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Dogs in Public (Guide Dog Etiquette)
by Jeremy Curry on Sunday, March 18 2007As I have traveled around to various parts of the country, and have met with many of our great customers, I was always amazed at how sighted people would come up to those who have guide dogs, and pet them, even when they are clearly marked with "Do Not Pet" signs. I never fully grasped how frustrating this was to the handler until I started raising a Leader Dog puppy, whom I named Scout. It's absolutely astonishing to me how many people do not ask to pet - they just simply pet the dog; many times even after I have asked them not to. Or, if they can't pet the dog, they wave or bark at Scout, or tell their kids to say hi or bye to the dog. While this can be great socialization when the dog is young, it is absolutely terrible when trying to get the pup to concentrate on what he or she is supposed to be doing. I don't think that most sighted people fully comprehend the nature of a working dog, nor what it takes to train a pup to become a working dog. So, in hopes that someone will be performing a Google search on guide dogs, dogs for the blind, Seeing Eye dogs, Leader dogs, or any other guide dog school, I'd like to make this checklist for them for working dogs, and pups that are in training on the dos and don'ts of Guide Dog etiquette:
1. NEVER EVER pet a working dog.
2. NEVER EVER pet a pup that is in training, unless you have asked the handler. If the handler says no, please respect that and do not pet the dog.
3. If the handler says not to pet the dog, do not wave at the dog, bark at the dog, say things like "Hi doggie!," or tell your child to do similar things to the dog.
4. Do not stare at the dog and handler - we can feel you doing this. Smile.
5. If the handler tells you not to pet the dog, don't ask your child to go ask again in hopes that the child will get to pet the dog. It won't work! Smile.
6. Don't yell things like "There's a dog!" You'd be amazed at how the vocabulary and IQ of the general public decreases when they see a dog in public. I'm constantly reminded of this every time Scout visits the mall.
7. Don't follow the trainer and the pup just to get a look at what they are doing. If you have questions, just ask. We are more than happy to answer your questions, but stalking will get you nowhere. Smile.
8. Don't scream and run away from the dog. These dogs and pups will not bite you. They are nothing to be afraid of, and they will not hurt you. They are highly trained and highly intelligent.
9. Don't spend 30 minutes telling the handler about your dog. After this happens the first 100 times, it gets a little monotonous. Smile. The handler has places to go and things to do, and hearing about everything that your dog does greatly limits our time.
10. When you see a pup being trained, remember that the dog is getting used to all sorts of things, and there is very limited time to do this. So, if you own a business, please let the pup enter your business. Working dogs don't just become working dogs without lots and lots of different types of experiences in various environments.
11. If your child sees a working dog/pup in training at a restaurant, your first response to your child should NOT be, "Did you go ask if you can pet the dog?" It should be "That dog is a working dog, and will help people. Leave him alone because he is working."
My hope is that sighted people who have not had experience with guide dogs in the past will be able to learn something from these few simple tips. All of the above have happened to me as a puppy raiser, and it will make everyone's life easier if simple Guide Dog etiquette is adhered to at all times. Smile.
