For the last five+ years, I've helped a close friend, who's wife passed away from kidney failure brought on by diabetes. My friend Steve has been blind for the last 20 years, also from diabetes. He's learned to cope with life after his wife died, and he's really a very fun fellow. I take him shopping each week, help him with mail and balance his checkbook.

Last month, Steve left to attend a training program so that he can get a guide dog. We joke around that he's replacing one dog with another (meaning me), and that he hopes that his new dog tells better jokes.

I wanted to pass along some tips for us sighted folks about dealing with guide dogs. It seems like it should be common sense, but people aren't always using that function when they're out and about. These are some rules of etiquette to follow when dealing with a blind person teamed with a guide dog:

- As tempting as it may be to pet a Guide Dog, remember that this dog is responsible for leading someone who cannot see. The dog should never be distracted from that duty. A person's safety may depend on their dog's alertness and concentration.

- It is okay to ask someone if you may pet their guide. Many people enjoy introducing their dogs when they have the time. The dog's primary responsibility is to its blind partner and it is important that the dog not become solicitous.

- A Guide Dog should never be offered food or other distracting treats. The dogs are fed on a schedule and follow a specific diet in order to keep them in optimum condition. Even slight deviations from their routine can disrupt their regular eating and relieving schedules and seriously inconvenience their handlers. Guide Dogs are trained to resist offers of food so they will be able to visit restaurants without begging. Feeding treats to a Guide Dog weakens this training.

- Although Guide Dogs cannot read traffic signals, they are responsible for helping their handlers safely cross a street. Calling out to a Guide Dog or intentionally obstructing its path can be dangerous for the team as it could break the dog's concentration on its work.

- Listening for traffic flow has become harder for Guide Dog handlers due to quieter car engines and the increasing number of cars on the road. Please don't honk your horn or call out from your car to signal when it is safe to cross, which can be distracting and confusing. Be especially careful of pedestrians in crosswalks when turning right on red.

- It's not all work and no play for a Guide Dog. When they are not in harness, they are treated in much the same way as pets. However, for their safety they are only allowed to play with specific toys. Please don't offer them toys without first asking their handler's permission.

- In some situations, working with a Guide Dog may not be appropriate. Instead, the handler may prefer to take your arm just above the elbow and allow their dog to heel. Others will prefer to have their dog follow you. In this case, be sure to talk to the handler and not the dog when giving directions for turns.

- From time to time, a Guide Dog will make a mistake and must be corrected in order to maintain its training. This correction usually involves a verbal admonishment coupled with a leash correction. Guide Dog handlers have been taught the appropriate correction methods to use with their dogs.

- The Americans with Disabilities Act and laws in your state permit guide dogs to accompany their handlers anywhere the general public is allowed, including taxis and buses, restaurants, theaters, stores, hotels, apartment and office buildings.

For more information on guide dogs, visit the Guide Dogs For The Blind website at: http://www.guidedogs.com .

Thanks for the useful information. These animals are wonderful.

With Mike & I both having diabetes & him being legally blind from undiagnosed diabetes, I can relate. So far Mike can see enough to get around even tho he is legally blind & doesn't need a guide dog. I just pray he doesn't get any worse. I'll have to keep this topic in mind in case he ever does. Good luck to your friend... <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

Z-Man, thank you for the information. I've read, in Susan Conant books (great mysteries that include cool dogs), and seen on "K9-to-6" on Animal Planet, about other kinds of service dogs, too--"hearing" dogs, dogs that assist with opening doors, reaching things, etc., even dogs that give an alert when the 'companion person' is about to have a seizure--and the same kinds of cautions apply to being around them, as well. What noble animals they are! We could learn a lot from them.

Just as a follow-up, I picked up Steve and "Romero" his guide last night at the airport. I can tell that this team won't "gel" overnight, that it'll be a while before they can work together in the harmony one thinks of with service animals. But once they get past the honeymoon, they'll be very comfortable and they can enjoy their lives, knowing what each expects from the other.

The odd thing is, I still need to be trained, in a way. I know how I was around Steve when I was his guide, but now that I'm just a friend walking alongside, I need to know what I should and shouldn't be doing. Only through honest communication will I get those things settled.

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement, I'll pass them along to Steve and Romero. Have a great week, Blunderland!

so?? How are Romero's jokes????? for the dogs?????

<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/lookout.gif" width=15 height=15>

Z-man, Our family store was for many years in downtown Morristown N.J., the home of "The Seeing Eye". We moved from there about 15 years ago, but for quite a few years I was friendly with most of the dog trainers who trained the dogs on the streets of town all year long. Of course we were aware of the rules regarding not getting involved with a "working dog", but when the trainers got to know us, they would come into our store as part of the training,which we welcomed, and would sometimes ask us to approach a dog to pet him or talk to him if they had doubts about the dogs temperment in some way.(I miss that.)This, of course, we only did when asked by a trainer.Of course not all the dogs that were trained passed the course.
You may have heard of Morris Frank, who was a man that lost his sight in a boxing mishap I think back in the 1920's or 30's. He was the founder of The Seeing Eye , which he established after a trip to Europe to visit and participate in a similar program. I know there has been a movie made about his life. His first dog was named "Buddy", as were all his dogs to follow throughout his life. He became a lawyer and had an office around the corner from our store. He is no longer with us, but I have had the pleasure of meeting the man, and a friend of mine worked as his secretary for a number of years.My father, when he was a kid in the 1940's and perhaps into the very early 50's even raised pups for The Seeing Eye. They once had a program where pups were raised by local families until the pups reached their first year, when The Seeing Eye would then take over. I don't think that program exists anymore.
Anyway, you helped me dig up some nice memories about this subject.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Larry on Dec 16, 2002 ---</FONT></center>

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, holidays and all. It was wonderful to read your story, Larry, and I've forwarded it on to Steve. Tomorrow is my first chance to take them out shopping (including PetSmart, where we'll see how well Romero handles those distractions). I'm a little nervous, since I still haven't had as much training as the "other" dog. But Steve knows how to keep in control of his pups.

At least Romero doesn't tell jokes, or so I'm told. Which Steve says is already an improvement over mine, Arnie. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/rolleyes.gif" width=15 height=15>

edited cuz i posted in the wrong thread<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/confused.gif" width=15 height=22>

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by sparkydon on Dec 28, 2002 ---</FONT></center>