To ask this question about Guide Dogs?

[MarvellousMarbles]

Did you know that you are not supposed to touch a working guide dog in harness?

I am asking because i am a new guide dog owner, and approximately 10 to 15 times a day, someone will come and pet my dog without asking me. I know they mean well, but it's really distracting/confusing for my dog, and that makes things more difficult for me.

Is it that they don't know? I thought nearly everyone did, but perhaps I am wrong!

I know that you should not touch a working guide dog. I might say something about how it's a pretty dog.

It's a good idea to ask before touching any dog that you don't know. Dogs can be unpredictable.

I wouldn't because I wouldn't touch any dog. Same way I don't touch random humans I don't know - you never know if they will bite

I knew. A lovely lady got chatting to us when I was explaining the role of guide dogs / working dogs to my mindees and said it was very refreshing to hear a proper explanation rather than the nasty (paraphrasing for disablist language) woman won't let you touch her precious dog.

My cousin's guide dog pees/poos on command - and only on grass! He's an amazing dog and a much-adored member of the family. When not on duty, he's a bouncy and playful pet - when the harness goes on, he switches to calm, business-like mode (but still smiling goofily at us)

Always happy to hear people tell me how beautiful my dog is, geeky! Feel free to carry on doing that! He is a very handsome boy and doesn't he know it!

I knew, and feel like I always have done but I don't really remember being taught it so I expect it's part of the vast body of knowledge I gained from Blue Peter!

I run a Reading Group for VI people and I make sure I introduce myself when I say Hi and sometimes, depending on the person and how well I know them I'll ask is it ok to say Hi to their dog too.

I wouldn't dream of distracting a working dog.

My DM taught me.

I would have thought that this was common knowledge.

tbh I rarely refuse if I am still somewhere, as long as people ask. I have been into schools with my dogs since ds was little, so I am used to children wanting to engage with them, but children have also learned to ask first.

But if I am walking down the street then the answer will generally always be no, with the exception of small children who sometimes express some anxiety and whose parents will say "look that's a lovely doggy, say hello to the doggy," sometimes I will stop to talk to them if the child is showing interest, and if that would help them overcome their anxiety.

Basically, if you engage with me then I will engage with you, even if it's to explain why I've said no.

Although there was also the woman who told her child that if she didn't behave then the guide dog was going to bite her. I had some harsh words to say to her. Posted about it on here actually and was flamed.

Where in the country are you marbles?

It's yet another thing that I learnt at Brownies/Guides that children don't seem to learn nowadays.

oooh good lord wannabe...my shoulder cricks out of its socket carrying a 6 kg puppy round tescos!

And people just don't look....where we are is near to a big training centre in scotland, so locally people are generally more aware, but even going to my mum's near Dumfries or down to Dorset with the pups when we have been on holiday it's an unknown thing....I don't know if people think GuideDogs are born in harness?

One memorable day in M&S in Weymouth, dh was with the pup. he was in a GD fleece, dog had on "I am a guide puppy" jacket and the white lead complete with dayglo yellow flash emblazoned with "PUPPY IN TRAINING" and M&Swoman tackles dh, taking him by the elbow and saying "you cannot bring a pet dog into this shop"

I've never thought guide dogs look sad.

To me they look dignified and smart

CaT we've been refused entry into cafes because of my cousin's guide dog usually due to poorly-trained staff on the shop floor, even after trying to explain that it is The Law.

dh has had that too .... "get away that dog will bite you" ...the tesco lady told that mother off! :o

Dignified and smart, that's my dog! unfortunately not such a good description for me...

Definitely not sad. He's dashing around the hallway tooting his squeaky toy right now, because the kids have just got home

I knew. I have also known a couple of guide dog puppy walkers (who socialise the dogs for about the first 18 months of their lives) and they have also said what a bugbear it can be if people don't even ask.

The dogs are trained to recognise that when they are put in their harnesses they are working. Today most of the harnesses have clear "do not disturb me, I'm working" notices on them, but some people appear to think this doesn't apply to them.

The same rules of thumb also apply to other assistance dogs too. The dog needs to be allowed to concentrate on the task at hand.

I must say that I am fascinated by assistance dogs though. They are amazing creatures.

legally the pups and puppy walkers do not have the same standing as the qualified dogs and their owners, so we cannot insist on entry, but we've never been put out of anywhere.

elements...you need to dob them in to the local rag, they love stories like that. ..if your cousin can bear it though.

I knew because my uncle is blind, and I have brought DS up to be aware of working dogs so he knows not to touch them too.

We did see an absolutely gorgeous chocolate brown puppy being guide dog trained in the supermarket a few weeks back, and we admired her from a distance as she barked at the bags of dog food

The woman training her was not blind, and she saw us watching and invited DS over to say hello. She said the puppy will be approached so she doesn't want to keep everyone away during training, but she was pleased we waited to be asked.

I didnt know it was a thing, but i wouldnt do it anyway. Seems courteous to not disturb them.

CaTs we did better than that, one memorable time it was a rather upmarket chain and we dobbed them in to Twitter while still standing on the pavement outside

On that occasion it really was just a poorly-trained staff member, as soon as management realised what had happened they were really apologetic and subsequently we were all invited back for a free meal.

And don't get me started on ignorant idiots who think it's ok to feed a guide dog. Honestly, a quarter of a pork pie? WTAF!!!!

Well aren't you a bundle of joy .

I didn't run up to the dog and stuff the pork pie in its open mouth.

The dog's owner had given the dog some pork pie, so I knew it wasn't 'allergic' to them. The dog was lying underneath the table and I, without thinking, gave the dog a quarter of it.

It was also one of those little dinky ones.
Ignorant maybe, idiot is unjustified.

I'm sure there are plenty of things you are 'ignorant' of also .

surely you shouldn't touch any dog without asking first? thats just stupid..

I don't think I'd feed other people's children rebel y'know, even if I'd seen them feed them. I'd know they weren't allergic but it's a bit odd to think that gives you free reign to crack on.

I knew because of the signs on the harnesses.

No I know that Mrsmorton, it was genuinely done without thinking, I'd had a couple of sherries and I always give my own dogs little tidbits.
The dog was lying at my feet (they were tiny little tables) and I was told not to in no uncertain terms.

The chap himself, luckily, was informative rather than denouncing me as an idiot.

I know this - I remember my parents telling me when I was younger, I thought it was common knowledge.