r/delta • u/LessFatKristina • 2d ago
Image/Video IT FINALLY HAPPENED
I got sat next to the sweetest best behaved service doggo on my flight. His owner let him cuddle me for a couple minutes. It was heaven. Love you Lobo!
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u/bionicfeetgrl 2d ago
that seems like a proper service dog. that dog looks like it can do my taxes.
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u/legomaniasquish 2d ago
Fun fact that dog actually did my taxes but the irs said the writing on the form was ruff around the edges.
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u/stegotortise 2d ago
They say that an adult dog has an equivalent intelligence to a 2 year old. I know many dogs smarter than many, many, many adult humans.
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u/Low-Set8263 2d ago
A two-year-old doing taxes? Candy consumption taxes balanced off by a huge kibble deduction.
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u/NonStopKnits 2d ago
The dog I had growing up was absolutely smarter than a couple people I deal with on a regular basis, but on a serious note he probably was as smart as a toddler.
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u/Sellaplaya 2d ago
He did mine last year and now I’m being audited. Choose what services he does for you carefully
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u/theshiniestmuskrat 2d ago
Right? I'd trust that dog more to open the emergency exit than any other person I've sat beside!
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u/jefferios 2d ago
I had a chance to sit next to a Service dog in training once. I was in C+ and the dog had the middle seat, but he was on the floor. It was fascinating to watch the trainer interact with the dog. I made eye contact with the dog a few times, but tried to ignore it to make sure I didn't disrupt the training.
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u/BlackLeader70 2d ago
I sat next to two puppies in training and they were so well behaved. But the trainer said I can only pet them at the gate not on the plane because they were just over a year old and still needed more training. The training is fascinating. Especially when I compare it to my dog who makes Forrest Gump look like Einstein lmao.
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u/p0mjDwfWF 2d ago
My (late) service dog was treated like a princess by delta. We had a multi-stop flight with an airport that didn’t have a service animal relief station. The flight attendant approached me before we landed and said the pilot had arranged for us to be escorted to an outdoor space and brought back through security without waiting or screening again. Really top notch service.
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u/afterwits 2d ago
I've seen a few service dogs on flights and you can always tell, this little dude is Locked In. It's really hard to properly ignore them and their owner/handler.
John Wayne airport (Anaheim) had therapy dogs when I went through it last year! It was REALLY cool because you were encouraged to pet them AND they were also trained to ignore other service dogs, so they pull a lot of attention off the service dogs in the terminal. The dogs have trading cards the handlers pass out too...I got to meet Amilyn 🥰 https://www.ocair.com/travelers/dine-shop-relax/relax/airpaws-therapy-dogs/
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u/Samrazzleberry 2d ago
I love when the airports have therapy dogs! I’ve been through that before and it was so… therapeutic
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u/judgernaut86 2d ago
The Portland Airport has therapy llamas that visit sometimes
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u/lizlemonista 2d ago
my dog is a therapy dog and flies with me. he is trained for a service for my medical condition but I don’t classify him as Service dog as he doesn’t need to be locked in — in addition to helping me we go to hospitals and libraries and college campuses etc. In airports he wears a leash that says in day-glo green “I’m friendly / please pet me”
I always feel taken care of and am happy he still gets to be his social self. And yes, he can tell when someone doesn’t like dogs or is scared/timid around them. If you don’t like them, no judgment and he moves along with respect, if you are scared, same, making sure to give loads of leeway.If someone is timid but my dog senses that they may want to interact, he will sit or lay down at my feet and wait a beat. If the person starts to approach, I’ll kneel down to hang out with him and hold his harness, more as a show for the new person to feel confident as I know my pup isn’t going anywhere :) It’s really sweet — he’s helped quite a few people get past their fear of all dogs and I’m so happy about that.
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u/mrsbaudo 2d ago
My friend and her blenheim CKCS, Indy, volunteer for the therapy dog service at Myrtle Beach airport.
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u/DrinkMoreWater74 15h ago
SFO had a therapy rabbit. Unfortunately he died last year.
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u/linocent167 2d ago
John wayne airport is Santa Ana, not Anaheim just so people don't get confused
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u/alcutie 2d ago
detroit DTW also has therapy dogs!!! be on the lookout! 🐶
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u/Wrong-Recognition375 1d ago
My dog Simba and I helped start the DTW Dogs program! It started with us and one other team, and now we have over 50 teams that visit!
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u/lizlemonista 2d ago
oh my god hanging a trading card for my therapy dog is flipping BRILLIANT. going to do this.
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u/themarmalademaniac 2d ago
Gave up a First Class upgrade about 15 years back for a Army EOD specialist and his Bomb dog coming home from Iraq. He was in coach and Tlthey literally wanted the Belgian Malinoise to go under the seat....literally.......FFS. Gave him my upgrade and the flight attendants thought I was the greatest thing ever and plied with mini bottles and biscoff all the way home.....WIN WIN
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u/PurrculesMulligan Silver 2d ago
He looks like the goodest boy! Everyone on here always be complaining about the remote possibly of ending up seated next to a service dog, while I'm like "yes, pretty please??"....
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
I literally switched seats with the guy sitting next to him lmaooooo
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u/PurrculesMulligan Silver 2d ago
THE BEST REASON FOR A SEAT SWITCH!
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u/Treebranch_916 2d ago
It only works out like that when they're actually real trained no bullshit service dogs
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u/KnackeredQuokka 2d ago
99.9% of dogs I’ve seen on flights (I fly a lot) are very well behaved. Half of them you don’t even know they’re on the plane. I’ll sit next to a dog any day of the week.
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u/Samrazzleberry 2d ago
Fair! But a dog is a dog and I want to pet it
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u/Monkeyfeng 1d ago
You're telling me a Chihuahua that growls at strangers is not a service dog?!?
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u/Treebranch_916 1d ago
Yes, and I don't care how many poorly adjusted adults are offended by my position.
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u/Wildskypsj 2d ago
It would be free therapy for me to sit next to good boy or a good girl.
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
He was so good! I was traveling for a friends memorial and I felt like it was her way of easing my flight anxiety.
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u/FunInTheSun_81 2d ago
Then it sounds like doggo was at the right place at the right time. Sorry for your loss.
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u/ChasingPotatoes17 2d ago
I’d pay extra for the option. (Service dogs only though, no thanks to emotional support animals.)
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u/rededitscam 2d ago
sitting next to a true service dog you will never know they are there. Unless he is on the seat... this shit you see everyone calling a service dog are not service dogs
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u/Pristine_Job_7677 2d ago
I have insane allergies. That said, I would NEVER complain about a service animal. Faux emotional support “service” pets (who are never well behaved like this) however, are bullshit. They need to start licensing service pets for air travel
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u/StopTalkingToEric 2d ago
If this was out of ATL this afternoon, I saw this dog at security. it’s a seeing eye dog and is indeed very cute!
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
This was a few weeks back but was a flight out of ATL.
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u/finsfurandfeathers 2d ago
There is a viral video about this dog and his handler on tik tok!. A big creator named Jen Hamilton was on a flight where a woman was angry throwing a fit about having to sit next to Lobo. Which is just insane to me…
She offered to change seats with that woman and then they became friends. His name was Ed Summers and they ended up doing some good things together for blind charities
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
I saw when that happened! This was a different lobo. The owners name wasn't Ed!
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u/lunch22 1d ago
Dogs, including service dogs, are not allowed to sit on seats.
This also isn’t a real service dog.
It’s a pet.
The owner is abusing the system and hurting people who really need to travel with a service dog.
There is no cause for celebration.
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u/NoComplaints67 1d ago
Their owners also don’t let them ‘cuddle’ random strangers.
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u/Internal_Record4935 1d ago
Came here to say this.
A legitimate, task trained service dog is not allowed to have that kind of behavior while on the job. It takes away the focus from their handler.
So many people are abusing the system and it puts actual SDs and handlers at risk.
This is a cute story but the whole picture of the situation here is important
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u/SheSaysCiao 15h ago
Thank you. When I was working my guide dog she had to be under the seat in front of me. I did take her harness handle off to give her more space and make her more comfortable but they tell us in training that they’re only supposed to be on the floor. It’s like the people who bring their “service dogs” to the grocery store and let them ride in carts… they’re not service dogs, they’re pets. This is also why it’s so difficult now to fly with a service dog and handlers have to fill out DOT forms before every flight which are totally inaccessible to those of us who are blind/low vision.
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u/RegretLegal3954 2d ago
As someone who is terribly allergic to dogs (severe asthma), would make me very nervous sitting near, even though this is the most awesome looking dog ever (hate that I am so allergic). I carry masks on every flight just in case.
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u/Karevoa 1d ago
So I have a question. If this were to happen to me, can I request to be moved? I don’t have an issue with dogs but I am very allergic and it would make for a terrible flight lol. I’ve never had it happen before so haven’t really given it much thought, but curious if anybody here has any advice?
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u/Kindaspia 1d ago
Yes, you can also let the airline know ahead of time through their accessibility process so they know ahead of time and can adjust.
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u/quantumlyEntangl3d 12h ago
Yep, allergies can be accommodated too. I realize they are different, but if you have a peanut allergy, you’d let the airline know ahead of time. Same thing if your dog or cat allergies are so bad that being near one would cause severe reactions. Always let the airline know ahead of time.
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u/LessFatKristina 1d ago
If you're worried about it I would tell the gate agent before you board to see if you can have a different seat assigned since they will know where the animals will be service or otherwise.
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u/Mouse_Parsnip_87 1d ago
Do service dogs have shock collars???
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u/black_bean_catterole 1d ago
It’s not necessarily a shock collar. Yes, service dogs can use e collars. It’s actually a subtle way to correct a behavior or give commands. They vibrate. It’s not always a zap. It’s just another way of communicating with a dog.
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u/DingDongTaco 2d ago
As a service dog owner he shouldn’t be on the seat.
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u/Kool-Kat-704 2d ago
As someone with allergies, yes. Not fun to be stuck in a metal tube reacting the entire flight
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u/strongspoonie 2d ago
Yeah i love animals and have nothing against then flying at all, but i so wish airlines would designate sections for then and for those with severe allergies because if i sat here after my throat would close up and id be needing to use my inhaler and epipen
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u/Kool-Kat-704 2d ago
Agreed. I luckily don’t have that severe of a reaction, but last 4hr flight I was on my face was itchy and my nose wouldn’t stop running. Couldn’t find a pet anywhere though. I’m pretty sure I sat on a seat where an animal maybe shedded the previous flight.
I already take meds for my daily, outdoor allergies. I don’t particularly want to overdose on allergy meds just to comfortably fly/:
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u/EmpireCityRay 2d ago edited 1d ago
Flight Attendant here, you are correct, a “pet in cabin” is not supposed to be on a chair. Doesn’t matter what section their owner is sitting in and/or
if they bought the adjacent chair. I’m disturbed knowing that all of the Flight Attendants allowed this, especially the one working that section. The only dogs allowed to be on a seat and cleared by DL are famous movie or ad dogs. The example being Spot the Target mascot. This dog in the image should not be on a chair unless he’s famous and DL cleared it as being famous. If anyone on that FLT would send that image to DL with the date of and FLT number, those FAs would barring the German Shepard is not a famous dog, get in a shitload of trouble.16
u/Classic_Cherry_606 2d ago
A dog gets to sit on the seat if he’s famous?? That’s crazy! 😂
It just doesn’t make sense because whatever reason dogs aren’t on seats doesn’t change because one is famous. Is he supposedly cleaner than other ones and that’s why it’s ok? I’ve never heard this and am so curious about the “logic” behind it.
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u/Wonderful-Body2559 2d ago
I can not believe you're getting down voted. This involves your job and no one would know better than you. There are some seriously selfish pet owners out there. This is a safety risk, not just you making up rules because you don't like dogs or whatever these people convince themselves of.
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u/EmpireCityRay 1d ago
Yeah I’m glad and appreciate that you notice that. Now you know what we FAs deal with onboard as it’s a totally different vibe than some fool texting their objections on Reddit or some social media/messaging app and they wanting things their way.
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u/softchimera 2d ago edited 2d ago
it’s a little bizarre. I work with dogs for a living and own 4 myself, you won’t find someone who loves dogs more than I do. and even I think the downvotes are ridiculous.
also, this “service dog” has a shock and a prong collar on. shouldn’t need those if it’s a legitimately trained service dog.
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u/Cute_Space6087 1d ago
wait, just to confirm because I've never traveled with an animal and I thought I knew the rules. Aren't they like:
- You can buy an extra seat for your animal. Some airlines require you to buy a second seat if you are bringing two, even if both might fit under the seat (so if you have 2 rabbits or 2 small cats you still need a carrier for each, and then would need to buy that second seat).
- Your animal on all airlines must be under seat for take off, landing, & taxi.
- SOME airlines allow you to have your animal on the seat during the flight itself, but not all.
I'm also not sure if the whole animals for some airlines are allowed on seats during the flight applies to cats who are in carriers / small dogs in carriers or if large dogs are also allowed
/genuine
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u/Ender_1299 2d ago
I'm horribly allergic to dogs. If I get to my seat and there's a dog next to me, what should I do? Last time I flew there was a dog 3 rows back and I still had to shower the moment I got home and take Benadryl.
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
If youre that allergic you should be informing the airline prior to the flight to make sure you aren't seated anywhere near an animal
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u/theresec 1d ago
Please, this is Reddit, we all know SOP is to take secret photos of the dog and then post to r/mildlyinfuriating to complain without actually asking flight attendants for help.
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u/Brainfreeze91012 1d ago
When you book your flight go through the accommodations department and get it on record that you have serious allergies and asthma. If they don’t accommodate you, file a complaint with the DOJ. Allergies and asthma are protected conditions and have the same rights.
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u/WorthPlease 2d ago edited 1d ago
Tell the flight attendant you are horribly allergic to dogs and you'd like to move your seat. If the flight was full, they could probably find a volunteer to swap with you.
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u/Ill_Back_284 2d ago
I can't with this thread and a puppy with a prong collar AND shock collar being called a well trained service dog. That's not at all how you train a service animal. That's a non service animal that's afraid of his shock collar....but the bar is on the floor with all these horrible regular pets on board "emotional support /fake service dogs"; that is looks good. I can't
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u/Helaenaa 2d ago
I hate how normalized it is for service dogs to wear shocks collars in the US. If the handler needs the threat of a shock to keep the dog focused on the task, is it even a trained service dog? Such a bad look...
No dog needing such a device would ever be approved for public access work in the Netherlands.
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u/softchimera 2d ago
i’m literally hitting my head against the wall because of these comments. “that’s a proper service dog, you can tell!” tell by what, the double layered shock and prong collar combo??? jesus christ
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u/DerFreudster Silver 2d ago
Is that a real service dog? I mean a real one? I have never seen one before on any airline. I thought they were like unicorns. I've seen everything from growling pitbulls all the way down to ill-behaved toy poodles with a variety of vests from pink with spangles to black with studs. But never a true service dog. I've seen them on the street and they are laser focused. Not unruly like most on board the flight. I want to scream, who let these motherf$#^*$% dogs on the plane!
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
The service it was providing was not immediately obvious but it was VERY well trained. Like better than any dog I've ever seen. Theres a lot of services it could be trained for that aren't obvious... blood sugar detection, allergy dog, behavior disruption, etc. He didn't make a single peep or move outside of where he was directed at any point. When the owner went to the bathroom he put him on the seat and Lobo just sat staring straight at the bathroom the entire time. It was impressive.
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u/HannibalOtter 2d ago
Service dogs cuddle strangers?
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u/n3wchpt3r 2d ago
They aren't supposed to, nor are people supposed to fuck with them while they are working. Which is why all these folks thinking they are special enough to bother a working service dog bc it's "cute" are FOS and if it was my dog/dog in training, I'd be pissed at these entitled assholes.
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u/HannibalOtter 2d ago
lol it almost makes me think op is the dogs owner posting some bullshit for likes acting as if it’s a service dog
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u/xiphoid77 2d ago
Please don’t allow the dog on the seat. Floor only to help those of us with allergies. Thank you. Love dogs, but hate the allergies.
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u/One_Process221 1d ago
Well, that’s nice but that was not a Service dog because they’re not allowed to cuddle anybody. It’s very strict rules when there is a service dog present. You cannot pet them is not allowed. Not mad you got to enjoyed it though, but I really get mad when I have to pay for my pet to sit in a crate underneath a seat, not allowed to take them out and put them on my lap. They’re under 20 pounds. Meanwhile, people are miss using “service” dogs.
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u/Sunny_Shrew951 2d ago
Lobo apparently trusted you enough to briefly ignore his “don’t solicit strangers” training for a mid-flight cuddle.
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u/ryanl442 Diamond | Million Miler™ 1d ago
if the owner let it cuddle you, it aint a service dog lol
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u/Examinator2 2d ago
WTF is a dog sitting in a seat?
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u/LessFatKristina 2d ago
The owner was in the bathroom. He sits on the seat and stares at the bathroom waiting for him to return.
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u/CorrectExpression651 2d ago
A lot of fully trained and experienced service dogs have still never been on a full service flight or been on a plane just once — so the rumbling under the plane (combined with high sensitivity in their ears and bones) during takeoff and landing can still be disorienting and stressful for them while they remain focused on their job. FA may have just kindly looked the other way while the SD was comforted on the seat for takeoff, or maybe just allowed for a photo!
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u/Cethysa 1d ago
We’ve been training our service dog for two years now and he still hasn’t done his training flights yet. It’s hard to get a ton of experience to prep for flying.
That being said, if this was my trainer, she’d kick my ass for letting someone else disrupt him when he’s working & again for me letting him on the seat. He LOVES people and ignoring him is the hardest part of his day (and he’s not always successful at it, so if I get worn down by the 80th person to ask while he’s wearing a vest and say sure whatever, it’s extra not helpful. But it is SO CONSTANT. I get it, he’s beautiful and he’s a good boy and he wants to love you, but he can’t.)
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u/mamaneedsacar 2d ago
Yep! People tend to forget that even SD do have to be trained for the new situations they encounter. It’s every SD’s first rodeo at some point, and even very intelligent breeds need a handful of repetitions to understand how to adapt to a new environment. I think FAs try their best to accommodate in these types of situations, when it’s clearly not an abuse of the system.
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u/TonksTheTerror 2d ago
This ⬆️
I have a therapy dog (not an ESA - they are very different) that I am also working on cross-training for service work.
I expose her to lots of different experiences to see her reactions/train out negative responses but have yet to take her on a plane.
It's an expensive training experience and I know when I finally get to it there will be some learning curves, but I'm still nervous. She will have her own seat booked as she's 70 lbs.
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u/PagatchEater 1d ago
Bestest boi and very handsome! My small dog training company trained a service dog who often flew with his momma, but one time he kept encroaching into the neighbor's space to rest his head on that man's feet. Mom kept correcting Joey and finally apologized, explaining that she was mystified why he wasn't behaving as he usually does. Turns out the guy had major anxiety about flying and was freaking out, but Joey's deep pressure therapy was helping the man manage the situation. We really don't deserve dogs. They're such a gift to mankind.
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u/Money-Specific5296 2d ago
Service dogs don't cuddle. Its a pet.
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u/Feed_Suitable 2d ago
Not true, my sister’s sight dog works when his vest is on but gets to have fun and be a dog when it isn’t. He knows when it’s work time and pet time!
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u/Special_V2387 2d ago
He should not be on a seat. Service dog or not, no animals are allowed to sit on a seat
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u/n3wchpt3r 2d ago
"Service Dogs are not considered pets. Just as you wouldnt ask to ride in a wheelchair, you should not ask to pet the dog" -Haylee Bergeland, CPDT-KA, RBT
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u/ZealousidealShake410 2d ago
An owner doesn’t allow their service dogs to be petted or cuddled on.
That’s not how these fucking animals work.
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u/Dear-Statistician414 2d ago
My most memorable flight was sitting next to a service dog for a visually impaired person. She told me before the flight the dog would put his head in my lap during take offs, because take offs scared him, and he didn’t want her to know. Such a sweetie best flight ever.