1. Flight to Nowhere Can Do Canines Training
Nancy Weitgenant, Puppy Program Coordinator
Guest: Captain Andrea Ratfield, Delta Air Lines Pilot

3. Who We Work With Minneapolis Airport Commission Delta Air Lines Pilots
MAC provides volunteers to facilitate the tour of the airport and going through security
MAC provides security passes for each individual and parking passes
Delta Air Lines Pilots
Volunteer their time to talk about flying with a service dog
Puppy Program and Client Teams
Puppy Raisers or Long-Term fosters of dogs in training
Up to 3 Client/Dog working teams - must be successfully working and living together, and have plans to travel in the near future
Minimum of 2 staff members

4. Outing Requirements for Can Do Canines
Do not feed dogs breakfast, or feed at least 3 hours prior to training (to eliminate indoor accidents)
Dogs in training must be at least 6 months old, prefer 9 months
Dogs in training must wear a head collar to this training
Bring clean up supplies in case of accident
Follow airport guidelines (no liquids, etc. through security)
Dog is not allowed to go on additional outings the day of training, after training go home for rest and play time
Do not attend if dog has recently shown stress in busy environments

5. Outing Guidelines
All attendees meet at the lobby / information desk of the airport.
Check in each dog and volunteer handler, obtain security passes
Review protocal for the outing, guidelines, set expectations
Walk to the airport outdoor relief area
Go through security
We instruct all attendees to never let go of the dog
One staff person goes through security first, the 2nd staff person goes through security last so we have staff on each side to assist attendees as needed
Walk the concourse, stopping at indoor relief area
Ride the TRAM to the concourse with the training location
Take elevators to training, Happy Tails Airlines seating
Seating of an airplane that is placed in a training room of the airport

6. Benefits of Flight to Nowhere Training
Dogs in training get experience maneuvering through the airport concourse, tram, security and elevators
Dogs experience the busy environment while young, enabling them to better handle travel by airline when they are a working team
Helps the dog to be calm and stable in the airport setting, enabling them to better focus on their handler and tasks
Volunteers gain insight to the importance of this training for the dog
Staff observes dogs in a busy, stressful environment and can evaluate
Clients get a practice experience before traveling on their own