Team Safety and Best Practices

I've had a tremendously hard time finding a comprehensive source of best practices for service dog teams. While I'm sure various organizations have their own best-practice handbooks, they've been remarkably unwilling to part with this information.

As a result, I'm compiling my own safety and handling tips. When I encounter a new situation, especially ones which are things which SD teams might not think about ahead of time, I'll log them here.

If you have a better solution to any of these situations, or can think of something I've missed, I'd love to hear from you!

Air Travel

  • Always call at least 24 hours ahead for accommodative seating so that they can't deny it to you later on a technicality.
  • Always ask for accommodative seating when checking in; the airlines may not have properly processed the request when you called ahead.
  • Always call the departure and destination airports to ask about "dog parks" or "service dog relief areas." Many airports have them, and most of the rest at least have some manicured grass somewhere near ticketing or baggage claim.
  • Try to use the grassy areas after check-in but before going through security to minimize the amount of time the dog needs to "hold it."
  • FAA regulations and the ACAA allow you to seat the dog under the seat in front of you, or on the floor at your feet, at your option. Don't let them bully you into squeezing the dog into a space that's too small.
  • Always bring along some way to fasten the dog to your seat, especially if you plan to use the lavatories.
  • Stop providing water at least an hour or two before the last opportunity for potty breaks if the dog will need to hold it for several hours. Longer trips (more than about 5 hours) may need to take potty breaks and the risk of dehydration into account.
  • Try to check-in at least 90 minutes prior to departure to allow time to handle seating changes and pre-boarding.
  • Always tell the gate agent you need extra time to seat your dog; otherwise, they may start general boarding too quickly after they call you.
  • Despite TSA regulations which say it is not required, a backpack that detaches from the service harness and can got through the X-ray machine may save a lot of time.
  • Sitting in the aisle seat allows you to use your feet to keep your dog (and your dog's tail) safely out of harm's way. You may need to use both feet simultaneously, in a heel-to-toe configuration, to achieve complete blockage with a determined or panicked dog.
  • Unless you're a nervous flyer, have the dog focus on you during take-off and landing. Thumps and bumps, especially on landings, are perfectly normal but may panic a dog unless the handler provides cues that the situation is routine. Communicate calm assurance to help the dog take things in stride.

Not Getting Stepped On

  • When possible, place the dog in the corner of the elevator and stand in front of her.
  • When shopping, have the dog sit or lay between you and the counter whenever possible.
  • Restaurant booths without a huge central pillar should allow the dog to fit underneath the table and safely out of the way.
  • Use spare chairs strategically to keep people from stepping on the dog when seated at a table or when the dog won't fit under the booth.
  • Teaching the dog to curl the tail alongside the body is a smart thing to do.

Dangerous Situations

  • Elevators can close too quickly. Don't let the dog enter or exit an elevator unless you are blocking the doors.
  • Take corners wide. Quick turns in corridors and hallways are likely to get you bumped into by people who are rushing around.