First off I should mention, I have a service dog in training, Ruger. He is a 1 yr old Bloodhound who is in training to be a search and rescue dog as well as hopefully alerting me of some of my medical problems... anyways I'm not here to really discuss that, I'm here to rant I guess about something that's been bothering me about this whole service dog ownership and see if any other service dog owners have came across this problem or ARE this way with their dogs and why. Educate myself I guess.

Within the last month Ruger has been given his training vest and permission to begin my outings with the other group dogs and we decided to go to the mall. I used to work at the Disney Store so we decided to take a peek in there (and shop in my case LOL) and there are children everywhere. You can see where this is going....

Kids do not read. Kids do not understand that a dog in a vest is "working". Kids do not understand why you get mad at them when they come up and pet your dog. This cute little boy, probably only 4 or 5 came up and said "oh nice doggy!" and gave Ruger a pat on the head.... Now, Ruger LOVES pets (i don't know a dog who doesn't) and is trained to not focus on those kinds of things anyways while he's vested up- he knows he's working. My beef was one of the other handlers (whom I shall call grumps) SHOUTED, not told, literally shouted at this poor boy "DON'T TOUCH THAT DOG! HE IS WORKING CAN"T YOU SEE THAT?!" and got ALL huffy and threw a fit about it at the parent. Made the little boy cry. The parents were disgusted with us and gave ME dirty looks like I had caused this big problem and Grumps PISSED me OFF. Each child that walked up to MY dog (really, any dog in the group but mine being the only hound in a class of labs makes him stand out a bit more) she would yell at them to get lost.

WHY do people do this? I understand that the dog is your property/service animal and that they are working. And I could see a comment to an adult who CAN read, but a child? Children do not understand that a working dog is not a dog to come visit with and pet unless specifically trained for that or told otherwise. I thankfully had another little girl come up to Ruger while Grumps was talking with another parent (reprimanding them I guess) who pet Ruger. she mentioned he was a big pretty puppy and I said "Yes, isn't he? His name is Ruger and you know what he's doing right now?" and she said "What?!" so I said, "He's working right now! See his really cool vest? Anytime you see a doggy with a vest you should ask his mom or dad before you pet him" and this little girls response? "Oh! Like he's in school!" and I said "Exactly! Pets are for recess!" and she TOTALLY got it! She told Ruger to keep working hard and have fun in school and left on her way- EDUCATED in a fun, kid friendly way, and not screamed at and scarred for life at the thought of petting a dog. Just the way some handlers go about educating people on service dogs really irritates me.

When I confronted Grumps on this she told me that "well maybe you aren't fit for a service dog!" and has excluded me from group outings. Thats fine, I can take Ruger to train without her or her group of dogs but I just found it odd and quite rude that she would be this overbearing over MY dog and then get upset when I told her to let me handle things with MY dog.

I know some people don't want to divulge in their personal disabilities or why they have a service dog, but being rude about it doesn't help educate people on WHY service dogs are a good thing for us to have and train. I was in a resturant the other day and Ruger laid down under the table the ENTIRE time, not once begging for my delicious meal. Another customer had made a request to "move away from that animal who shouldn't be in here" so that his "hair wouldn't get in her food". Mhm, my dog, laying down, with short fur under a table is definitely going to get hair in your food. ugh! Ruger also goes to school with me and I'm asked multiple times a day if not more about him or comments or "wow a dog I want to bring my dog to school" etc. I get asked, a LOT. People have even asked me if I get annoyed at people asking and my response is always "No, I'd rather educate people on what and why he is doing something, than shut someone down without it". I don't tell people my disability, they just know he is working and his training style and that enough is usually good enough for people to stop being nosy. Of course people there pet him too but, should I really be yelling at people to not? I always mention it "Hey, I know you wanna pet him, he's awesome, but he's working so please don't pet him" and peeps usually stop.

Is it just me that thinks being aggressive towards people when my dog is in tow is wrong? Am I being a bad "ambassador" so to speak for people with service animals by correcting them after they have pet/during petting my dog rather than 'STOP DONT TOUCH HIM". He does have patches on his vest stated "STOP WORKING DO DO NOT PET" but peopel are people, and yea.

What would or would not be the correct way of going about this? Am I in the wrong? Should I be like Grumps and just be mean?

You're getting the lesson across without being an asshole about it - I'd say you're doing better than alright. =P

I'm a little shocked to hear that so many people would a) pet a stranger's dog without asking their permission first, and b) specifically a working dog? Maybe I was just taught better, but I knew from an early age that you always ask first, since you don't have any way of knowing its temperament (or if they're being trained, etc) - and that working dogs were just out of the question. At least you're willing to educate people so they'll know better next time - without traumatizing them in the process (always a plus).

Honestly, I think you're better off without that kind of person in your life. She doesn't exactly sound pleasant.

I think you'd like this forum- Etiquette Hell. There are a lot of posts in the "Coffee Break" area about people discussing their problems with using service dogs, wheelchairs, handicapped placards, etc. and how to deal with them. There are also subforums where you can post about a specific problem and get advice from a lot of different points of view. This forum is heavily moderated so attacks are never tolerated, it's a very safe place to vent and find advice.

I've never had to deal with these things so these stories are just so shocking to me, I can't believe how rude and/or misguided some people are.

Yeah, I think that a lot of people probably don't even know it's not ok to pet a service dog. To be honest, up until a few years ago when a woman brought one into my work, I didn't know you weren't supposed to pet them or interact. She brought her kid into my work and when I went to her table I said hi to the dog and reached towards its nose for him to sniff me. The mom politely let me know that he's a service dog so he really isn't supposed to be interacted with because he's working, and I was like Oh ok, and stopped. I just had never known that really. So I think being polite is the best way... even adults who can read sometimes just miss the signs.

I was always taught, from very early on, that you always ask permission before petting a strange dog if the owner is nearby. For safety and just in case the dog is indeed a service dog.

Grumps needs to chill out. You're doing far better than she appears to be, especially since you didn't lose your temper over a kid's mistake.

Grumpypants McGrumperson needs to chill out. If she can't deal with accidental pettings, she just needs to stay home, alone, mad at everything. You are totally in the right, here. Educating people without getting angry or upset is the absolute best way to go about getting the right responses. Otherwise, people get defensive or irritated or rude about service dogs and their purpose, directed at the owner. You don't need that.

I hear you on the service dog thing, kids don't know how to read. I love the way you explained to the little girl about your dog. You weren't an ass about it, your were very nice. My husband has a service dog and kids always try to come pet her which is fine as long as you approach her on the left and my husband sits her for them. Most parents here when they see her tell their kids you can't pet her she's working and if they still want to pet her my husband sits her and lets them pet her. It sometimes depends on the dogs temperament to, but that person had no right to yell at them babies. I'd punch their face.

You handled the situation very well and more power to you! :D I wish you the best!

I think you are 100% percent right and Grumps needs to get OUT of the business of training dogs!

To shout at the kids is probably really damaging. It's a great opportunity to explain to them that they shouldn't pet working dogs and why, explain what the dog does etc. Ultimately when they're older they may be in a position to give to charities that train and provide service dogs and will be less likely if they've had that negative experience at a young age. I also feel that it can be hard for disabled people socially sometimes as people can be cautious about interacting so a service dog seems like it should be a great ice breaker and reason for interaction. Giving children any negativity about disability really doesn't seem right.

So yes, that is shit.

My nephew is blind and he's only a baby at the moment but hoping one day he'll be able to have a brilliant dog to help him out. :)

People are idiots. They can't be bothered to read traffic signs most of the time, let alone signs on a dog's vest. The way you're going about educating people is definitely the right way. This 'Grumps' person...damn..makes me wonder if she deserves a service dog if she's going to be a horrible ambassador like that. Yelling and screaming never gets a point across. It generally just makes the person being yelled at defensive. And as far as asking before petting a dog...I always ask with any dog, let alone one who's obviously working. I was like that as a child too.

You took the words out of my mouth lol

I agree more than kids learning what is and isn't a working dog is the parents should teach them to ASK to touch anyone's pet at all.