How service dogs safeguard, deepen relationships and save us from ourselves Leadership coach John Bates was speaking at a TED conference in front of a huge audience when his dog Flash walked across the stage, sniffed him, and repeate... Posted: May 13, 2021 2:57 PM Updated: May 13, 2021 2:57 PM Posted By: CNN Leadership coach John Bates was speaking at a TED conference in front of a huge audience when his dog Flash walked across the stage, sniffed him, and repeatedly started poking him with his nose. Flash was doing what is called "alerting" in the world of working service dogs, telling Bates that he might not be OK.