Frusterated

[Ellie1991]

My dog is in training as a service dog for me and just starting public accsess and the council threw her and i out because she didnt have a harness on. There is no legal reason she has to havd her harness on I dont rely want to step foot back in that place again.

[Blearyeyed]

Do you mean you went into a public / council building with your Support Dog without a harness or lead?It is awful that you were treated poorly, but the owners of any public access building , council buildings and most businesses do usually expect your dog to be on a lead or with a harness to go inside , as they do for guide dogs and hearing dogs.

It is a matter of health and safety , so that the dog doesn't cause someone to fall , or knock something over , while out of your control , as well as to be mindful of those people whom are vulnerable and have anxiety around dogs unless they can recognise them as guide or support animals. Support cats are meant to wear them as well.

Hope it didn't cause you too much distress , take care , Bee

[Ellie1991 in reply to Blearyeyed]

She was on a lead just not harness.

[Ellie1991 in reply to Blearyeyed]

why would she not be on a lead they stated with out a harness she has not proof

[Blearyeyed in reply to Ellie1991]

I know it seems unreasonable at first , but it's worth getting the dog used to the harness with recognisable symbols for yourself and the dog as much as others. Otherwise , you will find this happens quite a bit , but also that you can get random members of the public coming up and challenging you as to why you have brought your dog into places they aren't usually allowed to be. It can add to the Stress of your day out.My friend has a hearing dog and still gets questioned occasionally because the harness looks different to the ones people remember guide dogs used to have.

The safety thing is kind to others too. The colour makes it visible to the partially sighted , and although I know you are unlikely to want to be very close to people yourself , if you are in a shop , queue or foyer it does help to show people there is a dog in front of them before they stumble over it , mostly , Chippa has nearly sent a few people into the air .

And for the workers , they are given their rules , so it's easier for them to spot you from a far and not then have to bother you too. I wouldn't be surprised, unless the person was a total " jobs worth" that they felt as bad all day for asking you to leave as they made you feel.

There are a lot of people , not just children , that get the complete opposite of support from being near a dog , but they can usually calm down if they spot the harness too . So it's a kindness to many with other types of mental stress too. Sometimes , being able to recognise your dog as a support dog they can also feel more courage to go near one so you can feel a lot of wellbeing at the end of the day when that happens and you know that you and your dog have helped someone else whom is struggling too.

They really should have been more mindful of your feelings though , I hope you feel ok now , take care and give the dog a snuggle from me , Bee

[Dinkie]

They could have been more sensitive in their approach to you and your dog. Sometimes phoning in advance to warn that you are visiting with a support dog will help to avoid any confrontations, particularly if you have a dog in training.

Playing devil's advocate here, with my dog trainer hat on, was she wearing a "service dog in training" jacket. If not then I can understand why there was a misunderstanding. If they are wearing the appropriate jacket/harness it gives Joe Public warning not to approach and interfere with a dog in training as nearly everyone wants to stroke or pet a cute dog. Also insurance wise, if there was an incident but the dog was not easily identified as a "service" dog it could cause a problem.

Many of the puppies I have bred over the years have gone on to be assistance dogs be it for children with autism or hearing dogs. Our canine friends are amazing. I do hope you continue to train your service dog without further problems and your dog provides you with years of support and love.

[fmlife]

on the freeview bbc channel if press red button on remote the text news comes up,

in one of the articles: a man was rejected from a building, due to him taking a dog with him to a place with tables and food (cannot spell the r word), he was blind, they paid compensation.

I found this, perhaps could print it and send to the public building went to. assistancedogs.org.uk/faqs/

the being refused access info section may be very helpful

so sorry they did this to you both.

[Gigiruth]

Hi EllieThat sounds a difficult experience for you and I wonder if the request could have been delivered more gently.

Unfortunately other people take advantage and may try to take a non service dog in insisting it is one.

Other members of the public may also complain if your dog is not fully in uniform.

Staff have conflict and abuse on a regular basis. You know you are genùne but they will need proof.

I hope your dog adjusts to her new harness at home soon so you can both use services without this happening.

How supportive she is doing the training. I hope it goes well. Teach her to wear her harness with pride.

Take care

Gigi

[rosewine]

Have a look at the assistancedogs.org.uk website as it has a lot of valuable information. Like others I do feel it would be best for your dog to be wearing some type of identifying harness which clearly states it is an assistance dog in training to hopefully try and save yourself from embarrassment in the future. It will have the dual purpose of hopefully warding off members of the public who might want to fuss your dog which would distract it and you in concentrating on the training.