FAQ: Interacting with a Guide Dog Team

When in Doubt, Ask the Handler!

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What is the best way to approach and greet a guide dog team?

Always greet the handler first and the dog only after receiving permission. Identify or introduce yourself. Because most dogs work on the left, come up on the right side to distract the dog as little as possible. Wait until the team has finished the task at hand (e.g. crossing a street) to stop them for a chat. The team is concentrating on the task and should not be interrupted midstream.

Two just married handlers stand with their dogs and a minister in a gazeebo on a summer dayWhat do you mean by “team”?

A team is comprised of a guide dog and its handler who is blind. It’s a common misconception that the dog does all the work, while the handler just holds on. The two work together as a team. The handler is the navigator giving the dog directions (e.g. forward, left, right), and the dog is analogous to the driver.

What are other misconceptions about guide dog teams?

  1. Some people believe the handler simply gives the dog a destination, and the dog takes him/her there. As noted above, the handler gives a series of directions using gestures and words the dog knows.
  2. Some assume the dog is working in harness 24 hours a day. It is more accurate to say the dog is on call 24 hours a day. Most handlers are humane people who love their dogs and don’t overwork them. When at home in familiar surroundings, handlers don’t need to have their dog in harness guiding them. With the exception of a few basic rules (like no table scraps), our dogs can act like any other dogs at home.
  3. Another misconception is that guide dogs can read the traffic lights. Instead, handlers listen to traffic patterns to determine when it is safe to initiate a street crossing. When the person who is blind feels it is safe, he/she will tell the dog “forward” as a signal to cross the street.

What is “intelligent disobedience”?

Sometimes the dog sees something ahead that seems unsafe. It could be an obstacle with no clear path to get around it, or a moving vehicle of which the person who is blind isn't aware. In this case, when the handler tells the dog “forward”, the dog doesn’t obey him/her, because something does not look safe to the dog. This over-ride of a handler’s command is called intelligent disobedience.

What are some of the guide dog’s other duties?

  1. The dog guides the person who is blind around obstacles. If there is no clear path for the two, the dog will stop to alert the handler of the obstacle.
  2. The dog stops at street corners and at stairs. The handler usually uses a toe to determine why the dog has stopped and then identifies the steps or curb with an outstretched toe.
  3. The dog stops when traffic occurs ahead of the team in streets or driveways. Only after the traffic has cleared will the dog obey a “forward” command.

How is the dog rewarded for work?

Most trainers believe that praise -- whether verbal (e.g. good boy/girl), a hug, a caress, or any combination -- is a dog’s pay check. In some situations, handlers may choose to use food rewards.

Are guide dogs punished?

Handlers are trained to use corrections to show a dog what he/she did wrong. A dog may be corrected for work errors such as missing a step or running the handler into something. A dog may also be corrected for sniffing, marking, or scavenging. Handlers usually learn what kind of correction is appropriate for a particular dog in a given situation. Sometimes it only takes a verbal reprimand to get a dog’s focus back. Other times, a quick tug on the leash gets the dog’s attention. If the dog is being corrected for a work error, the handler usually tries to rework the mistake and praise the dog when he/she does it correctly.

What do I do if I see the handler do something which looks to me like abuse?

Talk to the handler if you can and express your concerns calmly. Most handlers are confident in their techniques, will explain what just happened, and love animals enough to be grateful others want to see them treated well. If you are still not satisfied, look at the dog's harness for the name of the guide dog school, look up the number, and call the school with your concerns. City and county animal welfare organizations are a last resort, but because these agencies are often inexperienced with guide dogs, a guide dog training school is a better choice.

When is a guide dog at work?

When the harness is on the dog, it is considered at work. The dog is working whether the dog is actively guiding the handler or lying quietly at the handler’s feet. Occasionally even a guide dog may be caught causing a little mischief (after all, they aren’t perfect machines).

May I pet the dog?

A small harness sign reading Please don't pet working dogGeneral wisdom is that one shouldn’t pet a working dog without asking first, and it is a good rule to follow. Some handlers are more permissive about allowing petting depending on individual circumstances. On the other hand, some handlers don’t care for anyone interacting with their guides even when out of harness. Most handlers agree that without specific permission, touching a dog and interacting with the dog in any other way (e.g. making eye contact or calling to the dog) while the dog is in harness are at best invasions of privacy and at worst distractions which could put the team in danger. It is also worth noting that a dog who is acting distracted could earn a correction to recapture the dog’s attention.

What are some of the circumstances handlers who sometimes allow petting consider before giving permission?

  1. How new is the dog?  Handlers of newer dogs want the dog to have a strong bond with them first, so for the first six months to a year, handlers of new dogs may not allow anyone to pet the dog.
  2. The current environment and time. Is petting the dog going to hold up anyone else by blocking their way?  Is there food or some other temptation in the vicinity? Is the handler in a hurry and simply doesn't have the time for an interruption in travel?
  3. The dog’s current psychological state. Can the dog handle petting without getting so distracted that it’s going to affect the rest of the work?  Has the dog had a bad day and either would be further thrown by petting, or conversely could the dog use a couple of calm strokes to reduce stress?
  4. The dog’s posture. Some handlers only allow staged petting. That is, a dog has to remain still either sitting or lying down in order to receive pets. This allows the dog to learn that as long as he/she is still and calm, petting is a possibility. Staged petting is also helpful for when people sneak pets, because the dog is less likely to be distracted.

May I feed the dog?

This is generally not acceptable, especially without asking first. Dogs are fed consistently to maintain conditioning, and because the team goes into restaurants and grocery stores, it is crucial for the dog to be used to ignoring food as much as possible. Feeding the dog things which are not in the regular diet also has potential to make the dog sick and inconvenience the handler.

Can I give the dog toys?

Definitely not without the handler’s permission. Handlers are trained regarding which toys are safe for their dogs, and a handler must be involved in any decision to give the dog a toy and approve of the specific toy first.

What do I do if a dog is soliciting attention from me?

Calmly inform the handler this is occurring, and ignore the dog as much as possible. The handler will take care of the situation.

What about asking the dog’s name?

It’s OK to ask. Some handlers may choose not to tell you. If you learn the dog’s name by hearing the handler use it, please don’t call out the dog’s name, as it can be distracting.

How do I walk with a guide dog team?

There are three basic ways to do so, and the handler will tell you which he/she prefers in the current situation.

  1. The handler commands the dog to “follow” you. This is wonderful for narrow spaces and when the person doesn’t know how to get to a destination. Always talk to the handler and not the dog. Tell the handler if you are turning right or left, and alert him/her to the presence of upcoming steps or especially narrow passageways. Leave it to the handler to give directions to the guide dog.
  2. Walking a step behind the right side of the person who is blind. This is a good position when the handler knows how to get to the destination, is taking a leisurely walk with his/her dog, or learning a new route with the dog and you as back-up. This position allows you to talk to the person while not visually distracting the dog from his/her work.
  3. Sighted Guide. If a person who is blind chooses to have you guide him/her, he/she will put the harness down to tell the dog he/she is not going to guide at the moment. Usually, the dog will heel on the left side, while the person takes your arm right above your left elbow. You walk a half step ahead of the team and alert the person to doorways and stairs. This is the best position if both of you want to converse. Another variation when shopping is for the person who is blind to hold onto the back of the cart while the person guiding pulls it.

What do I do if I see a guide dog team when I’m driving?

Don’t honk your horn, because the person who is blind has no idea what it means. Don’t call out -- even if you want to tell the person it is safe to cross the street. The person may not know the amount of time left in the walk cycle and plans to wait for a complete walk cycle to enter the street. And finally, please be an alert and courteous driver and do not test our dogs’ ability to quickly stop in the street by cutting in front of us. There is a rule about yielding to pedestrians who are blind for good reasons. Sometimes we may not completely recognize a particular traffic pattern. Other times we know the light is in our favor but don’t realize people are ready to turn in front of us until the team is in the street.

Please give some tips on how to help a person who is blind with a guide dog.

  1. Always ask if the person would like assistance. He/She may decline, but generally if help is needed the person will coach you on the best ways for helping him/her.
  2. Never grab the person, dog, leash, or harness under any circumstances. Talking calmly will usually obtain the handler’s attention. If that doesn’t work, try a very light touch on the right shoulder.
  3. When giving directions, rights and lefts are much clearer than hand gestures, pointing, or, “over there.” If using phrases like “across the street,” try to identify the name of the street for clarity.