How Much Do You Know

[Baby Dragon]

Wow everyone is doing so well on the quiz!!

HeavyPaws, do tell?

[mirawee]

I got 100% as well

I like the last question though, brings up morally vs legally As I personally think that you should inform beforehand for hotels at least, and even for busy restaurants when making bookings, as it makes it easier for the staff to give a room/table that is dog friendly.

Last time I went to a restaurant with a friend that had a guide dog puppy in training they were told when booking that the dog would be coming but then gave us a table in the middle of the restaurant They did quickly change us to a table against a wall though so the dog could have a bit more room without having to go under the table to avoid tripping up other patrons/waiters

[Wazzat Xolo]

Aussielover I am just one person BUT I take my hat off to you and all the other Guide Dog Angels ( You are more than just Puppy Walkers) You people who give up so much of your time and heart to train a dog with love so that someone else can benefit and do what most of us take for granetd are

TRUE ANGELS.

People who say you are cold have obviously no thought into what the process is all about.

Well done

[piper]

I got 100% as well

I like the last question though, brings up morally vs legally As I personally think that you should inform beforehand for hotels at least, and even for busy restaurants when making bookings, as it makes it easier for the staff to give a room/table that is dog friendly.

Same here mirawee and I had the same thoughts as you - I know they don't have to, I would think if it was me particularly for a hotel I would like to inform them out of courtesy.

[Baby Dragon]

I got 100% as well

I like the last question though, brings up morally vs legally As I personally think that you should inform beforehand for hotels at least, and even for busy restaurants when making bookings, as it makes it easier for the staff to give a room/table that is dog friendly.

Same here mirawee and I had the same thoughts as you - I know they don't have to, I would think if it was me particularly for a hotel I would like to inform them out of courtesy.

I've done it both ways. I used to always inform hotels when I first got my Assistance Dog, but when prices started suddenly going up, or they were suddenly booked out after I told them about the Assistance Dog, I stopped. I've since stayed in hotels and just shown up as normal with my Assistance Dog and there have been no problems.

The best way to look at an Assistance Dog (IMO) is to see it as a walking stick, or a pair of crutches, required for a disability. Assistance Dogs are medical aids. Would you expect somebody who needs to use a walking stick due to a disability to inform hotels and restaurants that they use a walking stick and they will be bringing it with them? (Question not directed at anyone in particular - just something to think about.) I'm up for a discussion on this if others are.

Edited June 6, 2010 by Baby Dragon

[kendall]

I got 100% but then I DO volunteer with the WA Assistance Dogs

More awareness is needed out there - well done Baby Dragon

Edited June 6, 2010 by kendall

[Baby Dragon]

I got 100% but then I DO volunteer with the WA Assistance Dogs

More awareness is needed out there - well done Baby Dragon

Thanks kendall And I'd expect you to get nothing less than 100% since you work with Assistance Dogs

I agree that a lot more awareness is needed, but the question is how...

I believe that most people want to do the right thing - I think most businesses want to obey the law and most people want to have good etiquette, but at the same time there's a lot of confusion out there.

[mirawee]

I've done it both ways. I used to always inform hotels when I first got my Assistance Dog, but when prices started suddenly going up, or they were suddenly booked out after I told them about the Assistance Dog, I stopped. I've since stayed in hotels and just shown up as normal with my Assistance Dog and there have been no problems.

The best way to look at an Assistance Dog (IMO) is to see it as a walking stick, or a pair of crutches, required for a disability. Assistance Dogs are medical aids. Would you expect somebody who needs to use a walking stick due to a disability to inform hotels and restaurants that they use a walking stick and they will be bringing it with them? (Question not directed at anyone in particular - just something to think about.) I'm up for a discussion on this if others are.

That first paragraph is just wrong I can completey accept that you wouldn't inform beforehand if that was the case What do they do if you do the booking, then as an aside at the end just say that your assistance dog will be with you? Do they suddenly fill up or have a price incease then too?

Oh and I think the same for people in wheelchairs as with assistance dogs Just from a point of view that it is easier to make an appropriate room/table available if you know in advance. But in neither case should they be disadvantaged because of it :D:

But then I get annoyed if the Doctors that refer patients to us don't put down "important" information like the fact that someone is in a wheelchair (or has a severe intellectual disability - and they have requested tests that require good concentration!) as that does change what we can do testing wise where I work... but for some reason doctors don't find that information as important as us Hmm, I wonder if we will ever get an Assistance Dog visit us at work, that would be more fun than the prisoners who have to have a guard constantly handcuffed

[Baby Dragon]

That first paragraph is just wrong I can completey accept that you wouldn't inform beforehand if that was the case What do they do if you do the booking, then as an aside at the end just say that your assistance dog will be with you? Do they suddenly fill up or have a price incease then too?

Unfortunately, yes. I had a confirmed booking at a hotel a couple of years ago. They'd told me the charge per night and I had it all in writing. After making the booking, (a week or so later) I told them about my Assistance Dog. They then emailed back that they are so sorry, they hadn't realised the dates I had booked were during school holidays and therefore the price will be going up per night. I doubt very much they'd make a mistake like that, I think it was obviously because I told them I have an Assistance Dog. I cancelled the booking and stayed elsewhere (and didn't tell them about my Assistance Dog before hand) and it worked out fine that time.

We don't really require any special type of room in a hotel or table in a restaurant. If there's a lack of space, my dog's trained to go under the table at a restaurant, and if the legs of the table don't allow for that, she goes under my chair. I suppose if we were at a restaurant where there was very little room between tables and it was impossible for her to be under the table or chair, then it would be easier for everyone if we were at a table along a wall rather than in the middle of the restaurant, but to be honest we don't go to restaurants much anyway so we haven't come across that situation.

But then I get annoyed if the Doctors that refer patients to us don't put down "important" information like the fact that someone is in a wheelchair (or has a severe intellectual disability - and they have requested tests that require good concentration!) as that does change what we can do testing wise where I work... but for some reason doctors don't find that information as important as us

Ugh that would be really annoying! You'd think a doctor would give you the information required so you can do things easier on your end. If somebody needs something done differently to normal in order to accommodate their disability, and you need time to prepare for that, then I think you should be advised beforehand! And linking it back to hotels, I think it all depends on if there needs to be a change to accommodate the person (like an accessible hotel room for someone in a wheelchair) or if they can be accommodated as per normal.

Edited June 7, 2010 by Baby Dragon

[Baby Dragon]

I just checked the stats of the quiz

105 people have done the quiz, most achieved high scores. These questions are the ones people are finding the most difficult:

3. You're walking your pet dog and you see a person with an Assistance Dog in vest or harness walking towards you. You should... (select)

a Only allow your dog to approach the Assistance Dog if the Assistance Dog isn't a Guide Dog and the handler isn't vision impaired.

b Make sure your dog is sitting and calm before allowing it to meet the Assistance Dog.

c Introduce yourself and ask if your dogs can meet each other.

d Not allow your dog to interact with the Assistance Dog.

e Only allow your dog to sniff the other dog, but not play with it.

7. It's only ok to pat an Assistance Dog when... (select)

a The dog is resting with it's vest/harness on.

b The dog is resting with it's vest/harness off.

c The owner of the Assistance Dog isn't watching.

d The owner of the Assistance Dog offers.

e You have let the owner of the Assistance Dog know that you want to pat the dog.