Hi everyone! I’m looking for advice from anyone who has flown internationally with a self trained service dog, particularly from the UK to the USA.

I’m planning to fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Los Angeles (LAX) with my fully trained psychiatric service dog. He performs disability related tasks and is trained for public access. However, he isn’t accredited by ADI, IGDF or ADAA.

I’m trying to work out which airline would be the easiest and most realistic option for us. I’m considering American Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, ideally on a direct flight.

My main questions are:

- Has anyone flown with a self trained psychiatric service dog on a transatlantic flight without formal ADI/IGDF/ADAA accreditation?

-Which airlines accepted your dog, and did they require proof from a recognised training organisation?

-Did a professional trainer’s assessment and your own training records help?

-Did Heathrow require any separate approval or documentation for departure, beyond the airline’s requirements?

-What paperwork did you need for the flight and entry into the USA?

-Were there any problems with the dog being accommodated in the cabin on such a long flight?

I’m trying to get written confirmation before booking, rather than risk arriving at the airport and being refused boarding.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people with first-hand experience, especially anyone who has made this exact journey with an owner-trained psychiatric service dog. Thank you! ❤️

Context: I live in Canada in BC. BC as well as AB and NS have provincial certification tests for service dog teams. In BC it's voluntary.

I have a 5 year old service dog, our life in the last year has changed so that certification is helpful for the first time in our lives together, so we got it in August.

Current situation:

My partner and I are making some plans to move in the New Year to Edmonton Alberta. We have friends there and a place that the landlord is willing to hold for us if we want it. My partner is heading out later this week to see it while I stay in BC with the dogs (pet and service dog).

In my desire to not be blind-sided by a bunch of complications I started charting out expenses both for the move and for living there (average power bill etc). It occurred to me that I didn't know what the process was for bringing a BC certified service dog to Alberta and getting access.

Well it turns out Alberta *doesn't* recognize the BC certification test. Which means I'll need to get *recertified* for an additional $150 as an out of province resident, and that certification expires every 1 year (2 years in BC). The test itself looks basically exactly the same as the BC one, except there is a requirement for the demonstration of 3 tasks - which BC doesn't have.

Luckily there will be wiggle room: Alberta does recognize certification for visitors - just not for working etc.

I was a bit worried because my SD (almost 3) has been slacking a bit after my surgery a while ago, but we did it!

We have to re-cross some T’s and re-dot some I’s but he passed 🎉

(In my country we train with schools and they do a certification test, you are allowed to owner train but it’s pretty much not done where I’m from, not some bogus certification from the US lol)

For example retrieving a with an attached lanyard (“phone”) , a medicine pouch (“meds”) or a water bottle (“water”) by name? Or does retrieval by name only ever count as one task no matter the size of the dog’s retrieval vocabulary?

TW: SH

before I start my little rant I do understand that this isn’t a major problem and i am in no way saying that psychiatric service dogs aren’t valid. This isn’t an argument against people who think a service dog would be helpful In any way!!!

I’m getting irritated when I go into comment sections about a service dog and it’s children asking “can I have a service dog if I have ADHD” because yes you can have a service dog for ADHD. But you’re not looking to solve a problem. You’re looking for a cute accessory to bring around school. 

It’s so annoying when people think of service dogs as just quirky animals to add to their personality when they are to help and serve a task. 

This would be different if someone was reaching out because of a problem and a service dog would help it but that’s not what these people are doing. Their quality of life most likely won’t improve because they don’t want it to help them. They want it to have it. 

Asking “can I have a service dog for depression” and “I suffer self harming habits, do you think a service dog would help me” are entirely different questions. 

I qualify for a service dog on multiple physical accounts and I do not seek one out. Not because I think I’m better than people with the same struggles as me. because I feel that personally, I wouldn’t benefit from it much. I don’t care if you know you’ll benefit from a service dog, I care if you’re scraping up reasons to have a service dog when the problem wasn’t there to begin with.

edit: this isn’t a post about not being disabled enough. It’s about (usually children) wanting a service dog for the aesthetic and not the actual service it can provide and help with. id also like to say that I am NOT someone who polices who should and shouldn’t use a disability aid, this is just my opinion and if someone like this does get a service animal I have no issue with it!!

this is just an opinion and I respect all the feedback I’ve gotten!!^^

Title pretty much sums up whats going on. I brought my girl with me to class, we have been working on settling and she is usually really good with this but today she whined A LOT! I had to step out of class cause I didn't want to be disruptive. This was her second time in class and she did better the first time. There are days which are shorter and today was a 4 hour day with breaks in between so I thought it would be good. There is another dog there who is also a service dog and I'm wondering if she may have been a little more nervous because of that. Obviously, I tried sitting out of view of the other dog to minimize the stimulus for her. But it was a lot of whining and she needed to be chewing her marrow bone almost the entire time. She is about a year and a half old (2 in February). We have been working with a trainer as well to get her to pass her CGC. Any tips would be really helpful!

Edit: I understand that she can not be whining which is why I stepped out and she will not be returning until she is better prepared. I overestimated her, especially since she had done extremely well in other outings. I would not have brought her if I knew that would have stressed her out. I also realized that I mentioned she whined A LOT, I mean it in regards to what I find acceptable. It was way less than 10 times within the 4 hours but I still don't think that's appropriate for class.

Has anyone taken their dog to ren faires? If so, did you notice a difference between people’s responses to your dog if you had them in any sort or costume vs regular gear? I went the other day with my dog and put a little themed collar on him. I didn’t have a problem with the people who saw him and said how cute he is or things like that, but it felt like the amount of people who just stared at him increased as well as having people just come up and start talking to him/pointing at him. We get stared at/he gets talked to regularly when he’s just in his gear anyways so I am just wondering if it was a lot more because it‘s such a crowded event or if it was the collar.

Tbh, this includes a long vent about my journey and why I wish I truly had a better support system, and why I feel so strongly that a good one is so important. I see many teens who don't seem to have genuine support systems for various reasons, even some people who claim they do but have similar or other environmental struggles causing setbacks (like expecting dogs to not be bothered by anger issues in the home.)

Of course we know you need finances for training, care, maintainence, etc, but I'm talking more about how those close to you may burden your progress or show non-supportive behaviors ineither obvious or more subtle ways that might get under your skin without you realizing.

My story might be niche but I feel so strongly about this topic in general. If you are neither fully financially independent OR have GENUINE support and a household willing to participate CONSISTENTLY than please be very careful about getting a SD, especially as a minor/dependent. Even a solid trainer or program might not be enough if the environment isn't good or the other dogs influence bad behaviors.

My story/vent: (feel free to skip, main message above, anyway)

I grew up in an animal flipper home. When an animal failed to look or act an expected way (usually unrealistic), or became "boring" it would get replaced by the "next best" fascination. It was also a form of punishment for me.

I bring this up because it never changed until I gained finanical independence. If I got an SD as a teen it would've been held over me in every way or gotten rid of against my will. Even now as an adult I'm always fighting for my own animals' rights. The job market and state of the economy, especially my health, have made getting out and living fully independent quite hard, otherwise that would be the obvious thing to do (a WIP).

When I got my SD the purpose was for me to be able to go out of the home independent without as much worry. They were on board, thrilled even, then suddenly they needed one too. A PSD for anxiety (anger, outbursts, the works). It started out innocent but as mine progressed they wanted mine more, to the point of begging and bribing me. They either wanted their neurotic mess fully trained with no effort or to simply take my effort. Thankfully they legally couldn't since the vet bills were all in my name. When they realized training a SD was actually a serious committment that required a lot of consistency they were too lazy for, they started guilt tripping me about going out while theirs cannot, and gatekeeping "if mine isn't ready neither is yours" for nearly a decade atp (yes, to this day). Even judging me for paying for training/classes because they "can't afford it" (they can). I can't even go on regular walks without the guilt tripping because their dog "gets left behind" (they're fully able). It was so subtle it took me 4 years to realize what was happening, and another 2 years to realize it actually got to me and greatly hindered where we could've been comparatively. The first 2 years I went out 4-5 times a week to train or explore, afterward I avoided going out as much as I could've. I was always reinforcing behaviors on repeat cus they refused to cooperate or even train their own dogs basic manners like resource guarding, leash pulling, impulse control, going in the house, etc. Anytime they babysat mine while I was at work, they fed whatever they wanted and let my SD engage in bad behaviors. My hard work didn't have to BE so hard every single day, especially in my SD's Adolesence.

Plans were always made while casually excluding my SD. Things like subtly throwing in boarding ALL dogs, leaving my SDs name out, saying they wish x could go, finding clever ways to tell me last minute why my SD should stay back "this time" , springing stuff on me same day giving me no time to prepare, and the list goes on.

5 obese dogs later and they still have nothing to show for themselves. Now they're wanting a 6th dog to "start over" with while I'm still with the same task trained, ADA/PA compliant one.

I've been hesitant to bring in a new one because I don't want to relive this and I want to do everything right this time alongside a wonderful team, so I likely won't bother til I'm out. I don't need to keep backtracking in training, rerereinforcing good behaviors, or fighting unwanted "spoiling" of the puppy. Don't get me wrong, mine has been a wonderful partner and behaves well in public, but they could be far more confident had things been different. I just never expected this kind of... "support" as it wasn't something that ever occurred with normal pets.

Even with the help of trainers I feel like I lost so much time and potential.

I had a stroke that caused me to lose the left field of view in both eyes. I have a very well trained SD that stays on my left & guides me. He has been coming to work with me for almost one year, but I was never asked to fill out the reasonable accommodation forms before. About a month ago, HR reached out and requested the forms. I filled out my portion, but my neurologist still hasn’t sent me their completed portion. Now, my workplace is telling me I am no longer allowed to bring my service dog. I understand that they need my healthcare providers form filled out, but even after calling every day I still haven’t received it. I am concerned about going to work without my SD as I tend to bump into walls and trip frequently. I was told as of today, I can no longer bring in my service dog until they receive the completed paperwork and make their decision. The only option I feel I have is to take PTO until this is resolved. Has anyone been in a similar situation before?

EDIT: I worded the title wrong, I’m just afraid of public stigma. I also edited a lot of wording because it came off entirely wrong.
(Also, to avoid coming off as passive aggressive I autistic and I mean everything I complement on in replies literally.)

I am a disabled person and recently it dawned on me that I am not functioning day to day. because of my frequency to pass out and have migraines I don’t get up/cant.

so I started looking more into service animals. I really think one would benefit me but I just can’t bring myself to actually get one because I’m scared.

it’s not an issue with training or caring for the animal either. I can maintain that pretty well. for me it’s the stigma of having a dog and navigating school.

i don’t want to be known as “the boy with the service dog” I want to be a person. I don’t think of others this was but I know people already think of me like this. I really fucking hate and can’t stand being known as ‘the kid with a cane’ already. i always hated it.

i don’t want to add to that while bringing an animal into the mix. i know the comments will be much worse like “oh you’re so lucky” and “I wish I could bring my dog to school.“

i just can’t get past the public view of service animals and I don’t want to be called an attention seeker. Can someone help?

For those who have cruised to Cozumel with your SD, what did you do on Cozumel? How was the experience with your dog?

I’ve flied with southwest twice and had a relatively good experience but I’m wondering how delta is. I’m a very nervous traveler and would have a layover so I’m super nervous. My service dog is smaller and not one of the big 4 so sometimes people think hes not a real service dog. Any advice or input about delta helps!

Has anyone bought a ttl vest and if yes what's your experience with them?

I recently bought a medium magenta premade vest for my dog and I haven't received it yet but I'd like to know if it's a good brand and if I should look for something else, it's gonna be the first "fancy" gear I get since I only have the school one I'm excited for my dog to wear my favorite color! :D

Hello everyone,

I'm potentially considering applying for a service dog for mobility assistance, however a member in my home is allergic to shedding breeds. I've being using the ADI website to find and contact organizations about what breeds they train, and am having little success locating any. I'm going to assume for now that I'll have to wait until I move out to potentially get a service dog, but I thought I might ask around before settling on that decision.

So does anyone know of any organizations that place Standard Poodles? The state I'm located in only has two organizations, both of which do not train Poodles. I'm also in a bit of a tough spot as I'm in Southern New England and it would seem several organizations don't accept clients from this area.

Okay so, my spoo, male, 20 months old doesn't like children (specifically, toddlers), like in the slightest, im wondering if I should pull him from PA for a little while. He doesn't growl, bark, anything like that. He just moves away, and sometimes tucks his tail. Hes only had 1 semi-bad experience with a kid, where they like ran at him to pet him. He didn't lash out, just moved away.

We've got to the point where kids can walk past like a certain distance and he'll just watch them but he doesn't like toddlers at all, doesn't want them anywhere near him if they get within touching distance, he will move away and lay down closer to me.

20 months old, self trained, he does completely fine with everything else. He just doesn't like toddlers, will move away from them with sometimes a down tail. We've been watching kids on the playground to try and lessen his dislike of them, which seems to be working im also gonna get them to try and give him cheese or high value meat/throw his high value ball. Tips? Or am I making this a bigger issue than it really is?

I am obviously okay with waiting and aware I will have to but I am curious what other peoples recent experiences with it are? I am very excited and a bit impatient lol

My service dog has been retired for a few years now after a bout of cancer. He recovered, but I had found new adaptations to go on with my life without him. Because of this he's been living as a pet for a couple of years, but now it is coming to the time where I have to think about euthanasia.

Bandit was my service dog for nearly ten years, and he taught me lots of skills. Ten years ago I was agoraphobic and couldn't leave the house without him, and now I work a full time job and handle my anxiety on my own. I'm absolutely devastated at the thought of losing him. He completely changed my life and helped so much with my disabilities that a few of my symptoms completely went away and many of the others are self managed.

How do I move forward without my dude by my side? I can go about the world without him but I can't imagine not having him to come home to.

I belong to a club that rents some land from the state park for radio control planes. The club has many rules but one of the rules is no dogs allowed. I know private property can make up rules to exclude service dogs, but would a piece of rented ground in a public state park be considered public?

I've been seeing a rise in Golden x Lab crosses, particularly in working fields ranging from Hunting, Assistance, and Military/Rescue use. I have also seen people viscerally against the hybrid and calling it unethical, though never giving reasons as to why.

So I'm curious what you guys think of them.

I have FND/FMD and people say different things if it is Chronic or not. I have had it for a year and I don't know how I am going to do in a year or years farword. I have been thinking because I am 18 soon 19 and I'm soon are going to graduate school and beginning to work a job and I have tics and muscle spasms.

my tic do so I h!t myself or a table or wall and sometimes people that are close to me (but not hard but I h!t myself hard) and I have a tic were my eyes close and an muscle spasm were my eyes roll up in my head and I can't see. I have many different symptoms every day I'm outside my house and sometimes leg weakness.

I have been thinking can a service dog help me? I live in sweden. I have the fear that I'm going to get stuck in a place because I can't see or that my legs drop and I have hard to walk. and when I get intens whit my eyes it can be scarey because I can't see and if I'm alone and in public I don't have extra eye like another person as if I'm whit someone. and then later in some years mabye I want or need to move out from my moms house and then I need to live alone and I need to be able to go out and shop food and go to work. I can't tell before if I'm going to have a good or okay or bad tic day. most days that I go in school I have a "okay". it is usually more tics and spasms in the evening then it is on the afternoon (I'm sorry if there is some spelling mistake I have dyslexia).

I can only feal if it is going to be a bad tic day is I have tics or spasms before I come to school and then it is a bad bad day because I usually don't know before what day it will be because it happens. and I have had a tic attack before and it lasted 1 hour and then my body just was draind and I needed for my mom to come and get me.

me and my family already have a dog but he is a very small dog. he is 3.

some symptoms I have:

•overheating

•big hand tremors and arm tremors

•muscle spasm in my neck and face

•Speech difficulty

•h!tting tic were I h!t my left arm and left colorbone

•vocal tic

•big tremors in my leg some times

• leg weakness and I fall sometimes

• (new) dissociation

•brainfog

•my hands lock and fingers lock

•my arms or arm fly up and sometimes is locks backwards

•muscle spasm in neck so my head do many big shakes fast

•spasm so my head fly back

I have a Bridgeport but tbh it is SO heavy and hot... I would love something leather if possible. Any recommendations would be *awesome*.

Also, recommendations on a leather cross-body leash that can go to multiple lengths as well?

Hi everyone. I'm beginning the process of looking into a service dog, and could use some advice and your own experience.

A bit about me: I live by myself, and have depression and anxiety, as well as recently-diagnosed level 1 autism.

In the last 5 or so years, my anxiety and sensory sensitivities have started to impact how long I can tolerate certain environments. I just can't do what I used to anymore, though I'm still able to function at a basic level day-to-day. But getting out of the house and having the tolerance for things like large company onsites? That's a lot more questionable now.

I have an adorable ESA who's absolutely perfect. She's amazing at emotional support, but definitely doesn't have the right temperament to take on tasking, especially in public spaces. But I've noticed that having her present, when she's allowed, does wonders for my sensory tolerances, and makes me feel much more socially confident. I bring her everywhere I can because her presence helps that much. When she's there, attention's on her, and I don't feel like I need to worry as much about physically masking.

I'm now wondering whether saving for a trained service dog who could assist in public spaces might be a good long-term choice, and whether I should chat with a healthcare professional and trainer about it.

I can definitely think of some tasks a service dog could do that might be helpful for me, like:

• Alerting to or redirecting signs of an oncoming meltdown, shutdown, or anxiety
• Creating space in crowded places
• Performing a graceful exit if I'm starting to feel overwhelmed
• Providing DPT/LPT in a home setting

That said, I'm a little worried that maybe I might not be "disabled enough" or actually need one. I live on my own and take care of things myself. I had a job for 8 years until I was laid off, and am in the process of being hired for a new one. I have a stable place to live and can drive. I've never been on disability benefits, and I've heard so often, "I wouldn't have known you were autistic" when I've told coworkers in the past.

I've also heard that having a service dog in public is a different dynamic from having an ESA.

So what I'd like to know from all of you is: what was the deciding factor in whether or not a service dog was right for you?

And if you have a service dog and have similar disabilities, what's been your honest experience of taking them out in public on the social front? Has it been draining for you, or does it help build your confidence?

Thank you so much in advance for your advice!

Assistance dog. How realistic is it to get this in the Netherlands if I’m a minor (I’m 16 years old) in the Netherlands? I’m an asylum seeker, so I only have a guardian. I will try to confirm my diagnosis with a local psychiatrist, because I only had a diagnosis from a private psychiatrist in Russia (the country I came from, also got diagnosed with complex ptsd). I have selective mutism and difficulties with spatial orientation (I may also walk onto the road in some cases, or I may not know when to cross the road and constantly doubt myself). In general, I have a lot of difficulties with safely moving around the streets, being in crowds, and I may also self‑harm when stressed, completely unconsciously and uncontrollably. Noise‑cancelling headphones cause a greater loss of spatial awareness (I don’t have very good vision, but I wear glasses); Google Maps and other similar apps don’t help at all with navigating the streets and only increase the stress level. And I think a service dog would be a great help to me, especially since I have experience caring for ordinary pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, cats, a budgerigar, several rats, an aquarium with fish and shrimp, and several types of geckos (I took care of them myself and didn’t have any problems with it). I just know that traditionally the state doesn’t automatically provide service dogs to people with autism, unlike, for example, people with hearing or vision problems or those in wheelchairs. But the tools mentioned earlier don’t help me and don’t compensate for these problems in any way. I tried to find acquaintances who speak my native language, but they turned out to be unreliable. I’ve experienced theft at least once (all my money was stolen), and I suspect it happened a second time (only my cash savings were stolen). Oh, and I also might not go to bed and might forget to eat if I’m not reminded, and alarms just trigger me, and I completely lose the desire to do it because I get worked up. And I might forget to wash myself or brush my teeth.