Don't Touch My Dog!

It's happened to everyone.... We've been guilty of it or we've been a victim of it.

Someone has touched our dog without our permission or worse yet, they've sneaked up on you both and scared the living daylights out of the pair of you.

Don't pet my dog!

Now it's important for me because my dog is a working dog.

He is an Assistance Dog and more importantly MY dog!

Every time you reach out for his attention and he comes to you, I know what you're thinking. "Oh, he wants to say hello!"

NO! He is responding to a trained gesture, a gesture nearly every dog on this planet will recognise. It's one of reward.

You are training my dog that if he goes up to strangers and reaches out to them, he will be rewarded with pets.

My dog isn't reward trained with treats or toys. He is trained with fusses and vocal rewards. It's what he responds to best.

What do you think my dog is now doing when he is meant to be working for me? He is looking for that reward. He is greeting strangers and reaching out to them because YOU have taught him that.

You only fussed him the once? It won't affect him?

You wouldn't be a stranger if you did it more than once. What if every stranger thought the same way? What happens then? You're not the only dog lover we come across on our travels. Even if we speak for a few minutes, that doesn't make it okay to fuss him.

We teach our children not to touch strange dogs yet we seem to think it's acceptable to fuss them! It's okay because you're a dog person? No, it's not okay. I'm a dog person and I don't fuss stranger's dogs. I don't even work my friends' dogs. I treat them with respect just as I expect to be treated.

This seems to be a growing problem. I'm not writing this to complain (although I will whilst I'm at it), I'm writing this to raise awareness.

Don't pet my dog.

It's as simple as that. Pass it on. Don't be afraid to tell your friends.

"Did you hear about this issue with people petting complete strangers' dogs? And without asking permission, either?"

Pass it on.

Now, whilst I have your attention.

Assistance dogs need a little something else too... Please don't stare at them. I know it's cute and you're curious but staring at them is a sign of dominance, you're intimidating them and causing a conflict, which means??? Yep, that's right, you're distracting them.

Talking to them is a major no no as well. That baby voice? Even talking about them in a voice that encourages interaction—don't do it.

A trained assistance dog should act like you don't exist. I can have you walk within two inches of him and he'll watch you walk by but he won't move. We want you to do the same. Walk by him like he doesn't exist. Give them a little extra room if they need it (the same as they will for you) but act they like don't exist. I have waiters serve food over my dog's head and he'll look at them out of the corner of his eye but won't even lift his head off the ground.

There is a lot the public don't know about assistance dogs. I'd say just ask but we don't want that. I don't want that. I certainly don't want you asking what he does. You're asking what is wrong with me, which is an extremely personal question. I haven't even told my closest friends what is going on with me. Not even my doctor knows everything.

If you're curious, look it up. The internet is a wonderful thing. There are charities as well.

If you're interested in how to get one for a family member or friend then I personally don't mind people asking. It's not widely known and I'll gladly help where I can. Because I was in that situation once.

So there it is.