There was a beautiful seeing eye dog in training with a sighted trainer on the bus today. It was all I could do to resist trying to make friends with him/her(the dog,not the trainer).
Is it poor form or frowned upon to pet a seeing eye dog when it isn't actively guiding an unsighted person?
The handler was deep in conversation with her friend,it would have been ill mannered of me to interrupt.
I'm glad I restrained myself.
Anonymous
Favorite Answer
That dog has a job to do whether its handler is sighted or not. ALWAYS ask permission to pat any service dog. In fact, always ask permission to pat ANY dog. Otherwise you might get bitten.
EDIT:
"I'm glad I restrained myself."
Me too. :-)
You might want to read more about it here: http://www.asic.bc.cx/releases/GuideDogAccess/ProperEtiquetteWhenYouMeetAGuideDogTeam.shtml
?
Imagine driving your car. Then imagine someone reaching over and pulling the steering wheel, diverting you off course, out of control, and possible into danger. That is what it is like for the guide handler when people distract the dog from work. Disorienting, scary, and annoying to say the least.
When the dog "isn't actively guiding", it IS still working at sitting quietly, ignoring smells, ignoring the pleas from the public to interact with them, ignoring food or other items on the floor, and any other animals. It is working, and will likely get a correction for responding to anyone but the handler. And it takes thousands of repetitions to get there. Even giving eye contact (a form of communication and support) to the dog is undesirable. A visually impaired person may not be able to that -- so you certainly should not. Glad you restrained yourself.
That is not to say that we don't prepare dogs to endure the onslaught of the attention-seeking public. It is inevitable, but we only train them for that when it is the right time for that dog. So don't try to help training by interfering with the dog.
Here's a humorous video about it. http://youtu.be/Nf6-i5C0Bwg
ellie
Seeing eye dogs are trained in the village I grew up in, and we were always told to ask before interacting with the dogs. Some trainers - at certain points in the training - actively encourage people to try to distract dogs in training, so that they can get used to ignoring distractions, which is a vital part of their training.
I usually leave assistance dogs alone, but when they're in training, I do ask whether it's ok to pet or talk to the dog.
Anonymous
The dog is *Still* working even though it may not seem as so.
Service dogs do not need to be distracted due to such drivel that could possibly place the owner at risk.
It's a DOG, not a shiny toy, there is no reason why one should have the need to become googly eyed in presence of a working dog.
Erika
in simple terms gonna say it--this does not sound like a winner of a relationship. Your ideas, critiques and requests ought to be respected, fairly on your place. regulations of etiquette: prepare your dogs to be a well mannered dogs citizen (and your boy buddy is thoroughly clueless on training if a million/2 of what you wrote is real--shakes head). This training contains no longer permitting your dogs to physique of ideas strangers or different canines. shop her on a leash for her protection and the protection of others. %. up her waste. prepare her to no longer do away with indoors (which she is youthful and in training). whilst vacationing others with your dogs be respectful of their components and shop your dogs off furniture and beds. in case you will no longer be able to try this, carry a crate or pass away the dogs at living house. there is extra, yet you already be attentive to dogs etiquette no rely in case you have ever had a dogs or no longer. the regulations are common courtesy and admire. Your boyfriend has no clue a thank you to coach a dogs. At this age she ought to be on a leash. Her housetraining isn't sturdy, so she ought to be the two in a crate whilst she isn't being watched or tethered to his physique by her leash whilst she isn't. She additionally desires all photos in the previous being uncovered to the super, undesirable worldwide. If he quite takes your relationship heavily, the two one among you need to have stated the dogs. Your boyfriend sounds selfish and his dogs replace right into a spur-of-the-2nd, fulfill-ME purchase that replace into given quite no theory. If he did think of the dogs out understanding your perspectives, then he's even worse and a manipulative, conniving jackass. If he does not get his act mutually on the learning, he will have a doggie monster on his palms, blame you for her misbehavior (by way of fact inspite of each little thing, he's Mr. be attentive to-It-All perfect dogs coach), and the harmless dogs will finally end up at a shelter. i do no longer think of the doggy is the only factor you need to kick out of your mattress.