Guide Dog Etiquette
The Seeing Eye located in nearby Morristown, New Jersey, is the oldest guide dog program in the United States. Since 1929 TSE has enhanced the lives of people who are blind by providing them with a specially bred and trained dog to guide them through life. For those of us who live in this area it is a common sight to see Seeing Eye puppies being raised by volunteers and then witness their formal training with Guide Dog trainers. In support of the dogs and the sight impaired clients they serve, here is a primer on the proper way to greet and interact with one of these hard working dogs.
Whenever you see a guide dog in their harness never talk, pet, feed or otherwise distract them. When the dog has their harness on they are “on duty” and take that responsibility very seriously. Their attention is concentrated on their owner/handler and should not be disturbed. Equally important is resisting the urge to assist the blind person by grabbing the dog’s harness or taking the person’s arm without checking first. Guide dogs have been highly trained and may in fact know better than us as to how to safely take their owner through a complicated or confusing situation.
If you have the occasion to accompany a blind person on an outing with their dog, be sure to walk on the person’s right side. Walking on the left side may distract or confuse the guide dog. It is also helpful to walk a few paces behind the person and their dog. Be mindful also to speak to the person and not their dog. If you are invited to interact with the dog speak in a normal tone of voice (not that high-pitched “baby tone” we all tend to!) and pet the dog on the shoulder rather than on the head.
The Seeing Eye is an internationally known resource for the blind. If you have the opportunity to support them in anyway - through volunteering or through donating - please consider doing so. Their good work must always continue.
Since 1929, The Seeing Eye has partnered with people who are blind who seek to enhance their independence, dignity, and self-confidence through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
More than 15,000 of these specially bred and trained dogs have brought a new level of mobility, safety, and self-sufficiency to almost 8,000 men and women
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Whenever you see a guide dog in their harness never talk, pet, feed or otherwise distract them. When the dog has their harness on they are “on duty” and take that responsibility very seriously. Their attention is concentrated on their owner/handler and should not be disturbed. Equally important is resisting the urge to assist the blind person by grabbing the dog’s harness or taking the person’s arm without checking first. Guide dogs have been highly trained and may in fact know better than us as to how to safely take their owner through a complicated or confusing situation.
If you have the occasion to accompany a blind person on an outing with their dog, be sure to walk on the person’s right side. Walking on the left side may distract or confuse the guide dog. It is also helpful to walk a few paces behind the person and their dog. Be mindful also to speak to the person and not their dog. If you are invited to interact with the dog speak in a normal tone of voice (not that high-pitched “baby tone” we all tend to!) and pet the dog on the shoulder rather than on the head.
The Seeing Eye is an internationally known resource for the blind. If you have the opportunity to support them in anyway - through volunteering or through donating - please consider doing so. Their good work must always continue.
Since 1929, The Seeing Eye has partnered with people who are blind who seek to enhance their independence, dignity, and self-confidence through the use of Seeing Eye dogs.
More than 15,000 of these specially bred and trained dogs have brought a new level of mobility, safety, and self-sufficiency to almost 8,000 men and women
< Back to Pets with Patti Articles
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