[nagdu] Meetings between dogs

[Tami Jarvis]

Another etiquette question! I've changed from the focus being on the 
dog's behavior to it being the handler's management of the dog and way 
of going in public with the dog. What I seem to be working toward is an 
etiquette guide aimed towards handlers, with a separate educational 
approach that might work to help out businesses, et al.

So with the focus on the handler, I'm wanting to include a "what to do 
when..." section. You know, when your perfect, genetically-engineered 
dog with its hundreds or thousands of hours of training has a doggy 
moment. Some are obvious, and have been discussed recently. If your dog 
has an accident, take responsibility. That sort of thing.

Is there any kind of established protocol for random meetings with other 
service dog handlers? I'm thinking of situations where interaction is 
inevitable, like the bus stop or an event where you're both moving 
around the same area. This can go really gracefully, of course, and 
should. The handlers respect each other and each manages his/her own dog 
and there's no big. Some people allow their dogs to greet and find it 
helps, but others don't. If the handlers are respectful of each other, 
whether to allow the dogs a brief greeting can be managed by asking and 
respecting each other's wishes.

Then there are those times... I've seen seven kinds of just plain rude, 
when the dogs are doing as they should. Ultimately, it adds up to 
disrespect, I guess.

So what are some tricky situations y'all have been in or seen? How did 
you handle them? Or how do you think they should have been handled?

Also, what if you see another handler maybe struggling a little with 
their dog and think you have something helpful to offer them in the way 
of advice? I've had people do this for me in a really great way. I've 
experienced and observed the really rude and not even slightly helpful 
way. And is there some way to know when to offer to help and when 
absolutely not? I know my own rules of thumb, but am curious what others 
think.

Thanks!

Tami