TORONTO - Some basic rules to bear in mind when interacting with a dog that's providing assistance to a blind person:
Guide dogs differentiate between work and play through the presence of their working harness. When the harness is on, they must either be guiding their handlers or lying quietly as the owners attend to other tasks.
-It is important not to touch or talk to a guide dog when its harness is on. If dogs are distracted, they could lose their focus and wind up endangering themselves and their blind handlers. By leaving the dog alone while in harness, you are also sparing it from unnecessary reprimands.
-Feel free to pet a guide dog once its harness has been removed, but not before asking permission from its handler.
-Do not feed a guide dog under any circumstances. Handlers monitor their guides' food intake very closely so as to keep the dog in the best possible health.
-Keep an eye out for guide dogs when in public places and try to avoid stepping on their paws or tails.
-If you see a blind person pulling back on a dog's leash when it does something wrong, the dog is not being hurt or mistreated. Leash corrections are a common training tool and are crucial to maintaining discipline.
-If you see a blind person who appears to be disoriented or lost, always ask if they need assistance before taking charge. More often than not, the dog will be able to get its owner back on track by identifying a familiar route and following it.
-If you do wind up offering assistance to a person travelling with a dog, be sure to address the blind person only. The handler is responsible for giving commands to the dog, no one else.
-If you operate a restaurant, store or other business, remember that it is against the law to deny a guide dog access to your premises.
