[nagdu] getting along with other guide dogs

[The Pawpower Pack]

If I know the handler and the dog, we usually let our dogs say hi, and then get back to work. 
If my dog was going to lay under a table with a dog or in another small space, I would ask if they can greet first.  Laveau is more comfortable with strange dogs in a tight space if they have already met. 
I do not allow her to sniff or stretch out under tables and greet though.


Rox 
Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 27, 2012, at 8:24 AM, "Tracy Carcione" <carcione at access.net> wrote:

> 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
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> nagdu mailing list
>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nagdu:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/carcione%40access.net
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/pawpower4me%40gmail.com