Travel and the anxious agorophobic service dog handler!

Oh me-oh, oh my-oh.... what do you get when you mix a weekend trip with an agorophobic service dog handler, a flight to a new place, and oh yes, the no-confidence dog?!  --- I do NOT want to find out.

The last time I flew anywhere was back in 2002.   Truth is, I don't hate flying; I loathe leaving the house.  I despise traveling.   I really do.  If you offered me a vacation to Europe... before Ranger, I couldn't do it.  *With* Ranger, when he was confident and truly sure of himself, I'd have been leery, but I would've probably been ok.  *NOW*???  I have no idea what the hell I was thinking saying 'yes' to a weekend trip away!  Even the thought of taking a weekend car-trip some place has me on edge, and not just because it would be with my mother/brother!!

Ok... I can hear the other PSD trainer/handlers out there saying 'breathe... just breathe... you can do this...'  I'm breathing... believe me...  I'm breathing.   I still find myself anxious and absolutely petrified every day as it approaches.

Today, for example, I made up my 'lists' -  the 'pack for Ranger;' 'pack for myself;' and 'things to do before I leave' lists.  (Yes, they really *were* in that order!)  Thank goodness service dogs get their own bag because traveling with a 60-pound dog on a flight, even for a weekend... ugh!  His 'place' mat, his seat cover, his bowls, his wubba, his kongs, stuffing for the kongs and training treats, poop bags, his shampoo/brush/towels/etc (just in case!), harness, bedcover...

Of course I'm also realizing all the things I *dont* have for trips with him because we never *take* them.  When he was a puppy, about 8 months old, we stayed with my sister and brother-in-law and their family for a couple of weeks along with my other dog at the time, Jasmine.  That was easy enough to do because they could (and did) both sleep well in the same crate and it was a much smaller and easier to transport crate and we drove.  This time I need a collapsible crate that can fold flat to travel, lightweight and will fit a 26", 60 pound dog!  

I also have to have food shipped directly there as I dont know the local pet supply places in the area (carrying food on the plane is not only a hassle but adds extra weight to the bags!).   Vet visit to get health certificate - not huge because we had to go get his annual done anyway.  Make up his ID card and get him a new dog-tag with the appropriate info on it.  Outings to busy places for socialization and confidence building.  "Foundation" reinforcements.  His list is HUGE!

Of course, in the midst of all this, we'll also be doing the Douglas County Relay for Life!  Which means I've got TWO weeks to do some seriously intensive work on him to help him build his confidence (Again, someone please tell me what the hell was I thinking when I agreed to this trip 2 weeks after RfL?!)

My anxiety attacks have been numerous and sometimes downright debilitating in the last week since I agreed to this trip.  Its not that I dont *want* to go.  I do.  I really want to get to see my friend and her family and spend a few days with them.  The sheer thought of getting on a plane, however, is sincerely overwhelming when the biggest 'outings' I go on are to places like the food pantry, home depot, walmart, a mall (which is just a collection of shops when you live in 'middle-of-nowhere' land!) and other small, quiet, relatively people-free places.  We're going to be in at least 2 major airports (that's assuming there's no layover or plane changes!), meeting new people (my friend and her family), probably a hotel stay and who knows what else might come up.  All wonderful training possibilities - all things that have me on the verge of a meltdown when I think about them!  

My friend also has kids and none of them have ever been 24/7 with an SD team, so I'm worried about how that transition is going to go.  Of course she's completely supportive of Ranger and what he does for me - and she's already made a point of saying she's going to talk with her little-little ones to tell them about him and how important he is when he's working.  And, of course, he'll have plenty of time to play, which I'm sure they'll all love, but its still really different.  Living with an SD versus living with a pet dog - LOL, living with one of EACH even, very very different.  I have my 'life with an SD' handout that I plan to send to her - but we're so 'modified' from that too.  Most of the time Ranger is just a chilled out dog unless I'm getting up to do something, and then he needs to be 'on' - but he runs and plays outside and will love doing that with the kids if they want to.  Its just the 'you cant distract him or pet him when he's working because he has a big job to do' part that's *so* hard for people in general.  Of course there's also the 'quirks' that go along with *my* dog.  His socialization has slipped, so he isnt real thrilled to meet new people.  His water has to be rationed through the day or he gets sick.  Changes to his diet (food or treats) are really hard on his system and, again, he gets sick.   He's often like a toddler - he needs his "security blankets" - his wubba and his mat - and they must be *by me!*  

I love my friend to death.  She never batted an eye - not once - at me having to bring Ranger with me.  She's already said - let me know what you need on this end and we'll see if we can get it here before you get here.   I am blessed.   I just *really* want this trip to be positive and successful and uncomplicated as possible.   I want my time with her and her family to be relaxing and safe - and *not* to have Ranger and I both on edge the whole time.   As much as I'm trying not to be sick at the idea of making the trip - I'm also afraid 3 or 4 days is not going to be enough time for us to settle in and relax before we have to turn around and make the trip home again!

Jessica and Ranger
Lunar K9s Service Dog Team