# Guide Dogs and the public

Category: Animal House

## Post 1 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 04-Jan-2008 19:18:57

Hi Evry one:
I've had my guide Dog Voyager for two and a half years now, and have had some interesting incounters with the public, such as people being afraide of him, to a doctor thinking he's not well behaved. He is very well behaved, and is naturally cureous in new situations.
Anyway, I'd be interested to here from any of you guide dog users out their who have had both good and bad experences with the public.

## Post 2 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Friday, 04-Jan-2008 20:03:05

I have had steven now for roughly seven months now. Things are going well, but it's still taking some adjusting on my part to hearing little kids pointing him out to their parents. lol
Yesterday, I was at the doctor's office, and a nurse who was entering the room to give me the first in a series of vaccines, was reluctant to come through the door because she was afraid steven would attack her. I think she left the room rather surprised that he behaved so well.
When I am with friends, they tell the person who might try to pet him, not to do it. I'm glad people are very understanding.

## Post 3 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Friday, 04-Jan-2008 22:14:26

Everywhere I go, pretty much everyone is always telling me what a nice and well behaved dog I have. I have gone to the store, mall, movies, restaurants, vet, doctors, job interviews, etc and I haven't had any problems because I had my guide dog with me. I always carry a bookmark that states the guide dog access laws, just incase I run into someone who tells me I can't take my dog in that public place. Most adults and some kids know they're not supposed to pet the special working dog, but I have had a few people pet Able without asking me first though. I've had a couple of people afraid of my dog, but it was kind of a good thing. I was at a busstop and this guy told this other guy to be careful cos those dogs were mean and would bite. I feel safer sometimes, when people think that, especially if I'm by myself. I've also heard that people are more likely to be afraid of large dogs, such as German Shepherds and dogs who are black/dark in color. I don't have a Shepherd, but I'm glad I have a black Lab.

## Post 4 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Saturday, 05-Jan-2008 2:07:25

Yeah, I know what you mean. Sometimes it's nice to have people be afraide of Voyager, aspecally in the area I live in.
The biggest thing that bothers me is when people get him excited, then they get upset when I correct him. When I was at the doctor, the doctor made a big stink about how Voyager wasn't listening right away, when I made it quite clear to him that it takes him a little while to settle in new places, aspecally when people such as doctors are touching me. He's very protective of me. Then the doctor had the nerve to pet him, and I couldn't get the words out to tell him to stop. He really makes me feel uncomfortable. Then, he squeaked a toy, and that got Voyager all excited. I sware, I think he was doing it on purpose. What's funny, is the moment we leave that office and go out in to the lobby to sit down, he's as calm as can be. I guess it has to do with his personality, which he has a lot of.

## Post 5 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Saturday, 05-Jan-2008 9:48:39

time to educate that doctor. lol

## Post 6 by BB (move over school!) on Saturday, 05-Jan-2008 11:06:02

Well with my 2nd guide, she was a long haired Shepard. It was great cause I would take her on walks without the harness. My neighbors knew us and never bothered us, but I entered the pizza shop nextdoor, where they knew us, and when the other customers saw a shepard enter they ran. All I heard someone say was police dog, and the front of the building clear out. Well I got to the front of the line quickly, and got my food. When I walked back out, everyone from the place was standing outside waiting on us to leave so they could go back in. I still miss how safe I felt with her when walking in this area.

## Post 7 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 06-Jan-2008 18:48:53

I haven't had a guide dog in a very long time. But when I had Dusty, I had some interesting experiences with the public, too. One of my favorites occurred at a Target store. A woman says to her child, "Oh sweetie, there's a doggie. Let's go pet it." And the kid, who sounded pretty young, like maybe seven or so, says, "No, Mommy, we can't pet that dog, it's a working dog." I loved it. Way to go for the child teaching the parent.

## Post 8 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Sunday, 06-Jan-2008 21:18:38

It's amazing how kids pick that up. *smile* I heard a story from one of the instructors at Guide Dogs for the Blind say that she was walking around her college campus with her dog, and this little girl who couldn't have been more than three or four say her and said, "Puppy1 working puppy!" I was shocked when I heard about it.

## Post 9 by pawpower (Newborn Zoner) on Saturday, 19-Jan-2008 22:12:33

My niece likes to chew out members of the general public who try and pet my dog. I work a border collie and she is by nature very aloof and turns her back on people who pet her, but it's really funny to watch an adult get what for by a six-year-old.

## Post 10 by jen91_09 (777) on Monday, 05-May-2008 16:02:38

Lol that yould be hilarious! I can't wait to see if I got in to GDB! then I'll be able to share experiences! yea! lol

## Post 11 by blindndangerous (the blind and dangerous one) on Monday, 05-May-2008 23:33:36

As will I. Awesome stories.

## Post 12 by kolby12091988 (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 06-Jan-2009 16:48:21

I have had numerous good and bad experiences with the public. Especially on my College campus. There are those whom you can educate, and those whom you cannot. I always do my best to politely bring awareness to the uneducated people.

## Post 13 by lilo (Generic Zoner) on Saturday, 10-Jan-2009 13:16:52

It has also happened that this woman in the mall was making a seen cause she tried to sneak her little doggy in and the security let me pass without a glance. I couldn't stop laughing.

## Post 14 by blindndangerous (the blind and dangerous one) on Sunday, 11-Jan-2009 14:18:29

That's funny. I will do the same thing try and tell people about them. Which reminds me, I gotta find a GEB aplication again, they asked me to reapply in January and if I got through I may have a spot in the summer for my freshman year of college.

## Post 15 by Skyla (move over school!) on Sunday, 11-Jan-2009 19:14:07

I may be in the minority here, but I don't think it's our job to educate the public about our guide dogs: how long we've had them, where we got them, what they eat, what they do, etc. Yes, I do tell people not to touch my dog; but I leave it at that. If they are curious as to the general workings of a guide dog, there is plenty information available in a variety of formats. I don't know what makes people think they have the right to stop us in public and ask us a miriad of questions, as if we were sent to the earth specifically to educate others--perhaps that is the case for some, but I'm here to fulfil my own life, and teaching the universe about how I choose to travel isn't one of them. I really do get the fact that they are curious (and that's a good thing), but just as I wouldn't approach someone with a third arm and think it my right to pry into their lives, I expect to be treated as a human being, and not a walking disability. This is a recent opinion, though. Up until now, I thought it my job to educate just about everyone who wanted to know--but I've since changed my mind (with the help of a professor I am fortunate to be studying under).
And, I also do feel much safer while travelling with Bonsai. He's so friendly that I doubt he'd do anything if I were being attacked, but I hope I don't ever have to find out!

## Post 16 by faithful angel (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 08-Apr-2009 20:55:15

I don't feel like we have to educate everyone, but I would much rather a person to ask than to assume. I think there is a happy medium

## Post 17 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 09-Apr-2009 18:54:30

I'm not a guide do user and have never been one, although the thought has been in my mind since I was almost fourteen. I applied at GDB last summer though and was deferred It's a long story but the short of it is that I can understand some of their reasons, such as the familiarity with my neighborhood, which probably isn't as good as it could be, but other issues were hardly within my ability to control. For instance I could hardly control the fact that we had about 40-mile-an-hour winds the day of my home interview. Trying to walk a route when you'e got such strong winds at your back for most of it is incredibly tough when you're as small as I am. But apparently I would scare any guide dog I worked with if I stumbled in the wind. There was also the way my neighborhood, and indeed the city of Twin Falls, is laid out. There are large stretches of sidewalkless areas areas throughout much of te city, and yet the instructor told me basically that I lived in too dangerous an area for a dog.
There was also the more understandable problem of my tendency to overwalk the dog because I can get going at a pretty good pace sometimes. That at least I've been working on. But looking back on my deferment I think it's actually for the best. Even if I had passed muster I might not be financially able to have a guide dog. Being unemployed and on SSI doesn't allow for much flexibility when you use the cane, so I don't necessarily think I'd be able to afford to care for a dog. I'd like to try again at some point, but it may have to wait until I find a job and can actually start saving money. And these days who knows how long that's going to take.
But I've known enough guide dog handlers to see how happy the dogs make them. One of my best friends had a Golden Retriever some years back named Mary Rose. And Kat was so much happier once she got her guide dog. So I'm still open to trying. The two schools I'm thinking of are Guiding Eyes and Guide Dog Foundation. But we'll have to see what happens.

## Post 18 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Thursday, 09-Apr-2009 19:16:37

Ok, these are just my opinions but I think some of the reasons for GDB not accepting to train you with a guide dog are stupid.
First, your right, you can't help the winds. I'm very small, smaller than most people I think, and I have walked in all kinds of weather with my dog and it is manageable. I do know of a girl who is smaller than me who has a guide dog and she is just fine working with her guide. Second, they can't tell you that you live in to of a dangerous of an area to have a guide dog. They are supposed to work with you and your dog in all different types of neighborhoods, locations, and situations that you might live in. Third, unless you walk twenty miles a day or something, you probably won't over walk your dog. You are supposed to be matched up with a dog who has a fast pace if you do walk quickly. After I got my guide dog, I found that I walk faster than I did before. As long as you have good cane skills and are ready to care for your dogg, I see no reason why you couldn't have got one. I got my guide dog from GEB and I think they will be a lot more willing to work with you than GDB was.

## Post 19 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 09-Apr-2009 19:23:53

Well I have kind of a long stride. So I tended to almost get ahead of the lady when we did the Juno walk. That's what I meant by overwalking. I also need to work on exerting a steady, strong pull on the harness. Those reasons, along with my relative unfamiliarity with my neighborhood at the time I could sort of understand. But I still couldn't help feeling that if it hadn't been so windy out I probably wouldn't have messed up on my route as many times as I did. But like I said though even had I been accepted I don't know if my financial situation would allow for having a guide dog. After all, we're talking about a working animal here, and even if we weren't I was hardly going to take a chance on putting my dog's health in jeopardy just to save a few bucks on food. It would be interesting to see how my kitty would react to a guide dog though.

## Post 20 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Thursday, 09-Apr-2009 19:30:23

It does take some practice working with your dog and the harness. She shouldn't have expected you to learn it in one afternoon. Money situations can make it hard, but I try to get the biggest bag of dog food I can every month and anywhere you go, they are usually under $25. My dog and cat get along great. They cuddle up and sleep together.

## Post 21 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Thursday, 09-Apr-2009 23:10:40

Well apparently she did. And like I said she told me you're never supposed to stumble because that scares the dogs. And let me tell you, it was really hard not to make a sarcastic reply. About all that stopped me was the fact that my lips were so stiff from cold I could hardly talk...which made issuing commands rather difficult. I figure though that one of these days I'll apply at GEB or GDF and have another go. I have a feeling this is one of those things that if I don't at least try it, even if I discover a guide dog isn't right for me, I'll regret it forever.

## Post 22 by marrie1 (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 10-Apr-2009 19:33:22

I think you should apply at geb. they are in my ipinion a better school then gdb and I've ben to both
As to experiences I have had some odd ones. One day Me and afriend went to a chinies restraunt and they almost did not let us in because of Gatsby and I had to show my guide dog ID I carry with me everyware. the guy was beeing a jerk about it and the ladies who were watching all of this tried to tell him that by law he should not have questioned me. My friend stood there wiht her phone ready to call someone to voutch for me if I could not do it. We got in thank goodness.

## Post 23 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Friday, 10-Apr-2009 20:52:56

Yeah. I heard about your experience with GDB. In fact I'd have applied to GEB to begin with but at the time I applied I was still engaged and my fiance didn't like the idea of me being so far away. I think she thought it'd be easier to persuade me to come home if her kids started driving her crazy if I was closer.
I've definitely heard a few stories here and there about people being or almost being denied access to a public place on account of their dogs. I've heard that Muslim taxi drivers can be particularly hard to work with sometimes because the Muslim religion considers dogs to be unclean. I've actually read that some of them consider the ADA and other access laws to be religiously discriminatory because of that.

## Post 24 by Daenerys Targaryen (Enjoying Life) on Friday, 10-Apr-2009 22:14:25

Yeah I had that happen to me several times. Some cab drivers are really nice and helpful and some have told me they will not drive me because I have my dog with me. It is against the law and they should be reported to the cab company. Its really annoying when you have to get somewhere and have to wait longer for another cab to come pick you up.

## Post 25 by lilo (Generic Zoner) on Friday, 10-Apr-2009 22:27:42

I never take taxi's because of that.
It is also against the law here but hey. Sometimes I get in to the elivator and everyone else gets off. We don't mind. Lilo and I have just as much right to be there than everyone else.

## Post 26 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Friday, 10-Apr-2009 22:49:29

Exactly. I'd hate to have that happen in a small town like this, where the taxi service only has three drivers. Imagine calling the cab company to report some idiot driver refusing to pik you up only to be told they'd get to you when they could. That could be as much as an hour later if not longer. And Twin Falls has no real public transportation.