Here are some hints on what to do and what not to do when you see a person with a guide dog or service dog:
- Do not touch, talk to, feed or otherwise distract the dog while he is wearing his harness or vest
- Don’t treat the dog as a pet; he is doing a job
- Speak to the handler, not the dog
- If you ask the handler to pet the dog, don’t be offended if they say no
- It’s the handler’s job to tell the dog what to do, not yours
- Always yield right of way to guide and service dogs and their handlers
- Comply with any requests made by the handler
- When walking with a guide or service dog team, you should not walk on the dog’s left side, as it may become distracted or confused
