Guide Dog Training

OldNotWIse

Was heading back to work today after lunch and saw an adorable retriever (estimate about 6 months) training to be a guide dog. I pointed him out to my friend who was walking beside me and instantly the girl who was walking him snapped at us, "dont touch him, he's not supposed to be touched!". We weren't actually going near him, just talking about him (though maybe thats not allowed either lol) but it got me wondering...aren't guide dogs supposed to be super steady, relaxed, ok with people and crowds kind of dogs? I mean, whats the point having a guide dog who is not used to people or being handled etc? Just somewhat confused

borderlinemeath

Don't know too much about guide dogs but while they are meant to be socialised to different environments and situations - if they reacted to everybody that went "aww, look at the guide dog training!" then they wouldn't make a very good guide dog. Unlike regular pet dogs they need to be able to ignore people around them rather than interact with them while 'on the job' so to speak. Anytime I've ever seen one it's usually got a 'leave me alone I'm working' bib on it or something to that effect.

OldNotWIse

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Don't know too much about guide dogs but while they are meant to be socialised to different environments and situations - if they reacted to everybody that went "aww, look at the guide dog training!" then they wouldn't make a very good guide dog. Unlike regular pet dogs they need to be able to ignore people around them rather than interact with them while 'on the job' so to speak. Anytime I've ever seen one it's usually got a 'leave me alone I'm working' bib on it or something to that effect.

thats a good point, hadn't thought of that

carav10

Obviously not the case in your situation as you hadn't actually gone near the dog, but perhaps they're too used to people suddenly approaching because it has guide dog on it and people think it's ok to pet without checking with the handler.

A few months ago, I had my dog at some event, and was passing a guide dog in training with its handler. I gave her a clear berth as I didn't want mine to be a distraction to hers. But she did actually stop me and ask would I mind allowing our dogs to greet as he was being socialised. No problem with that at all!

Yer wan was a bit snappy though wasn't she?! Unless she had just had a few encounters and was pre-empting without thinking about being nice first!!

OldNotWIse

carav10 wrote: »

Obviously not the case in your situation as you hadn't actually gone near the dog, but perhaps they're too used to people suddenly approaching because it has guide dog on it and people think it's ok to pet without checking with the handler.

A few months ago, I had my dog at some event, and was passing a guide dog in training with its handler. I gave her a clear berth as I didn't want mine to be a distraction to hers. But she did actually stop me and ask would I mind allowing our dogs to greet as he was being socialised. No problem with that at all!

Yer wan was a bit snappy though wasn't she?! Unless she had just had a few encounters and was pre-empting without thinking about being nice first!!

Yeah I can kind of appreciate her pre-emptive strike - I have a terrier and I swear there is nothing that irks me more than morons coming up to her and oohing and aahing in her face and waving their hands aorund like idiots screeching about how cute she is - regardless of their intentions, from the dogs perspective, it just looks like a stranger has encroached her personal space, may be a threat to me, and is barking and waving "paws" in her face - of course she is going to react :rolleyes: People get all hurt then when she doesnt roll over and give the paw lol. I suppose they get loads of people poking at them and stuff. Though yeah she was a bit hysterial tbh, it's like we weren't actually allowed to even point at the dog. I just hope he doesn't pick up on her energy - he'll be a nervous wreck if he does!

tk123

My friend's guide dog pup is 4 months now and he's socialised and let play with the other dogs in the park - the same with any other guide dog pup they've had for holiday cover and there's never been an issue with people petting them.

gregers85

Guide dogs in training are supposed to have the Hi-Vis Bib saying they are a service dog in training please dont Pet!! How ever the dogs are suppose to be rock steady and people waving there hands and running past and shouting and doing what ever people and traffic do are all part of the training!