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Students with Service Dogs ©
Common Objections to Service Dogs by Public Schools
~Physical~
* “Dogs cause allergies.“
Answer: Yes, they do. So do many other things, such as different foods, fabrics, perfumes, cleaning supplies and other things that are commonly accepted at all schools. Yet these things are not banned, because they are useful and simple precautions can help avert problems for those with severe reactions to these things. The mere presence of a well cared for service dog will be no more triggering than any other common environmental allergen.
* “Dogs bite.”
Answer: Yes, any dog can bite, under sufficient provocation. The purpose of training is, among other things, to raise the service dog’s level of tolerance to such a point as to make this possibility highly unlikely. While in training, service dogs are exposed to increasing levels of new sights, sounds and experiences that they may encounter, and their reaction is very carefully monitored for signs of anxiety or stress, and any dog who cannot cope is taken out of training, never to be more than a well trained pet. Service dogs are trained to put up with the problems of their owners dropping items on or around them, tripping, stumbling, and even stepping on and falling on them, so little bothers them to any extreme.
* “Dogs carry parasites.”
Answer: yes, they can. So can humans. The answer to both is simple: good hygiene and normal health care. Service dogs receive better health care than any other dogs, because their owners lives depend on them. Internal parasites are therefore not a problem, and a well groomed and clean service dog will have been receiving regular flea prevention.
* “Dogs eliminate-that is a great health hazard.”
Answer: Yes, dogs do have the need to ‘answer the call of nature’, but unlike pets, service dogs are completely housebroken, and trained to eliminate on command while on duty. Owners of service dogs carry with them plastic bags for clean up and disposal of waste, and many have small clean up kits with them for wiping paws and other small sanitizing needs. Normal procedure is to take the service dog some place where it is unlikely others will walk, to allow the dog necessary time for what is needed, and then the result is collected and thrown away in the nearest outdoor trash can.
* “Dogs shed hair and track in mud in wet weather.”
Answer: Yes, anyone standing by any door will see every foot bringing in water and mud-and human shoes with the popular deep treads bring in much more than any four dog paws ever could. As for shedding, yes, shedding is a fact of life with any dog and unavoidable. But the normal grooming every service dog receives daily keeps this to a minimum, and the conscientious handler is aware of the problem, and cleans up the stray fur that is visible, if any is left. Many students with service dogs carry a mat or blanket for their dog to lie on, for this reason.
* “Dogs are a distraction to the other students.”
Answer: Yes, they are…but normally only for a short time, while everyone becomes accustomed to the change in their daily routine, when they will then simply become ’part of the furniture’, so to speak. Service dogs are trained to be quiet and unobtrusive at all times, and will settle beside the student and remain quietly until needed.
* “Dogs bark, whine and make noise.”
Answer: Yes, they do, and this is something that is vital to many who use service dogs. Service dogs are trained to use their voices to alert, to signal, and even to comfort. They do not bark or vocalize without reason.
* “You make these animals sound magical- are you saying that a service dog will never shed, throw up, or make other messes? That it will never bark or whine or be noisy? Can you guarantee that it will never bite or scratch anyone?”
Answer: For all the training these animals receive, they are still animals, and there is always a chance of a problem. But with proper care and handling, chances for these things are greatly minimized, and the handler is prepared to cope with any care the dog needs away from home. Trained service dogs have been used in public places all over the world for over 100 years, and the training and uses of them is being expanded and refined constantly. The incredible benefits from the use of a service dog far outweigh the occasional minor problem.
© Copyright November 5,2005
Patricia G. Nichols
Students With Service Dogs©
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDs_In_Schools/
Students with Service Dogs ©
Common Objections to Service Dogs by Public Schools
~Physical~
* “Dogs cause allergies.“
Answer: Yes, they do. So do many other things, such as different foods, fabrics, perfumes, cleaning supplies and other things that are commonly accepted at all schools. Yet these things are not banned, because they are useful and simple precautions can help avert problems for those with severe reactions to these things. The mere presence of a well cared for service dog will be no more triggering than any other common environmental allergen.
* “Dogs bite.”
Answer: Yes, any dog can bite, under sufficient provocation. The purpose of training is, among other things, to raise the service dog’s level of tolerance to such a point as to make this possibility highly unlikely. While in training, service dogs are exposed to increasing levels of new sights, sounds and experiences that they may encounter, and their reaction is very carefully monitored for signs of anxiety or stress, and any dog who cannot cope is taken out of training, never to be more than a well trained pet. Service dogs are trained to put up with the problems of their owners dropping items on or around them, tripping, stumbling, and even stepping on and falling on them, so little bothers them to any extreme.
* “Dogs carry parasites.”
Answer: yes, they can. So can humans. The answer to both is simple: good hygiene and normal health care. Service dogs receive better health care than any other dogs, because their owners lives depend on them. Internal parasites are therefore not a problem, and a well groomed and clean service dog will have been receiving regular flea prevention.
* “Dogs eliminate-that is a great health hazard.”
Answer: Yes, dogs do have the need to ‘answer the call of nature’, but unlike pets, service dogs are completely housebroken, and trained to eliminate on command while on duty. Owners of service dogs carry with them plastic bags for clean up and disposal of waste, and many have small clean up kits with them for wiping paws and other small sanitizing needs. Normal procedure is to take the service dog some place where it is unlikely others will walk, to allow the dog necessary time for what is needed, and then the result is collected and thrown away in the nearest outdoor trash can.
* “Dogs shed hair and track in mud in wet weather.”
Answer: Yes, anyone standing by any door will see every foot bringing in water and mud-and human shoes with the popular deep treads bring in much more than any four dog paws ever could. As for shedding, yes, shedding is a fact of life with any dog and unavoidable. But the normal grooming every service dog receives daily keeps this to a minimum, and the conscientious handler is aware of the problem, and cleans up the stray fur that is visible, if any is left. Many students with service dogs carry a mat or blanket for their dog to lie on, for this reason.
* “Dogs are a distraction to the other students.”
Answer: Yes, they are…but normally only for a short time, while everyone becomes accustomed to the change in their daily routine, when they will then simply become ’part of the furniture’, so to speak. Service dogs are trained to be quiet and unobtrusive at all times, and will settle beside the student and remain quietly until needed.
* “Dogs bark, whine and make noise.”
Answer: Yes, they do, and this is something that is vital to many who use service dogs. Service dogs are trained to use their voices to alert, to signal, and even to comfort. They do not bark or vocalize without reason.
* “You make these animals sound magical- are you saying that a service dog will never shed, throw up, or make other messes? That it will never bark or whine or be noisy? Can you guarantee that it will never bite or scratch anyone?”
Answer: For all the training these animals receive, they are still animals, and there is always a chance of a problem. But with proper care and handling, chances for these things are greatly minimized, and the handler is prepared to cope with any care the dog needs away from home. Trained service dogs have been used in public places all over the world for over 100 years, and the training and uses of them is being expanded and refined constantly. The incredible benefits from the use of a service dog far outweigh the occasional minor problem.
© Copyright November 5,2005
Patricia G. Nichols
Students With Service Dogs©
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDs_In_Schools/
posted by LadyDeerskin And Her Service Dog | Saturday, November 05, 2005
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