Seeing Eye Dogs are amazing animals trained to learn a very special skill – to be the ‘eye’ for a person who is blind or has low vision.
Not only are they incredibly intelligent, Seeing Eye Dogs are also adorable. Because of this, many of us feel the urge to walk up and pet them, not knowing that this uninvited and sudden petting can distract the dog from their main duty.
That’s why it’s important for us to remember that these dogs are working and keep in mind these top 5 tips on how to act around Seeing Eye Dogs:
Tip one
If the dog’s harness is on, this means that they are ‘on duty’. You should not do anything that will distract them such as touching, feeding or talking to them.
Tip two
Provide assistance to the dog’s handler only if requested. Speak directly to the person, not the dog, when offering assistance.
Tip three
Keep pathways clear of obstacles and make sure doors are either fully opened or fully closed.
Tip four
Position yourself slightly behind the right shoulder of a dog handler when walking with them or walk about 1 metre ahead if the handler is instructing their dog to “follow” and continue talking to the person.
Tip five
Even if the dog’s harness if off, always ask the handler’s permission first before you rub or pet the assistance dog. The handler is the best person to know if the dog is happy to be petted.
So there you have it, five simple tips to keep in mind next time you encounter someone with a Seeing Eye Dog and guarantee the safety of the low vision person being assisted. To support the training of more Seeing Eye Dogs, donate through the Petbarn Foundation today.