What Not to Do When Encountering a Guide Dog
Do not casually touch guide dogs
The cost and effort required to train a guide dog are much higher than we imagine. Of course, this dedication is worthwhile, because an excellent guide dog brings far more benefits than expected. The health of a guide dog directly relates to the life of a visually impaired person. If the dog has any issues, it will undoubtedly cause great inconvenience to their life. Therefore, when we encounter guide dogs on the street, we must pay close attention and firmly remember what not to do.
1. When we find a guide dog working, do not approach to play with them, nor pet or call them, so as not to distract the dog and inconvenience the blind person.
2. Many people may doubt the abilities of guide dogs, so when they encounter one on the street, they might impulsively want to test the dog’s skills by deliberately creating obstacles. We strongly advise the general public not to do this.
3. Do not easily feed guide dogs. This is very important. Many people without dog-raising experience do not understand what is good or harmful to dogs. So when encountering a guide dog, do not casually feed it, to avoid diarrhea or more serious problems.
If there’s no issue, just quietly watch when we encounter a guide dog
4. If the guide dog is not working and you want to interact, first inform the owner; do not quietly approach and play with the dog on your own.
5. If you are also a dog owner, be sure to keep your dog leashed and avoid letting your dog easily contact them, to prevent conflicts and interference.
6. When a dog comes to a completely unfamiliar environment, it may need some help. What we can do is not add to its troubles but ask the owner if help is needed, then accompany the owner forward, letting the owner lead the dog. Do not be reckless. Even without bad intentions, your actions might be perceived as harmful by the dog, causing it to resist or even attack you.
These issues are what we need to be mindful of when encountering guide dogs. After all, guide dogs are the second pair of eyes for the blind. We must not cause harm due to our carelessness. What we should do is quietly watch and not disturb them.
