Emotional Support Animal
This is an issue I have pretty well worked out as a player, but am still pretty ambiguous on as a judge. I have an Emotional Support Animal, (more on what that means in a bit) he's a 20lb terrier mix and his name is Lucas. I have him to help me with an anxiety disorder I have. Unlike a true Service Dog, who is trained to do specific tasks, and, more importantly, is legally allowed anywhere it's handler is, an emotional support animal isn't necessarily trained this way. In Lucas's case, his presence helps calm me and staves off panic attacks, but he's also in tune with me enough that when I am feeling anxious, he can see it, and comes to my side to comfort me. It's important to note however, that being registered as an Emotional Support Animal, does not guarantee him the right of full public access. (It does allow him to be some places he normally wouldn't be allowed, but that aren't relevant to this discussion.)
As a player at competitive tournaments, I usually ask permission from the TO in advance of the tournament if I can bring him with me, and while they are allowed to say no, almost all of them have been very understanding, and have given him special permission to accompany me. Having him with me as a player has been an incredible boon to me, and I can see a tangible improvement in my performance at tournaments where I am able to have him with me. He keeps me off tilt, and staves of anxiety and panic in high-stakes situations that would cause anyone some measure of anxiety.
When judging, however, I have, thus far, almost never asked a TO permission for him to accompany me. I wonder if this decision is correct, though, and therefore want to bring it to the community to discuss. At first, I though I would be less likely to feel anxious as a Judge than I would as a player. That has proven, in certain situations, to very much not be the case. In a setting such a GP, (which I have brought Lucas to when I've been a player) I have other Judges I can come to with these issues, and who can, if necessary, share the load if my anxiety does affect my performance. A substantial amount of my judging at this point in my career though, is at tournaments like pPTQs and IQs, where I'm usually the sole judge. I have to be confident and sometimes deescalate verbal confrontations with players, both of which are very difficult for me. Obviously, the main tool I have to combat these issues is the act of judging itself. Practice is a valuable tool, and in the cases where I do have other judges to give me feedback, I can feel more confident in the things I'm doing correctly and repair the things I'm not. However, if I have another tool in my arsenal to cope with the issues I have, shouldn't I use it? The main reason I've cited for not (asking to) bring Lucas to tournaments I judge is that it seems unprofessional. Upon further examination, while it may appear this way to someone who doesn't know the situation, it isn't actually the case. There is the fact that I do have to keep an eye on him, which can take my attention away from my other duties to some degree, which is certainly a valid concern.
I'm now wondering how the pros weigh against the cons, and am willing to consider the fact that what I do to be the best I can as a player may also apply as a Judge. We are a community, though, and fortunately that means I don't have to make this decision by myself. I'd love to hear input from my fellow judges on all the issues I brought up here, and perhaps even ones I have overlooked completely. Thanks in advance for your feedback!