[nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy

Wed Apr 30 00:07:31 UTC 2014

On 4/29/2014 7:56 AM, minh ha wrote:
> 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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 >>>
 >>>
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 >
 >I also expect
tres to sit if petting is allowed and if he chooses not too sit meet and 
greet is also over and I've asked that people stop if Tres doesn't stay 
sitting. I think that it works well.