[nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy

Tue Apr 29 13:56:13 UTC 2014

I was very strict about not letting anyone pet Viva when I first came
home with her, but I've relaxed my stance since then. Obviously I
don't let anyone touch her when we're working, but if we're just
sitting somewhere and someone asks to pet her, I will generally let
them. I do tell them that if she gets too excited, then the meet and
greet is over. it's also  a great way for me to teach her self-control
and obedience since I'll make her lay down and stay.

Minh

On 4/29/14, The Pawpower Pack <pawpower4me at gmail.com> wrote:
> With Soleil, I have used petting as a practice time for self control.  She
> loves people, and right at first, I knew that I was going to just have to
> restrict all petting, or use the petting as an exercise.  Since I'm
> Deafblind, people tend to just pet because they are not getting my attention
> with me by asking unless I'm with a hearing person.
> So if I have time to allow petting, I first tell her down. I tell the person
> wanting to pet that she can only be pet in a down and that if she gets up,
> they are to stop, I thank them for helping me with her training, so they
> feel good.  They pet her and then in mid pet I ask her to come away and
> touch my hand and click and treat.  She is a lab, so would rather eat than
> lay and get petted.  And her getting up ends the session.  If people pet
> without asking she will turn to me.
> My coworkers and friends also help in this exercise as well.
> Because I'm Deafblind and a lot of my friends are deafblind, and I work with
> deafblind children, she has to learn to be touched without coming unhinged
> with joy.  Deafblind people are a pretty tactile lot and if a deafblind
> child has never seen a guide dog, they can look at her-- with their hands--
> and learn.  So far, Soleil's doing really well!
>
>  Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
> Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
> Pawpower4me at gmail.com
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 29, 2014, at 6:41 AM, "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>> Generally I just say, "No, but thank you for asking." I smile and make it
>> seem like them asking was a wonderful thing.  Then I move on.  Standing
>> there will encourage a discussion or debate or whatever, moving on
>> indicates that you don't want to discuss your no petting rule and it also
>> reinforces that you need to get stuff done and don't have time for
>> petting.
>>
>> I do allow petting on occasion.  If I do I let the person know it's up to
>> Monty if he wants to be petted.  I give Monty his release cue and let him
>> approach if he wants.  Usually he will give the person a perfunctory sniff
>> and he's done.  Every now and then he will back away from the person,
>> which is kind of embarrassing, but they get it that he doesn't want to be
>> petted. He's not very into meet and greet with people though, so this
>> works.
>>
>> Last week I was in the grocery store and there was a Mom with about four
>> kids.  The kids wanted to pet Monty and asked their Mom.  Usually parents
>> just say the dog is working and leave it alone, but this Mom went on a
>> complete tirade.  I thought the kids were perfectly well behaved in asking
>> their Mom first if they could approach me to ask if they could pet, but
>> Mom really lit into them.  Then she was on to another topic and how
>> horrible the kids were and on and on  and on.  So about four isles later I
>> asked one of the kids if he would like to pet the dog.  It made the kids
>> day.  I can't remember the last time I've offered petting to a kid, but I
>> really felt bad for them.
>>
>> When I talk to people about guide dogs or if I'm doing a presentation or
>> something, I always stress that dogs are different and people are
>> different, but asking is always okay.  the answer might be no but politely
>> asking and respecting the answer is good.  It's interesting that I rarely
>> have issues with kids.  It's adults that have issues with self control.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Darla Rogers
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 1:36 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>
>> Thank you Raven and Michael; I believe, and several others have also
>> states
>> this practice, just not to allow it while we are out working.
>> I don't owe the general public anything; if they want to pet a dog,
>> the shelters are crying for volunteers to socialize their dogs; on the
>> other
>> hand, if it raises money for my school. <tongue firmly in cheek>
>> Very Gratefully,
>> Darla & Handsome Huck
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael Hingson
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 12:40 AM
>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I do not permit anyone to pet Africa while she is in harness.  If people
>> want to pet her and I have the time I will remove her harness and then
>> allow
>> petting.  If I do not have time I politely explain that while the harness
>> is
>> on she is working and cannot be petted and that I do not have time to
>> remove
>> it now.  Especially when people go along with my wishes I thank them very
>> much.  If people still insist on petting Africa I will get more stern.
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>> Michael Hingson
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darla Rogers
>> Sent: Monday, April 28, 2014 10:22 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>>
>>
>>               The Handsome Huck is a people magnet and peo9ple are magnets
>> for him; there is some petting--last time going through a revolving
>> door--and I used to let him sit and be petted, but I don't believe this is
>> in the best interest of our working relationship?
>>
>>               Any ideas?  Strategies?  Explanations?
>>
>> Darla & Mister Socialite
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Darla J. Rogers
>>
>> djrogers0628 at gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
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