Yesterday I took my friend out for lunch, a movie, and ice cream for her birthday. My friend so happens to have a guide dog, pictured above.
I’ve learned a lot about guide dogs in the years we’ve been friends, and not just because I’m nosy and ask a ton of questions. I’ve seen a lot of how people react to the dog, and to my friend’s handling of said dog. I’ve seen the direct consequences of strangers who don’t know how to treat guide dogs in public, too.
I realize there are a lot of these already out there by guide dog handlers, and you should really defer to a handler, not to me, if what we say seems contradictory. Still, I’m told that this information can’t be repeated often enough, so I’m repeating it.
Do not distract a service animal. In my friend’s case, the dog serves as her eyes. You wouldn’t put your hands over someone’s eyes while they’re walking. So why would you deprive a blind person of their accommodation that allows them to navigate the world?
Service dogs are still dogs. They’re extraordinarily well-trained dogs, but they still like attention, they can be distracted by loud noises, they’re frightened of scary things, and some things will inevitably grab their attention. My friend’s previous dog always forgot herself and barked at other dogs, so I’d physically interpose and verbally warn my friend if we were walking near one. Her dog before that was distracted by children and wanted to go say hi, which was a bigger problem. And lots of people want to offer food, which was a huge problem for the dog that had some major dietary restrictions because eating the wrong thing could kill her.
You know those studies that show that humans have a finite amount of patience, and they can only resist so much temptation before they give in? I’ve seen that happen with her dog. She’s been so good, put so much effort into doing her job right all day. At that point, all it takes is one whistle from a stranger, one, “Here, puppy!” and that dog is no longer guiding my friend. That dog is off to greet the friendly human.
Guide dogs guide blind people across streets, around obstacles, and up curbs and stairs. A distraction during any of those activities could be dangerous, possibly even fatal. Dogs trained to detect seizures could miss a crucial moment, and then the handler cracks their head open on the edge of a store shelf.
Yesterday my friend and I were walking through the mall when a fire alarm went off. It blared so loud, it cut off all hope of communication until it stopped. While it was still going off, a stranger who saw the dog coming crouched down and opened his arms. I steered her as far away from the stranger as possible (the dog was following me at the time), and she asked him to please not distract her dog as we walked past.
I didn’t catch his reaction, but I could imagine it. People are generally hurt or defensive when told to leave the dog alone. No matter how gently my friend asks them to let the dog do her job, they get huffy, like they’re entitled to interact with her visual accommodation. One woman, after being told no, once followed my friend so she could pet the dog as soon as my friend’s back was turned.
I understand, to an extent. We think of dogs as companions, friends, made to be snuggled and petted.
I always ask before I touch her guide dog. I’ve rarely been told no. Do you know why? Because I know to ask when she doesn’t need guidance. When she’s at home, when she’s off her feet, or when she’s in the car, she doesn’t need the help the dog provides. I still ask, a lot of the time, in case I’m accidentally reinforcing bad behavior or undermining their relationship.
One of my favorite things happened yesterday, too. As we were walking past a small child, the kid was saying, “It’s working, do not touch!” I don’t know if the child was telling themselves, or the parent (which does happen, and greatly amuses my friend).
Children are a lot more receptive to being told no. A lot of them already know not to bother the dog, and it’s their parents who want them to push the issue. I imagine the schools teach them, because they clearly didn’t pick it up from their parents.
If she has time, my friend will ask the child to wait a moment. She’ll brace the dog between her knees, and take off the harness (a clear sign to the dog that she’s off the clock). Then she’ll say it’s all right to pet the dog for now, and explain the important job the dog performs when the harness is on. Kids are, inevitably, delighted to meet the dog that has a job, and it eases the parents’ embarrassment that they didn’t know not to push the interaction.
Of course, my friend doesn’t always have the time. She rarely does, in fact, because she’s relying on me to get around, and I am always late.
But also, it’s not her job to educate every single person about the etiquette around service dogs. She shouldn’t have to. She’s just trying to live her life, same as anyone else.
Don’t distract service dogs. Don’t get huffy when asked not to. Don’t let other people distract them.
Just let the dogs do their jobs.
Monsters' Queen 