Henry Rifle Forums

Saw it today when the Pup and I went downtown.

And then there was this guy.

This sign is something I haven't seen before but Miss T had a great service dog in Skinny. A 110 pound shepherd who was extremely well trained, well mannered and one of the best dogs we ever owned. If we went to a restaurant to eat, she went under the table and lay quietly until we were ready to leave. When she came out, the guests who came in after we were seated wondered "Where the Heck that dog came from?" When she went thru the V.A. she obeyed all commands and was quiet and respectful of all guests and patients. Skinny followed Tina's commands in English, German, and universal hand commands. Skinny Passed years ago due to spinal stenosis.

A Military K9 trainer who saw her at the VA commented on how well she was trained and acted in public. A flight attendant told Miss T that Skinny was better behaved than all the children and most adults that she had flown with in her twenty year career. It always upset Tina to see supposed "Service Dogs" in restaurants bouncing around, eating scraps off the tables, looking for attention or bothering other diners. Out in public she hated to see "Service Dogs" who were growling or showing their teeth to the public, interacting with other dogs, or otherwise violating basic standards. Those who slap a vest on a pet to get them on public transportation, into NON-pet rooms in hotels, or into areas they are otherwise not welcome in, made it much harder for Tina to take her Service Dog when she went out.

Once I retired and her last dog passed ... I became her dog. Woof. It wasn't worth the hassle. Sad, but true, the Fake Dog people have made it bad for those who really need the real dogs.

It never ceases to amaze me all the people that insist on carrying Fifi with them into the grocery store, department store, whatever. There used to be strict rules on dogs (service dogs excepted) in grocery stores, and restaurants, and for good reason.

I have the utmost respect for service dogs, they perform an amazing service to their owners.

There was a dark period for Tina after her accident back in the mid 90s when her vision would go, she would lose her balance, and sometimes she would become unaware of where she was. The dog marked curbs for her, provided balance and stability, and protected her from strangers if she lost awareness or consciousness. Funny, but uniformed personnel weren't a problem for the dog. (Police, Firemen, EMS) Perhaps because both Tina and I were EMTs and I was in uniform every day when I left for work. She associated the uniform and duty belts with GOOD. The only time she would EVER show her teeth is if a stranger approached her girl and she was down. She didn't growl, she didn't get aggressive, she just "smiled." It was enough.