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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask this question about Guide Dogs?

164 replies

MarvellousMarbles · 17/03/2015 11:43

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!

OP posts:

Ragwort · 17/03/2015 18:48

I know - but I would never, ever touch a dog anyway not an animal lover.

I also used to work with someone who had a guide dog ............ not much fun when the guide dog was sick and of course it's owner couldn't clear it up.

FindoGask · 17/03/2015 18:50

Give Rebel a break, WannaBe. She said she knows she did the wrong thing and she apologised at the time. No point having a massive go at her now, two years later. I bet you never do anything wrong.

meditrina · 17/03/2015 18:51

I've just checked with the DCS, and they all knew that you shouldn't stroke (or in any other way distract) an assurance dog whilst working.

(DD did say that if she met one a bus stop she might ask its human if she could say hello to the dog whilst they were just waiting. Her brothers have just firmly told her not to!)

Tellmeplease · 17/03/2015 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fluffymouse · 17/03/2015 19:01

I know, its pretty obvious.

Lots of assistance dogs have harness on which say something along the lines of 'working dog - please do not touch'

Could you get one of those?

wannaBe · 17/03/2015 19:02

(DD did say that if she met one a bus stop she might ask its human if she could say hello to the dog whilst they were just waiting. Her brothers have just firmly told her not to!)" it's ok to ask :) some owners will say yes, depends on how close the bus is etc.
I was once waiting at a bus stop with ds when another boy from his school said "I wish I was blind," to which I responded "why?" and he said "then I could have a dog like that one."

ThatCuckingFat · 17/03/2015 19:04

I knew, but I know people who didn't know and have been told off by the owner.
On a couple of occasions when I worked in a public building and a guide dog owner came in, I asked once the guide dogs harness was put down if it was ok to stroke the dog because sometimes I just can't resist. Then the owner can say yes or no, and can explain that they need the dog to concentrate and not be distracted, better solution surely? On both occasions they said it was fine as the dog wasn't 'working' while they were doing what they needed to do.
I actually think people should ask first before they stroke any dog as some dogs really aren't comfortable with it.

SoleSource · 17/03/2015 19:05

My DS is blind and I do know and I would never and have never touched or spoken to a working dog. But they're are very cute.

MarrogfromMars · 17/03/2015 19:29

I knew. But I was very surprised to learn from MN that patting a dog on the head is apparently a bad thing. Also only learnt from MN that chocolate and raisins are poisonous to dogs.

Nohootingchickenssleeping · 17/03/2015 19:39

In some countries it's actually illegal to touch a guide dog without the owner's permission.

GrinAndTonic · 17/03/2015 19:50

I thought everyone knew?

I flew from Singapore to Sydney and next yo me was a man and his guide dog. The lovely man unharnessed the dog and I not go spend the next 8 hours with my very own fluffy foot warmer They do like to hog the seat though.

DinoSnores · 17/03/2015 19:50

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

You'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of Brownies who will know this, including my own pack. The puppy walkers are great at coming to groups as it teaches the Brownies about Guide Dogs and also because it helps with the puppies' socialisation.

The woman who came with the puppy last time was great with my Brownies and all their questions and didn't even smirk when one Brownie asked her, "Does the Guide Dog help the blind person drive?"

DamsonInDistress · 17/03/2015 20:08

Thinking about it, I don't know if I knew it as a specific 'rule', but it's not something I've ever done or ever would do anyway. I'm not a massively doggy person, and it just seems like common sense not to disturb them.

Side note - our local Waitrose abounds with dogs in training, there's a couple of people in the town who do a lot of training of assistance dogs and I see them out and about regularly. Last week a very young dog was curled up snoring in the cafe! Very sweet!

PeppermintCrayon · 17/03/2015 20:10

I thought everyone knew this. Not least because it's so bloody obvious.

Alisvolatpropiis · 17/03/2015 20:24

I know. I remember being told as a child by an adult relative (couldn't tell you who) that guide dogs are busy working when they're out with their owners so I shouldn't disturb them

RattieofCatan · 17/03/2015 20:25

I never knew that. Though I always ask permission to stroke a dog and would not take it personally if I were told no. I'm anal about teaching that to my charges too.

I know some guide dogs wear jackets that ask you not to touch them too though, could you get hold of one?

Tapwater · 17/03/2015 20:40

I knew. No idea how, but possibly because of a VI friend of my father's who was involved with fundraising for the Irish Guide Dog Assoc when I was a child. But very interesting to hear exact reasons why guide dog distraction and feeding are bad.

To those who are puppy walkers/trainers, can I ask what factors might see a dog rejected from training?

OhisHOME · 17/03/2015 20:48

I had the same as someone else, explaining to dd about not patting them&lady saying it was fine. She didn't put the harness down first though but I thought everyone knew

Charlesroi · 17/03/2015 21:43

Yes, I know not to touch or talk to the dog. Maybe you need to get a bigger sign on the dog's harness?

Poochlover · 17/03/2015 21:55

I don't think I actually KNEW, but I'd never do it-I've always just assumed It's not a good thing to do IYSWIM?

The dog's working, It's there to do a job, for someone who isn't me. I guess if I got talking to a blind person I may do it if they said it was okay-but I've never been in a situation like that so I haven't ever.

Blu · 17/03/2015 22:20

I worked with a woman who had a guide dog, so very familiar with the protocols. Also if you work and socialise with a guide dog user it becomes very obvious how concentrated the dogs are and how attuned owner and dig need to be, to avoid potentially fatal lapses.

I was team leader so my colleague was very keen that my status as 'boss' was not ever communicated to the dog. I never spoke to it or petted it.

We were told that only the owner must ever feed a guide dog, also because of the bonding issue.

We didn't pet the dog in the office whether it was on or off duty.

Original poster

MarvellousMarbles · 18/03/2015 13:08

Just been out for lunch. Lovely meal, guide dog safely stowed under the table. No-one approached us, or fussed my dog. I was able to (almost) forget his presence and enjoy a good chat with my friend. And my dog was able to have a relaxing snooze and be ready to guide me back to work!

to all the people who saw us, thought awwww, lovely dog, and left it at that!

OP posts:

Shannaratiger · 19/03/2015 06:53

We were taught at school, unfortunately general dog ignorance is rather high in this 'dog loving' country. My Dd is terrified of dogs, have managed to convince her that guide dogs r safe but that she still can't touch them unless the person says so - stops her screaming if she sees one inside where she always associates with being dog free.

Mrsmorton · 19/03/2015 07:49

Marvellous, the town Im from has a Royal College for the Blind so guide dogs relatively common. Not all VI people have them though, what's the decision process behind dog vs stick and so on.

Original poster

MarvellousMarbles · 19/03/2015 08:39

Hello Mrsmorton. Yes, only a small percentage of VI people have guide dogs. It's a very personal decision to apply for one. You obviously have to take on responsibility for dog ownership and care of the dog. And you need to have (or want to develop) a lifestyle where you are going out to places every day where you will use the dog. A lot of VI people end up not going out (because it's so difficult) and have adapted to that way of life, which would be daunting to change (true of me to some extent).

I first considered having a guide dog in my 20s, but after discussing with Guide Dogs, I decided that my lifestyle was just too erratic (I was travelling a lot, going out a lot, etc. Didn't feel that I was ready to take care of a dog and give it the right routine etc.) Also, the 'routes' I did (i.e. places I went) weren't regular enough for the dog to get to know them and be useful.

Then I considered one again in my 30s, but put it off because I was about to move to a new part of the country. Then I had children, and put it off because having a pushchair (esp a double one!) and a guide dog isn't an easy combination.

Now, in my 40s, I've finally taken the plunge. The waiting list can be up to 2 years once you apply, so it's not a quick process, and some people may go for more immediate solutions.

A lot of guide dog owners go for a long cane first, and then move on to a guide dog, though I didn't do that.

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