I get asked about service dog retirement a lot. People always ask my dog’s age, and once that comes up there’s a high likelihood they want to know how long she’s been working and how long she’ll keep working. And then they ask “what happens after she stops working? Humans like stories, and they want to know that these heroic and noble creatures will have happy endings. And, very often, they do. Here’s a summary of the most frequently asked questions about dog retirement, and more detailed answers than I usually bother to give in person.
Tag Archives: dog health
Flashback Friday: The Going Home Lecture Part II, Pre-Flight Prep
I’ve done a lot of flying since this first lecture, and a lot of rules and amenities have changed. I’ll throw in some advice from my own personal experience, but I encourage all teams to develop a relaxed, flexible mindset about air travel. It’ll never happen the same way twice, and that’s ok so long as you don’t depend on predictability for peace of mind.
Flashback Friday: A Trip to New York
Today your favorite blindfluencer asks that you remember that over-stimulation is a common barrier to learning. Be kind to your nervous system for better results.
Flashback Friday: Transit.Tasks
There are lots of conflicting ideas about where and how it is safest for a dog to ride in a car. Personally, I think there are several right answers, depending on the dog’s size and health, the car’s design and age, and the dog’s familiarity with and comfort with car rides. Below i will explain how TSE taught us to load and unload our dogs safely into cars.
Flashback Friday: Pup andPupil Learn to Play
Kong toys were not meant to be tug toys!
Flashback Friday: Revolving Doors
It is not unreasonable to expect to be able to walk through any door.
Flashback Friday: Fancy Footwear
I can empathize with Prada’s plight, but that doesn’t mean I won’t readily inflict this safety measure on her as needed.
Peering Through the Window of Tolerance
The stigma persists, at least in part, because we believe it does.
Compartmentalization: A Skill for Adults with Disabilities Practicing Individuation
Afterseveral failed lunges to escape the shaky watercraft in rough water, Greta finally succeeded in escaping on the safest part of the trip, and immediately regretted her decision.
Flashback Friday: Dog Distraction
To explain how Seeing Eye dogs are trained to ignore their instincts, I’m going to use an example. Juno is, of course, our working dog. Fluffy will be our civilian dog. Here’s how Juno learns to ignore Fluffy:
Look on the Dark Side 