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| When is it not OK to pet a stranger's dog? | When is it not OK to pet a stranger's dog? |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| "I'm working" or "do not disturb" are messages usually worn by a guide or assistant dog. | "I'm working" or "do not disturb" are messages usually worn by a guide or assistant dog. |
| Charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People says petting a working dog risks "distracting the dog from its work" and "could put its owner at risk of danger". | Charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People says petting a working dog risks "distracting the dog from its work" and "could put its owner at risk of danger". |
| But some pet owners are also saying they don't like strangers stroking their non-working dog. | But some pet owners are also saying they don't like strangers stroking their non-working dog. |
| Contact can also be a problem for owners of shy dogs, deaf dogs, and puppies prone to bite or growl. Here are why some people are saying: "Please don't pet my dog." | Contact can also be a problem for owners of shy dogs, deaf dogs, and puppies prone to bite or growl. Here are why some people are saying: "Please don't pet my dog." |
| 1) 'My dog's deaf' | 1) 'My dog's deaf' |
| Debra Dorrans' black Labrador-Staffie Benny is 14 and has lost his hearing - so she worries "he might get a fright" if people come up to him and stroke him. | Debra Dorrans' black Labrador-Staffie Benny is 14 and has lost his hearing - so she worries "he might get a fright" if people come up to him and stroke him. |
| She also recently adopted seven-year-old Sam, a white Westie who gets nervous around other dogs and children. | She also recently adopted seven-year-old Sam, a white Westie who gets nervous around other dogs and children. |
| "I have heard of dogs biting children that have then had to be put down," she says. | "I have heard of dogs biting children that have then had to be put down," she says. |
| "I've never been in that position, but I'm always aware." | "I've never been in that position, but I'm always aware." |
| Debra, a retired nurse, is one of 12,000 members of Facebook group Reactive Dogs, which brings together owners of dogs who show excessive fear or aggression around strangers. | Debra, a retired nurse, is one of 12,000 members of Facebook group Reactive Dogs, which brings together owners of dogs who show excessive fear or aggression around strangers. |
| "I always put my dogs first," says Debra. | "I always put my dogs first," says Debra. |
| "I don't want them to get into any trouble or bite someone." | "I don't want them to get into any trouble or bite someone." |
| She says she's not afraid to say no to people who want to pet her dogs, but warns that "you have to keep your wits about you". | She says she's not afraid to say no to people who want to pet her dogs, but warns that "you have to keep your wits about you". |
| "One day a small child ran up to Benny and wrapped his arms around him. I told the parents they shouldn't do that, but they didn't really seem to understand." | "One day a small child ran up to Benny and wrapped his arms around him. I told the parents they shouldn't do that, but they didn't really seem to understand." |
| 2) 'Quite alarming' | 2) 'Quite alarming' |
| "I'm not embarrassed to say to someone - please don't pet my dog," says Dale McLelland, from Ayrshire, owner of two-year-old Hattie. | "I'm not embarrassed to say to someone - please don't pet my dog," says Dale McLelland, from Ayrshire, owner of two-year-old Hattie. |
| She says people "absolutely make a beeline" for the Old English Sheepdog. | She says people "absolutely make a beeline" for the Old English Sheepdog. |
| "It's hairy dog syndrome. She looks so cute." | "It's hairy dog syndrome. She looks so cute." |
| But she explains it can be "quite alarming for her" if too many people approach Hattie during her walks. | But she explains it can be "quite alarming for her" if too many people approach Hattie during her walks. |
| Dale, who has worked as a dog behaviourist for 10 years, says dogs can find strangers' hugging and petting intrusive. | Dale, who has worked as a dog behaviourist for 10 years, says dogs can find strangers' hugging and petting intrusive. |
| "Can you imagine if you were on a train and every second person came over and touched you, how uncomfortable that would make you feel?" | "Can you imagine if you were on a train and every second person came over and touched you, how uncomfortable that would make you feel?" |
| Dog person? The correct way to pet a stranger's pooch | Dog person? The correct way to pet a stranger's pooch |
| Source: Dogs Trust | Source: Dogs Trust |
| Dale avoids busy places, and volunteers for Yellow Dog, a US-based project which advocates putting a yellow ribbon on a dog to show that they need space. | Dale avoids busy places, and volunteers for Yellow Dog, a US-based project which advocates putting a yellow ribbon on a dog to show that they need space. |
| "The problem is, not many people know what the ribbon means - and those that do are normally clued up". | "The problem is, not many people know what the ribbon means - and those that do are normally clued up". |
| She adds: "I had Rottweilers for 20 years - and only people who probably knew the breed came over and touched them." | She adds: "I had Rottweilers for 20 years - and only people who probably knew the breed came over and touched them." |
| 3) 'My dog IS working' | 3) 'My dog IS working' |
| But even working dogs get disturbed, according to those who rely on them. | But even working dogs get disturbed, according to those who rely on them. |
| Carol Willacy says her assistance dog Charlie, a golden Labrador, is "my life, everything" - but that the attention he gets from strangers can be "horrendous". | Carol Willacy says her assistance dog Charlie, a golden Labrador, is "my life, everything" - but that the attention he gets from strangers can be "horrendous". |
| She says about 50 people will approach her on a trip to the supermarket, even if he is wearing his harness. | She says about 50 people will approach her on a trip to the supermarket, even if he is wearing his harness. |
| "The 'do not distract' message doesn't make a difference," she says. | "The 'do not distract' message doesn't make a difference," she says. |
| "There's a saying at least half of people come out with, 'I know I'm not supposed to touch your dog, but...'" | "There's a saying at least half of people come out with, 'I know I'm not supposed to touch your dog, but...'" |
| Carol, 48, suffered a spinal injury as a teenager and also has stereotypic movement disorder (SMD), meaning she uses a wheelchair and had to give up her job as a pharmaceuticals account manager. | Carol, 48, suffered a spinal injury as a teenager and also has stereotypic movement disorder (SMD), meaning she uses a wheelchair and had to give up her job as a pharmaceuticals account manager. |
| Three-year-old Charlie helps Carol by passing her things and, crucially, detects and warns her if she is unwell. | Three-year-old Charlie helps Carol by passing her things and, crucially, detects and warns her if she is unwell. |
| "If your dog is going to tell you you're not feeling well, you want that dog to be focused and not stroked and stopped," she says. | "If your dog is going to tell you you're not feeling well, you want that dog to be focused and not stroked and stopped," she says. |
| "My previous assistance dog was a little Jack Russell and we had the same problem. He had to retire as he got grumpy with people," she says. | "My previous assistance dog was a little Jack Russell and we had the same problem. He had to retire as he got grumpy with people," she says. |
| 4) 'I'm training my puppy' | 4) 'I'm training my puppy' |
| Dog trainer Luke Balsam, who runs a school in London, says puppies in particular should be left alone - as they are still getting used to walks and being around strangers. | Dog trainer Luke Balsam, who runs a school in London, says puppies in particular should be left alone - as they are still getting used to walks and being around strangers. |
| "People are drawn to puppies," says Luke, who owns a Cocker Spaniel, Indie. | "People are drawn to puppies," says Luke, who owns a Cocker Spaniel, Indie. |
| "But some don't think it's necessary to ask the owner's permission." | "But some don't think it's necessary to ask the owner's permission." |
| In London, where lots of people live in flats and might not own a pet, seeing dogs on the Tube or in cafes can be a novelty. | In London, where lots of people live in flats and might not own a pet, seeing dogs on the Tube or in cafes can be a novelty. |
| Luke says public-shy owners should go "off the beaten track", like a wooded area, until they have trained a puppy or dog to walk around in busy places. | Luke says public-shy owners should go "off the beaten track", like a wooded area, until they have trained a puppy or dog to walk around in busy places. |
| But he says anyone worried their dog might bite or nip a person should use a muzzle. | But he says anyone worried their dog might bite or nip a person should use a muzzle. |
| "It's definitely recommended," he says. | "It's definitely recommended," he says. |
| "The muzzle should be an essential part of training your dog, and they can be taught to enjoy wearing it." | "The muzzle should be an essential part of training your dog, and they can be taught to enjoy wearing it." |
| Have you said "don't pet my dog" to a stranger? Or do you like it when people want to pet your dog? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
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