Several times when my SD was distracted by someone making kissy noises to get her attention or patting her I have either stumbled badly and injured myself or been triggered so badly that I had to go home without completing my errands.
Why do people do this?! Ugh. I have had people whistle, say "come puppy", make kissy noises... Sometimes, I just glare at the person and they stop. (I get tired always having to say SOMETHING.) Sometimes I have point blank said, "hey, knock it off, that's not cool. The dog is working." There is something so especially wrong to me about this - more than just petting alone... I dunno why. Most people know it's rude to whistle at a woman, why do it to her dog? Most of the time my dog ignores it, but sometimes she just can't. No one can... that's the whole point of their action - to get the dog's attention on THEM. Humans.
Ok, this was more than simple boundary violation! I'd say this guy had a control issue. He's a perpetrator of sorts.
That's an interesting perspective because that kind of thing happens probably at least 6-7 times a week. Sometimes multiple times a day. I am doubtful I am running into that many perps (that's a scary thought if I was!)
I think it's more of a matter of total cluelessness and lack of education.... People are usually listening to headphones and not even paying attention, and most of the time they think their dog is so cool and wouldn't it be great for our dogs to play? It doesn't even register that it's not a good idea, and as soon as they are clued into that BOTH dogs and humans could get hurt, they back off in a hurry.
I tend to qualify perpetrators as people who are actively and with intent trying to harm and/or invade. I think most of the time it's an utter lack of understanding where the boundary is and the possible harm that could be done.
but as a handler there's also this drive to protect the dog, who will be blamed for any tiny thing that goes wrong, which means the bar is always edging up and we never catch it. Y
This is very true.
I rarely have problems with little kids coming up to pet the dog, I think because most parents know kids can be rough and dogs can do anything. They are trained, but still animals. Parents will quickly tell the child, "it's working, we don't pet service dogs." I usually try to give a thumbs up sign or a smile to the parent when they do that.
It's so over-discussed that all of my non-handler friends want to talk about this like it's the main problem around SDs because "look at all these awful people taking advantage of protections for disabled people" makes a way more palatable message than "look at how much we as a society suck at protecting disabled people".
Well said.
Half of the dogs in this apartment complex are running off leash without an owner to yell at or when there is an owner and I have yelled (as they are almost always far away) "please and come get your dog" or any thing up that alley, they laugh. They think it's funny. Even when he has his vest on and they can plainly see that he is a SD in training. That's the main reason I have issues with walks here as these dogs run up and either are all over Chopper being agressive or want to play and it's impossible for me to stop it even if I go the other way, the dogs follow.
Having a dog off leash is against the apartment complex's rules and the lease but no one gives a rat's ass and if I tell the office they can't go off of what the dog looked like or even what the owner looked like, they want the apartment building & number and 99% of the time I haven't a clue what apartment they are in. So then nothing gets done. And I have been more then very direct about it. Direct does nothing. I have even had my cane out there trying to keep the dog(s) from Chopper and threatened (I would never do this, it was said to the owner as I was frustrated) get your dogs or I will hit them with my cane. I was trying to say anything to get them to get their dogs and still nothing.
That was happening here quite a bit over the past few months in my neighborhood... and then horrible things happened. To someone in a wheelchair af their dog was pushed into the street by a leashed dog that wasn't under control, and mine was attacked (her vest actually probably saved her because it covered where dogs usually attack.)
After that, I had enough. One does not hurt my dog without my moving into mama bear mode. Leashed and unleashed out of control dogs or owners didn't used to be an issue much within my apartment complex until a few months ago, but in just a few months time, I was so burnt out. I didn't know what to do...
I actually printed out the laws that explain interference with a service dog's work (even whistling, let alone having a loose dog run around) is a crime, an actual criminal act with fine and jail time in my state, and I wrote an anonymous letter to all my neighbors. (I printed 200 copies...) I started off by saying how much I love dogs, and care about their dog's and everyone's safety. I explained the dangers to pet dogs, children, the disabled, etc, by loose dogs, and how it was not only a leash violation, but a misdemeanor with jail time and fines because of how it interferes with the work of a service dogs in the neighborhood. I explained how my dog couldn't work, and how it affected my basic ability to navigate the street. I explained that my dog could attack theirs in a protective manner, and that would be bad for their dog and all who loved it, as well as mine. I explained how much service dog agencies have to raise to train a dog (usually around 20,000 per dog) and that the attacking dog's owner could be on the hook for that cost by damaging a service dogs and its training. I explained how distracting a seizure alert dog for a even second could lead to a seizure, which could kill a person. I also made it clear I would take a picture of every loose dog and send it to animal control, and ask that should they find the owner, that they press charges for interference with a service dog. I tried to be diplomatic, but was was fed up and clear. Please leash your dog and please don't let it distract or play with mine. I also included names of dog training organizations for anyone needing help training a dog...
I spoke to animal control about my concerns and handed them a copy of the law that protects service dogs beyond leash laws. To my surprise, they went to the apartment complex management themselves. That got their attention. One of the apartment complexes agreed to sent out a copy of my letter themselves. Most other nearby complexes sent out other warnings, a few shrugged it off.
But since then, for the past few months, I have not seen a single unleashed dog, and everyone with a leashed dog within a few block radius no longer allows their dog to try to come play with mine. It's been wonderful... and a whole heck of a lot safer for everyone. It probably also annoyed a few people and was somewhat precarious to be so direct... but my letter was a lot more diplomatic than I'm describing... but I will probably made a few enemies.
I was at the point I was having panic attacks seeing any other dog than my own, and I had to do something. I now no longer have panic attacks seeing other dogs. Still kinda struggling being a round other dogs though, and occasionally have nightmares about mine being attacked - and this after a lifetime around dogs.
While I went pretty over the top, and wouldn't recommend going to all the lengths I did unless someone felt so compelled... It makes me think that really, we do need a PSA campaign in the US, because people are so clueless about service dogs and unthinking. They just don't know...
