Large Service Dog in WDW?

[Nicole&Becker]

So I am being partnered with a very large lab as my new service dog. The last time I was at Disney World, I had a much smaller lab. My new SD is about twice his size. I am wondering if he will be able to go on any rides with me at all. He is about 85lbs and 28" tall. We are hoping that he can go on at least a couple rides with me so we can all ride together on something. My two young boys and husband will be with me.

Also has anyone ever had trouble getting around in the stores or just walking around with a large service dog with them? When we walk together we take up a bit of space. So not sure how that will effect us walking around while we are there.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping your dog visible at night while at the parks? My dog is a very dark brown. I just don't want him to get stepped on or accidentally kicked from people not seeing him. So any tips on that would be great. I plan to put a lighted collar on him, but I would love to hear if there are any other things that have worked for people.

We will be staying at Fort Wilderness in the cabins so we will have more space while we are at the resort at night and such. I also like that there are good walking trails and a dog park there. I think that will be much more fun than staying in a typical hotel room. So if anyone has stayed there with a SD and has some good spots or tips about there as well, that would be great.

Thanks everyone!

 

[peemagg]

I don't know much about service dogs, but when it is dark out to protect your dog, maybe have your sons and husband walk on the other side of him close enough that someone can't get between you, but that he can still do what he was trained to do.

Other than the lighted collar, I can't think of anything else.

 

[EstherS]

So I am being partnered with a very large lab as my new service dog. The last time I was at Disney World, I had a much smaller lab. My new SD is about twice his size. I am wondering if he will be able to go on any rides with me at all. He is about 85lbs and 28" tall. We are hoping that he can go on at least a couple rides with me so we can all ride together on something. My two young boys and husband will be with me.

Also has anyone ever had trouble getting around in the stores or just walking around with a large service dog with them? When we walk together we take up a bit of space. So not sure how that will effect us walking around while we are there.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping your dog visible at night while at the parks? My dog is a very dark brown. I just don't want him to get stepped on or accidentally kicked from people not seeing him. So any tips on that would be great. I plan to put a lighted collar on him, but I would love to hear if there are any other things that have worked for people.

We will be staying at Fort Wilderness in the cabins so we will have more space while we are at the resort at night and such. I also like that there are good walking trails and a dog park there. I think that will be much more fun than staying in a typical hotel room. So if anyone has stayed there with a SD and has some good spots or tips about there as well, that would be great.

Thanks everyone!

What about a High Visibility vest. Here is the website. http://www.lonewolfdogwear.com/
[FONT=ARIAL,HELVETICA][SIZE=+2]Hi-Visibility Safety Vests[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=ARIAL,HELVETICA][SIZE=-1] [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=ARIAL,HELVETICA]Hi-visibility safety vest. Make your dog safer walking at night with this hi-visibility safety vest. Made of double thickness fabric with reflective tape. Adjustable belts. Measurements 1-3 needed.

Prices-XXS-XS-$16.00
S-M-$18.00
L-XL-$20.00
XXL-$22.00, plus shipping. [/FONT]

 

[videogal1]

So I am being partnered with a very large lab as my new service dog. The last time I was at Disney World, I had a much smaller lab. My new SD is about twice his size. I am wondering if he will be able to go on any rides with me at all. He is about 85lbs and 28" tall. We are hoping that he can go on at least a couple rides with me so we can all ride together on something. My two young boys and husband will be with me.

Also has anyone ever had trouble getting around in the stores or just walking around with a large service dog with them? When we walk together we take up a bit of space. So not sure how that will effect us walking around while we are there.

Does anyone have any tips on keeping your dog visible at night while at the parks? My dog is a very dark brown. I just don't want him to get stepped on or accidentally kicked from people not seeing him. So any tips on that would be great. I plan to put a lighted collar on him, but I would love to hear if there are any other things that have worked for people.

We will be staying at Fort Wilderness in the cabins so we will have more space while we are at the resort at night and such. I also like that there are good walking trails and a dog park there. I think that will be much more fun than staying in a typical hotel room. So if anyone has stayed there with a SD and has some good spots or tips about there as well, that would be great.

Thanks everyone!

My Service dog, Cash, who stands a good 29 inches at the shoulder and weighs in at 125#, is a black Lab/Chessie mix, has been to WDW five times but never at the Fort Wilderness area, gets kicked, stepped on, slapped, or fondled at least twenty times a day there, although he is huge, wears a patch that says do not pet (I call it my adult literacy test) and, one would imagine, quite visible. One trick is to lay a very large white cloth across your dog when you are at a restaurant, a theater, or other venue where the lighting is low or the floor is dark...people simply do not watch where they are going. If you're at an eatery, ask for a white napkin to use as a marker so the wait staff don't step on him. The rides that a Service dog may be allowed to ride are detailed in the guest book for disabled WDW visitors.

 

[jmartinez1895]

We use a refective vest on my sons dog and as another poster suggested we use family members to creat a wall around him as well. This also helps keep people from petting him ( we don't alow this). As for the walking trails at your resort I think they would be a wonderful way to get in some relaxation, but as for the dog areas, I personally do not allow my sons dog to go into areas like taht. You don't know if the other dogs are trained or if they have had all of there shots and your service dog is WAY to valuable to run the risk of him getting bitten and taken out of service. Of couse people have different views on this I'm sure, but in my humble opinion I would not take him into public dog areas. I hope that he has a great trip and that you are able to adjust to his size. While there last, we saw a larger service dog on may of the rides. The woman handeling her sat on a row with the dog and her kids sat behind her. I hope this helps some.

 

[christymarie]

We have a large chocolate lab as well. I will sometimes put the glow necklaces around her harness at night to increase her visibility. It is amusing at how many people stop and want to talk about her or even take her picture it does not really annoy us unless our son is breaking down and they want to talk about their dog at home, lol.

We were allowed to take our dog on TSM but I would not recommend it. She was really too large and it really whipped her around more than I was comfortable with.

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I think the most trouble you might have is just getting the dog settled in some of the ride vehicles. Our dog is about 85lbs but not super tall, he's very dense (a yellow lab) and some rides have more room than others. For instance Racer had trouble with SSE and TTA, but other rides have tons of room, especially when you're put in the spot where a wheelchair would go. Some of it will also depend what your dog wears. If it's just a vest/blanket, you won't have as much trouble as a stiff harness like what a guide dog would wear, this is where we ran into the bulk of our problems.

For night visibility, I suggest going to the dollar store and getting a few packages of the glow necklaces. We did this for Halloween, we wrapped them around the harness and he wore his Mickey ears and he was a tourist for the Halloween party. I think it'd work if your dog wore it like a collar/necklace too. You might want to get one package now just to see it it'll fit around the dogs neck, you don't want to get there and have them not work.

I also find no matter what you put on your dog, be it harness, blanket, signs that say "don't pet me" or a siren that goes off when someone touches them, people will do it anyway. I think it can be worse with guide dogs vs other service dogs because people figure "Oh they can't see me so it won't hurt if I touch the dog". It can be hard, especially with tiny children, because all they see is a dog, and they want to touch it. The weird thing is, I think it's better to be over prepared for people wanting to touch your dog and you'll end up pleasantly surprised how often you'll hear people tell their children "No that's a working dog, you can't pet him" or even a wife whacking her husband saying the same kind of thing. Since service dogs of all sorts seem to be more common now than say 15 years ago, people are just more educated on doggie etiquitte.

 

[SueM in MN]

as for the dog areas, I personally do not allow my sons dog to go into areas like taht. You don't know if the other dogs are trained or if they have had all of there shots and your service dog is WAY to valuable to run the risk of him getting bitten and taken out of service. Of couse people have different views on this I'm sure, but in my humble opinion I would not take him into public dog areas.

Our trainer recommends avoiding dog parks and other public places where dogs are off leash.
Her reasoning is that some of the dogs are aggressive and often don't have owners who are controlling them. The trainer feels that the dynamics in those dog parks are often more of a dog pack situation, which is not good for any dogs.

 

[cooper14]

I have a Golden Retriever that weighs 100 lbs and I haven't had any problems with him. All of the cast members that I have run into have been more than helpful. Because of my injury I cant go on some of the rides so my sd goes on all of the rides that I can go on.