NicoleLJ

Thank you so much Roz. You have already given us so much valuable advice. Much of which we have already trained for. Phoenix is trained to potty on command in a Potty Pen. Here is a link showing him using it at 14 weeks old: http://phoenixrisingwhiteswissshepherds.com/potty-pen-training

And since I have 4 kids he has already been to several high stress events with lots of noise, action and people. We always try to find an out of the way spot for him if possible. We just did my daughters graduation ceremony last Thursday(over 1000 people) and then the banquet on Friday. I have been a Service Dog Advocate for over 14yrs now for people in Alberta and Canada. I 100% agree on being friendly and educating first. And I plan to teach him a "Go Visit" command once his formal training for his tasks and public access is complete and set. Luckily I have 2 more yrs. lol

I do have a really hard time being firm about my needs if someone has a strong personality so that may be hard. My husband can be better about that while still being friendly. So thank you for that. Could you explain why you prefer some type of cruise lines over others? Having never been on one we are trying our best to just figure out which one to try first. We are hoping to make cruising something we do every couple of years but with it being our first we want the most user friendly for beginners and Service Dog handlers. lol Hope that makes sense.

Now you talked about a balcony. Rooms come with that? We thought we would have to bring a crate for him to sleep in. We do this when staying at hotels. Would you recommend that? Ours is collapsible and he is already trained to sleep there when needed too. Could you give some explanation of what a day on a cruise is like? From when we would get up to end of day? Just so we have an idea of what it is like to cruise while also having a Service Dog.

I really appreciate this. I may drive you nuts with questions as I come up with more. I tried to share a current picture of Phoenix but it says the size is too big. THanks so much agian.

Nicole

So glad I found this thread again. I had hoped years ago to go on a cruise with my first Service Dog but sadly circumstances didn't allow that to happen. Since then my first Service Dog passed away at the age of 12yrs. It was a year ago last March. I now have a 15 month old PSD(Psychiatric Service Dog) In Training who is sailing through his training. He is doing so well that my husband and I are now considering planning to go on our first cruise for 2019. It would be a gift to ourselves for our 10yr anniversary. It will also be our very first vacation ever for either of us and the first time we are away from our 4 kids for any period of time.

So with that said I knew my best bet was to find this thread agian and get guidance and advice from the experts here who regularly cruise with their Service Dogs. We want all the advice you can offer. The best cruise lines when having a Service Dog to the worst. Tips to make it easier, advice you wish you had had the first time you went. Things to avoid or prep for. That sort of thing.

Our hope is to go on a 7-8 day cruise that would leave from Vancouver as we are in Alberta. We know next to nothing about the different types of cruises or even what is offered on them or so on. Though we are both looking forward to trying new foods. So let me have it. Also my SDIT is a White Swiss Shepherd. Not sure if size of Service Dog affects anything but he will be about 90-95lbs when done growing.

We have had a service dog in Ontario for 2 years. We have never been asked to show any doctor's note or anything like that. The vest isn't required, but it does make it easier for other people to understand why the dog is walking into stores with you, etc.

You may not be asked for it but the law in Ontario states that if denied access a Dr.'s note is all you need to allow access and that the business owner has to accept this. Like you stated a vest and other gear is not needed either but it does make it easier, though other provinces differ in this requirement as well. Ontario is the most Service Dog friendly province in all of Canada. I have been there with my Service Dog and was very impressed.

It is very imporant when you travel even in your own country to know the laws of the places you will be visiting. When my doctor first suggested a Service Dog to me I did a lot of research on the laws in Canada. Now I have done presentations for businesses teaching them their rights and what the laws are for Service Dog users and for businesses as well.

Here is the information regaurding Ontario:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2007/elaws_src_regs_r07429_e.htm

"(8) In this section,

“guide dog” means a guide dog as defined in section 1 of the Blind Persons Rights’ Act; (“chien-guide”)

“service animal” means an animal described in subsection (9); (“animal d’assistance”)

“support person” means, in relation to a person with a disability, another person who accompanies him or her in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with access to goods or services. (“personne de soutien”)

(9) For the purposes of this section, an animal is a service animal for a person with a disability,

(a) if it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her disability; or

(b) if the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the animal for reasons relating to the disability."

You are our next big Hero. Thank you for all that you're doing for people with Autisim and their ability to have the use of a Service Dog. I have seen the light in children's eyes [who have autisim] shine so much brighter with a dog by their side.

 

Victoria, BC was the only place that gave us a difficult time with Brenda. We could not enter a restaurant, a gift shop and the floral gardens with her. They don't abide by our ADA Laws and don't have to. Of course, they want our business and usually know we've come off a cruise ship so one proprietor made an "exception" [as he told me] and allowed us to bring Brenda in to eat with the rest of the group we were with.

 

So, be careful about your plans in Victoria with your dog. Maybe someone can stay onboard with him while you take turns visiting places. The rest of the ports were very gracious and didn't stop us from doing anything with Brenda right by my side!!!!!

 

Have fun! Enjoy Alaska!

I know this post is a few days old but I wanted to respond since I reside in Canada and am very familiar with the Service Dog laws here. There is no federal law that oversees all of Canada like the ADA. The Human Rights laws can help but there can be very time consuming and difficult to deal with. The government basically leaves it up to the province to dictate how each province deals with Service Dogs and their handlers.

BC unfortunately is well known in Canada as the most dificult province to deal with for Service Dog users. Anyone using a service dog, visitor or resident must have a Service Dog ID issued from the government to get the protection under the law. And to get said ID you have to prove the dog was trained by certian accredited programs. If your dog is owner trained it is almost impossible to get an ID card issued.

I reside in Alberta and we have a fairly new Service Dog Act. Alberta is much more Servcie Dog friendly then BC. You can train your Service Dog yourself but if you want a governement issued ID then the dog must come from an accredited trainer or facility. If it is owner trained and you are denied access you do have rights under the Human Rights code. My Service Dog is owner trained and I have only ever been refused once access and that was to a Walmart who had a new manager. It was quickly corrected with a phone call.

Ontario you need at the very least a Dr.'s Note stating your need of a Service Dog. Governement ID is not nessary. The other provinces vary inbetween the BC's and the Ontario rules but none as stricked as BC. If anyone has any questions please feel free to ask. If I can I will answer.

Hi all. Hope you don't mind me joining in. My spouse and I are new to cruising. We are hoping to go on our first cruise in January/February of 2014. We have never really gone on a vacation so it feels a bit overwhelming. My current Service dog is retiring in the next year and a half and I am getting my new one in June to start training. By 2014 she will be 2-3 months shy of her 2nd b-day so we figure that is the perfect time to go then. Would love to go sooner but don't want to interupt the new girls training or stress out my current girl since she is over 8yrs old and slowing down.

We are considering Royal Caribean Cruise Lines since it has a lot of the onboard actitives that we are looking for. The potty box will be no issue because I always train my dogs to use a similar box, just bigger, in our yard so we can always have a nice yard to walk bare foot in with no worries. My concerns are making sure I have all my ducks in a row for the shore excursions. I know I need to do a lot of stuff months in advance so that my Service Dog can join me.

Even with 2yrs to plan and prepare it feels very overwhelming for me. Hope to get tons of great info here and help in planning our first ever real vacation.