Guide Dog Etiquette

The working partnership of a Guide Dog and client is inspiring to see, but it is the result of intensive training for both the person and the Guide Dog.

Though it’s natural for people especially children to want to pat, praise or meet the Guide Dog, in approaching the working team you could be endangering the safety of the team.

Guide Dogs Queensland has some important tips we ask the general community to be aware of when they meet or see a Guide Dog in harness.

Please remember:  

• When a Guide Dog is in harness it is working. Whether it is walking, sitting or sleeping, it should not be patted, fed, or distracted.
• The Guide Dog must not be the centre of attention. A well-intentioned pat can undo months of training.
• Please talk to the person and not the Guide Dog. 
• Please don’t grab the person or the dog’s harness. Ask if they need assistance first. 
• If you provide assistance to the Guide Dog User, please walk on the person’s opposite side to the Guide Dog.
• Please make sure your pet dog is on a leash or under control around the Guide Dog. When approaching, it may be polite to let the person know that you have a dog.
• If you see a stray pet dog, please contact your local Council.

When out in public, the person who is blind or vision impaired and the Guide Dog are concentrating on reaching their destination safely. They need to maintain that level of concentration and being interrupted can inconvenience the user who must stop and regain control of their dog.

Out of harness and at home, Guide Dogs are just like any other pet dog - they romp, play, roll and run - but with the harness on they are highly skilled guides.