[nagdu] Get control of that dog

[Michelle]

Wow thanks for that. I like the different opinions and ways of dealing with 
this kind of stuff. Hopefully I won't need to be nasty and rude about it, 
but at the end of the day, my guide dog is my mobility aid who I entrust 
with my life, and the way other people are helping me is certainly not 
helping the dog! Oh, and obviously not helping me as they thought they were. 
What they don't realise is that I actually have fun with Troy, playing 
backyard games and petting him, cuddling him and sleeping on the floor next 
to him sometimes, just like with a pet dog so then he doesn't find work too 
stressful and boring. Because people don't see Troy's social life, they 
automatically assume that he doesn't have one and treat him accordingly. So 
thanks for helping me, it really cheers me up.

Michelle
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jenine Stanley" <jeninems at wowway.com>
To: "'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 1:01 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Get control of that dog


> Hi Michelle,
>
> This can be a tough one. When people try to give the dog commands, I 
> usually
> say something like: "He is trained to only listen to me and giving him
> commands confuses him."
>
> This usually works with the average public but when it's someone you
> encounter regularly who gives you rides, you do have to be a little more,
> uhm, assertive. Assertive doesn't mean rude or aggressive either, just
> matter-of-fact but firmly stating what you want to happen.
>
> "I need to talk to you about something. I have a lot of trouble with my 
> dog
> when other people try to give him commands. He gets confused and then 
> won't
> pay attention to me. He's been trained to listen only to me so please let 
> me
> give the commands."
>
> If the person continues, I've had to use the authority figure lines 
> because
> at that point I have no standing with the person. I always try to start
> though assuming that they do at least respect my position.
>
> "You know, I had to call the trainer about my dog's behavior because he's
> not paying attention to me. The trainer said that when other people
> interfere, the dog doesn't know who to listen to and it will eventually 
> ruin
> him. The trainer told me to tell you to stop giving the dog commands."
>
> This tact actually worked in one very uncomfortable situation.
>
> Then again, if you've said these things and the person is still giving
> commands, you do have to get more forceful. Yes, maybe even rude, but 
> think
> of it as raising your assertiveness to the other person's resistance 
> level.
> <grin>
>
> Touching the harness or leash though is a whole different matter for me.
> That's a part of my personal space, as well as touching the dog. I can
> almost understand the dog being petted, not that I condone it if I've said
> no petting, but do not ever grab the leash or harness.
>
> I've grabbed someone's purse once when she insisted on grabbing the leash.
> Unfortunately she thought I was losing my balance and we both ended up on
> the ground. We laughed about it and once I explained what I was doing, she
> got it.
>
> One overly zealous person decided to give me directions by grabbing the
> harness and hauling forward. Since it was clear he wasn't going to listen 
> to
> me at all, I said that grabbing someone's dog like that is a good way to 
> get
> bitten as the dog sees that kind of move as a threat. Given the way he was
> doing it, this was a distinct possibility. You can bet he let go at that
> point. Molly promptly licked him once and went right into follow mode
> nicely.
>
> If someone grabs the leash or harness while we are moving, I will stop and
> often drop the handle. This all of course changes if the contact is during 
> a
> street crossing. <grin> I've only had that happen once or twice and the
> crowd in downtown Columbus, who are used to seeing the Pilot Dogs trainers
> and classes and who are pretty good about letting service animals do their
> work, berated the grabber before I could even say anything.
>
> Good luck with this one though.
>
> Jenine Stanley
> jeninems at wowway.com
>
>
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