Dogs in America??

[moxiegrl]

Katie has a crate, and she loves it. She was only locked in it for her first few months when we werent home (not 8 hrs a day!!!! More like 1 or 2 tops), and not at night either. We started leaving her out when we would leave for like 10 minutes, 15 minutes at a time, and when nothing was chewed or destroyed, her priveleges got longer. Now I can leave her for 6 or 7 hours and come home to a clean, unchewed house.

Personally I dont like the idea of people crating their dog ALL day while theyre at work. I know people have to work, but they should look into doggy day care or pet sitting if the dog cant be trusted outside the crate.

 

[mrose_s]

the puppies used to be inside and the afults outside. once the puppies got old enough to start chewin and stuff they all went outside all day. then they have free roam while we are there.

 

[bubbatd]

Yes, some of our laws here suck ! I could have taken Bubba anywhere with me sans leach and he would have stayed by my side. Ollie was rehomed ( then happily to me ) as he wrecked his new owner's house when left alone . I have a huge crate for him when I can't take him with me . Luckily he likes it . ShAnd , when you make your plans , let us know where and when . EliN and I took our dogs to New England a couple of summers ago . Hit 4 dog friendly hotels . Visiting The Dog Chapel on Dog Mountain in Vermont is a must !

 

[FoxyWench]

omg, that is terrible!!! so i guess the pit bull service dog i saw the other day leading a blind man wouldn't be too welcome...

that is just appalling!

isnt that awefull?!

i have 2 frineds who have service dogs,
one a 23 yr old young man who has mobility problems and is partially blind, his service dog is a dane x wolfhound x lab mix, and he took special classes his dog is certified as a service dog (service dogs do NOT need to be certified or specially trained other than obedience (and even then actuall titles are not needed)
He was refused entry to a store because he was OBVIOUSLY not blind...and he OBVIOUSLY didnt need a service dog...and he must be lying because only labs are service dogs!
he reacently won his small court case against them for disgrimination, im hoping that it will bring the need for better education about the rights of service dogs to the attention of employers and buisnesses in the area.

my other frined has a minature bull terrier, hes again certified seizure alert and responce dog. And very good at his job. my frind carries a copy of the americans with disabilities act with him 100% of the time and whenever questioned not only has the person read the pamphlet but also asks for a manager at which point he gives them the pamphlet to read, tells them they need to learn the laws and teach their employees about those laws and leaves them the pamphlet. if still given issues over his acess he has his laywer on speeddial on his cellphone and imediatly has his laywer talk to the manger about the legalities involved.
thus far hes yet to have to follow through on claiming his legal rights and after 4 years hes fially allowed acces to his regular places without so much as a look from the employees, but hes still wary about going to new places.

i have a 3rd person...whom i will never call friend. hes not even remotly disabled in anyway shape or form he has a lab, he bought a jacket and some badges offline and some dark gasses. and walks into places with his lab claiming its a service dog...because its a lab and his dark glasses obviously mean his blind they dont bat an eyelash...it makes me so angry that people like him can get away with it, but actually disabled people that dont fit in the "obviously disabled" category or with dogs that arnt labs are imediatly put through hell.

I personally qualiify for both a seizure alert and responce dog AND an emotional support dog, im currenty working through my issues and dont leave the house without family or frineds so dont NEED a service dog right now...but the fact is that when im out on my own one day i might/probbaly will, and knowing what its like out there for disabled people who arnt the normally accepted version of diabled, and their service dogs...it terrifies me to know that one day i myself might have to go through that hell (espcially since the emotional is social anxiety and im terrified of confrontation) but i think of my 2 wonderfull and deserving frineds with service dogs and how strong they are...im hoping to draw strength from them!


SRY to sidetrak the thread...

 

[lakotasong]

My dogs love their crates. I have three open crates right now, each one with a dog snoozing in it. Another dog snoozing on the floor, one on the couch next to me, and three relaxing in the bedroom. Nothing wrong with crate training if done correctly and not over-used.

 

[ShAnd]

Thank you all for your posts (and the links/information on New England posted by casablanca1, foxyWench and bubbatd).

We think we should rent a house instead of staying at a hotel. But we`ll see - first we have to reconsider taking Shadow at all .. maybe he`s better off at home since he really is used to come along wherever we go. And the US doesn`t seem to be as dog-friendly as most places in Europe.

 

[SizzleDog]

I take my dogs to Petco, Petsmart, the local feed stores and pet supply stores, and into Theisen's (your typical "have everything" store for farm families... gawd I love the midwest!)

Here int he midwest, it seems like the hostility towards dogs is much rarer. Offleash dogs are pretty common (although I won't say taht all are well behaved or deserve to be offleash), there are lots of areas where offleash dogs can romp and play... the state parks say that dogs must be leashed, but I only leash mine in the park with open rock cliffs... too dangerous for my dogs *not* to be leashed!

Basically, here in the U.S. you have to find ways to make the best of it. Yes my dogs are crated, but sometimes I can take them to school, and they always get to go out and have fun at the parks in my area. I make it fun for them.

And since we are planning a long (maybe 1 month) vacation in New England in about a year or two I was wondering if it`s true that dogs aren`t allowed in most of the public places .. like here you can take them almost everywhere (restaurants, post-office, stores - except for the supermarket - hairdresser, McDonalds, Starbucks).

What "rules" concerning dogs have to be followed? Leash everywhere?

And then another question (which doesn`t concern our vacation): Here crates/kennels are hardly used and if, then during the first months only - and even that is a contentiously discussed topic .. I did keep Shadow in (a locked) kennel in the beginning - during the night and when he was alone - until he was about 4 months old .. now (at 8 months) he spends the nights in his bed and when he`s alone he`s free to choose his sleeping-place - I`ve kept the kennel (now open all the time), but just to feed him bones ..

Is it common in the US/Canada - but maybe not for you - to keep even adult dogs in kennels or is that just another of so many untrue rumors around here?

Just curious ..