[nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy

Wed Apr 30 06:04:09 UTC 2014

I don't hide Tres's name either because mostly the people that try to 
call him aren't strangers and most of the time they know better but seem 
to want Tres and I to speed up for some reason or other so I tell them 
don't call my dog.
On 4/29/2014 8:31 PM, Nicole Torcolini wrote:
> Honestly, I don't get the name game. If you talk to or about a dog, the dog
> is smart enough to know, regardless of if the name is used. Furthermore, as
> others have already pointed out, it only takes the dog so long to figure it
> out if you use another name.
> When people ask about the name of your dog, they are not trying to make
> trouble. If you think that the person is going to use the name, then you
> could say something like, "My dog is named ..' but please don't talk to
> him/her." Some people are going to talk to your dog regardless of what you
> say or if you give the name. I would rather give the name and have to
> explain to the person than not give the name; otherwise, people will never
> learn. I have told a lot of people that my dog is named Lexia, many of whom
> were complete strangers who I probably will never see again, so it does not
> really matter. Only a few of the people with whom I interact on a regular
> basis talk to Lexia, and they only do it when I say it is okay to talk to
> her or when she is not in harness.
> I usually let people pet Lexia in harness if they ask. Luckily, I have not
> had too many people try to pet her without asking. I usually do not let
> people pet her if we are standing up, especially if we are about to go
> somewhere any minute. When people pet Lexia, she is in a sit or preferably a
> down position, and she stays by me. I do not allow her to crawl toward the
> person who is petting her. If she does, then I gently pull her back. If the
> behavior continues, then the visiting session is over.
> I don't really like little kids petting Lexia, particularly the ones who get
> excited as soon as they see her. However, on occasion, I do hear the
> opposite where the child tells the parent that it is a working dog and not
> to bother it, which I find quite amusing.
> I used to have a sign to the harness handle. I don't remember what it said.
> It did not really help. The people who want to pet your dog are going to pet
> you dog regardless of if there is a sign, so the best that you can do is ask
> them not to pet your dog and do something, such as move away, if they don't
> listen. You can also try to train your dog to ignore people.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darla Rogers
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 6:24 PM
> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>
> Dear Rox'e,
>
> 	Thank you so much for sharing a whole different perspective on
> petting and setting up  one's dog to respond to what you need and not what
> you don't, and it surely helps to have cooperative coworkers who understand
> and support what you are doing.
> Darla & Happy Huck
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of The Pawpower Pack
> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 10:19 AM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>
> I have never given a false name for my dogs.  I would think they'd just hear
> me cueing my dog using her real name and would know it anyway.  Also, I'd
> probably forget and give different names to the same person. lol.
> Part of the work I do with my dogs is setting they up for this exact
> situation.  If someone calls Laveau's name and she does not know them well,
> she will ignore it.  If she knows them, she will let me know that someone we
> know is calling her and I can choose to have her take me to them or just go
> on our way.
> Soleil is learning the same skills, and my friends, coworkers and
> interpreters help me by setting up situations like are being described.
> Since I can't hear, I can't police Soleil's interaction with the public like
> a hearing person.  I have to trust my dog to be able to work through
> distractions like that.
>
>   Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
> Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
> Pawpower4me at gmail.com
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 29, 2014, at 9:35 AM, "Larry D. Keeler" <lkeeler at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>> Have not changed my pet policy. I'll tell folks I know her name and
> sometimes I'll take her harrness off so she can interact with others.
> However, I usually ignore folks whom I don't know. I don't make up names
> often although I have been known to.
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Raven Tolliver"
>> <ravend729 at gmail.com>
>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 10:23 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>
>>
>>> Oh yes! It annoys me to no end when people ask what my dog's name is.
>>> I just tell them his name is K, or the most comical one I've been
>>> using is Celestial Seasonings. Got the idea from a woman whose
>>> golden's name is Lipton. So cute. But I tell people Celestial
>>> Seasonings, and no one is inclined to even call him. Probably 'cause
>>> they know I'm bs-ing them. Most of my acquaintances and classmates
>>> here on campus don't even know the Golden Guy's name.
>>>
>>>> On 4/29/14, minh ha <minh.ha927 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I was very strict about not letting anyone pet Viva when I first
>>>> came home with her, but I've relaxed my stance since then. Obviously
>>>> I don't let anyone touch her when we're working, but if we're just
>>>> sitting somewhere and someone asks to pet her, I will generally let
>>>> them. I do tell them that if she gets too excited, then the meet and
>>>> greet is over. it's also  a great way for me to teach her
>>>> self-control and obedience since I'll make her lay down and stay.
>>>>
>>>> Minh
>>>>
>>>>> On 4/29/14, The Pawpower Pack <pawpower4me at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> With Soleil, I have used petting as a practice time for self control.
>>>>> She
>>>>> loves people, and right at first, I knew that I was going to just
>>>>> have to restrict all petting, or use the petting as an exercise.
>>>>> Since I'm Deafblind, people tend to just pet because they are not
>>>>> getting my attention with me by asking unless I'm with a hearing
>>>>> person.
>>>>> So if I have time to allow petting, I first tell her down. I tell
>>>>> the person wanting to pet that she can only be pet in a down and
>>>>> that if she gets up, they are to stop, I thank them for helping me
>>>>> with her training, so they feel good.  They pet her and then in mid
>>>>> pet I ask her to come away and touch my hand and click and treat.
>>>>> She is a lab, so would rather eat than lay and get petted.  And her
>>>>> getting up ends the session.  If people pet without asking she will
>>>>> turn to me.
>>>>> My coworkers and friends also help in this exercise as well.
>>>>> Because I'm Deafblind and a lot of my friends are deafblind, and I
>>>>> work with deafblind children, she has to learn to be touched
>>>>> without coming unhinged with joy.  Deafblind people are a pretty
>>>>> tactile lot and if a deafblind child has never seen a guide dog,
>>>>> they can look at her-- with their
>>>>> hands--
>>>>> and learn.  So far, Soleil's doing really well!
>>>>>
>>>>> Rox and the kitchen Bitches:
>>>>> Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
>>>>> Pawpower4me at gmail.com
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Apr 29, 2014, at 6:41 AM, "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Generally I just say, "No, but thank you for asking." I smile and
>>>>>> make it seem like them asking was a wonderful thing.  Then I move
>>>>>> on.  Standing there will encourage a discussion or debate or
>>>>>> whatever, moving on indicates that you don't want to discuss your
>>>>>> no petting rule and it also reinforces that you need to get stuff
>>>>>> done and don't have time for petting.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do allow petting on occasion.  If I do I let the person know
>>>>>> it's up to Monty if he wants to be petted.  I give Monty his
>>>>>> release cue and let him approach if he wants.  Usually he will
>>>>>> give the person a perfunctory sniff and he's done.  Every now and
>>>>>> then he will back away from the person, which is kind of
>>>>>> embarrassing, but they get it that he doesn't want to be petted.
>>>>>> He's not very into meet and greet with people though, so this
>>>>>> works.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Last week I was in the grocery store and there was a Mom with
>>>>>> about four kids.  The kids wanted to pet Monty and asked their
>>>>>> Mom.  Usually parents just say the dog is working and leave it
>>>>>> alone, but this Mom went on a complete tirade.  I thought the kids
>>>>>> were perfectly well behaved in asking their Mom first if they
>>>>>> could approach me to ask if they could pet, but Mom really lit
>>>>>> into them.  Then she was on to another topic and how horrible the
>>>>>> kids were and on and on  and on.  So about four isles later I
>>>>>> asked one of the kids if he would like to pet the dog.  It made
>>>>>> the kids day.  I can't remember the last time I've offered petting
>>>>>> to a kid, but I really felt bad for them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When I talk to people about guide dogs or if I'm doing a
>>>>>> presentation or something, I always stress that dogs are different
>>>>>> and people are different, but asking is always okay.  the answer
>>>>>> might be no but politely asking and respecting the answer is good.
>>>>>> It's interesting that I rarely have issues with kids.  It's adults
>>>>>> that have issues with self control.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Julie
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Darla Rogers
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 1:36 AM
>>>>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thank you Raven and Michael; I believe, and several others have
>>>>>> also states this practice, just not to allow it while we are out
>>>>>> working.
>>>>>> I don't owe the general public anything; if they want to pet a
>>>>>> dog, the shelters are crying for volunteers to socialize their
>>>>>> dogs; on the other hand, if it raises money for my school. <tongue
>>>>>> firmly in cheek> Very Gratefully, Darla & Handsome Huck
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael
>>>>>> Hingson
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 12:40 AM
>>>>>> To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I do not permit anyone to pet Africa while she is in harness.  If
> people
>>>>>> want to pet her and I have the time I will remove her harness and
>>>>>> then allow petting.  If I do not have time I politely explain that
>>>>>> while the harness is on she is working and cannot be petted and
>>>>>> that I do not have time to remove it now.  Especially when people
>>>>>> go along with my wishes I thank them very much.  If people still
>>>>>> insist on petting Africa I will get more stern.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Michael Hingson
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darla
> Rogers
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, April 28, 2014 10:22 PM
>>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog
>>>>>> Users
>>>>>> Subject: [nagdu] Changing my Petting Policy
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi everyone,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>               The Handsome Huck is a people magnet and peo9ple are
>>>>>> magnets for him; there is some petting--last time going through a
>>>>>> revolving door--and I used to let him sit and be petted, but I
>>>>>> don't believe
> this
>>>>>> is
>>>>>> in the best interest of our working relationship?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>               Any ideas?  Strategies?  Explanations?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Darla & Mister Socialite
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Darla J. Rogers
>>>>>>
>>>>>> djrogers0628 at gmail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> "All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the
>>>> dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was
> vanity:
>>>> but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on
>>>> their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." T. E. Lawrence
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Raven
>>>
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