaPY DOG. She is retired now, but her vest was green and says THERAPY dog.

My post is long and explains what I had to do for her to become a legit Therapy Dog at Kaiser Hospital.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@qvcaddition wrote:
@Tinkrbl44
@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I always thought Service Dogs were highly trained, very special animals. People should leave them alone to care for the disabled person they accompany in public.

Last week while shopping at Target, I passed a woman who came around the corner with a shopping cart and a German Shepherd dog (on a leash) wearing a beige covering on his back that said Service Dog. (I can't be sure, but that covering just didn't look like other coverings I've seen.)

As the dog passed me, he pressed his cold nose at the side of my leg ... I kept moving because you're not supposed to distract these dogs, but was surprised this could even happen. About 30 seconds later, the dog barked at ... I have no idea what.

How odd! Could this have been a service dog in training? Or was this a "fake" service dog?

What are your thoughts on this?
This was discussed alot in past posts a few years ago.
I encountered the same thing yesterday in a supermarket.
Hers had service dog on it also and I stopped to pet the dog and she said it was an emotional dog for her.
Now, that said, it should have said Therapy and you know she got it online for about 5bucks.
Many years ago when my dog was about 3 and I had rescued her, I was volunteering at Kaiser Hospital and they had THERAPY dogs that actually had to go into an extensive training program that by the end cost 200 bucks and it came with the coat, badge, leash and a badge for the owner that said THERAPY Dog with the dog's name on it.
The dog was trained to visit patients that wanted to pet a dog and allowed the dog in their room. It was very legit.
Because my dog was so good, I went into the program. She had two weekends of training with a fake patient on a bed, one in a wheelchair. They put fake pills on the floor and a wheelchair with a patient an a IV pole. The dog had to pass test to see how it acted, it was quite a few hours for the two weekends. Then if the dog passed that, she had one month training at the hospital. There were many rules that are too long to go into. My dog passed and she got her own Kaiser ID badge.
The Dr. and Nurses loved to see and pet the dogs also. Certain areas of the hospital you could not bring the dog and only one dog schedule for the certain day or couple of hours.
My dog is now retired from it.
Today, people get the coats online for about 5 bucks and no training, but the coat should say THERAPY Dog, NOT SERVICE DOG. There is a difference as you are well aware.
It has made it bad for real THERAPY DOGS, but that is the difference of fake and real.
Also she had her dog in the shopping cart. I didn't say anything to her, none of my busine@@ss, but the rule in training is a dog is not allowed in a shopping cart. I don't remember if it is a law or not, but we were told no shopping carts.
Of course, my purpose was to take her to the hospital on her volunteer day, and then home.

@qvcaddition You and your doggie are awesome. Legitimately AWESOME!

Duckncover · ‎07-16-2021

The dogs should have the credentials displayed on their vest. I am sure the owner would probably have something as well required to show it. There are lots of types of service animals, and I think each may have slightly different designations. My friend trains only seizure dogs. Seeing eye dogs go through completely different training. Some service dogs have specified training depending upon the need.

occasionalrain · ‎03-10-2010

All grocery stores have mice, some have rats. I have no issue with dogs in stores. Children are more likely to spread illness since they haven't all learned to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Mz iMac wrote:
@just bee wrote:
@Mz iMac wrote:
@just bee "Now we live in fear that some dog is going to attack him when we're out."
If your dog is leashed, should be no problem protecting your dog. Just walk out of the way of the other dog.
You should carry "pepper spray" if you are concerned about another dog attacking your dog.

Leashing law in my State. I never leave my house w/o my pepper spray.
I have a Chi mix. Chi's are very protective of their owners. When we go on walks (always leashed), most times we come into contact w/large dogs on long leashes. Most want to play. My dog does not. If she starts growling, I short leash her & move far away from the "playful" dog.
If the other dog starts barking, I walk as far away as I can w/pepper spray in hand.
@Mz iMac

In the past few weeks, our dog has been attacked by an English Bulldog and Boston Terrier who were running loose, a Doberman whose owner dropped its leash and an unleashed pit bull.

The owners did nothing to get their dogs under control.
@just bee Strongly suggest that you carry pepper spray. Works like a charm. Spray directly in their eyes and/or face area.