Last week, multipurpose assistance dog in training Daisymay had a very special training session as we were lucky enough to get the opportunity to visit London Luton Airport for familiarisation training.
London Luton Airport was very welcoming and accommodating. This visit allowed us to create positive exposure experiences for Daisymay which is very important for the role she plays. Airports are particularly challenging environments, and as Daisymay’s handler is planning to travel by plane, it is crucial that Daisymay is comfortable with all the different environmental challenges she will be facing while she works as an assistance dog.
A YouTube video showing different clips and photos of Daisymay the cream Australian Labradoodle and her handler doing training in the airport, going through security and sitting inside the aircraft.
Many of the distractions that are encountered at the airport are not found in other parts of day to day life. Some of the novel experiences that Daisymay was introduced to included: navigating an environment with lots of people with suitcases/trolleys, waiting to be called through security, being scanned by security, going up the stairs to enter the plane, sitting inside the aircraft, hearing noisy engines from other planes taking off/landing, seeing large cases of luggage moving past on the conveyor belt, and more.
These types of distractions can be enticing or off-putting for a lot of dogs. It is important when working with pet dogs or assistance dogs that they are exposed to novel experiences in a gradual and positive way. Investing this time into Daisymay’s training means that in the future, she will feel confident and happy navigating similar environments, as well as being able to offer focus and engagement with her handler. Training is not just about building the behaviours that you want, but it is also about creating positive emotional responses.
London Luton Airport demonstrated a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, working with us and the Assistance Dog Assessment Association (ADAA) charity, to help ensure that assistance dog users who are arriving or departing at the airport have a pleasant experience. Our training visit was also a great opportunity for airport staff to have the chance for education around how to support handlers and their assistance dogs.
If you are interested in owner-training an assistance dog to support you with your disability, or if you are a handler with an assistance dog who requires training or behaviour support, you can find out more about the support we offer by visiting our Assistance Dog Training page.
If you don’t know much about owner-trained assistance dogs and want to find out more, you can read our blog post on Understanding Owner-Trained Assistance Dogs in the UK.