Please ignore guide dogs in harness, they’re working

Like most guide dogs, Quincy has two different personalities. When he’s working, he wears his harness. If we’re in a restaurant or café, he’ll quietly rest at my feet, while waiting for my signal that we’re about to get up and move. When working, he appears serious, but once the harness comes off, his entire demeanor changes. He becomes a bouncy, energetic dog ready to play.

I have been a guide dog handler for more than 40 years. Quincy is my current guide dog, a five-year-old golden retriever who I was partnered with in April 2016. As a guide dog handler, I want to remind everyone about proper guide dog etiquette when encountering a guide dog team.

The harness is Quincy’s cue that he is in “work mode”. I tell people the best way to act around Quincy is to completely ignore him. A smile and a wink are just as distracting as petting him because it shifts his focus away from our safety.

If you see a guide dog wearing a harness, do not pet, feed, or interact with it, as it can affect his or her training. When the dog is not wearing a harness, you may ask the handler for permission to pet the dog.

To learn more about proper guide dog etiquette, visit guidedogchampions.ca.

By Patricia Ellis

Member, Guide Dog Users of Canada

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