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Does this deserve an apology from me??

The Service and Therapy Dog forum is for all service and therapy dogs regardless of whether or not their status is legally defined by federal or state law, how they are trained, or whether or not they are "certified." Posts questioning or disputing a person's need for a service or therapy dog, the validity of a person's service or therapy dog, or the dog's ability to do the work of a service or therapy dog are not permitted in this forum. Please keep discussions fun, friendly, and helpful at all times.

  
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Jazmine- *Jazzy*

1230847		 
 
Barked: Thu May 24, '12 1:11pm PST 
So a couple days ago Jazzy and I were in the lab at school talking to some coworkers. We were about 4 feet away so I could hear everyone and Jazzy decided to try to say hi to one of them. She didn't touch him, or jump, or anything rude just got really close (a couple of inches away). And he told me to "get that thing out of his face" talking about her. Given that we are still working on her not greeting people at UNM (she doesn't do this in stores or other working environments). I apologized and moved her back a couple feet.

Did this actually deserve an apology? Or am I being too much of a doormat? My boyfriend says that absolutely no apology is needed and that that co worker was being very rude and should be the one in trouble!
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Ezra

1241819		 
 
Barked: Thu May 24, '12 1:24pm PST 
Your coworker could have been more polite in asking you to move Jazzy, but it sounds like Jazzy did get in your coworker's personal space unnecessarily, so yes, I think you were right to apologize.
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U

I miss you, U		 
 
Barked: Thu May 24, '12 1:45pm PST 
I'm not sure I'm understanding this correctly. Your dog was *four feet* from you and trying to socialize with someone else? If that's the case, if your SDiT isn't properly trained to stay at your side yet, then why on earth don't you shorten up on the leash so that she can't bother anyone? SDs are supposed to be invisible, not wandering all over the place annoying people. If I am not misreading what you wrote, you definitely owed him an apology.

- NoNameYet
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Nova

1184372		 
 
Barked: Thu May 24, '12 2:05pm PST 
Yes, if Jazzy tried to say hi to somebody who didn't want her greetings, you were right to apologize.

He should have said "I'm uncomfortable with dogs this close. Can you please get her closer to you?"

And then you say "Oh, I'm really sorry. She's still in training, and we're working on ignoring other people. It's hard for her -- she's really friendly -- but it shouldn't happen and I apologize. I'll keep a closer hold on her now."

As a guide dog raiser, I'm definitely familiar with the training stage of things. When I work with my dog I like to keep a completely loose lead to have her make the decisions (and not behave simply because she's on a leash) but when I am in non-pet friendly places, I always always have a hand on the leash closer to the collar so I have immediate control if my pup tries to say hi. It takes a special way of holding the leash and practice to have that lightning-fast reaction. My feeling is in non-pet-friendly places, other people's right not to be harassed by a dog outweighs my right to train. And by "harassed" I mean everything from jumped on to simply being greeted.
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Jazmine- *Jazzy*

1230847		 
 
Barked: Thu May 24, '12 2:34pm PST 
Like I said she doesn't do this in stores or other working places.

UNM is pet friendly except for a few people and just a reminder that even in pet friendly places she shouldn't be trying to greet people. Thankfully it's summer so there is a lack of really dog friendly students.

No name...I believe I misspoke with the distances, four feet is definitely further than she was from me. I only had to back her up about a foot or so to be right by my side. So I think I exaggerated that part.

Thanks for the responses. I apologized the day after as well and told him we were working on that. She is used to being there and people being open to being greeted and/or greeting her. Which is great that it is summer because now I can work on this behavior more effectively without people adding reinforcement to her greeting when she shouldn't be.

Edited by author Thu May 24, '12 2:41pm PST

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Crazy Sadie- Lady

Im a SD and- proud of it so- there!!!! 		 
 
Barked: Fri May 25, '12 6:02pm PST 
It doesnt sound he was being kind or nutral about it when he said that, I dont think it rewards a politeness form you.
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Jazmine- *Jazzy*

1230847		 
 
Barked: Fri May 25, '12 6:50pm PST 
Thank you Sadie!

I am going to start making the lab where I work a no greeting zone though... Just because I know that there are a couple lab workers that are slightly scared of her and I think it would be nice for them.

But yeah that was totally rude how he said that!
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Jazmine- *Jazzy*

1230847		 
 
Barked: Fri May 25, '12 7:44pm PST 
She is a service dog in training. However since she is a husky I do allow people to pet her in certain environments, which yes she is more than able to tell apart.
At UNM she started as an ESA NOT a full service dog in training so when I switched her over naturally this one place did not immediately switch to a no-petting zone. She is well aware that in stores, convention halls, theaters, etc she is full working and acts like it. She ignores all people even those who pet her without asking and is fully engaged. UNM though since from the beginning has not been this way it takes longer for her to switch over to a purely working place.

Yes I know this is not traditionally how it's done on this forum... that there are places where she is allowed to be pet and greet. And I fully expect a flaming. The point is she does "get it". We go into a store and nada towards people, we are at home or at the park, or my familys house and she's a dog that will go into action when needed.
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Jazmine- *Jazzy*

1230847		 
 
Barked: Fri May 25, '12 8:28pm PST 
1. Becuase it creates a better handler bond
2. because greeting/petting is a great distraction for a dog normally
3. because of the dogs tendency to get confused about when he's working
4. because it can degrade the dogs ability to concentrate and obey the handler...

Dude I'm new at this lay off!! It was something allowed... and now I'm working on undoing it. Honestly I'm done with this forum. Most of you like to flame/criticise anyone who is just learning... and are much more focused on the rules and protocal than what getting a service dog in the first place means for those who have disabilities....

I'm out.
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Voltaire SD

Did somebody say- deer??		 
 
Barked: Fri May 25, '12 8:40pm PST 
In short yes, that certainly deserves an apology from you. Your dog go in the space of someone else and thus was not under proper control. You can/should (and did) regain control of your dog, apologize, and never let it happen again.
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