Prep for Flying with Service Dog

[@laurendoerr]

I fly frequently with my sd Bella. While going through TSA you do not have to remove any of your dogs gear. You can ask the agent to pat your dog down. They are (I think) required to allow this. Some agent don't like doing it but I have never been denied it and have even helped train agents on how it is done. You will put your dog in a sit or down stay, walk through the metal detector, then call your dog through the detector with all their gear on. The metal detector will go off and then an agent will pat down your dog and will generally swab your hands. A solid stay and come commands are needed for this. On my last trip they had to do an extra inspection of my carry on because something seemed off during their normal bag scan. Turns out it was just my dogs dry food. There is a dog relief area at every airport and in most terminals of each airport. I have seen anything from painted concreate to real grass. Often what I find is astroturf. Some dogs will not use that at all. Make sure to take your dog to use the bathroom before you get to the airport for this reason.

[@michelleplummer5980]

Thank you so so so so much for this amazing and very helpful and informative video!! We are flying from North carolina to California San Diego and back and we have layovers in Dallas TX both ways. I suffer from multiple invisible disabilities as well and I have been self training my Australian Terrier Jack as my service dog. He has been doing absolutely phenomenal with his training. But I am very stressed and getting anxiety about this flight trip. Thank you for all of this information. You are a huge help 😊❤ I watched the other video second half of this video as well Thank you

[@leighmegan91]

I have been loving your videos! Since you love Etsy as much as I do it seems, they have TSA approved slip leads with Paracord on there! Just in case for those naked security moments lol My SD is great off leash too but being able to have a back up plan is always a great idea, so I wanted to share! 😊

[@theemusingfarm]

Very useful information!!!

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

As a new service handler who has not flown with my dog yet I found this video to be both interesting and enjoyable to watch. Thanks for sharing your information and advise. Do you know if you’re allowed to leave your dogs gear on let them go through the metal detector and then have the people check the gear out while its on her

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

They rules state that you have an option to either strip them naked and allow them to walk through the metal detector, or to leave their gear on and let them walk through then do a pat down. I normally take off everything that would make it beep and then I’ll walk through and then call her through. Some people prefer to leave everything on while others prefer to ovoid the pat down.

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

However a lot of TSA workers do not know there is a choice for you to make and they may try to tell u that there is only one way. So it’s best to prepare your dog for any of those options

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

That makes sense, thanks for explaining.

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

That makes sense. She loves being pet by strangers so I think I would go with the pad down but definitely see the value and teaching her to handle off leash work at least briefly so I know she can if the situation ever arrives.

[@ericaaubie860]

Dallas The Service Doodle Where do you get the form?

[@arinabarron]

Just a note! TSA actually states that harnesses, vests, and gear cannot be removed during security. I know i go back and forth with how I fly, but legally, TSA can't ask your dog to remove gear.

[@Yuuzhanvongg]

Gear isn't recquired anyways. Might as well just use a plastic slip lead

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

I gobble up information like what's in the video because I want to be as prepared as I possibly can be when the time comes. Quick clarification regarding stripping the dog for security, since there seems to be a bit of confusion across the board surrounding the rule - this is from the TSA website (so it applies to all airports in the U.S., though not sure about U.S. territories - other countries may have different rules, so make sure you check what those are if you're flying out of an airport that's outside the U.S., since not all foreign airports use TSA (a small handful do, but most don't), it being an American organization and all), under the service animal option of the drop down menu on the Disabilities and Medical Conditions tab of the Special Procedures travel page (I'd post the link, but then youtube would block my comment): "Service dog collars, harnesses, leashes, backpacks, vests and other items are subject to screening. Items that are necessary to maintain control of the service dog or indicate that the service dog is on duty do not require removal to be screened." No exceptions are listed (they would be if there were any), which means they do not have to be removed for the dog to be screened, either (the page also says that if the dog alarms the metal detector, an officer is required to pat down the dog), so thankfully you aren't required to remove those things at security at any U.S. airport, though you're definitely allowed to if you want (as hard as it might be to believe, not all officers know all the rules they have to follow, so it's possible that that particular officer doesn't know that the decision of whether to remove any gear that meets the above description is entirely up to the handler - my best friend has been an officer for 5 years, and I had to be the one to tell her about that rule because apparently they didn't teach her that in training). When I get my dog (currently in the application phase), because I fly roundtrip at least once a year, I'm planning to print that page from the website and highlight that sentence, bringing it with me with all the other paperwork, so that I can pull it out and show them if they try to tell me I have to strip my dog, because they can't argue with their own rules (I did the same thing for a PreCheck rule on Monday, though thankfully I didn't end up having to show it, but I did end up showing the paperwork for my SmartDrive in DEN because the gate agents had never seen one before and they wanted to learn what made it safe for it to travel in the overhead vs. under the seat in front of me; also did it 2 years ago when I stowed my wheelchair in the cabin for the first time, because that particular gate agent in MSP didn't know about that airline's rule regarding it; so it's just another just-in-case item, like the vaccination records or doctor's note).

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

This is great info thank you for sharing! You are absolutely right a lot of officers do not know and they may try to not give an option (this has happened to me). But that’s a good idea to print the rules out to show if someone is nervous about stripping the dog

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

@@dallastheservicedoodle7236 You're welcome. I was unsure myself of whether stripping the dog was a rule, since a lot of handlers had mentioned being told to do so, while others said they just went through separately and when the dog alarmed, the officer patted the dog down. I was very glad to learn it's actually not. I've heard some handlers say that the officer didn't give them a choice because the officer really didn't want to do a patdown on the dog (for whatever reason), even though the rules say that if the dog alarms, the officer will pat down the dog down. But I know that some handlers would really rather avoid a stranger touching their dog and so would choose to strip the dog instead (or use metal-free gear), so the handler still has that option if they want to do it.

[@hivemindgoblin8540]

A note for people who are nervous about having their dog completely off leash, there are TSA friendly collar/leash sets available! They’re usually quite small and thin and made entirely with plastic, so your dog can’t pull on them or they’d likely break. But if you’re just nervous and would feel better holding on to something without setting off the alarm, I’d recommend looking for something like that. My dog went through off leash both times and was good, but it made me nervous when I already was stressed, especially trying to move out of the way after going through the scanners, without something to tether him with. (Also low key a fear of mine that someone will grab him and run away when I’m not looking because he’s a small dog😅).

[@Hadraniel94]

I am the same way, I want the connection to my dog during stressful times for me (like TSA it overwhelms me) despite his solid sit/down stays. The beeping freaks me out (my dog doesn’t care) so I remove his gear and I use a slip leash with no metal. Sometimes they want us to go through at the same time, sometimes they want one at a time, but with the slip leash I always have him close.

[@heatherj9029]

I just had a flight and as much training as my dog has, she doesn't have much airport training. While at a quiet airport gate, a large vacuum with a guy turned on about 10 feet from her and she let out a single bark. She startled people and myself. It was only 1 bark but I don't know how to prevent things like that when she encounters things for the first time. I have a flight to Hawaii coming up in a couple days and i'm so nervous about her being on such a long over 8 hour flight. Will she get bored, will she get restless, etc. Any words of wisdom? This will be her first flight over 2 hours.

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

The little bark is no big deal, it happens. Dallas has done that before also, it lessens as they get older and gets more experience. The 8 hour flight is a long one. I’d be a little nervous to take Dallas on that long of a flight. My concern would be potty breaks. I’d suggest really working on a potty command so that she will go potty in the relief area before the fight. And I wouldn’t give her much food or water till after the flight.

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

If you haven't already seen it, there is also an additional DOT form to fill out for flights over 8 hours (basically attesting that your dog either will hold it or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner).

[@heatherj9029]

@@SnowySpiritRuby yes thank you I did fill that out.

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

So today was my flight, And I have more info for u on the 8 hour no potty break thing. Dallas had to hold her pee for 12 hours today and although it made me nervous she was able to do it. She wouldn’t use the relief area bc it was so gross and smelly (and 2 dogs charged her right before we went in). But someone told me that you can always have little puppy pee pads and lay them on the floor in the accessible stall or in the plane bathroom and have them go on that also if it’s an emergency

[@heatherj9029]

@@dallastheservicedoodle7236 our flight to Hawaii ended up being 10 hours for the last leg. She was perfect. She had a diaper on but never used it. She won’t use a pee pad. The only airport she’s refused to use the relief area is Chicago Midway. The fake grass had so much urine it was well above the grass line.

[@westcostmanga3365]

bree can you link the treats that where shown in this video

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

a.co/d/f1YcaEK a.co/d/iedNCHZ

[@liv3234]

I just have a question. Will the TSA stop me for the treats? They will go through the metal detectors without getting stopped right?

[@N0E4SY_ST4YOT8]

I think you have to leave the treats in the bucket

[@Xermange]

It's fine if you don't know but is it the same for people with SD's in the UK? Just a fun question :)

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

I honestly don’t know, however I am curious how it is in different countries even for other service dog laws

[@anaridenour8601]

What if the service dog ACCIDENTALLY scratches someone

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

That’s a hard one… I can’t think of a way how a service dog would accidentally scratch someone. Unless they like step on their foot when walking by which isn’t a big deal it happens. But they shouldn’t be pawing at or jumping on anyone even if it’s friendly or for play.