What to do When You See a Guide Dog

Why not interacting with a guide dog may literally save a blind person’s life.

Photo courtesy of guidedogs.com (Picture shows the Author with his guide dog, a Yellow Lab/Golden Retriever mix named Mari).

A guide dog (sometimes called a seeing-eye dog) is a service animal specially trained to alert a blind person to, or lead them around, obstacles. These may include but are not limited to; garbage cans, parked cars, sidewalk signs, and low hanging tree limbs. Basically, any hazard that could harm their blind handler. These dogs also stop at all changes in elevation, such as curbs and stairs, for the same reason.

Guide dogs are the only service animals taught to disobey a command. Known as intelligent disobedience, it occurs when a blind handler gives their dog a command too dangerous to carry out. In such a circumstance, their dog will step in front of them and prevent the handler from moving until the danger passes. A good example is when a handler tries to cross a street with oncoming traffic too close. So, you can see, a blind person literally places their life under the control of their guide dog.

Such a dog is easily spotted as it wears a harness with a long handle for their blind handler to grasp. Because guide dogs are so uncommon, it is tempting for people to talk, pet, or even give food to a guide dog. However, this…