[NAGDU] Those overly social dogs and their signs

[Tracy Carcione]

I've seen aloof labs.  My Echo, though very friendly off duty, was focused on work with her harness on, and did not react to people petting her.
My Ben is a shepherd in a lab suit, and not especially interested in being petted.
Krokus the cross, though, is quite the socialite.
Tracy


-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Wayne And Harley via NAGDU
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 7:36 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Wayne And Harley
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] Those overly social dogs and their signs


    
GSD's can be aloof.I've seen it. Althougj, I've never seem a Lab, or Golden act aloof....


Yours, Very Sincerely And Respectfully,

Wayne M. Scace 

-------- Original message --------
From: Lisa Belville via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Date: 3/10/2016  12:27  (GMT-06:00)
To: national guide dog <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lisa Belville <missktlab1217 at frontier.com>
Subject: [NAGDU] Those overly social dogs and their signs 

Hi, guys.

I've never had an anti-social guide dog.  <grin.  I wish they could breed them because it really gets old dealing with people who think they're entitled to their doggie fix.

You really develop a thick skin after a bit.  Just saying no thanks in as polite of a voice as possible while moving on can stop the drive by petting. 
But yes, I've had to forcibly remove the occasional human hand and I've even given one person an accidental leash correction because I knew the dog was distracted, but didn't know hwy until I gave a correction and heard a distinctly feminine human yelp.  Oooops.

I've started training my dogs to not respond to most human distractions without negative consequences for them whether it's just a firm no or, if it escalates, some obedience and lastly a leash correction.  So far Paige is farily distraction proof,though she does have her favorite bipeds she goes crazy for.

I love the idea of the harness sign, but it really doesn't work and it seems to bring out the smarty pants factor.  I've heard "I know I'm not supposed to pet, but. . . . " rationalization even without a sign.  People just don't think the rules apply to them.  I think of my dog as an extension of my body, i.e. my personal space.  I don't want someone touching me or my body without permission.

My favorite potential sign would be something like WARNING Touching this working dog may cause blindness.  I'd love to see the expression on their face as they pet and then realize what they're reading as they're petting. 
It would be priceless, I'm sure.

Lisa


missktlab1217 at frontier.com

In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth... After that, everything else was Made in China. 


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