Being an Autistic Small Business Owner
Being an Autistic Small Business Owner is hard, but there are things you can do to try to make it easier.
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Doggy Stars
A Service Dog, Training, and Disability Blog
Feb 8, 20234 min read
6 Questions to Ask Before Getting a Service Dog
1. Do I have the monetary means necessary to care for my service dog? Service dogs are not only expensive when you are getting one, but...
242 views0 comments
Jan 8, 20212 min read
Service Dog Etiquette for Handlers
We’ve already talked about how the public should (or shouldn’t) interact with service dogs, but what about the service dog partners...
458 views0 comments
Dec 18, 20202 min read
House Rules for Your Pup
* Updated 2/8/23: Removed "ignore fear" and explanation as that does not match what science tells us. * In order to have a well-behaved...
303 views0 comments
Dec 11, 20202 min read
Prepping for a New Puppy
You’re bringing a new puppy into your home! So exciting! Let’s make sure that you have supplies and plans prepared ahead of time to help...
200 views0 comments
Dec 4, 20205 min read
Planes and How Service Dogs Will Be Affected
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has finalized their new, updated rules regarding Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) and Service...
136 views0 comments
Nov 27, 20204 min read
How to Get a (Trained) Service Dog
You’ve decided that you want to get a service dog and that owner-training just isn’t right for you. How do you actually go about getting...
154 views0 comments
Nov 6, 20201 min read
Service Dog Etiquette for the Public
* Update 2/8/23: Changed "wheelchair" to "oxygen tank" as wheelchair users do, unfortunately, have their chair moved and touched without...
166 views0 comments
Oct 30, 20202 min read
You're Different and That's Okay
Every person with a disability is unique. Even those with the exact same diagnoses may have different capabilities. Some can hold down...
66 views0 comments
Oct 28, 20203 min read
Crowd Control - Circle
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
1,185 views0 comments
Oct 23, 20203 min read
Service Dog Registration
In the service dog world, “registration” is seen as an ugly term. But why is that? And is “certification” any better? Well, it depends on...
77 views0 comments
Oct 21, 20203 min read
Interrupt
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
517 views0 comments
Oct 16, 20203 min read
Crate Training
Crate training is a much maligned practice. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard people say they don’t want to “trap” or otherwise...
58 views0 comments
Oct 14, 20203 min read
Block
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
700 views0 comments
Oct 9, 20203 min read
Training & Public Access in a Lockdown
Depending on where you are, you may or may not still be in lockdown due to covid-19, but there are other reasons you could be in...
47 views0 comments
Oct 7, 20204 min read
Stay
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
89 views0 comments
Oct 2, 20203 min read
Cutlery and Chronic Illness
There are several common cutlery-based theories regarding chronic illness (which can include mental health illnesses) and what a person...
286 views0 comments
Sep 30, 20202 min read
Named Retrieval
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
130 views0 comments
Sep 23, 20203 min read
Retrieval - Bring It
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
144 views0 comments
Sep 16, 20202 min read
Retrieval - Give
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
66 views0 comments
Sep 11, 20204 min read
Should You Get a Puppy for a Service Dog?
Service dogs are life-changing, but they can be very expensive, so more and more people are choosing to owner-train their dogs. The...
215 views0 comments
Sep 9, 20203 min read
Retrieval - Hold
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
190 views0 comments
Sep 4, 20203 min read
Is a Service Dog Right for You?
You’ve been considering getting a service dog for yourself, you’ve researched what a service dog is, but you’re not sure if one is right...
158 views0 comments
Sep 2, 20203 min read
Retrieval - Take It & Get It
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
221 views0 comments
Aug 28, 20202 min read
Are "fake" service dogs ruining everything?
One term you’ve probably heard is “fake” service dog. Many places and people rail against these fakes causing trouble in stores and other...
65 views0 comments
Aug 26, 20203 min read
Alert to Scent Cue
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
213 views0 comments
Aug 21, 20203 min read
How to Find a Dog Trainer for YOUR Dog
Whether you have a service dog, an ESA, or a pet dog, finding a good dog trainer can be daunting. There are so many different techniques...
75 views0 comments
Aug 19, 20203 min read
Alert to Visual Cue
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
119 views0 comments
Aug 14, 20202 min read
Invisible Disabilities, Misdiagnosis, & Missed Diagnoses
Being invisibly disabled can be a real struggle, even when just trying to get the care you need. When I was around 20, I literally had a...
32 views0 comments
Aug 12, 20203 min read
Alert to Audible Cue
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
77 views0 comments
Aug 7, 20202 min read
Warm Weather Hazards
The spring and summer months are full of hazards for our dogs, from toxic plants to blood-sucking pests and even increased trash and...
17 views0 comments
Aug 5, 20202 min read
Touch
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
116 views0 comments
Jul 31, 20204 min read
Service Dog Equipment
There are so many different types of service dog equipment, but what’s the right one? Does it matter if you use a cape vs a vest? What’s...
235 views0 comments
Jul 29, 20202 min read
Give a Paw
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
85 views0 comments
Jul 24, 20202 min read
Should Every Dog Be Allowed in Public?
There’s a phrase used in the service dog world: “public access.” This term is used to mean that a dog has the rights to go into places...
100 views0 comments
Jul 22, 20203 min read
Up & Off
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
59 views0 comments
Jul 17, 20203 min read
Is Pet Insurance Necessary?
As a dog trainer, I have often been asked about pet insurance. Is it necessary? Is it worth it? My opinion is that any animal should have...
21 views0 comments
Jul 15, 20202 min read
Deep Pressure Therapy - Chin
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
304 views0 comments
Jul 10, 20202 min read
What IS a Service Animal?
*Update Jan. 2021: Psychiatric service dogs are no longer separated from other types of service dogs when it comes to airplanes and ESAs...
60 views0 comments
Jul 8, 20203 min read
Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT) - Lap
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
1,805 views0 comments
Jul 3, 20203 min read
Invisible Disabilities and the Transition to Visible Aids
One of the problems that those of us with invisible disabilities struggle with is belief that we’re disabled. We have to struggle with...
51 views1 comment
Jul 1, 20203 min read
Service Dog Task Terms & Tips
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
496 views0 comments
Jun 26, 20202 min read
Summer Heat & Dog Boots
The temperature is rising again, so it’s time to think about the temperature of the ground that your dog is walking on. Humans (normally)...
65 views0 comments
Jun 19, 20202 min read
Starting to Use a Cane as a Young Woman
About six months ago, I realized that I needed to add a cane to my daily life for safety reasons. I wasn’t able to stand in place for...
183 views0 comments
Apr 3, 202012 min read
Response to DOT Proposed Changes When Flying with Service Dogs or Emotional Support Animals
*The changes have been decided as of Jan. 2021. See more here.* The DOT has a proposal to change how service dogs and Emotional Support...
50 views0 comments
Mar 29, 20204 min read
What counts as "disabled" in the US?
*Updated 6/22/23 to add a link for more information about SSI/SSDI* What the US defines as a disability—and when they’ll offer help—is...
65 views0 comments
Mar 10, 20204 min read
Hello and welcome!
An introduction to who I am, my experience, and what I'm passionate about.
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