[nagdu] getting along with other guide dogs

[Tracy Carcione]

Julie,
If we were sitting at a table together, I wouldn't let Ben stretch out to
sniff Monte.  I want him firmly contained by me while we're sitting.  But,
if you and I happened to meet outside the restaurant, and the dogs wanted
to sniff each other, and you were OK with that, then I think I'd let it
happen.  But, if either dog didn't want it, or you didn't want it, I would
stop Ben doing it, and expect you to stop your dog doing it.  And I
wouldn't let it go on very long, if it did happen.
What I do seems similar to what Tami describes--it depends on the situation.
Now I'm remembering the TSE reunion.  When we first came in, Ben really
wanted to say Hi to the other guide dogs, but I wanted him to not be a
distracted nut, so I made him behave.  I think everyone else was in the
same situation.  Benny did cop a few sniffs, but then he settled down and
was a good boy.
But meeting friends and meeting strangers is different.  I guess I let Ben
meet and greet friends' dogs, but not strangers', unless they want that.
Tracy

> I find this whole meet and greet thing while in harness thing very
> interesting. Maybe because Monty was so dog distracted for so long I
> absolutely couldn't allow it and now it's just become habit.  I don't
> know.  When I attended a meeting with the other service dog handler in
> town, she wanted to have a socialization plan in place before the dogs
> met.  I had no idea what she was talking about or why this was an issue,
> but whatever.  I tried to explain that I'd have Monty beside my chair or
> under the table and that he would leave her dog alone.  I didn't get why
> the dogs needed a greeting plan since in my mind they wouldn't be
> visiting.   To me it didn't matter if the dogs liked each other or got
> along, because they would both be working and would be conducting
> themselves appropriately no matter how they felt about each other.
>
> Anyhow I got Monty installed under the table and she allowed her dog to
> stretch himself out under the table so he could sniff Monty.  I was
> mildly annoyed with this.  If I was going to allow a sniff and a
> greeting, it would most certainly not be in harness, in a restaurant,
> under the table, during a professional meeting.    I think I completely
> misunderstood her approach to this though.  I assumed that dogs working
> do not fraternize with each other.  this is apparently not how all folks
> operate.  To her it did matter that the dogs liked each other and got
> along well.  To me it made no difference as long as they behaved.
>
> There's always new things to learn.
> Julie
>
>
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