[nagdu] Changing my petting policy

[Mardi Hadfield]

Hi every one, Mardi here. I don't like any one petting my dogs.When I first
starting taking Shaman on the bus,People would always reach out and pet
him. To this day,he will solicit petting from any person.I got so angry one
day as the bus driver was telling me to hurry up and Shaman had stopped to
let people pet him,I yelled at the people doing the petting and told them
they were undoing my dog's training by petting him.He was not doing his job
properly because they were petting him. I can say that I now don't get as
many people petting him when we are getting on a bus. I would think that
people would think twice about petting a strange Shepherd.I am cursed with
a Belgian Shepherd who is EXTREMELY friendly.He just loves every one. I
myself would never rush up to a shepherd that I didn't know, and would
never touch some one else's service dog unless that person had given me
permission! I don't like to interact with the general public as I seldom
have the time. When I am out shopping I need to get it done so I don't miss
my bus home. I used to answer questions, but I get tired of answering the
same questions over and over.Most of the time,People don't realize I am
blind because I use my dogs from a wheelchair. They just think he is a
wheelchair dog that pulls my chair.People are always asking me what breed
Shaman is.They think he is a mix of golden retriever and shepherd or just
some mixed breed of whatever. I guess they have never seen a long haired
shepherd that is a golden color. If I choose to tell them what breed he
is,I just say he is a fawn Belgian shepherd. I don't mention that he is a
Belgian Tervuren as it would take even longer to explain what that is.
Things are better now and when Shaman starts to go to some one petting him,
I tell him to leave it and he gets back on track. If people do ask if they
can pet him,I just say,I would prefer that you didn't as he is working and
petting distracts him. But thank you for asking. Most people get it but
every now and then, I get these people who get nasty with me because I
won't let them pet my dog.They say I am mean and cruel and that my dog
needs to be petted.I just roll away from them. I pet my dog and that is
enough.When people pet Neechee, she just ignores them and just keeps on
doing her job.Some times Neechee will pull away from some one petting
her.She does not get distracted by the petting,but I still do not let
people pet her unless she is not in harness,In some ways,Neechee is very
much like Nala was. If some one asks what my dog's name is,I usually tell
them.Neechee never reacts to some one calling her or giving her
directions.She just ignores the whole situation. If I tell them Shaman's
name, they will call him Charmin,or Sherman. They seldom get it right so I
don't worry about it because he would acknowledge them  no matter what they
called him. I just tell him to leave it and he does.I am not an antisocial
person but I just don't have the time to stop and chat about my dog. I have
bus scheduals to keep and time passes quickly when you are trying to get
the shopping done on time. If I am out and have time to answer questions. I
will answer them.I still do not allow petting though.Neechee does not want
to be petted and I do not want to encourage Shaman to seek out petting.
Mardi and Shaman and Neechee.

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