[nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Craig.
I wouldn't necessarily say your mellowness about petting is because you're 
fairly new to guide dogs.  I'm coming up on 34 years of dogness, and I feel 
about the same as you do, I think.  When I was a newby, I was pretty uptight 
about it, but now not so much.
I do usually tell people not to pet my dog, but sometimes I allow it, if 
they ask first.  I'm sure a lot of sneaky petting happens that I don't know 
about, for instance, when I get up to get off the bus.  None of my dogs seem 
to get excited by it, or even care.  If Ben did seem to get excited, I'd get 
a bit more strict with him to remind him to have self-control.  It's a lot 
easier for me to control my dog than to control the jokers on the street. 
Trying to control them just gives me agita.
Tracy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig Heaps" <craig.heaps at comcast.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy


> Well, I guess if there's anything I've gotten from this discussion it's 
> that we're all different.
>
> I had a guy ask me today at the grocery store if he could pet Chase.  I 
> said, almost reflexively, "Please don't."  I know it was from reading all 
> these replies.  It had made me hyper-aware.  I usually say, " I would 
> rather you didn't.  It distracts him while he's working, and that's 
> dangerous for both of us."  But sometimes I say okay.  It really doesn't 
> seem to make much difference as far as Chase's behavior.  I like to let 
> children pet him. He's very sweet and gentle, and it's a good dog 
> expreience for the kids.  If they're old enough, I try to educate them 
> about asking and why it's important.  I always make Chase sit to be 
> petted.
>
> I don't mind if they ask his name.  It's usually the beginning of a nice 
> discussion about guide dogs.  I get to promote the wonderful people at GDB 
> who gave me Chase.  I get to talk to a lot of people who were or who know 
> puppy raisers.
>
> Becasue I have some useable vision, I can see the sneaky petters. 
> Sometimes I call them on it, sometimes I don't.
>
> I think a lot of my mellowness is probably because I've had Chase less 
> than a year and it's still new for me.
>
> Craig and Chase (who doesn't really have another name.)
>
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