[nagdu] But so and so lets me pet their dog!

[Tamara Smith-Kinney]

I, too, always make sure to explain to people that guide dogs and their
handlers have individual preferences about greeting and petting.  To the
locals around here, I even put in a mention when I can that there are times
I don't allow greeting either way, and that it is sometimes the dog's
choice.  Then I add that some guide dog handlers don't allow the public to
pet and greet their dogs at all because it is too distracting.  They do seem
to listen, although I'm pretty tired of hearing myself say all of that.
/smile/ I even have Daisy's Dad trained to give the spiel. /grin/  I have
given up hope of training him not to break the rules himself, of course, but
Mitzi has turned out to pretty good at ignoring him when he tries to tell
her where to go and she decides there's a better way.  She's generally
right!  Except for when she's just angling for an unauthorized sniff that
might offer a chance to scavenge.  That's mommy's little opportunist! /grin/

I agree that people in service industries do need to follow the rules and to
be educated about what the rules are.  If so and so wants to let their dog
jump all over the seat and mug for treats or whatever, that is so and so's
decision!  When I'm the one paying for the cab ride or the restaurant dinner
or whatever, how my dog behaves and interacts is *my* decision.  End of
story!

They can ask, certainly, but my answer goes.  This should be the case with
any passenger, and especially with their service animals!

Tami Smith-Kinney

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Allison Nastoff
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 11:22 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] But so and so lets me pet their dog!

I agree with you that this is unacceptable.  Fortunately, where I 
live, most people are well educated about the difference between 
service dogs and pets, and are very respectful about it.  But I 
too will get the occasional person who walks up and pets him 
while he is working, and although my parents are very well-versed 
in how to interact with Gilbert and me, even they will still 
unintentionally I think, give Gilbert directions instead of me 
when I am walking with them.  It is frustrating, but I think the 
best advice I can give you is to continue speaking up like you 
have been.
My school said it was okay for people to pet the dog when I am 
not holding the harness handle, but I always tell people that 
different programs have different rules, and some blind people 
have different preferences about whether people can pet their 
dog, so they should always ask before petting another guide dog.
Is there a way you could file a complaint about this particular 
cab driver, or maybe request not to have him in the future when 
you call a cab? Public service people like cab drivers of all 
people, should respect you by not petting your dog without your 
permission.
Allison and Gilbert

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Chasity Jackson" <chasityvanda at charter.net
>To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 08:58:13 -0600
>Subject: [nagdu] But so and so lets me pet their dog!

>Yesterday, a friend and I were waiting for a cab at the grocery 
store.  Apparently the cabby who showed up had driven for us 
before.  He apparently remembered my dog's name.  So, while she's 
still working, and while she's actually walking and guiding me, 
he sticks his hand out in front of her and says, "Hey Hadley, how 
ya been?" And starts to pet her.  I moved her away from him and 
said, "I'm sorry, but she's working." And he got defensive right 
away and said, "But so and so has no problem letting me pet her 
dog when it's working.  What's the big deal?" And when I 
explained that it interfered with her performance and that it was 
a big distraction, he continued to be defensive, because his 
model guide dog team is so and so and her dog.  Well, I happen to 
know the person he's talking about, and I happen to know that she 
is not at all disciplined in caring for her dog.  She lets her 
dog have table scraps, and tells her dog to speak in public and 
gives it human food treats.  So go figure.  LOL.  But he just 
couldn't figure out why I was being so unfair about the 
situation, after all, if she did it, what was the harm in it.  
And what was even more funny was that he actually tried to pull a 
stupid stunt to get an extra tip.  He said, "Well, so and so tips 
me herself, and then she's cute about it and gives me an 
additional tip from the dog too.  She gave me an extra dollar tip 
yesterday from her dog." And I thought, well, don't hold your 
breath.  LOL.

>A few weeks back, a similar incident happened with another cab 
driver, but it didn't involve petting.  It was the beginning of 
February, and we had some snow and ice on the ground.  I was at 
the top of my porch, about to head down the stairs.  This cab 
driver clapped his hands, whistles to my dog and says, "Come on," 
and she starts to get excited and go toward him.  Had I not been 
holding onto the rail, I would have easily  fallen down the 
stairs.  So I told him, "Please don't call her.  She shouldn't be 
listening to commands from other people.  She's only supposed to 
follow the directions I give to her.  And again, he got very 
defensive, and said, "I was only trying to show her the way." And 
I said, "You're not supposed to show her the way.  If you insist 
on helping, you can tell me which direction you are in and I will 
give her the command to go in that direction.  What enraged me 
more regarding this incident was that later, I talked to my dad, 
and in frustration, I told him about it.  My parents are not 
exactly the brightest when it comes to guide dogs versus pets, 
and although they understand quite a bit from me, sometimes they 
don't have the brightest things to say.  So my dad says, "Oh 
Well, get over it.  That's life.  Some people are dog lovers and 
you have to expect that." And then when I said, "I could have 
fallen," or, "What if she did that while I was crossing the 
street," my dad just said, that's life, people are dog lovers, 
s**t happens."
>_______________________________________________
>nagdu mailing list
>nagdu at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
for nagdu:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/anastoff%4
0wi.rr.com

_______________________________________________
nagdu mailing list
nagdu at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/tamara.8024%40comcast
.net