[nagdu] Please don't pet me, I'm working.

Sun Aug 30 21:11:40 UTC 2015

I'm one of those who isn't necessarily as strict about petting as others are. Here's my take on it. 

I don't want people petting my dog without asking. I also want people to respect my wishes when, if asked, I say no for whatever reason, either because I'm in a hurry, my dog is distracted, or I just feel arbitrary. I don't feel the need to go into some huge song and dance about it...that gets real old real fast. 

Having said that however, I recognize that people will do all of these things. People will pet without asking. People will pet even after I say that they can't right now. People will pet because they "just can't help it", apparently self-control wasn't a thing they were taught as a child. Point is, people will do it. I can handle it one of two ways:

1) I can get on each person who does this, and this may or may not be effective. I have and I do. 

2) I can use it as a training opportunity, primarily for the petter, and secondarily, though it seems otherwise, for my dog. I do that as well. Let me explain.

Someone pets my dog, when i say yes and dog follows my rules. That is to say, he's sitting calmly, or at least, if he gets excited, he's brought back under control before petting continues. In this case, I will tell the person that he can be pet once he's sitting calmly. All good. Person learns that they have to ask, and only under my specific instructions.

Person pets without permission and dog ignores it: I may admonish the person for petting and ask them not to, because he's busy/working/whatever, or "Please don't pet my dog". Anyway, they usually get very little satisfaction for this, because the dog isn't acknowledging. Good for everybody. He gets praised for ignoring.

Dog gets petted without permission and gets distracted: Dog gets a correction for getting distracted, which brings his focus back. Petter usually feels bad, or at least is a bit contrite. I can then admonish the petter for getting my dog into trouble by distracting him. The thing is, people generally don't care much that they're distracting the dog from his important, potentially lifesaving work. After all, if you get hit by a car, well, your dog just needed more training anyway, or you should have just stayed home in the first place. People are actually more upset at the idea that your dog got in trouble. Doesn't matter for what. And if they're the cause of it, well, maybe they'll think about that next time. 

--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: 814-860-3194 
Mobile: 814-431-0962
Email: buddy at brannan.name

> On Aug 30, 2015, at 4:53 PM, Kaye Kipp via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> It makes it hard too if sometimes a person has a dog that isn't easily
> distracted by people and say it's okay to pet, and then the next dog could
> be too easily distracted and say don't pet.  People could say, "But you let
> me pet your last dog."  I guess it's all about consistency.
> 
> Kaye
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cindy Ray via
> nagdu
> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 1:48 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Cc: Cindy Ray
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Please don't pet me, I'm working.
> 
> Interesting you should bring up how much more difficult it is if others let
> people pet. One day in the Iowa Beauty School I told one of the hairdressers
> not to pet my ddog bbecause he was working. She said so-and-so lets us pet
> their dog. I said, well that's their business, but I'm telling you I don't
> want you petting him while he is in harness.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Debby Phillips
> via nagdu
> Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2015 12:20 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Debby Phillips <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Please don't pet me, I'm working.
> 
> Hi Raven, I wouldn't bother with a sign.  I've tried, twice.  The first one
> was a bright orange sign that said, "Please Ignore me, I'm working".  It was
> attached to the backstrap of my dog's harness.  It could be seen for a mile
> while we were walking, and as we waited for busses, etc.  People would come
> up and pet my dog.  Eventually I was reduced to angrily asking, "Can you
> read?" 
> To which the person would generally answer sheepishly, "Yes." 
> "Did you not see the sign my dog is wearing?" "Well, um, yes." 
> "So why are you petting my dog?" The most insulting answer I got
> was: "I didn't think you'd notice." Are you kidding? The next sign I got was
> some other bright, obnoxious color.  This one said, "Please don't pet me,
> I'm working.  I thought well, maybe if the sign says don't pet me, maybe it
> would work.  Nope.  Same reaction.  Same stupid answers.  The only thing it
> did was increase my anger level.  In fact, I wonder if the bright-colored
> signs didn't attract more attention then just having no sign at all.  Part
> of the problem is that some people don't have a problem with their dogs
> being petted in harness, as long as the dog is not actively working, i.e.
> lying under a table, or sitting quietly at their partner's side.  This makes
> it difficult for those of us who do not wish our dogs to be petted at all in
> harness.  So I could be dictatorial like some people and say, "You know,
> those of you who allow your dogs to be petted in harness should not do that,
> since it makes it more difficult for those of us who do not wish our dogs to
> be petted".  It's true, but I won't say it, because people need to make
> their own choices about that, just like people need to make their choices
> about disclosing to airlines, taxis, etc.  or showing ID.  Sure, it would
> make it easier if we all behaved the same way regarding all 
> dog issues, but that's unrealistic, and it ain't gonna happen.    
> Debby and Nova
> 
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