[nagdu] How do any of you deal with small children wanting to touch your guide dog

[Lisa Irving]

Brittany,

No means, no even when others disagree. Below I've described how I choose to 
handle similar situations.

I tend to remind children that I am a stranger and they should ask their 
parent if they can talk to me. Why this approach? Have you ever seen the 
simulated child lureing senerios on T. V.? Usually the parent then tells the 
child that they can talk to me. The child asks, can I pet your dog? I tell 
the child and indirectly the parent, yes, you may pet my dog AFTER you ask 
your mom's permission.

This is not always a steadfast practice. Like you and so many others, I 
don't always have time to chat and let a very young child fuss over my dog. 
That's what I mean when I say, no means, no. It's your call.

Children under the age of five generally don't understand the term, "working 
dog". However, most toddlers and pre school children  do understand what it 
means to be a helper. If it seems appropriate I quickly engage in a brief 
dialogue with the parent, or the grand parent. I'll explain to the parent, 
and indirectly to the child, this is my helper dog... . Again, I talk to the 
parent and I ask their permission to talk to their child.

There was instance when Bernie and I were shopping in a neighborhood Mexican 
market. Two brothers approached Bernie. One was school age and the other was 
probably three or four years old. The youngest child was pannicked. I then 
put Bernie into a down position and instructed him to "stay". then I got on 
the floor and laid my face right by his nose. I told the older boy it was 
all right to pet my guide dog if his mother said he could. The older boy 
(maybe six years) did opt to pet  Bernie. The other child would have no part 
in it.

Lisa and Bernie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brittney N. Mejico" <brittneymejico at verizon.net>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 6:29 PM
Subject: [nagdu] How do any of you deal with small children wanting to touch 
your guide dog


Hi everyone,
The other day this lady got mad at me for not letting her 4 year old touch 
my guide dog.  I kind of felt bad afterwards, do you think It was rong for 
me to tell her no?  I tried to be as polite as Possible.  Do any of you have 
any tips on what I should next time that happens again.


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