Service Dog ACCESS ISSUE // how to handle it

Many service dog handlers have had the unfortunate experience of an access issue. In this video I want to share a little about what access issues are for service dog teams, and some tips and tricks on how to handle them SUCCESSFULLY.
I hope you enjoy this video and find it helpful!

[@Michael-hg3kh]

You are so right!!!! Yelling being rude obnoxious only makes people shut down and be defensive. When that happens they won't listen to you. Also you can then be asked to leave and no tresspassed due to your behaviour!!! It also leaves a bad impression of all handlers as you stated!!!! Awesome video.

[@sarah-fv9xu]

I needed this so much! I just got a SD, well she was a family dog until I got diagnosed with POTS, PCOS, EDS, RA, Anxiety, Panic disorder, Autism, SPD, ADHD, and a few more things. I got my diagnoses' about 3 years ago and I started training her about 1 1/2 years ago. She is nearly fully trained (SDiT have PA rights in my area) except for Syncope (fainting) alert. We have already had over 100 PA issues and I've only taken her out 20-25 times. I never know how to handle them. Tysm!

[@lovelylilac2772]

Wow 11/2 years!! (I think you ment 1/2 years) lol

[@sarah-fv9xu]

@@lovelylilac2772 Lol, it's one and one half years 1 1/2

[@siennadietrich2433]

Thank you I needed this… I have had my service dog for over a year and have definitely had my fair share of PA issues. Today I had one that startled me greatly.. thankfully my SD was there to calm me down lol. I was sitting at a table in a restaurant with my family when suddenly I turn my head and see this lady about 5 inches from me and my SD (he was sitting next to me). She leaned over and I thought she was going to pet him so I told her “he’s a service dog, please don’t pet him.” She said I know yet continued to get closer to him so I said “he’s working please don’t pet him. Figuring she would get the clue and back up… NO. She asked me what his name was.. I answered her hoping she would leave. But then she asked me what work he did. Because she “just likes to know”. Now I was very uncomfortable with a random stranger asking this so I just tried to ignore her hoping she would walk away. Keep in mind I can literally feel her breathing on my face at this point, she was way in my personal bubble. She asked what work he did again so I just replied idk, very close to freaking out and crying at this point. Now normally I wouldn’t say idk, I would actually answer the question, but I was in the middle of a PTSD response/anxiety attack so I wasn’t thinking clearly. My mom stepped in and said.. do you work here? Keep in mind this lady wasn’t wearing a name tag or in a uniform, nor did she introduce herself. She said, acting like it was the most obvious thing in the world “I’m the manager”. Ok well why couldn’t she have led with that! Or backed off maybe? Anyways my mom ended up explaining his tasks for me and the lady went on a five minute rant about how she had another person with a “small service dog” that day who told her she could only ask what task they performed. Ok so my dog is 17 pounds, but that doesn’t make him any less qualified for the job. We trained together for two years! Sorry for the rant, I just needed to get that off my chest lol.

[@laurendoerr]

I have only had 1 major PA issue since getting my SD. We were on vacation at Glacier National Park. There was a street fair in a parking lot near my hotel. The staff that were walking around did not say anything to me when I was near the main part of the event, but the second I got my food and went to find my parents they were on me like a swarm. It got very heated and were not listening to me at all as I explained my rights and the laws. They almost physically forced me to leave. I was able to get my mom and get her to give me a ride back to the hotel (that was not pet friendly but they were great with my SD). I ended up having a bad anxiety attack because of the incident. Bella (my SD) was able to help me through it. I also had a long conversation with my mom where we went over everything and she helped me out even more. Those people at the fair were horrible and I still have flash backs and loose sleep to it more than 4 months later. Other than that I have never had an access issue where I go in my area. 1 guy at a botanical garden came up to us when he saw I had a dog. As soon as he realized Bella was a SD he backed off and was great, no issue.

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

Oh jeez, I feel like anyone would have a panic attack if that happened to them. I can’t believe that they tried to physically force u out. I just don’t understand why people do that. Like do people not know what service dogs are? And why would they do that to someone if their dog is behaving just fine and not being disruptive at all

[@epilepsyawareness2020]

I just gotta say, you are so so pretty inside and out. Your hair is so lovely and graceful, and your face is so naturally gorgeous. Your eyes are a very very pretty color as well. Anyway, you are just such a beautiful person and seem so kind, which makes you even prettier on the outside;) I hope you have a wonderful day

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

Thank you so much you are so sweet!

[@coolsnk1]

I was on vacation with my family and of course I had my SD with me. Well as I was getting my free breakfast at the hotel we were staying at a employee came up to me as started yelling at me to get my dog out of the dinning room. I calmly explain that he was a SD and they he was allowed to come with me. Well this man did not take this news very well and got in my face and yelled at me very rudely that I need to leave now. As yelling causes me to have panic attacks I told him to calm down and back up but he did not listen and just continue to yell. I told him that he can only ask is the dog a SD for a disability and what task is he trained to preform. He then said he needed paperwork now. I told him that there is no such thing and that I needed to speak to a manager. He said that he knew what he was doing and that the manager was not there. So I told him to call the police if he had a problem with me having my SD with me. He left and I continue to get me breakfast and sat down to eat with my family. I told my family what had happened and my dad go really mad. The employee came up to me again while I was eating and yelled that I needed to leave now. My dad told him that we are allowed to be here and that he needed to leave us alone. The employee left. As we were leaving the hotel after breakfast I tried to explain the laws to the employee again but he just yelled that he knew them and he went into his office and closed the door. I left and decided to email the manager of the hotel and let him know what happened. The manager apologized and said that the employee would be taken care of. The only thing I regret is that the employee didn’t apologize to me directly and that the manager didn’t seem to really care that this happened. My SD did wonderful and alerted to a up coming panic attack and he also blocked the employee from getting too close. I was so proud of my boy. I also learned that me dad who normally doesn’t like it when I bring my SD with me actually cared that I was being yelled at and that I was having an access issue. Thanks to that I learned that I can really count on my family to back me up and that I can count on my SD to be there to do his job My SDs Instagram is @servicedogeli if you’d like to see pics of him❤️

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

Wow I’m so sorry you had to go through that! But I’m so glad that it brought you closer to your family and knowing that they will stand up for you and your dog if needed. Those experiences are the worst but a lot of times people can always find something good that came out of it. Wether it be they educated someone, or made it to where the problem won’t happen for someone else, or that they did a good job at staying calm and standing up for themselves bc that’s hard to do and it’s something to be proud of. I’ll definitely check out your Instagram

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

This was a really great explanation. You get clear and logical advice which would be straightforward to follow. Also I think you’re totally right, I’ve seen a lot of people handle access issues in a way that only exploit the situation and promote confrontation, rather than remaining civil and calm and doing their best to ensure that the next person won’t experience the same issue.

[@enzo_theservicedog]

I love your stuff always classy best videos I've seen about access issues I feel the people that post videos of them arguing I usually just looking for their 5 minutes of "Fame" I've only ever had it happened once and then I got me law cards off of Amazon I give them out like candy

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

Thank you! I cringe at the videos where people just argue about things for no reason. There are so many better ways to go about handling an access issue other than yelling at them. Same goes with fake spotting and getting mad at people who pet their service dogs without asking

[@wizard1399]

What is really frustrating is when a pet owner tries to claim their pet is a service dog. I wish that we could legally ask about who trained the dog for the public access exam. Most pet owners know nothing about this training and will give away that their pet is not a service animal through their lack of knowledge.

[@renegade6205]

this is what im scared about now that im training a service dog so this helps ps I have a goldendoodle

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

In my 2.5 years of owning a golden doodle I have only had one bad experience with an access issue. I feel like some breeds get it worse than others. Like really small dogs, or really big dogs may have more access issues. Or more scarier intimidating looking dogs may get more access issues. But everyone loves goldens and doodles (which can also be a bad thing😂). But Honestly if they are going to make a big deal I’m just going to turn around and leave a bad review or call a manager to complain. I feel like I would never call the police on a company unless they became physically or verbally violent.

[@kyleparrish6687]

HI, i was wondering if an un-vested service dog in training has access issues can tell the owner that they have the same rights as a fully trained service dog?

[@dallastheservicedoodle7236]

It depends on what the state laws are. In some states SDIT have the same rights as trained service dogs (as long as they are in control at all times)… but in other states SDIT don’t have the same rights and aren’t granted public access rights.

[@amberlee6878]

I appreciate your video, but DAMN the MUSIC SUCKS! I had to stop watching because of the background music. It’s not good.