Service dogs in Public Restrooms.

Taking a service dog in training out into public always creates unusual situations, curious people, and often "interesting" comments. People just don't expect to see a dog in Walmart or the Mall or at the bookstore. What I have found accentuates this situation, however, is taking Novel into a public restroom. I mean, when you think about it, that truly is the last place on earth people expect to see a dog.

Fridays are a little interesting for me right now. I work in the mornings, and have Novel's training class in the evenings, but both are about 40 minutes from my home, so it is a waste of gas and time to try to get home in between them. Instead, I've been bringing Novel to work with me, and then hanging out at Barnes and Noble or the Library during the time in between work and training class. Those precious "quiet hours" are spent studying school and working with Novel on learning to be comfortable just laying down quietly for several hours at a time. (Preparation for bringing him to school with me)

Anyway, this afternoon, being a special Friday afternoon, Novel and I headed to B&N. I had a change of clothes with me in my backpack so I didn't have to sit around and then attend class in dirty, hairy, stinky scrubbs. (being a Vet Tech is dirty work!) For whatever reason, I forgot to change at work, so I went to the bathroom in B&N to change, Novel tagging faithfully along. Before I go any further, can I just say how thankful I am for handicap stalls? They are soo helpful when you have a dog with you. Ha.

Our adventures started before we even got into the restroom. I tried to open the door at the exact moment when someone else was exiting, and we very nearly collided. We both were startled, but she was clearly (and understandably) more so upon seeing the dog. So that was the first incident.

Novel is usually really good when it comes to public restrooms. Today...well, he wasn't bad, but he decided to lay down too close to the side of the stall...and his whole butt and tail slid under the partition into the occupied next stall. The poor innocent person who had no idea there was a dog in the restroom was clearly quite surprised and let out a rather loud "OH!" when Novel's ever wagging tail swept across her feet.

Our adventures were not over yet, however. As I was washing my hands, Novel was in a sit/stay being extremely good, when yet another person emerged from the stall that happened to be right behind Novel. Upon realizing someone was behind him, Novel politely got to his feet, his tail wagging a calm and friendly greeting. Her reaction however, was quite different. The start she received upon seeing a dog in the restroom sent her staggering quickly back to press her self against the wall. Several shrill screams shredded the air of the echoing restroom as she pressed her quivering hands to her chest. She was quite clearly terrified.
"I don't like dogs!" she quivered in her strong Asian accent. "I am afraid of dogs!"

Upon my first sight of her, I quickly moved Novel away. Profuse apologies, an explanation about Novel, Reassurances that he was exceptionally friendly, and his own perfect behavior (Thank you thank you thank you Novel!!!!) eventually calmed her down enough to recover and even laugh about the incident.

The things you run into with a service dog in training! whew...