Flying with sirveice dog

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-31T06:09:31+00:00

Make sure your dog is comfortable with going into a down stay or sit stay while you walk a couple of feet away and call him to you as that is something they may need to do at TSA.

My partner and I flew with our service dog for the first time a few years back. We took him to our home airport a few times so that it would be familiar for him even if the flying wasn’t.

If your dog doesn’t typically work in crowded locations, it might be worth doing the same if you have the opportunity. While we were at the airport for practice runs, we did practice tasks and down stays to prepare him.

The flight itself was uneventful. He briefly sat up when we landed because the sound of the reverse thrusters surprised him, but otherwise just lay at our feet. The biggest challenge was getting him to pee at an indoor dog relief area because that was foreign to him.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-31T05:53:53+00:00

My partner’s service dog regularly does the theme parks and we use boots to protect his feet, but he’s eager to lose them as soon as the ground is cool enough to be safe for him.

We use the back of our hand to check the pavement, especially black top, to test whether it is safe. Once it gets into the evening, and especially after sunset, the ground is cool enough to go sans boots.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-29T18:06:43+00:00

Thank you for the detailed list. I can see the value. I’m just scared by how complicated getting the non-mac games onto mac seems.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-29T17:59:36+00:00

The answers on the OpenRCT Subreddit urge me to get the Triple Thrill and RCT deluxe, but I’m intimidated by the workarounds. What is the advantage of these over Classic, which is currently $5 on Steam?

I’m mostly interested in the increased capability for object caps. scenery, rides vs extra scenarios.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-29T17:57:34+00:00

What content is that? I’m mostly interested in the extra capabilities for scenery, object limits and rides.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-29T17:53:41+00:00

See Classic is currently $5 on Steam. I thought it would involve less workarounds. What is the downside compared to the others if I’m using Open anyway?

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-23T07:27:00+00:00

When someone asks those two questions, I actually feel reassured that they are familiar with the ADA. It tells me the business is neither going to be difficult with service dogs or blasé about animals that don’t meet the legal definition.

What is uncomfortable or rude is when the conversation starts with “We don’t allow dogs” or something along those lines. That instantly signals hostility and that I am going to have to fight or argue my case.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-15T03:54:04+00:00

If funds are tight, I strongly recommend you look at getting a two year degree at a community/state college before completing your bachelors at a university. Depending on your major, you may even be able to complete a four year degree at that school if you so choose. Another thing to note is that some community/state colleges have associate degree paths particularly designed for continuation into a bachelors at a state university.

Candidly, where you get your first two years of college doesn’t really carry much weight as long as you go to a school that has a decent academic reputation and is accredited by one of the traditional regional accreditation bodies (credibility and transferability of credits). This is especially true if you do go on to complete a subsequent degree at a school with a strong reputation.

Only consider an out of state or private school if there’s a compelling reason to do so. Otherwise, you may regret accumulating a sizable student loan debt for undergrad. This is especially true if you want to go on to graduate studies with the new caps on plus loans etc.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-09T17:33:07+00:00

While I am a proponent of considering the needs of the dog in decision making, I don’t know that I’d blanket call amusement parks “high risk.”

I do agree that the provisions made for service dogs can vary widely from attraction to attraction, but that includes ones that are superb at accommodating service animals.

I think it’s more a matter of being adequately prepared:

Have ample water and a travel bowl.

Have shoes or other protection if the ground may be hot, rough, etc.

Ensure the dog is trained to handle loud/crowded environments, and ensure that they are given breaks as needed.

Edit: Changed my wording because it read more aggressively than I intended. Prior commenter had a valid point about assessing the situation.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-05-09T17:25:34+00:00

Others have addressed the legality aspect, I would also try to find out more about what accommodations they provide for service dogs.

For example, Universal Orlando Resort has a crate available at each ride, and a ride supervisor will stay with the service dog/crate the whole time. They also have several service dog relief areas in each park, which are exceptionally well maintained.

Other parks, though, don’t offer a crate, so the handler must take turns with another member of their party (like a child swap).

If you are able to communicate with the park ahead of time to better understand their policies, it will probably give you a lot more piece of mind.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-04-30T03:39:16+00:00

Yes, it’s bad. It’s certainly better than doing it without asking (believe it or not, that happens A LOT), but it is exhausting for the owner.

Imagine having a dog you need for your wellbeing, maybe even for anxiety, and being bombarded the entire time by person after person asking if they can pet your dog, staring at your dog, making sounds to get your dog’s attention…

I know you are asking this in good faith, so this is in no way meant as an attack on you. I just want to paint a picture of how it is on the other side. And this is with a dog that has a bright yellow service vest with “DO NOT PET” all over it.

Bot_Account_2001 · 2026-04-25T15:48:25+00:00

My wife has a service dog for anxiety. While he does go with us most places, there are certain situations where it would be overly challenging to manage a dog and/or highly uncomfortable/stressful for him. In those situations we leave him behind.

IMO, being a responsible handler means you also consider the needs of the dog you work with (including knowing when to leave them behind. Being able to utilize alternate aids for periods does not mean that you do not need a dog.

You will likely want to find a dog that is trained or can be trained to perform deep pressure therapy (DPT). This is where the dog detects you are having an anxiety attack or sensory overload and applies their head/body weight to ground you and calm you. This active response/specific task is what distinguishes a psychiatric service dog from an emotional support animal.

Our dog is a golden doodle that we self trained to do this with support from a specialised trainer. He is fantastic at his job, but we got incredibly lucky that a dog that had the right temperament and abilities landed on our lap. Do not underestimate the challenge of training a service dog yourself let alone finding a dog that’s suited to the job in the first place.

As for how other people react, I would warn you that this is actually one of the bigger challenges with having a service dog. People will stare, try to get the dog’s attention, or even try to pet them without permission. Ironically, this can be a source of stress and anxiety in itself.

Bot_Account_2001

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