Service Dogs and Air Travel: A Reflection

There is more than meets the eye to a well-behaved service dog sitting quietly at an airport ticket counter. Pre-travel preparations – from booking the flight to boarding it – are carefully orchestrated. Because travel days can be hectic and unpredictable, taking preemptive measures to address potential issues that may arise is very important.

Few places offer more advanced challenges than an airport for public access training with service dogs. So much of what Betty encountered today was brand new. So many things were loud, fast-moving, and foreign to her sensibilities. And simultaneously, the stakes for her to behave appropriately – with the canine equivalent of superhuman self-control – were high. She did an outstanding job, showing me just how far she has come in her training, and how much she has matured in her seven months of puppyhood.

I made sure Betty did her doodie-duties as close to the time we had to enter the security check point as possible. She had a little bit of water after the car ride from Bakersfield to L.A., and got a few snacks here and there to reward her exceptional behavior, but not too much went in, as we didn't want anything coming out!

Betty had to remain calm while I fumbled around with boarding passes and bag claim slips. She had to walk gingerly at my side without pulling, as we stopped and started, stopped and started through the snaking security line. She had to be chill while I hurriedly took off my shoes and emptied my pockets, hastily throwing things into bins that clattered together as they hit the conveyor belt. And, when the clips on her vest set off the metal detector, Betty had to sit and stay while the TSA officer patted her down. (Between you and me, I think he just wanted a few Betty kisses more than anything else, and Betty was happy to oblige).

Once on the plane Betty had to ignore all the crumbs on the floor, and refrain from soliciting attention from the many hands reaching out to touch her. She became pretzel-esque in her positioning under the seat in front of me, keeping tail, toes, and tip-of-nose completely out of the center aisle. She ignored the lady that walked by carrying a shih tzu. And – along with all the other passengers – Betty kept her cool to the sound of a baby screaming bloody murder until well after the drink cart came and went.

She handled every aspect of the trip like a champ and I couldn't be more proud of her!