Caring for your service dog in public can be tricky. When most people see a beautiful, well behaved dog their first reaction is to want to say hello and pet them. However; it is so important that we educate the public that our Service Dogs are not your average dog. These animals are our life lines in most cases and they should be allowed to do their job without any distractions.
We also understand it can be a little difficult to tell someone to not pet your Service Dog because you don’t want to seem to be unfriendly. But it’s vital that the people around you understand that your Service Dog is working and needs to be completely alert at all time. Caring for your service dog in public is important to reinforce their training and prevent mishaps that could cause them to miss blood sugar changes or other health related issues.
There are a few simple rules the professional trainers at SDWR would like to inform the public when it comes to caring for your Service Dog:
Letting people know these simple rules will not make you a bad person. You are simply educating the people that your Service Dog is not just a dog, he is a medical necessity. Most people probably understand that having to obtain a Service Dog is not a choice. I’m sure if the choice was yours you would choose to be completely healthy and free of your disability. While it’s not easy having a disability, your Service Dog can make the journey a little more tolerable.
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