Skip to main content

Going to the movies with a Service Dog

 [THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL TRAINING ADVICE JUST SOME TIPS] 



Despite this being my second service dog I had never been to the movies with a service dog. Grimm is getting really close to the end of his training and I'm trying to come up with places he hasn't been yet to make sure he can handle it. So I picked a movie I wanted to see and found a day that next to no people would be there(covid-19 is still a thing after all) and started to prep. 

The only unfortunate thing is that I had NO CLUE on how to prep. The movies are overwhelming for me I couldn't imagine how difficult it would be on a dog. So first I wanted to make things easier on others and give some tips on how to prepare and also share some things I did wrong. 

  1. You might have to leave. With any new experience, there's a chance that your dog won't be able to handle it at first. If you notice signs of stress and can tell your dog is reaching their limit there is no shame in bowing out. I know it sucks to drop $15 on a movie ticket and have to leave halfway through but thems the breaks. It doesn't mean you're a bad trainer and it doesn't mean you have a bad dog.(I had to walk out kinda in the middle to give Grimm a break) 
  2. Pick a short movie. I'll be honest I was a fool and I picked a 2hr movie and Grimm got super antsy near the end. A kid's movie or a 90min horror movie would probably be your best option. 
  3. Ensure your dog has a good down-stay(also bring a towel or blanket the ground is so nasty).  They're gonna be laying down for at least an hour and that can be really boring especially for a young dog. 
  4. Make sure your dog has a really good focus. For me the command is "Look at me," but whatever you use to get your dog's attention make sure that focus on you is rock solid. 
  5. It would also be good to know your dog is really good with distractions. The movies are so loud! and people are eating and giggling and talking the whole time. If your dog can't ignore those things the movies might be a little too rough for them. That being said if your dog isn't perfect with distractions that's no reason to hold them back. As long as you can easily reign them in if they break focus it'll be ok. 
  6. Make sure your dog doesn't bark at sounds on the TV. I know that one seems obvious but I was so anxious about it the whole time I was there I thought I might as well put it on there. 
  7. Be sure your dog is good at leaving food on the floor, there is so much food on the floor. Leave it is 100% necessary. At one point Grimm got bored and tried to scavenge for popcorn and I was so embarrassed hehe. 
I want to end this by reminding you that service dogs are still dogs. No matter how well trained they are sometimes they're gonna act like a dog. A sound will scare them, they'll try and eat food off the ground, they'll get bored and whine, they'll sniff around. Trying to make your dog never act like a dog will only burn you and your dog out. Prepare for mistakes, and give your dog a little space to make them. Stay calm and level-headed. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Training Migraine Alert

  Migraine alert is a useful task where a dog can be trained to give you a warning before you get a migraine. This is a task, not every dog will be able to do as it is scent based. Some dogs naturally alert, some will need specific training and some will never be able to pick it up. It can be harder for brachy breeds such as boxers as they may have lessened senses of smell.  You will first need to have a queue task down. This can be whatever indicator you want as long as it adequately gets your attention and your dog can do it consistently. I will refer to this command as touch from here on out for simplicity.  First, you will need to decide if you want this task to be based on sweat or saliva. Both work and your dog may respond better to one than the other. Also, masks can make it slightly more difficult for a dog to detect migraines. Grimm often alerts as soon as I get in the car and demask. This can make sweat a better option but I have always had more luck with saliva...
Post a Comment
Read more

Task Training: Remove Sock

Things you will need to train your dog to remove your socks for you: Treats  Socks  Your body  Mild tolerance for having your toes bitten(if you have any acute pain conditions consider asking a companion to take the hit when your dog is first starting out)  A Command to instruct your dog to use their mouth more gently, my command is gentle  A command to have your dog pick things up. Here is a link to the tutorial I used for this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arcb9IBgh6c   A companion to help in case of mobility limitations Some vocab before we start for simplicity's sake. I will use my command words through this tutorial but use whatever words or gestures your dog uses. I use “get it” when telling grim to retrieve a miscellaneous item for me. I use “gentle” when he takes treats too hard or paws at me too aggressively.  I started training this task by utilizing a simple brain exercise that my dog has done in the past. I will show him a treat then co...
Post a Comment
Read more

What to look for in a service dog breeder

  When owner training one of the biggest things you are going to need to know is how to choose a prospect. Now that could be its own post but right now I want to focus on something that makes choosing a prospect a lot easier.  All of this is assuming you also follow guidelines for a responsible breeder for the breed of dog you are looking into. I will not cover those guidelines but please make sure to look those up on your own.  Choosing a good breeder can make your dog training go way smoother. There are a few things to look out for when looking at breeders.  The first thing that can be really helpful is finding a breeder that specializes in breeding dogs for service work. This isn't always a possibility especially if you are going for a less common breed. Trainers who breed for service work should know what training/socialization/desensitization needs to be done in the early days of a puppy's life. My current service dog Grimm's breeder used desensitization sounds ...
Post a Comment
Read more