The “Polite” Behavior Most People with Service Dogs Don’t Like—and What To Do Instead

You’re walking through a store, then spot an adorable dog. It’s natural to get excited and instinctively reach down for a friendly pat. This common service dog mistake comes from a good place…but you could accidentally put someone’s health at risk.

That’s because when a service dogs is working, it’s their handler’s lifeline, requiring full attention and focus to keep their handler safe, says Laurie Carlson from Can Do Canines, an organization that trains and matches service dogs to people living with disabilities.

The types of service dogs

“A service dog is trained to perform a physical task—key word physical—to mitigate their handler’s disability,” Carlson says. Also called “assistance dogs”—the international term, she explains—in the U.S., service dogs are the only animals allowed in any public spaces under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This classification is one key feature that separates service dogs from therapy dogs or emotional support animals. Carlson also explains that:

• Service dogs receive thorough training for specific skills and to be very tolerant of new experiences and environments. Service dogs can also live anywhere, even if there is a “no pet” policy. “A few jobs that service dogs perform include guide work for the blind, mobility tasks, seizure alert or response, hearing assist, diabetes assist, allergy alert, autism assist, and PTSD assist,” Carlson says.

• Therapy dogs receive training to comfort or assist people. They’re allowed in designated public areas such as hospitals or schools, but they have no special housing privileges.

• Emotional support animals require no training or special skills—their goal is to provide people with a mental health diagnosis support through companionship. They are not allowed in all public spaces but can live anywhere, regardless of a “no pet” policy.

The most common service dog mistake

The biggest service dog mistake is interacting with the dog without permission. “Some people find it amusing to make noises, [like] ‘kissy’ noises or whistle—please do not do this rude behavior,” Carlson says. “Respect the working dogs.”

Here’s a reason: “It is important not to interact with a service dog because if you distract the dog, their handler may experience harm,” Carlson says. “Some dogs may pull towards you and unbalance their handler if he [or] she has mobility issues. If you distract a dog trained for medical alerts, such as seizures or diabetes, the dog may miss the cue of an impending medical emergency.”

In other cases, she says that well-meaning people may step in to help a person and not allow the dog to do its job. “We had a client who has seizures, and he was at a store. He had an attack, and while his dog was attempting to do what it was trained to do, a well-meaning person stepped in and disrupted the team,” she says.

Other service dog mistakes to avoid are:

• Never make assumptions about the handler. “Not all disabilities are visible.”

• Speak to the handler, not the service dog. “Be respectful and avoid personal questions.”

• Avoid interfering with the dog’s work. Do not touch, feed, or talk to the dog.

The one time you should interact with a service dog

Carlson says there’s one case when you should interact with the dog: “If you saw an unattended service dog, follow them as they may lead you to their handler,” as that person may be experiencing a medical issue.

More guidelines to follow around a service dog

“As a general rule, you should never approach any strange dog—vested or not—without asking permission,” Carlson emphasizes. This is for your safety but is especially vital for people with service dogs because you might not even realize that their dog is on the job.

Carlson says that sometimes, you can tell that someone with a service dog has a disability, such as if they’re using a wheelchair. “However, many disabilities are ‘invisible’, like hearing loss or a medical condition like epilepsy or diabetes.” In addition, while many service dogs wear a vest or other identifying gear, it is not required by law. So it can be a mistake to assume that a dog is someone’s pet and not a service animal.

Remember: It’s all about the handler’s safety. “All this being said, there are handlers that are okay with their dogs interacting with people if the person asks first,” Carlson says. “But the majority do not want that interaction. So while it is okay to ask, please do not feel hurt if the handler says no. These dogs are on the job, and safety comes first!”

She adds that just like adults, children are often fascinated by service dogs. “If your child is interested in a service dog they see, explain to them that the dog is working to help their person stay safe. You don’t want to interrupt them while they do this important work,” Carlson says. “If the handler doesn’t seem in a hurry, you can respectfully approach them and ask if you or your child can ask some questions.”

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