10 etiquette rules for dealing with a guide dog for a blind person
The guide dog is
considered the alternative eye for the blind. Guide dogs for the blind are an
important aiding factor in the lives of many blind people.
Therefore, it is
important to know some etiquette rules for dealing with a guide dog for a blind
person; This is because you may unintentionally mistreat the guide dog and
therefore this may affect the blind person.
In this article, we have
collected for you 10 important etiquette rules when dealing with a guide dog
for a blind person:
1- When you try to pamper a guide dog, remember that this dog is
responsible for guiding a person who cannot see. A dog should never be
distracted from this task; A person's safety may depend on his dog's vigilance
or concentration.
2- It is possible to ask the person whether you can pamper his dog or not.
Many people are happy to introduce their dogs when they have the time.
3- The main responsibility of the dog is his blind partner and it is
important that the dog does not become anxious.
4- Food or other entertainment that keeps the dog busy should not be
offered; Dogs are fed on a schedule, or they follow a certain diet in order to
always stay in top shape.
A deviation from this
system, even to a slight degree, may disturb her feeding and rest schedules,
causing inconvenience to her handlers.
Guide dogs are trained to
refuse any food offered to them so that they can go to restaurants without
begging.
Thus, the feeding invitations presented to the guide dog may lead to the
weakening of this training.
5- Although guide dogs cannot read traffic lights, they are responsible for
helping their handlers cross the street safely.
Calling the guide dog or
intentionally blocking its path may be dangerous to the team; This may cause
the dog to lose focus at work.
6- It has become more difficult for the guide dogs to listen to the traffic
due to the decrease in the sound of the car engines and the increase in the
number of cars on the road.
Please do not use the
horn or call from the car to give a signal as long as the road is safe to
cross. This can lead to confusion and distraction.
Pay special attention to pedestrians in crosswalks when turning right while
the red traffic lights are on.
7. It doesn't make sense to let a guide dog run all the time without being
allowed to play at all.
When they are not in gear, guide dogs should be treated the same as pets.
However, her safety requires that she is only allowed to play with certain
toys.
Please do not provide any games to it without the permission of its
moderators.
8- The use of a guide dog may not be appropriate in some situations. Hence,
the blind may prefer to hold your arm just above the elbow and allow his dog to
follow his lead.
Others prefer their dogs
to walk behind you. In this case, be sure to speak to the blind and not his dog
when reporting cornering directions.
9- It is possible for the guide dog to make
mistakes, and then it must be corrected in order to continue training it. This
correction usually includes a verbal admonition accompanied by a correct leash
and followed by praise for the dog when it regains its focus and follows
commands properly. This, and blind guide dogs' owners have been taught the
correct methods that must be followed with their dogs.
10. Allow entry laws,
including Americans with Disabilities Act and Canada
Blind
Persons' Rights Act, guide dogs may accompany
their handlers wherever they are found in permitted public places, including
taxis, buses, restaurants, theatres, stores, schools, hotels, apartments and
office buildings.
Conclusion:
We hope at the end of the article that we have
provided you with information and a new addition that will help you in dealing
with a guide dog for a blind person.
And if you have additional rules other than the
ones we provided, we are pleased to share them with you through the comments
section at the end of the article.
Key words:
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blindness