Question for those with service dogs.

[Fadeaway]

Do your dogs bark at people? I had a total melt down in a store today after someones service dog caught me off guard when it barked behind me at the grocery store.

I had noticed the dog with the vest earlier and got close enough to read the vest to confirm that it indeed was a service animal prior to that. However, when it barked a mere foot or two behind me I had a total melt down. I started screaming and crying and to make matters worse, ever employee in the store came running to me. I think they thought something bad happened and they were getting sued. Nope, My husband was great in explaining that it was PTSD related and not the fault of the store or dog owner,

Someone suggested that the service dog shouldn't have barked unless there was a problem. So was there? Was the dog picking up on my anxiety, or do they sometimes bark for no reason?

Right now I am feeling so bad for the dog owner. It wasn't his fault,I wasn't aware of it, but he kept apologizing to my husband. I feel like I am the one who did something wrong to set the dog off. Rationally, I know I was just standing there with my back to the dog, But I can't help thinking my state of being had to do with it.

 

[moonbeam]

I am really good at taming blame for stuff I couldn't possibly have actually caused. I think you might be too. Also getting upset was an understandable startle response. I probably would have too.

Is the back of your clothes made of dog food? I can't imagine there is much your backside could have done to set the dog off assuming it was barking at you. Just because it occurred behind you doesn't mean it was related to you.

Maybe there was a bee. Or he got stepped on. Or the man farted and the dog was like "don't blame that on me." Or it was medicine time. Or it got worried it lost the ability to bark. Or since its got senses over 100 times stronger than humans, it smelled something. Maybe it was getting impatient and had to go to the loo. Maybe it heard little Timmy off in the distance and was saying "Hey I warned you about playing near wells!"

I know its easy to assume it was us but I think if it was you the dog would have continued barking or dragged the owner away or something.

 

[shimmerz]

I am really good at taming blame for stuff I couldn't possibly have actually caused.

This is such an important piece to healing imho. I know that catching myself when I go into 'it must have been me' mode is crucial. Your bringing humor into it is great! Great response!

 

[shimmerz]

my state of being had to do with it

But you see, 'our state of being' had to do with a ton of things we were handed responsibility for when it shouldn't have been. We were conditioned to take it all on. Burn the tape!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Service dogs aren't supposed to bark like that as far as I know. Remember that people fake that stuff. Anybody can order the vest and patches on the internet.

 

[Kefira]

They shouldn't unless it's an alert of some sort for the handler. In which case what I've been taught is one soft bark is acceptable. Any more than that can be considered unruly behavior and the handler can be asked to remove the dog from the premises. Given this, most trainers I'm aware of teach alternative alerts that don't involve any noise.

People do fake service dogs. Dogs also, even with the best training and thousands of hours of effort over their life to keep them on point will occasionally have a bad day.

Regardless, doesn't sound like it was anything to do with you. Either it was an alert for the handler, or the dog was just having a moment. Particularly if it was a trained service dog and not just a dog in a vest, it's even more unlikely to have anything to do with you: that dog's job is to be focused on his handler. Programs that train dogs will sometimes do distraction work where little kids get up in the dog's face and pull its ears and things: the point is for the dog to remain focused on the handler and to not acknowledge them.

 

[JustBe]

Do your dogs bark at people?

At home, yes. When working?
Absolutely NOT.

Some people train their Service dog to alert by barking but personally I don't. It's too disruptive.

Remember that people fake that stuff.

^Sad but true.

The best way to tell a real Service Dog from a fake is by it's behavior, not it's gear.

 

[DharmaGirl]

My service dog makes a small woof when I need to remove myself from a situation. It is a very small woof. She makes a sound that sounds like "aroo" when she is allowed to greet people, but again, it is quiet. I taught her outside voice, inside voice and whisper, so when she is working she uses her whisper.

 

[EveHarrington]

My service dog makes a small woof when I need to remove myself from a situation. It is a very small...

That's impressive! It sounds like you're a very responsible dog handler.

 

[DharmaGirl]

She is a mastiff, so when she says anything in her normal voice, people are afraid. She is normally very vocal when she is not working (wearing her vest), and uses growls and other vocalizations to communicate. She is incredibly intelligent and easy to train.