Posted by: AirportsMadeSimple | December 30, 2012

Flying Dogs? Yep! At K9 Flying School

Photo courtesy of http://www.synthstuff.com

Here’s a great program by Air Hollywood:

Training Service Dogs (and other dogs) how to manage the chaos of an airport:

CLICK HERE!

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Posted in Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Responses

  1. [...] For the rest of the story and much more, go to AirportsMadeSimple. [...]

    By: Share-turday: Flying Dogs? Yep! At K9 Flying School. Reblogged From AirportsMadeSimple. « karlitoweb on January 5, 2013
    at 11:41 am

    Reply

    • Thanks for the reblog!!! I will swing by – still catching up from the holidays, but miss my blogging internet friends. :)

      By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 6, 2013
      at 10:09 am

      Reply

    • Hello, Karlitoweb! Thanks for much for the reblog. That was very kind. Crazy day today, but will cruise by soon. :)

      By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 7, 2013
      at 11:08 am

      Reply

  2. Happy New Year! I hope you don’t mind if I share my misgivings. I mean, this looks like a good idea but I wonder if it’s just a money making scheme for the following reasons:

    First, there is no certification a dog can earn for traveling on an airplane. The advertisement of certification makes me think of the bogus websites who offer certification for service dogs (for $$$) even though there is no certification for service dogs.

    Second, dogs traveling on airplanes fall into two different categories: service animals or pets. When traveling through the airport terminal, only service dogs are allowed on leash. Pets must remain inside a pet carrier at all times, except while going through security. See http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-pets and http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/passengers-service-dogs and http://www.panynj.gov/airports/ewr-travel-information.html

    In addition, service animals cannot sit in the seat beside you, they must be on the floor in front of you. Pets, if accepted on the plane, must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you in an airline approved carrier and usually require a fee. Large pets cannot travel in the cabin and several of the non service dogs in the video are clearly too large for cabin travel. See http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_pets/cabin_pets/ and http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/animals/in_cabin.aspx

    Third, Leslie makes a good point. A handler and service dog team train in a variety of settings and therefore are able to succeed in different environments, including new ones like airports and airplanes. Part of training includes introducing a service dog to various surfaces like slick floors, carpet, rubberized flooring and the metal separators between the ramp and airplane. Introduction to obstacles and apparatuses like wheelchairs are also part of team training.

    Last, unless this K9 Flying School is free or less than a couple of hundred dollars, a service dog team can go to the airport for free and train inside the airport where the general public is allowed. Baggage claim areas are a good way to train for crowds and noises. Walking outside allows the team to experience the noise and smells of the airplanes.

    For two hundred dollars or less, a service dog team (cannot be a service dog in training) can even make an hour or so flight to introduce the idea of taking off and landing. For the cost of gas, driving around with the service dog on the floorboard of your car also introduces this idea.

    As far as experiencing turbulence, it can be disturbing for both humans and animals. I’ve been flying for decades, am still upset by turbulence and understand that when the plane dips and drops unexpectedly, my service dog might be a little concerned, no matter how many times he’s experienced it. Although the video shows pet dogs being comforted by their owners during turbulence, this would never be allowed on a real flight.

    Of note, there’s another video that shows Guide Dogs for the Blind using Air Hollywood as a training exercise. That service is more appropriate and I hope was a donation to the service dog organization.

    Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts!
    Kimberly

    By: bluethumbtack on January 1, 2013
    at 7:48 am

    Reply

    • Hello, Kimberly and Happy New Year! Thank you for all your comments. This is all really great info from your real-life experience, and we are very grateful for that. Not everyone really tells us the real life situation!

      After reading your note, I have sent Air Hollywood/K9 Flight School a note to determine exactly “who” their target market is – I agree, while they show Guide Dogs, Guide Dogs are not (and shouldn’t be) lumped in with other pets.

      This was my thought which I probably should have expounded on:

      I think there are many folks out there with small dog pets that get scared easily and they travel with them on commercial planes. Therefore, it teaches them what to expect because the airport will not be as helpful with the average person than it would a GuideDog person in training the dog on airport grounds.

      I think it also is for those that are wealthy and take their dogs everywhere – in a private plane. The dog (of any size) can ride in the cabin.

      There is also another category of pets which I’m sure you’ve read about: The Emotional Support Animal. This type of pet is a new thing, and I think the airlines are still trying to figure out how to handle this. Unlike Guide Dogs, these dogs can be any dog, any size, ride in the cabin with the person IF they have the proper paperwork. Don’t quote me, but I think the person has to pay for a seat or a pet “fee” for that animal. Guide Dogs don’t (and shouldn’t). Here’s a link I found for American Airlines: http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/serviceAnimals.jsp They are also called “Psychiatric Service Animals.”

      There was some article (I think) where someone tried to bring an Emotional Support Miniature Pony on one plane!

      Anyway, Alaska Airlines allows these Emotional Support Animals (for a fee) – I believe the code in psychiatric world is a DSM-IV – the person has to show the airline their psychiatrist has given them that diagnosis – so they have papers to show as well as the normal dog papers. http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/policies/specialservices-support-animals.aspx

      The ACCA has also recently changed the definition of a Service Animal: http://www.petsonthego.com/pressrm.html

      Anyway – here’s another link:

      http://nsarco.com/airlines.html

      I think it’s more for those ESAs than anything else, but as soon as I hear from them (couldn’t find specifics on their website), I will let you know! Sounds like another great post or reblog from you or me, eh? :)

      Thanks for the info and for keeping me on my toes!

      I hope you have a wonderful New Year! Cheers, Deb

      By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 2, 2013
      at 10:34 am

      Reply

  3. one day i will try to get pictures of lizzy and i going through the airport. lizzy and i did not practice, we worked together as a team. thanks for sharing.

    By: ssgt leslie on December 30, 2012
    at 4:50 pm

    Reply

    • Hi Leslie! Thanks for you comment. That would be wonderful to get pictures of you and Lizzie! We would love to post them here. I think the situation for Guide Dogs is very different from normal pets and the “new” situation of “Emotional Support Animals” which is more blurry. I am doing some more research on the non-Guide Dog situation with airlines, as it’s a fairly new thing. Happy New Year!

      By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 2, 2013
      at 10:13 am

      Reply

      • hi ams, your welcome, will add this to my list of projects. i hear yah and more so with the veterans administration. being a federal agency they do not need to follow the ada laws. good luck on your research. take care and have a good new year also. cheers…L/L

        By: ssgt leslie on January 9, 2013
        at 12:20 pm

        Reply

        • Same to you and thanks for commenting and for your continued support. Appreciate it. :)

          By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 11, 2013
          at 4:01 pm

          Reply

          • right back at yah, thank you.

            By: ssgt leslie on January 16, 2013
            at 7:06 pm

            Reply

      • by the way, jet blue sends out an email regarding service dogs when one books an airline ticket..good information in it.

        By: ssgt leslie on January 9, 2013
        at 12:21 pm

        Reply

        • You wouldn’t happen to have a copy of that email, would you? I’d like to post it here, and I’ll give you full credit back to your great site for those who read here. I’ve got some veterans and one that I know is blind and on a wait list for service dog he’ll get in June.

          By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 9, 2013
          at 12:24 pm

          Reply

          • sorry, i looked and looked, deleted it, and not recoverable. the next time i fly, will try to remember to keep it for you. that is sweet of you, much appreciated, hope the veteran gets his dog soon.

            By: ssgt leslie on January 9, 2013
            at 12:49 pm

            Reply

            • No worries. Thanks – if you remember, would like to see it. :) Have a great day! Maybe I can find it on the internet.

              By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 9, 2013
              at 1:12 pm

              Reply

              • finally found it. good luck with it. hope it helps those who travel with jet blue.

                By: ssgt leslie on January 16, 2013
                at 7:05 pm

                Reply

                • Hi Leslie! I’ve got the email and it will post on 1/30/13 (and I’ve removed any personal details of yours that were included, of course). Thanks again! It sounds like they really have their act together over there at JetBlue! :) I’ve also added some links to your blog as well. Cheers, Deb

                  By: AirportsMadeSimple on January 16, 2013
                  at 8:54 pm

                  Reply

                  • wonderful, plum forgot to delete that information out. thanks for taking care of that. your welcome, i agree with you, jet blue has been treating lizzy and i well for the last 1 1/2 year. i try to make an effort to introduce lizzy to jetblue crew members, and staff…your the best, take care and have a good week.

                    By: ssgt leslie on January 16, 2013
                    at 8:57 pm

                    Reply

  4. So cool! I’d never heard about this!

    By: colormusing on December 30, 2012
    at 10:17 am

    Reply

    • Isn’t it, though? I’d love to take my dog through there and then write about it! That would be so awesome. She would do really well.

      By: AirportsMadeSimple on December 30, 2012
      at 4:11 pm

      Reply


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