Veterans Can Now Apply For Assistance With Service Dog Expenses

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/04/military_servicedog_benefits_042710w/

This is an important announcement in regards to Veterans of the Armed Forces that have service dogs, or may benefit from the use of a service dog.

There has been a push for the Department of Veterans Affairs to be more "service dog friendly," as having a service dog is a great substitute for medications in a lot of cases where depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an issue. However, its important to remember that a dog that is used to "make you feel better" is NOT considered a service dog; that is a therapy dog, and is not afforded the same public access rights as a service dog.  A service dog MUST be "individually trained to perform certain tasks for the benefit of the disabled person." So, just being there to make one feel good is not considered a task.  Just something to remember.

I think it is crucially important for the VA healthcare system to become more service dog friendly, and support Veterans that use service dogs. A lot of doctors continue to push medications for a lot of ailments, and sometimes, the use of a service dog can have a great impact on the amount of medication someone needs to take, but not always.

There are several articles online, such as the one above that discusses this fairly new benefit for Veterans. I think ALL Veterans that use service dogs, should apply for this benefit! This new benefit essentially provides some compensation for those Veterans that use service dogs, in helping with costs associated with keeping a service dog.

Please look into this, and if you are a Veteran with a service dog, please go to your nearest VA hospital and apply for this benefit.

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Bertie Dog Training Outdoor summer course dates now available

Outdoor training at both Stonton Wyviille and Brockshill Country Park, Oadby have now been finalised so please contact us to book a place. Our summer courses have proved very popular and to enable people to go on holiday we are again offering two short 5 week courses as well as the fast track training. Discounts will also be on offer for those joining the intermediate classes.

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Again Wolfie isnt Listening What Now

It is so strange, sometimes Wolfie seems to be listening and sometimes it is like we just arent there!  I wish that it wasnt quite so difficult to get him to be a good dog that listens and obeys.  What could we be doing wrong? 

As dog trainers, we hear this a lot.  Many times it isnt the problem that Wolfie isnt listening, he could be intently listening, but not understanding.  From a canine behavioral standpoint, there could be many reasons for this and I would like to discuss of those in this blog article.

Dogs learn and respond through simple consistency.  This is established by setting up an environment of simple, repetitive rules and actions.  If we expect Wolfie to be off the furniture, we must never allow him on the furniture for any reason.  To take it one step further, nobody can allow him to be on the furniture.

This process extends far beyond being on my favorite sofa, it is a process that we must universally apply when telling Wolfie what he can and can not do.  If I have a rule that Wolfie cant jump, every other member of the family must also apply that rule equally.  Wolfie cant jump, period.  I dont care which family member he is with, he cant jump.

One family member cant have a different set of rules for Wolfie.  Again, everyone must be on the same page.  The best way to accomplish this is to sit down, agree what everyone wants Wolfie to do and then write it down so everyone is clear.

So why wasnt Wolfie listening?  It was because you were all telling him different things.  He couldnt process that because you appeared inconsistent.  Have everyone keep the same rules and you will see that Wolfie will begin to listen and obey because he finally understands exactly what you want.  For more information, please contact us at The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

       

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Keeping Wolfie Safe on the 4th of July

I know that the 4th of July is coming up and many dogs just go crazy on that day.  What can I do to make sure that Wolfie has a great time and feels happy and safe with us?

The most important thing is to maintain a safe and consistent environment for Wolfie.  There normally arent loud bangs and vivid flashes in Wolfies environment every day.  Every day is not a pool party or picnic.  These are things that Wolfie might not understand.  In any case, we would like to give you some suggestions regarding what to do on this fun day:

• If you go to a holiday event, never leave Wolfie in the car. A partially opened window does not supply sufficient fresh air, and it creates an opportunity for your dog to be stolen.
• Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your Wolfies collar in case he gets out. Talk to your veterinarian about implanting a universal microchip in him, and make sure that your veterinary clinic and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their database.
• Dont leave Wolfie outside. If you cannot bring him inside, cover his dog house with a blanket to protect him from the bursts of bright lights and loud bangs. A dogs sense of hearing is acute-over 10 times more sensitive than humans.
• Create a special den-like area in your home where Wolfie feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for him.
• Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you dont use a crate, remove any items in the room which Wolfie could destroy or which could hurt him if he chewed them.
• Keep Wolfie away from the front and back doors. He may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause him to dart out the door and become lost.
• Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.
• Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract Wolfie from loud noises and help him to relax.
• If possible, stay with him during the majority of the fireworks. He often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.
• Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.

All we want to do is to make sure that Wolfie understands that it is OK and you are keeping him safe and happy.  Contact The Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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Lack of Oversight in the Service Dog Realm

http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/229626/2/10News-Investigates-Service-dog-industry-lacks-oversight

Above is a great article/video about the service dog industry and the fact that it lacks oversight.  I completely AGREE! Too often people DO just slap a vest on an untrained, out of control, stressed out dog and call it a "service dog" in order to take it places with them where it certainly should NOT go.
I also agree that there SHOULD be some kind of regulatory testing that takes place, even when someone chooses to train their own service dog.  I still think that people should be allowed to train their own service dog to meet their own needs, however; even self-trained service dogs need some kind of oversight.  This would, at the very least STOP those despicable people who think its ok to just toss a vest on their dog and call it a service dog.

Im assuming here that people DO understand why this is a problem, but it may be necessary to give a brief description of why this is so.  Fake service dogs are a problem because, first, a person must FAKE being disabled in order to have a fake service dog.  I dont really have to tell you have despicable that is, do I? Most people, with even a tiny bit of education, know how difficult it is to actually be disabled, and how difficult it is to get disability benefits, and how hard one has to fight for them, right? Thats because there are people out there who want to FAKE being disabled, in order to receive benefits that they DO NOT have a right to. One of those benefits is to have a service dog.  So you fakers out there are just making things more difficult for the truly disabled, but you dont care about that do you?  Thats why its important to have oversight, even in the service dog realm.

Secondly, a FAKE service dog is NOT properly trained, neither is the handler. Therefore, and Ive had it happen to me and my real service dog, handlers of FAKE service dogs think its ok for them to let their little faker right in your real service dogs face, while your dog is performing duties...working! The fake handlers say stupid things upon doing that, like, "Lets let them say hi...." or "Look they can work together!" FAKE handlers with FAKE service dogs have no understanding about how these type of distractions can really cause serious problems for a real service dog and REAL handler. Also, FAKE handlers with FAKE service dogs have a tendency to choose breeds of dogs that have a tendency toward aggression, and without training or proper control can easily ruin a REAL service dog and cause early retirement to a REAL service dog, as they tend to attack any and everything, bark like mad demons at people and REAL service dogs, and just wreak havoc. Those are the people that are FAKING being disabled and having a FAKE service dog for the  purpose of making some sort of "statement" to the general public about a certain breed of dog. Yes, pit bull lovers/disability fakers, that one is for you!

Third, whether people like to believe it or not, those who are really disabled and have REAL service dogs are often looked down upon when entering certain establishments with their REAL service dogs, and thats because of the FAKERS.  Its because the owners or managers of those establishments have "had it" with having to let the FAKE service dogs and FAKE disabled handlers into their establishments without being able to do anything about it, because of the way the Federal law is written in this department and because there is NO OVERSIGHT in the service dog department. Therefore, when a truly disabled person comes walking in with their REAL service dog, the manager sees them and what goes through his/her head? "Here we go again......another untrained FAKE service dog!"

So in case readers of this post were not aware of the problems caused by FAKERS, this will give you a start in understanding. Also, its not just the FAKERS we need to be concerned about.....

The problem with lack of oversight in the service dog arena is also an issue for those who sometimes, not always, choose to train their own service dogs and dont do it right.  There are people who may truly be disabled and are honestly attempting to train their service dog themselves, that really dont understand the laws about service dogs, or the basic training rules, the dogs stress signals,
 etc.  There are also organizations out there, Im sure, that claim to know and dont, and that dont do a very good job training.  So that can also be a problem as well.

Essentially, the service dog arena desperately NEEDS oversight.  We need some sort of Federal or even local institution that can truly verify that a handler is indeed disabled by law and that their service dog is appropriately trained to perform tasks necessary to assist the handler, and that the dog can always pass the public access test. 

The reasons Ive mentioned above are only a few reasons, Im certain, of the need for this type of oversight.  Its not that the Federal government doesnt know about the FAKERS....they know.  They also have looked into a way to put a stop to it, without infringing on the rights of the truly disabled.....this is an extremely difficult dilemma.  If they could find a way to create strict oversight for the service dog realm, without infringing on the rights of the truly disabled, Im sure it wouldve been done by now.  We need to help them find a way.  Those of us who are truly disabled, need to be flexible about what were willing to tolerate in terms of rules and regulations, so that the FAKERS can be ruled OUT!

I also want to post these new articles about MORE Service Dogs being attacked by loose dangerous dogs, Pit Bulls. These attacks are only becoming more and more frequent and are extremely traumatic for the handlers and their service/guide dogs alike.  THESE ATTACKS MUST STOP!

PEOPLE PLEASE! KEEP YOUR DOGS ON A LEASH, ESPECIALLY YOUR PIT BULLS, AND KEEP THEM OUT OF THE WAY OF SERVICE AND GUIDE DOGS! 

IF YOU CANNOT CONTROL YOUR DANGEROUS DOG, DONT HAVE ONE!!!!! 

http://www.theprovince.com/life/bull+owner+sought+after+attack+woman+guide+park/7018536/story.html

http://www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_3ea5edc1-5b97-5cdf-825b-b2f9c1847d76.html

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Bertie Outdoor Training at Brockshill Country Park and Stonton Wyville

Outdoor training will commence at Brockshill next Wednesday at 7:00pm for the Beginner Class and 8:15 for the Inters. There are still places available if you wish to book. If you have concerns about the weather we will endeavour to be there every week and if the weather is only slightly inclement we will continue. Please bring waterproofs in case. There is some shelter available. The cost of the course has been reduced as has the cost of the inters.

Outdoor training will also commence at Stonton Wyville on 24th May so please hurry up and book as places are restricted.

Nij Vyas
http://www.bertiedogs.com/

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