Cross-body bag and service dog - YouLookFab Forum

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Cross-body bag and service dog

medusa

Veteran

Hi everyone - my spring break is about to start and I'm hoping to have some time to catch up on the forum! I have been missing it so much.

I have some news: I just got a dog (yesterday) that I am training to be a service dog. This involves giving him lots of treats, so I need a good way to carry treats with me all the time. The usual thing seems to be to have a fanny pack (butt bag), but I'm hoping for something more stylish. I need something light and unobstrusive, so it's easy to carry all the time; if it had one pocket for dog treats and another for my wallet, that might be good.

Do you think a small cross-body bag would work? And those who have them, could you tell me which one(s) you like? Sorry to repeat this discussion. Because I haven't been a handbag person I haven't paid much attention to the cross-body bag threads...

The dog is a small gray standard poodle, by the way. And having him is fun but a bit overwhelming so far.

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from shana

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Aw, that's great!
I have two cross body bags. One is a cream canvas one from Target. It's more like a pouch on a strap that has worked great for travel. It's machine washable, which might be good for the dog treats.
My other one is a vintage Dooney that's a bit bigger and...not machine washable.

Maya

Veteran

Ooh, I bet Michelle will have some great input on this! I got a faux leather crossbody at H&M. I just wipe it clean. Easy.

Welcome back Medusa!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Good for you, Medusa!! We users of service animals are so grateful for the work that people like you do with our future babies! Just one word of advice, which I hope you won't mind even though it comes unsolicited... Be careful about giving the dog too many treats. We who rely on these animals don't want the dogs to expect rewards every time they do their job; if the dogs learn to work for praise rather than food, it's easier for us to reward them on the go (encouraging words and quick pats are enough to keep them happy and moving). There's also the issue of potentially overfeeding a dog (someone like my Reva puts on weight really quickly, for instance). There's definitely a place for food treats in the training regime, but on the rare occasions when I use it, I just take a small ziplock bag containing a few pieces of Reva's usual dry dog food and give her a piece or two as needed.
I really hope I'm not coming off as critical of the training program you're following with your poodle, because I'm sure it's great...I'm just offering two cents-worth from a service dog user, and I really hope you don't mind. What's your dog's name, btw?

As for the cross-body bag...have you looked into the Lesportsac one in the Ylf store? I know nothing about it personally, but I've seen others post enthusiastic reviews.

marianna

Veteran

Oooh this makes my heart happy! I don't have a cross-body bag so I can't chime in. But yay for doggies.

hanna

(website)

hi medusa! *waves*

i'd second sarah's suggestion for a cheapo target canvas special. they're cute, they're easy to clean, and your heart won't break if it gets terribly scuffed up in the line of duty.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Oooh exciting Medusa! I'd love to get a dog. Glad to hear you will be getting a break soon. Sounds like you've been working hard!

I think going for a nice cheap bag sounds like a good idea. Who'd want an amazing bag to end up smelling like dog food?

Anonymous

That's great Medusa. Standard Poodles are so smart. I know a fella who has two and he says they are so smart that it's strange the way they understand you. He says he was doing the baby talk with his dog and the dog refused to communicate till he knocked off the silly baby talk.
We've talked about getting a Poodle but for some reason my busband doesn't want a full breed, he thinks muts are better dogs.
Keeps us informed on how this goes. I'm very interested.
A, I know nothing about cross body bags, sorry.

Rosie

Veteran

A lightweight, easy to clean bag makes a lot of sense! Le Sportsac might be great, or a canvas one as others have mentioned.

Service dogs are amazing creatures. I had a blind roommate with one and also spent a summer in the house of a family friend with one. What you are doing is so important.

San, try to convince your husband! One of the main loves of my life is a Black/gray Standard. Merlin (my parents' dog) is truly an amazing creature. Not only are poodles smart dogs, but they are pretty goofy when appropriate and wonderful companions. And no shedding! My parents got him at Poodle Rescue so they were able to meet a variety of dogs and see their temperaments.

Louise

Veteran

Aw what a wonderful thing to do Medusa. I second (3rd,4th?) the crossbody bag also if you fancy a bumbag i think it ciould look quite edgy i tried one last year but sadly it was hideously large and not a good look but i'm still on the lookout for a neat stylish one x

medusa

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the suggestions. I will look at Target, H&M, and the Le Sportsac one. I see that the Le Sportsac one comes in lots of prints - that's pretty tempting!

Michelle - I was so hoping you would comment! I appreciate your advice about the food. Definitely he will get used to verbal rewards over time - the treats are mainly for learning a new behavior. Later the food is given less frequently, it's called "fading" the reward. Also, my dog is a rescue (he was a stray) and is quite underweight, so the extra treats are good for him right now! He's just started his training a few weeks ago, but he is very smart and food-motivated, so he is learning quickly.

Thanks again!

medusa

Veteran

I saw this bag at Target that is inexpensive and looks cute. It's the Merona zipper crossbody in pewter:
http://www.target.com/Merona-Z.....002UD8OTO/

What do you think?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

That's great, Medusa. Sounds like a great training program that will work out really well. And how fantastic that this dog is a rescue animal! Stories like that always make me feel so warm and fuzzy. I've always heard poodles are brilliant, so I'm sure you'll have great success with him. Enjoy your time with him and keep us posted on how it's all going!

Mac

Veteran

I'm impressed that you're helping train a service animal! Yay, you.

medusa

Veteran

I realized from reading the replies that my post about the dog was a bit ambiguous, probably because I'm uncomfortable talking about this. The plan (if everything works out) is for him to be a service dog for me, not for someone else. He will help me in dealing with PTSD. This is a trend in service dogs - PTSD service dogs are becoming more common, especially for veterans. Here's a CNN story about them, for example:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING......veterans/

Louise

Veteran

Medusa i sincerly hope this works for you, pets are wonderful therapy x

MNsara

Veteran

Hi, medua - Here's to a restful, restorative spring break for you

I love the idea of the PTSD service dog. I know how the animals in our house get 'used' for our stability - we all gravitate right towards them - it's such a natural fit!!

Since he's going to be around for the long haul - get a bag you'll like as YOUR accessory. That Merona pewter one looks good (said by a metallic lover). The Le Sportsac ones typically wear like iron and I've had success gently washing their nylon ones too. I'm not as familiar with their shiny black material.

Did you pick a name for him yet? (Our last new animal, we spent 6 weeks trying out various names on him and ended up back at the beginning with the name from his breeder - Iain :-\ )

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Aww medusa, I'm even happier to hear you have a dog now then. Please keep us informed of how things go hey!!

Debora

Veteran

Medusa, I hope you are having a wonderful spring break and a well-deserved rest from the classroom. Your service dog is so lucky to have such a wonderful owner and I hope we get to hear more about him. I know the YLF family of pets are giving him a big welcome!

shana

Veteran

Medusa, good luck with the new pet! I think the target bag looks great. I also love the le sportsac bags - they are very durable.