To ask what you'd do if a service dog without an owner approched you what would you do?

[NaughtToThreeSadOnions]

I know this is an american example but it got me thinking how many people would know why a service dog wanted your attention or what to do? I found it on twitter
(twitter.com/lissalet/status/1008087816604127234?s=09)

I know most people think of services dogs as guide dogs or prehaps hearing dogs but theres an increasing amount of epilepsy, autism or dusablity assistance dogs. I just wonder if this applies in the uk (i suspect it does) and what you'd do.

Doesn't sound like a very effective system. There's lots of potential for confusion. Not everyone is happy to interact with a strange dog, or it could be stolen.

Wouldn't it be better if the dog was trained to stay with the owner and bark for help?

I'd say "what is it boy? Take me to your owner!"

Then while we both running, superhero style, down the street, I would pat him and tell him he's a most excellent boy.

masonjar so what do you do when some one is in need do you stand there and shout or do you run and get help? Say you've seen a car crash do you stand by the side of the road and randomly shout so no one actually realises you need help. Or do you physically try and flag own cars egret people's attention

I presume you actually go and get attention that is what the dog is trained to do..

The purpose of me posting this was it got me thinking how many people would be aware that's what the dog is doing. There's no room for confusion if you see a service dog in work alone then you need to follow it it's owner is in trouble

I’d call the police, and while waiting for them see if there was a way I could help it, or trace it’s user xx

I think it is excellent they are going to train the service dogs to move on to another person if needed.

Not everyone is able to help. Not everyone is good in a crisis either. Some people may know that a lone service dog is a cause for concern in theory but forget in the moment. Putting a reminder on the vest would be useful for those people who need a reminder and a number to call for help for some of those unable to follow the dog personally.

I'd follow the dog if it had its little uniform off. I don't think a service dog would allow you not to!

I'd probably look around and hope someone else dealt with it because I don't want to be responsible for helping someone who is potentially in trouble...I'm more likely to faint than be of any help. But if there was nobody else around, I'd look to see if the dog had something on the jacket or tags to give me a hint of what to do. If it was clearly doing some 'lassie' impression, I'd probably follow it and hope it led me to it's owner.

Lots of posters on MN would give it a good kick, if the dog threads on here are anything to go by.

I would follow it, or were I not able to do so (if I had a disability, for example), then I would get someone else’s attention or call the police / paramedics.

There is sadly still lots of ignorance around guide dogs; they are remarkable creatures.

Masonjar and what if the owner has fallen in an area not visible to a public thoroughfare?

Dogs bark all the time and no one goes to investigate. A dog sitting there barking is not doing any good when it could be going to get help.

The vast, vast majority of people will be in a position to do something - even if that’s just calling the emergency services or getting someone else to do so.

Ignoring a guide dog asking for your help for their owner is exactly the same as ignoring someone who’s collapsed in the street in front of you. Both pretty despicable. Even if you’re not in a position to provide medical care or physically run for help you can still make a phone call or get someone else’s attention. It would be a rare set of circumstances indeed where you have no phone and are in a remote area by yourself and are not able to physically get yourself somewhere you could find help.

There is sadly still lots of ignorance around guide dogs; they are remarkable creatures

Its funny there is and not just of guide dogs but of the different types of assistance dogs whuch is why the post from twitter got me thinking. They are very special animals.

in the states service/guide dogs wear a harness-vest that says thier name and service.and if found call....(even puppies in training)
my niece trains them and years ago followed my example of teaching " show me.". dog is looking at you and looking away at something else(owner in distress)
my current girl is not a certified service dog.but has had the basic training.if i have trouble getting up(arthritus and spinal injury) she runs over and places her back to me so i can rest on her haunches and stablize myself.
when she sees some one on our property furred feathered or human .she comes to me and looks back at the offender until i tell her its ok or to show me and she will lead me to it.
they are amazingly intuitive creatures.if approached by one ask it to find help or try show me.a fairly universal command.
you may save a life.

The trouble is that training the dog is only half of the equation. There's the random member of the public to consider too.
I hope my (hopefully common) reaction of checking the dog's collar / looking around for the owner - after all an assistance dog in full regalia won't have just got out of a garden like your avaerge loose dog - would have the desired result. But really, if you want a specific reaction from an untrained person, you need to tell them what to do. A message on the harness seems the easiest answer.

I saw that post on social media and thought the woman might have been scared of dogs and uncomfortable. My husband would certainly be uncomfortable about a strange dog approaching , service dog or no.

I was raising the question about educating people about what a lone service dog means.

This seems like it should be common sense. Service dogs don't just go wandering off from their person for no reason, and they don't go up to people for attention like a pet dog does. If one came up to me, I would assume something was wrong, and I'd try to find the person.

A different view on this: twitter.com/vavroom/status/1009067707503923200

I don't think random members of the public have any responsbility to go and help tbh. They might not know to help as has been previously discussed, they may be scared to help, or they may just not want to go and get involved. which i think is entirely their prerogative.

Thats interesting dahling i presumed it was a properly trained assistace dog as i know dogs can almost predict eplipsy etc

Yes that does kind of change the story some what. A mastiff wouldnt be my first choice of assistance dog no.

Still i think its interesting to think about the issue.

I’d go and find the owner it’s common sense service dogs are trained to get help! Or bark to alert people!

I don't think random members of the public have any responsbility to go and help tbh. They might not know to help as has been previously discussed, they may be scared to help, or they may just not want to go and get involved. which i think is entirely their prerogative.

Would you really just ignore someone collapsed on the street? You wouldn’t even call an ambulance??

As I’ve said before on this thread - if you have a phobia, or a disability, and you can’t follow the dog, then use your brain and get someone else to help or make a phone call. You don’t have to follow the dog if you genuinely can’t.

My friend is already treated like a second class citizen because she dares to take her guide dog into shops and restaurants. It’s heartbreaking to know that people would ignore her if she needed help.

If you are scared of dogs, make a call to someone who isn't. Either by phone or at the top of your voice.
I would help.

Yes when they are in harness/wearing jackets they are working and off lead playing but they are still trained. Our boy can not handle a scream. Immediately he makes a beeline dragging me with him. And try having a service dog and a sensitive smoke alarm. I swear he goes into alert mode the minute the toaster goes on now.
As always more education for the public but I know in the Stares there’s a rash of “service animals” and no central organisational system.
Also if you don’t know animals you can’t be expected to interpret the behaviour of an unfamiliar dog. How many people flap their arms and run away when approached by a dog?

Fake “service dogs” in the US are nothing like the highly trained dogs we’re used to in Europe.

Dogs in the U.K. and Ireland are not trained to do this.

Mastiffs are not appropriate service dogs for children with epilepsy.

There really is nothing more annoying than the thought that hundreds of thousands of people have seen and read this rubbish.

Id presume there was an issue with its owner and say whats wrong and see if it took me to them.

But my nanas a guidance dog trainer.

Guide even!