Absolutely Pawsitive Canine

Learned this one years ago from Dr Dunbar and have used it many times to help demonstrate the truth of what is happening with a client's dog. M/

TikTok · DunbarAcademy

A certificate, a vest, or a doctor's orders does not allow your dog public access privileges.

Not Every Dog Belongs in Non-Pet-Friendly Public Places

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the different roles dogs can have, so let's clear it up.

Pet Dogs
A pet's job is to be a companion. They may be incredibly well-trained, but being well-behaved does not make a dog a service dog or give it public access rights.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
Emotional Support Animals provide comfort simply through their presence. They are important to many people, but they are not trained to perform disability-related tasks and are not considered service animals under the ADA. ESAs do not have the right to accompany their owner into stores, restaurants, grocery stores, or other businesses that do not allow pets.

Therapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort to other people in places like hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster relief settings. They work by invitation through therapy programs and do not have general public access rights.

Service Dogs
A service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks that directly mitigate their handler's disability. Because they are working medical aids—not pets—they are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and are generally allowed in public places where pets are not.

Working Dogs
Working dogs include Police K9s, military working dogs, detection dogs, search and rescue dogs, livestock guardian dogs, herding dogs, hunting dogs, and many others. Their training and legal authority depend on the job they perform.

You may see law enforcement K9s, military working dogs, and detection dogs in public while they are actively working. These dogs are operating under the direction of their handler and within the scope of their agency or organization. Do not approach, pet, distract, or interact with them unless the handler clearly invites you to do so.

Many patrol and military K9s are trained in controlled apprehension (bite work) as part of their duties. While these dogs are highly trained and under their handler's control, they are capable of causing serious injury when deployed. Giving them space isn't just respectful—it's the safest choice for everyone.

Here's the important part:

Loving your dog, buying a vest online, or having a doctor's note for emotional support does not grant public access.

If your dog is not a service dog protected under the ADA, please respect businesses, employees, and the people who rely on legitimate service dogs by leaving your dog at home or taking them only to pet-friendly locations.

This isn't about excluding dogs—it's about safety, respecting the law, and protecting access for handlers who depend on their service dogs every single day.

Sources:
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-2010-requirements/
• ADA Service Animal FAQ: https://www.ada.gov/resources/service-animals-faqs/
• AKC Therapy Dog Program: https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/therapy-dog-program/

Please remember that this holiday has the highest rate of lost dogs. Fireworks are not enjoyed by all.. be sure to protect your dog and ensure their comfort.

Be aware of what you have in your home...and what others bring into your home./

Tonight I ended up trying to help a friend whose puppy ate a kid's vitamin containing xylitol. Simple accident: kid dropped vitamin, puppy scarfed it down. (Note: this household is knowledgeable and is xylitol free, but a relative bought the vitamins, unaware of the risk to the dogs.)

The puppy only ate *one* vitamin. Which turned out to contain 1500 mg of xylitol.

100 mg/kg is the threshold for hypoglycemia which can be fatal. At 500 mg/kg, hepatic necrosis occurs -- destruction of liver tissue.

So just ONE chewable vitamin ended up creating a serious problem for a 30 pound pup (which is not quite 14 kg).

The emergency vet induced vomiting. Thankfully, the puppy had had a meal and so there was food in her stomach. In the vomit was the orange tablet, identifiable though dissolved.

Quick thinking on the owner's part (including grabbing the bottle of vitamins) and fortunately a nearby 24/7 emergency vet hospital meant that this pup received prompt treatment, and should make a full recovery.

Check your medications, vitamins, gum, candy, toothpaste, mouthwash, peanut butter and more for xylitol, also known as birch sugar.

This is useful information to have on hand:
https://www.calculatorsfordogs.com/health-nutrition-calculators/xylitol-toxicity-calculator

ALWAYS contact vet and ASPCA Animal Poison Control center immediately!

As for everyone (the non-vets) recommending the use of hydrogen peroxide, please update your understanding:
https://www.gsvs.org/woodbridge-nj/blog/hydrogen-peroxide-for-dogs-emergency/

Pass this along. I hope you never have to use it.

Too often when I ask a client how they socialized their dog I hear one, if not both, of these 2 main themes 1- they have had people come over and hold and touch their pup, 2 - they have friends who have dogs and they let them play together. Both answers are NOT socialization. This author has written a good piece about that misunderstanding /

It doesn’t mean playing.
It never did.
“Socialisation” has a lot to answer for.

It has a far more important meaning, and it’s often missed because of that one word.

It’s not all about interactions with other puppies or dogs. That’s a very small part of it.
Yet we get stuck thinking socialisation = play.

That’s the issue.

Socialisation is the whole world around them.
The one we’re used to. They’re not.

And if we reduce it to just play with other dogs?
Problems are on the way.

Socialisation is about teaching safety.
Creating safety.
Letting your puppy feel safe.

Even if they’ve never seen a plane or heard a crowd, the goal is the same.
Slow, careful exposure so they can take it in without overwhelming them.

We forget, or maybe don’t fully appreciate, how much they need to get used to in our world.

Socialisation is careful, positive exposure.
Acclimation.
And yes, a level of "neutrality".

Wet grass.
Stairs.
Rain on their head.
A cat passing by.
A scooter moving past.

The goal was never just play.

If you have a therapy, service, or working dog this offers a wonderful opportunity have their eyes checked for free./

ACVO-SAVES 2026: The Service Animal Volunteer Eye Screening event is back for our 16th year! This philanthropic program exists because of our kind volunteer veterinary specialists, their teams and our generous sponsor, Epicur Pharma, providing free eye screenings for Service Animals across the US and limited locations in Canada, Hong Kong and Australia.

If you have a Working or Service Animal, this program helps ensure their eyes stay healthy so they can continue doing the incredible work they do every day.

Registration opens: April 1
Registration closes: April 30
Screenings take place throughout May

Learn more, check eligibility and cities with participating members here: https://ACVO-SAVES.org/

(Image credit, Elite Veterinary Specialists and Dr. Robert Sw***er)

Does your Obedience class not.have life challenges as you learn? If not....call or text

With it being Easter season, the ending of winter and beginning of spring, and Pet Poisonous Awareness month... here is a timely piece by Steve Dale.

Lilies are deadly to cats, even if they just rub against the flower National Pet Poison Prevention Week, pet expert Steve Dale reminds that lilies are incredibly toxic to cats, even incidental ingestion