[redkite93]

This is just an appeal to all those dog lovers out there..
We went to the Motorhome show yesterday and took our assistance dog with us. After about 40 people fussing, stroking and generally showing him lots of love I had to put him in the car. These people all clearly love dogs but please can I appeal to all dog lovers to not touch or talk to any assistance dog when they are working. They are clearly identified by a jacket which in our case says "Dogs for the disabled" and Please do not distract.
Thanks.

 

[weldted]

Guide dog

Could not agree more as a dog lover in awe of what assistance dogs do and how they change owners lives. Please remember if an assistance dog has his harness or coat on asking you to respect he is working please do not distract him!! You would not fuss or pet a bus driver whilst driving, the dog has to concentrate on his job however appealing they may be. If you think that they are wonderfull sponsor one that way you are showing what great dogs they are.
(Dog owner but not of assistance dogs)

 

[redkite93]

Thank you weldted.I hesitated to post this as I know people are very well meaning but in some situations the attention could be quite dangerous for the disabled person.
Yesterday was the worst it has been for a long time but maybe that just speaks for how many motorhomers/caravanners love dogs.

 

[camallison]

My neighbour is a trainer/walker for Guide Dogs for the Blind and he had the same problem. Now, each dog has a jacket with the words "I am working, please do not distract me" written in large bold letters along the spine. When I am out walking our big daft chocolate Labrador (Maisie) and we meet them, both dogs sit quietly while we chat. That is the only time Maisie doesn't ask people to make a fuss of her. She recognises the chap and accordingly, any dog he has with him is classed as working, do not disturb, by Maisie.

The jacket words seem to work, although Maisie can't read, she just obeys my early commands still.

Colin

 

[Easyriders]

I have seen assistance dogs with jackets that say "Assistance dog, please do not distract me!"

I don't know where you get these jackets, but they seem a good idea.

people can be very silly around dogs. Of course, they shouldn't distract an assistant dog, but actually approaching any strange dog is a bad idea, unless the owner assures you it is ok to do so.

Some dogs get scared, and some snarl and bite!

 

[747]

My neighbour is a trainer/walker for Guide Dogs for the Blind and he had the same problem. Now, each dog has a jacket with the words "I am working, please do not distract me" written in large bold letters along the spine. When I am out walking our big daft chocolate Labrador (Maisie) and we meet them, both dogs sit quietly while we chat. That is the only time Maisie doesn't ask people to make a fuss of her. She recognises the chap and accordingly, any dog he has with him is classed as working, do not disturb, by Maisie.

The jacket words seem to work, although Maisie can't read, she just obeys my early commands still.

Colin

We occasionally a see a friend who takes the puppies destined to be Guide dogs and trains the basics into them before handing them over for the next stage.

Conversely, when we see her the pup is off duty and it is 'fun time'. She lets it do as it pleases (within limits) and knows our gang will be fine with it. It's just part of socialising.

 

[redkite93]

Just to clarify. Our dog was wearing his bright yellow jacket which clearly says Do Not Distract.
Cute how Maisie knows when to sit quietly. It's a bit like Charlie(assistance dog) when he's out without his jacket, he just behaves like any other lively lab( albeit well trained). Not that we can take the credit!!

 

[daffodil]

On our first trip out in the Daff we stopped on a site just south of limoges and we had put our large, black lab cross ,on a running line that kept her under the awning and away from anybody else

Its the first time she has ever attacked somebody I.E tried to tear their face off, luckily the guy had extremely quick reactions and had just jumped clear

after a conversation and every body had calmed down he explained what had happened

he had thought, OH cute dog just like mine back in England and had forgotten himself and bent down to cup her face,as you do

he then explained why she had gone for him she was protecting us and the van

but the kicker was he then said OH mine does exactly the same

Go FIGURE,

I never fuss over or approach strange dogs of any kind until the owner is there and says it is okay

We all had a lucky escape but I never leave her outside of the van unless I am there ,a lesson well learned

 

[Penquin]

We now have a 5 month old Border Collie pup who is great fun, it is interesting to see the way that people react to her as a puppy, they approach her without a care in the world.....

fortunately she is extremely good with people and very tolerant - which is a good thing as we have two small grandsons living in our gite....

Dogs of course, are just that, they can only react how they are trained, assistance dogs are probably the pinnacle of "Man's Best Friend" and they are trained to carry out different things in order to help different people with different needs....

I was near HRH Prince Philip when he was talking to some assistance dog handlers in Exeter; he said "Incredible, Guide Dogs to help those that cannot see, Hearing Dogs to help those that cannot hear, Assistance Dogs to help those who need things brought to them, do they have Eating Dogs for those with Anorexia?"

Only he could get away with saying such a thing - albeit with a great big smile on his face......

Please encourage others to stay clear and not interfere when assistance dogs are working, just give them the room to do what they do best - help their owner.

Dave

 

[daffodil]

We now have a 5 month old Border Collie pup who is great fun, it is interesting to see the way that people react to her as a puppy, they approach her without a care in the world.....

fortunately she is extremely good with people and very tolerant - which is a good thing as we have two small grandsons living in our gite....

Dogs of course, are just that, they can only react how they are trained, assistance dogs are probably the pinnacle of "Man's Best Friend" and they are trained to carry out different things in order to help different people with different needs....

I was near HRH Prince Philip when he was talking to some assistance dog handlers in Exeter; he said "Incredible, Guide Dogs to help those that cannot see, Hearing Dogs to help those that cannot hear, Assistance Dogs to help those who need things brought to them, do they have Eating Dogs for those with Anorexia?"

Only he could get away with saying such a thing - albeit with a great big smile on his face......

Please encourage others to stay clear and not interfere when assistance dogs are working, just give them the room to do what they do best - help their owner.

Dave

OH PENGUIE

you name dropper you
:wink:

Or so Charles and camilla told me whilst having lunch with Willy and Katey :lol: :lol:

 

[Easyriders]

Just to clarify. Our dog was wearing his bright yellow jacket which clearly says Do Not Distract.
Cute how Maisie knows when to sit quietly. It's a bit like Charlie(assistance dog) when he's out without his jacket, he just behaves like any other lively lab( albeit well trained). Not that we can take the credit!!

The problem must then be with people who can't read!

Try saying "Can't you read?" to such ignorant people. Not just for yourself, but for others, this is necessary, I think.

And, as I said above, nobody should approach a dog they do not know, unless they confirm with the owner that this is ok.Even then, the dog may not think so!