[nagdu] getting along with other guide dogs

[Robert Hooper]

Hello Julie:

I'm sure this has been well covered already (I'm just catching up with emails), but I'll give a crack at it nonetheless.
I am rarely around service dogs, however I believe my actions would be the same. My philosophy when Bailey is in harness is that he is working. Period. He tends to want to be a social dog (with dogs and people), so consequently I disallow any forms of petting or other dog contact. Bailey likes to steal sniffs at other people as well--something I've recently noticed; our dogs can be sleigh, no? The more he tells me he wants to do something social, the more I insist on good behavior. For example, I was at the vet yesterday for a follow-up appointment. Because he was wiggling all over the place to look at and try and get close to other dogs, I made him sit in front of me and did not allow him to so much as sniff the ground. When he relaxed to an appropriate degree, I likewise relaxed a bit and allowed him to have a bit more freedom--he used that freedom to lay down and take a nap.
As for arranged things, I would be very wary of allowing him to romp around with other dogs--I live in university housing, so he is not used to being around other dogs--it might be different if I lived in a house with pets and could better predict how he would respond to other dogs, but as I don't, I generally play it safe and keep him to himself. As for dog parks, I hate them. Ideally, every dog owner would be an exemplary dog handler, exercising discipline on their animals and keeping them well trained in obedience; this is not the case. Also, not everyone is as scrupulous about their dogs' health as I am about mine.
The chances for disaster are just too high. I can just imagine some clueless person not recognizing the signs of a brewing dog fight. Do you think that dogs poorly trained (if at all) in obedience will obey their owners whilst off-leash and distracted? I think not. Plus, what would I do even if I had a sighted friend to tell me what is happening?
"oh dear. Your dog is eating feces!" What could I do about such a thing?
I don't have money for lawsuits or needless vet bills, so dog parks are out of the question. However, if anybody reading this does take their dog to such a place, could you please help me to understand why?

As a rule of thumb, service animals would probably exhibit more tame behavior, so I wouldn't be as worried, but I would still be hesitant. I would probably let my dog play with one other dog in an enclosed yard or house, so getting him rounded up and calmed down wouldn't present as much difficulty. I know that playing can be great exercise, but I always put safety first--his Kong gives him plenty of exercise, as well as the amount of time I spend working him. I don't think it essential that Bailey play with other dogs--just that he recognizes what they are and doesn't respond inappropriately to them. I don't think he is missing out on anything--dogs don't think in those terms; the only things out on which I am missing are vet bills, stress, and the worry that my dog will pick up bad habits.
This finally brings me to a question of my own: Do those that have doggy socials worry about their dogs picking up bad habits from other dogs? I think I agree with Julie--I am not totally closed off to dog-to-dog action, so long as the play were easily detained and under controlled situations.

Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University
0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
653 Cuyahoga Court
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(740) 856-8195

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Julie J.
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 7:05 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: [nagdu] getting along with other guide dogs

I don't encounter other guide dogs very often, maybe 2 or 3 times a year 
depending on how much I travel to attend blindness events.   But it is 
extremely rare that I allow Monty to visit with other guide or service 
dogs.   I have never allowed this when he is working.  I have let him 
visit with one guide out of harness in my home.  I think if I were at a convention with other dogs who wanted to work out a play date type of thing I'd be very open to that, it just hasn't happened.

Anyway I was wondering how others approach this issue.  Do you like for your guide to meet and greet the other working dogs?  Do you do this in harness?  Are there circumstances that help you decide this on a case by 
case basis?   Does it make a difference to you whether or not the dogs 
get along or like each other?

The recent messages have peaked my curiosity.

Julie


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