BY FRAN JEWELL
Do you love to touch and pet every dog you see? Does it make your heart smile when a puppy jumps up on you to say “hello” with a sweet wagging tail and a goofy face? Are you someone that will say, “Oh, I don’t mind if she jumps on me!” then pats your legs or gets down on the puppy’s level to smooch her? Are you someone who can’t control yourself and will pet a service dog even if the handler tells you not to because the dog is so nicely behaved and soft?
You are probably an “undoer!”
What is an “undoer?” It is someone that may knowingly or unknowingly disregard and undermine training that an owner is doing with their dog. In some cases, it can be life threatening for the owner, especially when a service dog is involved.
So many of us love dogs to such a point that we cannot control ourselves and we must pet and fawn over any dog we see. We lose self-control and think only of our own desires, not the need or work another is doing with their dog. Frankly, this is disrespectful to both the other person and the dog, and incredibly selfish. These are hard words for me to say, but it is the truth.
When someone is working a service dog, whether the dog is in training or operational, taking the dog’s attention away from the handler could be life threatening to the handler. Unless the handler/owner gives you permission, it can literally be against the law. Anyone that knowingly interferes with the work of a service dog is in violation of Idaho statute, which is prosecutable because of the danger to the disabled handler.
When someone is working hard to train a puppy to not jump, and you invite the jump with the reward of petting, you are setting the training back enormously. Remember, that same dog might grow up to be 95 pounds and may still jump on you as an adult dog, knocking you or someone else over and causing injury. It’s not funny, nor is it fair to anyone, including the dog. Giving a dog a mixed signal is confusing and anxiety producing for the dog. When you violate an owner’s direction, you are only serving to make things more difficult for everyone, including the dog you may love so passionately.
Respect is at the heart of the matter. Simple respect for the owner’s direction and wishes can go a long way toward everyone’s happiness. Respect is so important in today’s world. Let’s share the respect!
