[nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy

[sheila]

your right tracy It is much easier to control
tres than other people. I know that if Tres and I keep going on our way 
it works out okay.
On 4/30/2014 6:30 AM, Tracy Carcione wrote:
> 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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>
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