[NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding

The Pawpower Pack pawpower4me at gmail.com
Tue Dec 6 18:55:27 UTC 2016


I can't speak to how they teach it at a program, but for my dogs learning to go "under" is a very important skill— like sit or stay.  My dogs are expected to go under restaurant seats if the table is configured such that they can't fit comfortably.  She is expected to go "under" the bus seat on pubtrans, in Dr offices, etc.  
The cue I use is "kennel" 
I start with a young dog and lure with food.  Eventually the lure is faded.  My current dog is short but quite muscular and can curl up just fine. 

 Rox and the kitchen Bitches: 
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 6, 2016, at 9:49 AM, Dan Weiner via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Well then please tell me how you shove our dog under a seat anjd get them to
> stay there, and don't say things like " "oh just apply what they taught you
> at school".  Not being sarcastic, geuninely curious, who knows I might try
> it.
> 
> Dan the man
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Stacie Hardy via
> NAGDU
> Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2016 10:42 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Cc: Stacie Hardy
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding
> 
> Hello All,
> 
> Hope our email finds everyone doing well and gearing up for the fast
> approaching Christmas holidays. I echo Marion's thoughts regarding this
> topic. My guide dog, Cash, AKA his majesty isn't exactly on the smaller end
> of the spectrum. He's a healthy 85 lbs and 26 inches at the shoulders.
> Fortunately, Cash is a nester, and likes to be in closed in spaces. I'm
> always amazed at how he can make himself fit. Raul and I do quite a bit of
> traveling and have a system in place that works for us. 
> Soon, we'll be adding another guide dog to the mix, and I'm sure, he or she
> will fit in just fine. We've had numerous discussions with flight attendants
> regarding our not wanting to sit in the bulkhead. One attendant even said he
> was going to call the "supervisor." That of course never happened, I think
> this guy was spouting out hot air.
> 
> --
> Stacie Hardy
> 
> In every guide dog, there beats the heart of a puppy raiser.
> Twitter: @PatriotsGirl7
> 
>> On 12/6/2016 3:58 AM, NAGDU President via NAGDU wrote:
>> Jessica,
>> 
>>    I, too, am part of a two-dog family. Actually we are currently a 
>> four-dog family, as we have my wife's retired guide dog and our 
>> daughter and granddaughter, along with their dog,  are currently 
>> living with us while their home is being built. When Merry and I 
>> travel by airline, we preboard, as well. I believe this is respectful 
>> of other passengers, as getting our dogs situated, especially my little
> boy, takes some time.
>> 
>>    I would like to address the bulkhead issue for everyone's 
>> consideration. I know we have gone through this before, but it 
>> deserves repeating. About a year ago, there was a story about a 
>> toddler sitting on its parents lap when the airplane encountered 
>> severe turbulence. The child was thrown from the parent's lap and was 
>> injured. Consider the fact that there is no restraint for a dog lying 
>> in the bulkhead as there would be if the dog were under the seat. 
>> Also, my little boy is about 42" long, 30" at the shoulders, and 
>> weighs in at 110 lbs. When he sits on the floor in front of me, I have 
>> no room for my 34" legs! Furthermore, if we were to encounter the type 
>> of turbulence experience by the aforementioned toddler, I would not 
>> want my 110-pound dog to become a missile in the cabin. I know we want 
>> our dogs to be comfortable; however, my dog and I are just as 
>> comfortable under the seat in front of me - even more comfortable than 
>> in the bulkhead - while being much safer for him and other passengers.
> BTW, I find seat belts rather uncomfortable, as well, but I wear them
> nonetheless!
>> 
>>    I realize the choice of seating is a personal preference; however, I
> 
>> will continue to urge those with service dogs to consider making the 
>> safer choice!
>> 
>> Fraternally yours,
>> 
>> Marion Gwizdala, President
>> National Association of Guide Dog Users Inc. (NAGDU) National 
>> Federation of the Blind
>> (813) 626-2789
>> President at NAGDU.ORG
>> 
>> 
>> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
>> expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind  
>> people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is 
>> not what holds you back.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica 
>> Diaz PC via NAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, December 5, 2016 10:47 PM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Cc: Jessica Diaz PC
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding
>> 
>> Hello,
>> My husband and I also are a 2 dog family and we always preboard. For 
>> me it is just easier and my main concern is getting the bags and dog 
>> situated in a not crowded environment. Also, as a side note, I use the 
>> line with Delta as well for requesting the bulkhead. For me when I 
>> fly, I want the dog to have room. He is big and his comfort matters to 
>> me. Delta is our go to provider for travel seeing as we use there credit
> card and always get tons of miles.
>> They are awesome.
>> Jessica Diaz And Saunders
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter Wolf 
>> via NAGDU
>> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2016 6:05 PM
>> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Peter Wolf <pwolf1 at wolfskills.com>
>> Subject: [NAGDU] Airlines/preboarding
>> 
>> Following up on Sandra's comment.
>> 
>> We do preboard, particularly because we are a two dog family (guide 
>> and service).  For the airline, it seems to fit their methods 
>> naturally to do pre boards.  But I am very sensitive to this, and 
>> wouldn't care if it was preboard, or just a regular seat halfway down the
> plane.
>> 
>> I know that no matter where we are, or in what seat, I am going to have
> have
>> whole plane load of people behind me, possibly waiting for me.  So.   My
> dog
>> and my luggage are dialed in.  I extend leash after turning right just 
>> inside the door to enter the center aisle, and tell Metukah "lead".  
>> She tows me down the aisle lightly, two feet ahead of me, and I 
>> follow.  At our seat, we duck her in fast.  Standing, sitting or 
>> laying, I don't care, for now.  But she goes in and stays there out of 
>> the way.  It might even be in the seats opposite mine.  No prob because no
> one's on the flight yet because
>> we are preboarding.   Next, I throw the bags right onto the seats or seat
>> floor, and get out of the center aisle.  Being first aboard, the 
>> overhead bins are almost always empty.  Then, if you notice, actually 
>> plenty of room to stand in front of the aisle seat in our row, and 
>> just slip bags up into the overhead, like a "layover" basketball shot 
>> so to speak, even as people walk by in the center aisle onto the 
>> plane.  I don't mean throw them - I find that I can duck my head up 
>> from under the bin at the aisle seat and clear the bin, so that I can 
>> just reach up and roll in the bag without getting out to block the 
>> aisle.  Or, if this is a hassle for any of you, I also just get in the
> aisle and do it, but be out of the aisle in 30 seconds.
>> That would be if I'm loading my gear and my wife's too.
>> 
>> So for me this isn't about disability, except that it is nice to have 
>> pre boarded; it's really only a normal courtesy to treat loading in 
>> like a mission, clear out fast and let people get boarded!
>> 
>> Happy flying!
>> Peter
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