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
- 4 min
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...
148 views0 comments
- Jan 8, 2021
- 2 min
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...
351 views0 comments
- Dec 18, 2020
- 2 min
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...
245 views0 comments
- Dec 11, 2020
- 2 min
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...
182 views0 comments
- Dec 4, 2020
- 5 min
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...
109 views0 comments
- Nov 27, 2020
- 4 min
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...
132 views0 comments
- Nov 6, 2020
- 1 min
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...
127 views0 comments
- Oct 30, 2020
- 2 min
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...
47 views0 comments
- Oct 28, 2020
- 3 min
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...
886 views0 comments
- Oct 23, 2020
- 3 min
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...
58 views0 comments
- Oct 21, 2020
- 3 min
Interrupt
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
352 views0 comments
- Oct 16, 2020
- 3 min
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...
46 views0 comments
- Oct 14, 2020
- 3 min
Block
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
499 views0 comments
- Oct 9, 2020
- 3 min
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...
40 views0 comments
- Oct 7, 2020
- 4 min
Stay
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
75 views0 comments
- Oct 2, 2020
- 3 min
Cutlery and Chronic Illness
There are several common cutlery-based theories regarding chronic illness (which can include mental health illnesses) and what a person...
233 views0 comments
- Sep 30, 2020
- 2 min
Named Retrieval
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
103 views0 comments
- Sep 23, 2020
- 3 min
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...
108 views0 comments
- Sep 16, 2020
- 2 min
Retrieval - Give
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
50 views0 comments
- Sep 11, 2020
- 4 min
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...
121 views0 comments
- Sep 9, 2020
- 3 min
Retrieval - Hold
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
171 views0 comments
- Sep 4, 2020
- 3 min
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...
143 views0 comments
- Sep 2, 2020
- 3 min
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...
177 views0 comments
- Aug 28, 2020
- 2 min
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...
64 views0 comments
- Aug 26, 2020
- 3 min
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...
167 views0 comments
- Aug 21, 2020
- 3 min
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...
65 views0 comments
- Aug 19, 2020
- 3 min
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...
97 views0 comments
- Aug 14, 2020
- 2 min
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...
28 views0 comments
- Aug 12, 2020
- 3 min
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...
61 views0 comments
- Aug 7, 2020
- 2 min
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...
16 views0 comments
- Aug 5, 2020
- 2 min
Touch
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
94 views0 comments
- Jul 31, 2020
- 4 min
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...
139 views0 comments
- Jul 29, 2020
- 2 min
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...
65 views0 comments
- Jul 24, 2020
- 2 min
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...
78 views0 comments
- Jul 22, 2020
- 3 min
Up & Off
Service dogs must be trained in certain behaviors to help their specific disabled partner. If the behavior is triggered with a command...
38 views0 comments
- Jul 17, 2020
- 3 min
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...
18 views0 comments
- Jul 15, 2020
- 2 min
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...
234 views0 comments
- Jul 10, 2020
- 2 min
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...
52 views0 comments
- Jul 8, 2020
- 3 min
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...
1,492 views0 comments
- Jul 3, 2020
- 3 min
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...
37 views1 comment
- Jul 1, 2020
- 3 min
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...
396 views0 comments
- Jun 26, 2020
- 2 min
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)...
52 views0 comments
- Jun 19, 2020
- 2 min
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...
169 views0 comments
- Apr 3, 2020
- 12 min
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...
48 views0 comments
- Mar 29, 2020
- 4 min
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...
52 views0 comments
- Mar 10, 2020
- 4 min
Hello and welcome!
An introduction to who I am, my experience, and what I'm passionate about.
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