Mall incident shows service dogs should be left alone

A dog trainer says a recent incident is a reminder that working service and guide dogs should not be petted, played with or even praised as it could interfere with the work they are trained to do and even endanger their owners.

Tyson King, who runs VI K9, a nonprofit that trains dogs to help owners with various disabilities, said the incident occurred recently at a shopping center in Greater Victoria.

A VI K9 trainer worked with a golden retriever trained in medical alerting and a new client who suffers from frequent seizures at the mall.

The customer actually suffered a seizure in the mall's hallways while sitting on a sofa. King said the dog responded by sitting on top of the woman in distress, placing paws on either side of her body and applying its weight to stabilize her movements, a movement he described as “compressions.”

“These compressions by the dog were all correct behavior for the dog,” King said.

But that's when a member of the public decided to confront the dog, he said. “He said he was a good boy and tried to pet him, which is exactly what the public shouldn't do.”

King said the trainer tried in vain to get the man to leave and that the trainer had to speak “loudly and strongly” to make the man understand.

A mall employee intervened on the shopper's behalf, King said, “and the situation became confrontational.” King, who had to be called in to handle the incident, said it could have been avoided.

“I think the public needs to realize that a service dog is trained to respond on behalf of its owner. It can’t be distracted.”

He said anyone who encounters a similar incident should clear the area, calmly ask if help is needed and, if necessary, call 911 for medical help.

King said rescue dogs can detect whether their owners are having seizures and can even sense them occurring and act according to their training – in this case, by stabilizing potentially erratic movements, or in other situations, by barking a loud alarm hit.

King, a veteran who has served in conflicts overseas, said his company uses his experience with post-traumatic stress disorder and his skills in training service dogs to match those in need of a service dog with the dogs they use in daily life can help.

The dogs are trained for a variety of disabilities, including PTSD, autism, diabetes and seizure detection, as well as physical and hearing assistance.

King said medical alert dogs can be trained to provide care to their handlers in the event of a diabetes or epilepsy episode. Some dogs' collars may have instructions attached to them directing rescuers to medications such as an EpiPen.

Autism service dogs can have a calming influence, King said, while others may work with a handler who suffers from anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. “These dogs are trained to never leave their handler’s side,” he said.

Dogs' uncanny sense of smell can also help detect life-threatening allergens such as even the slightest trace of peanuts, King said.

The CNIB Foundation, which uses guide dogs to help the blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired, has long advocated for proper public etiquette when dealing with animals.

Guide dogs are not pets, says the CNIB, which calls the animals mobility partners.

“Although guide dogs are some of the most highly trained dogs in the world, they are still dogs. And if they become distracted while working, it can jeopardize both their safety and that of the handler,” it says.

So how should you behave when dealing with these dogs?

First of all, the CNIB recommends remembering that a guide dog's top priority is the safety of its handler.

It offers the following guidelines:

Buckle up means hands off

A guide dog in a harness means, “Please don't interact with me. I'm working.” As tempting as it may be, never pet, talk to, or make eye contact with a guide dog in a harness.

Keep your excitement in check

Do not encourage your guide dog to play excitedly. Staying calm is part of the job and the excitement directed at them is distracting.

Say hello another time. If you approach a guide dog team with your dog, keep your dog on a leash and keep him away from the guide dog.

Hands off and no treats

Never grab a guide dog's harness or leash or attempt to direct its handler. This can be confusing and dangerous for the guide dog and the handler.

Never offer food or treats to a guide dog. This can lead to disruptive behaviors such as begging for food and picking things up from the ground.

It's okay to offer help

Before offering your help, you should always ask if it is needed. When approaching a guide dog handler, introduce yourself and always speak directly to the handler, not the guide dog.

Education and advocacy

Help promote equal access for guide dog teams. If you encounter someone who is not following guide dog etiquette rules, politely remind them not to distract the guide dog.

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