Our Vacation without Dogs

I rarely go on vacation. We tend, instead, to take short weekend trips or visit friends and family, where we can bring along the dogs. But that isn't always possible.  A few weeks ago we took a long-anticipated vacation to Walt Disney World.

What? A vacation photo without dogs in it?!

And because someone (who will remain nameless!) is afraid to fly, we took a 24 hour train ride.

Here's the train pulling into the station in Florida.

And dogs aren't allowed on Amtrak at this point. So we had to make arrangements for Kelly and Ike. Here's what it took:

1. Our son moved back home for the week to be here for the dogs after work and overnight.
2. We hired a pet sitting service to walk the dogs once a day, while our son was at work.
3. Gramma came over once a day for another opportunity to let the dogs out and give them some attention.

We also had our new pet cam, which we've been testing for Samsung, and could check in on the dogs via our smartphones.

Hi Ike!

It wasn't easy for me to feel comfortable leaving the dogs in other people's care. I work from home so they are used to me being around all day. We have a routine. Would someone else let them outside as often as I do? Would they understand the dogs' subtle signals? Would the dogs get sick while I was away? But I know they love my son and that he'd give them lots of attention. And I felt good that they'd be getting a nice mid-day walk. And Gramma would give lots of TLC (and a few doggie treats.) So we went off on our big trip, sans dogs.

The first day we checked in on our webcam quite a bit. Mainly because we were sitting on a train with nothing better to do. The dogs were lying around like usual, so all was good. The rest of the trip we checked in just once or twice a day. lol.  Our pet sitters were supposed to text us a message and a picture every day, but they only texted a picture the first day and a message twice the whole week. I was disappointed in that. But I trusted that the dogs were getting a nice walk and that was what was most important. Phone calls to our son told us that the dogs were eating well, and seemed happy and healthy. Kelly mostly curled up in her favorite spots, and Ike cuddled with our son and pretty much didn't leave his side.

We were able to enjoy our vacation without worrying about the dogs, and when we returned they were excited to see us, and seemed to have done just fine. phew!

On a side note, I noticed several service dogs both on the train, and in Walt Disney World. I've read that there is some abuse of the "service dog" designation but I am not qualified to judge if these were real service dogs or someone bringing along their pet. I always thought it would be great to travel with my dogs on the train. We had a little sleeping compartment and, although it was tight, we could have added a dog or two! Of course, it's a long trip and getting dogs out for a break when needed wouldn't have been easy--except for the times when the train made a long station stop. Then it would have been possible to run them out for a quick walk. That is something that would have to be researched in advance, to know how long apart the stops were and how much time there would be to take a walk. I'd also want to be sure it was a situation that would be pleasant for the dogs, rather than stressful.

This is what our little train bedroom looked like. Can you imagine Kelly and Ike in here with us?

Some dogs might enjoy being in Walt Disney World, while others would find it overwhelming. Even in November when crowds were low, there were still lots of people. The weather was pretty good for dogs (and people), but in the summer I would think the dogs would need booties to protect their paws from the hot pavement. According to the website, "trained service animals are welcome in most areas of Walt Disney World." Some of the attractions that service dogs are restricted from are:
Splash Mountain
Space Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Test Track
Soarin'
Rock 'n Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror

I'm trying to imagine a dog on a ride, such as It's a Small World. I guess it could work.

Sing it with me! It's a small, small world....

I've never actually seen a dog on any of the rides, although there are many attractions/shows/movies that would be fine--such as the Hall of Presidents. But I did see some dogs accompanying their handlers on the paths in the parks.

This service dog accompanied his family in the Magic Kingdom.

The Walt Disney World website also says that "service dogs are welcome to use any open outdoor area for relief.  There are also designated service dog relief areas in each park and in hotels.

So what do you think? What vacation arrangements work best for your dogs? Should dogs be allowed on trains? In Walt Disney World? Are people abusing the designation of "service" and "assistance" dog to bring their pets in public places? What places do you think dogs do not belong? 

* Want more positive pet tips, good news, and special offers? Fetch my free newsletter, Pawsitively Pets. Kelly and Ike hope to see you there!

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Brooks Books- Dogs of Courage

Brooks here. Would you like to read a book about hero dogs? Then I've got the book for you: Dogs of Courage, the Heroism and Heart of Working Dogs Around the World by Lisa Rogak. Of course, I think all dogs are heroes. 
Here's Mom with the review:












 Me:  Dogs of Courage by Lisa Rogak (St. Martin's Press Griffin 2012) describes the many different jobs performed by service and working dogs.  From police dogs to search and rescue dogs to guide dogs to therapy dogs, these are the stories of dogs who spend their lives helping and serving people.

The book explains the duties, care, and training of dozens of varieties of working dogs. It also includes touching stories of dogs including:

* Apollo, an apricot Standard Poodle, helped bring a 10-year-old girl out of a coma.

* Bilbo, a Newfoundland, a canine lifeguard and "Pet Hero of the Year."

* Sheba, a Rottweiler, rescued nine puppies that had been buried alive.

Rogak acknowledges that some people feel dogs shouldn't work, and that they deserve to be fed, cuddled and spoiled only. However, she explains, many dogs are happiest when they have a purpose, and are allowed to do what they were born to do. "Dogs should have a chance to prove they are a hero."

Basic introductory information here, but the topic is interesting and so are the different dogs and the many ways they help humans. These dogs truly are heroes.

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Dogs Open Their Paws to Returning Soldiers

For the men and women coming home from defending their country, the hardships of adapting back to their everyday lives can be more difficult then some may think. While having to suffer through endless tours of duty, soldiers long for a final trip back to what they once remembered as their home. But for many veterans, home can feel like a foggy memory of how life used to be. Feeling like a stranger in the place you once felt most comfortable can be an unbearable burden for someone who has already gone through such turmoil and despair. Studies show that “an estimated one in five veterans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001 has or will develop post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression.” Without any true way of relating to these heroes, the average person will find it nearly impossible to come up with a solution to the horror which they now live. Symptoms like flashbacks, upsetting dreams, increased anger or irritability, and anxiety are things that veterans need help to control. And in some cases, the best way of servicing these issues will not come from doctors or medication, but from the most unexpected place: man’s best friend.

Service dogs are used traditionally for blind, deaf or physically disabled patients, but an article in NavyTimes.com explain that recently they have been trained to perform tasks that can improve PTSD symptoms, such as create a buffer in public places or wake a veteran from a nightmare. These dogs are individually trained to perform tasks for a specific person, surveying darkened rooms, turning on lights, re-orienting their owner during nightmares or flashbacks, detecting anxiety, navigating through crowds, enforcing boundaries for personal space. Golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are ideal service dog companions for veterans because of their temperament and sociability.

Service dogs evoke a confidence in veterans that they may have lost as a result of their time spent overseas. In addition to the postwar related help they give veterans, dogs also allow for normalcy to be restored to the lives of these men and women. With service dogs, veterans step out of their comfort zone and forget about their troubles, even if just for a moment, and socialize with their community as they try to gain back feelings of comfort.

Funding is still being collected for research to see the impact service dogs have on veterans. Since owning a service dog can be extremely expensive, foundations are attempting to work with other groups in order to get funding for someone they think can benefit from owning these extraordinary pups. The power a dog can have in a person’s life is something that can not be found anywhere else. And for the brave Americans who risked everything for their country, a chance to heal and take back their own lives is something they deserve.

We are pleased to have Vin, as a contributing writer for If They Could Talk. Vin is a passionate dog owner. We look forward to sharing his contribution on interesting and educational pet topics.

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Mission Pawsible

4 Paws for Ability Papillion

I was talking to a woman on the phone. "Excuse the noise," she said. "I'm transporting a carload of papillions." In the background I heard little yaps and barks.

"No problem." I continued conducting the interview. I was speaking with Karen Shirk, director of 4 Paws for Ability, for an article I was writing for Guideposts magazine's website.

4 Paws for Ability provides service dogs for children with disabilities. Karen started the organization because she realized that many kids were turned down for service dogs. When she was a teen, suffering from a rare neurological disease, she had applied for a service dog and was turned down over and over again. They told her that she was too disabled to qualify. So she understands what it's like to struggle to get necessary help.

Karen explained that 4 Paws for Ability helps kids with autism, Down’s syndrome, diabetes, seizures, cancer, hearing impairment, loss of mobility, mental health impairments, and many other conditions.

Some golden retriever puppies at 4 Paws for Ability.

Over the phone, I heard her pull up to a fast food drive thru and order some food. I thought, this is a very busy woman, devoting all she has to help others, and animals. I felt honored that she took time out of her schedule to talk to me. I was inspired learning about 4 Paws for Ability, how she is helping people with disabilities, working with the dogs, and also how she is involving prison inmates in helping train and socialize the dogs, thus helping inmates feel a sense of worth and contribution to society as well.

You can find the complete article on Guidepost's website: Mission Pawsible.

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Blog the Change- Canine Assistants

Photo courtesy of Canine Assistants

Pulling a wheelchair, turning on a light switch, retrieving a dropped object...these are just a few of the tasks dogs can perform to help the disabled and increase independence. Some dogs even offer support that people--and even medical science--can't provide.


Recently I was researching an article and had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Arnold, bestselling author of Through a Dog's Eyes, and In a Dog's Heart, and founder of Canine Assistants. Instantly I knew that Canine Assistants was the cause I would highlight for Blog the Change.

Jennifer Arnold

Located in Georgia, Canine Assistants is a non-profit organization which trains and provides service dogs, seizure response dogs, and companion dogs for children and adults with physical disabilities and other special needs. About 1,000 dogs, mainly golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and goldendoodles, have been placed since the organization began in 1991. 

In addition to physical assistance, the dogs can provide emotional support. Often a dog is able to get through to a person in a way that no other human can.

Seizure response dogs provide assistance after a person has a seizure by laying next to the person, retrieving a cordless phone, or even pressing a medic alert button.

Another type of service dog, seizure alert dogs, sense an oncoming seizure and can alert a person before it happens. Because at this point no one really understands what the dogs are sensing, that behavior can't be trained. But Jennifer explained that after a strong bond is developed, 87% of her seizure response dogs were able to alert their partners in this way.

Photo courtesy of Canine Assistants

Choice Teaching
Jennifer uses only positive training methods. The methodology she developed is called Choice Teaching, and involves rewards for positive behavior. This leads to "calm, well-mannered dogs who respect their human partner and enjoy doing as asked."  Throughout our conversation, I could easily sense Jennifer's dedication, respect and love for the dogs she works with.

There is no charge for a dog through Canine Assistants. Recipients attend a two week training class in Georgia to learn how to work with their dog, and for the dog to learn about them. The waiting list for Canine Assistants dogs is from 1 to 5 years.

I wanted to tell you all about this inspiring organization and hope if you might check out their website, or Facebook, and if you know anyone who could benefit from their wonderful work, you might spread the word.

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