Guide Dog Etiquette

ONe of the challenges of being a guide dog owner is learning how to deal with the public. If you're a cane user, it is not likely that strangers will be attracted to you, but once you have a guide dog everyone wants to say hi. Well they want to say hi to your dog, not necessarily you. Service animals/pets are like children, they're always cuter than you are. So now that everyone wants to say hi to your dog you have to figure out how to respond to them. I myself am probably nicer than I should be. I do allow people to pet Midge, but only if she is calm, and they've asked and waited for my response. This isn't always the rule though. I sometimes say no just because I'm tired of people asking. So please know, I don't make this decision based on the person, and if I say no it's not personal.

I bring up this issue because of an unpleasant experience I had with a mother an her daughter on the bus yesterday. I had ridden with this pair before, and because the daughter kept touching Midge without my permission I told her that she couldn't pet her at anytime. So, when I got onto the bus yesterday, one of the other passengers asked me if they could pet Midge. Because I was safely in my seat and Midge was getting settled I said yes. Later on, the mother saw this passenger touching Midge and flipped out on me. She could not believe that I had allowed someone else to touch my guide dog after telling her daughter that she couldn't.

In order to hopefully avoid situations like this in the future, I am going to provide a list of etiquette rules for all of my readers. I would really like feedback from my readers who work with service animals about their experiences and how you respond to the public. I am always open to new tips and tricks.

Guide Dogs for the Blind's website lists the following rules for etiquette with guide dogs:

• As tempting as it might be to pet a guide dog, remember that this dog is responsible for guiding someone who can't see. The dog should never be distracted from this responsibility.
• It is okay to ask someone if you can pet their guide dog. Many owners like introducing their dogs when they have the time.
• A guide should never be offered food or other distracting treats.
• Although guides can't read traffic signals, they are responsible for helping their handlers safely cross a street. Calling out to a guide dog or intentionally obstructing it's path can be dangerous to the team.
• If you see a guide dog team in an intersection, don't honk your horn or tell the person when it is safe to cross. This can be confusing and distracting.
• When guides are not in harness they get to play, but they only play with certain toys for their safety. Do not offer a guide dog a toy without asking their handler first.
• Before asking a question of a guide dog handler, let them finish the task they were doing.
• Remain calm in your approach and mannerisms.
• Never tease a dog.

For more information about guide dogs and how to act around them, visit the link above.

What are your biggest frustrations as a service animal user? What do you think is the best way to educate the public?