# different name for your guide dog in public

Category: Animal House

## Post 1 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 13:30:30

Hi all
I had a question for any guide dog users who are just as cureous about this question as I am. When I'm out working my guide, I get a lot of people who ask what his name is. One of my trainers told me to tell them that I can't give out the name when he's working because it's a destraction, which is true in some cases, so that's what I've been telling people. To me, this seems kind of rude. Another trainer told me I should give him a different name in public. At least to the people who ask his name. What do you guies think? Should I keep doing what I'm doing, or give him a different name in public? I'd love to here what others have done, and would love any suggestions you might have.
Kim

## Post 2 by Dolce Eleganza (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 16:14:14

I'll be getting my guide in three months. I would continue politely telling people that you can't give out his name, because he's working. It's not rude, in my opinion. It's not like you're asking, "why", or telling them it's none of their business. " It's also the truth, though. You can't give people your dog's name because it's working and you can't have destraction, for your's and the dog's safety.

## Post 3 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 16:43:49

If I got one, I'd say his name is snatch magnet!

## Post 4 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 16:47:55

That's funny. And your right, I wouldn't want to maybe confuse him, if he heard a different name. A reaction I get a lot is people appoligizing when I tell them I can't give out his name. I never understand why they do that.

## Post 5 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 17:30:16

Perhaps they apologize because they realize the question can be considered intrusive. If you handle it appropriately, which it sounds like you do, you just be reasonable and explain why. My trainer told me that it was up to me if I wanted to give her a different name in public or just say that I don't give it out... I'd just as soon not give it out, but that's me.
Now, if we're in an off-leash park, I don't mind giving out her name if she's playing with other dogs - it helps connect with other dog people, but no one has ever called her or commanded her or anything.
IMO,
Kate

## Post 6 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 18:05:00

Thanks for that. Yeah, they may think their being intrusive. And also, his name is such a common word, that if people were to say it, he'd react. Even with people not knowing his name, they still call out to him, which can be really annoying at times, aspecially when were about to cross the street or do something dangerous.

## Post 7 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Wednesday, 01-Jan-2014 21:39:32

Yes I recall hearing an instructor suggest this as well. No-one here, has said, nor do I believe that every single time you give the name of your guide dog, they'll get distracted.
I couldn't bring myself to give someone a different name though I have thought about it. As long as we tell the people not to talk/pat our dogs while they're working, it should be good enough. Most people are really good about it. Sure, we all get the idiots who totally ignore you but, then .. that's what happens.

## Post 8 by season (the invisible soul) on Thursday, 02-Jan-2014 4:06:02

I have few different name for my guide dog in public, when people ask. One of them is ruby. it is also the most common name that i use in public for her. Reason why i use the name because i don't think otherpeople need to know what my girl call. None of their business anyway. And, usually, those people that ask me for my dog's name is simply distractive on whatever that i'm doing. If however, i'm in the good mood, and the person is not distracting me or the dog, i'll talk to them for a bit, and use her real name, or use better name like Joy or Pearl etc.

## Post 9 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Thursday, 02-Jan-2014 10:50:32

Well, he doesn't get destracted when people ask his name, so I don't know why the instructor told me that. Maybe it's because my second dog did, when I gave his name out a couple of times. Whith Tripp, when people say hi, he just lays there and looks at them. And yes, I don't think people need to know his name when he's working. I've been lucky, and people have been very understanding about why I can't give out the name.

## Post 10 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 02-Jan-2014 15:37:47

I don't have a dog now, but both dogs worked just fine if I gave there real names.
I'd say this is up to you. I'd not feel guilty giving a fake name if that works best for you. Saves time too.
"what's your dogs name?" "Sue." Nice and short. Lol
aAll that explaining is nice, but.

## Post 11 by rdfreak (THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE-BLUE KANGA-KICKIN AUSIE) on Thursday, 02-Jan-2014 22:12:18

I hear what you're saying Jo and good for you I still say. :)

## Post 12 by season (the invisible soul) on Thursday, 02-Jan-2014 23:55:28

oops, Rach, i didn't realize till now, Sorry... Really, i use Ruby most of the time. The joke though, one time i used Ruby to this oldish lady. I was in hurry, and She insist that she wants to do all the thing that she not suppose to do to a working dog, because she's "dog lover", then i used Ruby, thinking i can get her off my case and keep moving. Well, boy oh boy, it turn out that her mum called Ruby too, and how lovely her mum is, and... ... ... well, you get the picture. lol. Oh oh, one of the name i also use is Betty. From the Ugly Betty show! ha!

## Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 03-Jan-2014 8:12:15

Better try blank next time. You might even get to where you're going on time. Lol

## Post 14 by season (the invisible soul) on Saturday, 04-Jan-2014 5:34:52

Hmm, i don't know, my next guide dog might be Dorger... I can already see myself calling him Dorgy Dog. lol.

## Post 15 by Westcoastcdngrl (move over school!) on Saturday, 04-Jan-2014 6:02:40

It never occurred to me to ask the dog's name when encountering guide dogs working in public. I wouldn't find it rude/offensive if you demurred and said that you don't give out the dog's name in public.
If it makes you feel better, you could give a totally fake name like FiFi Melon Drop, Sparky or Rover and I (a complete stranger) wouldn't know the difference.
Even if you did tell me your dog's name I likely wouldn't end up using it and I'd invariably refer to the dog by gender (i.e. Sheila or Bloke) or just "your dog,"
If we were closer friends and the dog was off leash and not working, I'd likely call the dog by name or endearing like "Who's the Good Puppy" or something equally nauseating while playing with the dog.

## Post 16 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 04-Jan-2014 10:56:08

I agree with most on here, it's not rude of you. But if a blind person told me I was doing something wrong with their dog, no matter how polite they were, I would apologize, because I take public safety and their well-being very seriously.

## Post 17 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 04-Jan-2014 12:17:06

My baby! or My puppy! Yeah!

## Post 18 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 04-Jan-2014 12:18:30

Oh, and I don't want them saying I'm sorry, I want them to give me a few dollars for food, care, and such. Smile. Use to happen to me sometimes. Lol

## Post 19 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Saturday, 04-Jan-2014 15:33:50

Thanks, these are really great tips. I thought about calling him sunny in public since he's a yellow lab. And some of you are right, giving that long explanation about why I can't give out the name gets old after a while.

## Post 20 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 18-Jan-2014 22:31:16

wow, I never thought of this! since I'm getting my 1st guide in a few months I'm sure little things like this will come up. I'm not sure what to do! On one hand I don't want to lie but on the other hand..a long explanation could get old after a while.

## Post 21 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Sunday, 19-Jan-2014 15:00:09

I told everyone in the old town i use to live in things like,
oh i don't tell
or made up some name. But once I moved here to Raleigh I stopped that. I don't have issues now. My dog has learn that she can wag her tail and all but she still works fine. It hasn't hurt or changed her work except that it made her work better under destractions. I had a friend come visit over the holidays and she told someone another name for her dog and I whent along with it and gave a different name for mine I felt so silly. I didn't have to worry about things like that and i don't want to have to. I don't mind if people knows my dogs name. I have taught my dog how to behave if she hears someone calling her and its not me.

## Post 22 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Sunday, 19-Jan-2014 18:02:38

how did you teach her to do that? Interesting! Where'd you get your dog from?

## Post 23 by Nicky (And I aprove this message.) on Monday, 20-Jan-2014 4:24:33

I just simpley made her keep walking and told her hop up and to leave it if she started toard or, to look at the people calling her. I had an issue start up when i first got her where she would get excited and try to visit with people... I had to stop in the middle of talking with people and such and just keep walking on and explained to them as I left that my dogs training was my focus and I would speak with them later. Sorry and good bye. Thankfully these people understood and after time after time of me all of the sudden walking away from the distraction and not allowing my dog to get her way by visiting she came to learn to wait until I said it is ok. People tells me that she will look at me before going to them to get petted. Now I just use the command
"Go say hello"
or
"Do you want to go say hello?"
and she knows that it is ok to go visit with these people while in harness. I do allow people to pet her at times while she is in harness but I know that she can handle it.
I always keep part of my attenchen on my dog so if she does try to sneak a visit in, i can stop her before she gets a second step to them...
Things happens at times, you'll never make a dog perfect. But the perfect dog is always trying their best to obey.

## Post 24 by tough sweetheart (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 20-Jan-2014 5:21:33

Nicky, that's very interesting. I'll have to try that because I am having the same issue that you used to have. My dog is extremely friendly, no like extremely, and easily distracted, so while at The Seeing Eye a friend and I decided that we would switch dog names (if random people asked us) lol. So her name is Piper in public or if I think the person can handle it I'll say "I don't give her name out" and they just leave the subject alone. Although, I have had people beg me for her name, and that's when I just say Piper. I've also had people just give her a name when I used the quote above, which is really funny. I don't care, as long as they don't call or talk to her.

## Post 25 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Monday, 20-Jan-2014 8:24:12

My dog goes absolutely CRAZY when she sees my husband... so I am having to work with her on not running over to him to say hello. Seems to be getting better... but I guess we'll see how much of an idiot she makes of herself in the airport when we get home Sunday night....
Kate

## Post 26 by Scarlett (move over school!) on Monday, 20-Jan-2014 10:12:38

A lot of people here ask for the name of my dog and I give it out. I've never had someone call her to them using her name, to be honest it's usually the people who don't acknowledge that she's working and that I own her that call her over to them, without speaking to me. I can see why some guide dog owners might want to change the name in public, I'm just lucky it's never been an issue for me.

## Post 27 by loves animals (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 23-Jan-2014 2:53:39

interesting topic and I just gave out my dogs name, they didn't call for him but if they were to he'd not go to them, he had this thing were he would know if some one had asked to pat him or not as he would look at me as if to say "did they ask your permission first", smiles.

## Post 28 by faithfulwolf (Veteran Zoner) on Friday, 24-Jan-2014 19:30:26

I have a dog. She is very good and doesn't get distracted if someone else says her name. I think you are right, that telling people you cannot tell them your dog's name is rude and very off-putting. People are curious and just trying to be friendly. As for giving your dog a different name in public, that just seems silly to me. You should have enough control over your dog that it's ok for their name to be said. Just tell them not to talk to your dog or call to him/her if that is what you don't want. :)

## Post 29 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 24-Jan-2014 22:14:03

If I had a dog I might be tempted to tell nosy people in public that the dog's name was spelled p h u k k, and let them figure out the rest. Childish, sure. But don't the shrinks say we have an inner one of those? Lol

## Post 30 by tough sweetheart (Generic Zoner) on Sunday, 26-Jan-2014 10:54:04

Leo! Lol, good one!
Faithfulwolf: Unfortunately some of us have very young dogs and for those like myself who are first time dog owners and handlers, it is necessary to tell people that I don't give her name out, or to give a fake name. I don't think it's off putting if you're polite about it. It's all in your delivery. People usually understand. And just to clear something up, I have no problem telling a friend or someone I know her real name. But if it's just a random person then no I don't usually give it out because I don't know if they will disrespect me and call/pet/talk to her even though I asked them not to. They probably won't but maybe they will and I'm just not willing to risk getting my dog excited and distracted for the sake of a random person.

## Post 31 by UniqueOne (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Monday, 27-Jan-2014 19:16:21

Yeah, that makes sense really..

## Post 32 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Friday, 31-Jan-2014 23:54:42

Thanks for all the advice. I'm glad I don't give out his name, because he is young and very easally destracted. Also, people are really good when I do tell them that I don't give it out. I've never had a rude person. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who struggled with this problem.

## Post 33 by HauntedReverie (doing the bad mango) on Saturday, 01-Feb-2014 0:59:34

I wish they'd teach "Ignore the dog" instead of just "Don't pet the dog." I don't mind giving my dog's name, because most of the time, whether I give a name or not, peoples' immediate reaction is to look down at her and go, "Hey doggie, hey pretty girl." She tries to go say hello, and gets a correction. I just let the silent guilt at getting her in trouble do all my verbal work. They figure out they messed up, and I can just smile politely and say, "No visiting" or "It's not visiting hour, sorry" as if I'm talking to the dog.