Dog training: Of Crate Importance

     I spend most of my time on the phone helping concerned dog owners.  One of the most commonly asked questions is "Well why do I need to crate my dog at all?  He doesn't like that cage."   If you have the preconceived notion that the crate is a horrid torture device, then your dog most likely will come to believe it also.  I am going to list some of the main benefits of crate conditioning.  If I miss anything, please feel free to chime in with a comment below.

To successfully crate train a dog, it needs daily exercise.

     First, I need to clarify that crate training or crate conditioning does NOT mean simply shutting your dog away in a box indefinitely.  A crate is a safe place, it is not a substitute for obedience training, exercise and affection.  When used as a training aid, it can help a dog learn to control and calm themselves, keep the dog safe, protect the house itself from damage, and bolster self confidence and mental development.  If anyone has ever owned, seen or heard about a dog that is so insecure it even follows a person to the bathroom, crate training would be an excellent option to help that poor animal realize that a human possibly going out of sight for a few moments does not equate to eternal abandonment.

     Have you ever noticed when dogs are stressed, if they do not have a crate or other designated safe area, they will make one?  Thunder phobic dogs hide in closets, under beds, behind furniture, beneath tables..... any small and den-like place they can find.  If you do a fast interweb search, you can find tons of nifty articles supporting the fact that dogs are denning animals.  Click here to read one I found.  So if the behavior of your dog and dogs around you is not enough empirical evidence for you hardcore non-believers, look it up for yourself.

     Beyond catering to canine's natural instinct to den, crates are a way to prevent potentially dangerous situations.  Dogs are wonderfully intelligent and creative beings who can sniff out the possessions we prize most (your favorite shoes, the tv remote, the toilet paper roll..... anything covered and smothered with your scent) and effectively hide and or destroy them before you can blink.  This is dangerous not only because your chunky heels are choking hazards and your sneakers are toxic, but the tangle of cords to your computer may appear tasty as well.  Instead of wondering how your dog managed to open the cabinets that had the child-proof lock and measuring how much peroxide it takes to induce vomiting, wouldn't it be nice if you had prevented it in the first place?

Shhhh! Peanut is sleeping!

     Having a safe place to rest and receive meals (I recommend feeding in the crate from time to time) morphs the crate from a prison to a comfortable "Bed and Breakfast" in the canine mind, and can reduce potty training time dramatically.  The vast majority of folks I know do not eliminate in their beds.  Dogs have a tendency to not want to go potty where they sleep either.  If the dog still has "accidents" a crate can save you from having to clean a lot of messes.

     The most powerful reason for crate conditioning is for the mental health of the dog.  As we age and become adults we also crave our own space.  Although I have seen dogs who are perfectly content to always be attached to a human companion, I do not see it as a desirable or healthy trait to encourage.  It all too often leads directly to a dog who is an overly anxious basket case when the human is not present (separation anxiety), and eventually to a dog who cannot even figure out how to relax in your presence.   Canines have fine minds if we allow them to use them.  The crate is like giving the dog it's own room.  Anyone who has a teenager or who has been a teenager (that should be all of us) probably recalls how nice it was to have your own room that you can spend time by yourself in- no siblings or parents allowed!

     As I mentioned earlier, a dog will seek out a safe haven when stressed.  By having a crate readily available, the dog has the option to avoid stressful situations.  It will also learn to be content by itself for short periods of time, even when you are home.  It does not mean the dog will not enjoy your company and attention.  Crate training opens up the mind for more learning opportunities by limiting the dependence on human guidance.  


*for more information, please check out the main website at www.pawsthenplay.com

Dog Body Language: A Snapshot

     Yesterday I posted a picture on the Facebook page of 3 Rottweilers.   I asked readers to share what they thought the dogs were really trying to communicate with their body language.  To my delight, 3 clever ladies stepped forth with wonderful answers.

    

     Above is the picture with the flippant caption.  My explanation is a similar echo of the ladies bold enough to post responses.  Like them I have spent years around dogs.  I have trained multiple breeds in a wide variety of circumstances.  When one has hands on the leash and only a second to respond to body language while applying pressure in the form of commands or expectations reading body language becomes a critical skill to avoid undue stress in the animal or at worst, a bite.  No back story is necessary to decode body language.

     The dog in the center is clearly the most attentive to the photographer and on alert, but not necessarily "unhappy" about anything.   The mouth appears a bit tense but it is not puckered to show teeth or growl.  Not only because it is the largest is it receiving attention from the other two, but because it has the most confidence in this particular situation.  It is undaunted by the staged photo, and dogs will gravitate to the one who is willing to take control of a situation.

     The dog on the left is clearly the most uncomfortable.  It is offering obvious submission and a plea for guidance with the licking of the mouth of the center dog.  Licking of it's own mouth would show some anxiety, the application of the action to the other dog is a request.

     The dog on the right is just observing the calmly.  It has a soft open mouth, soft eyes.  The posture suggests it may have been considering laying down or he could just be young and awkward.  Not only is he smaller than the center dog, but sitting lower to avoid any unintended conflict with the dog in the center.

   

*For more fun learning, please stop by the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pawsthenplay
or feel free to e-mail me directly at PawsThenPlay@gmail.com with any dog training or behavioral inquiries.

Multiple dog management

Ebony, Grace, Gracie and Garrett hanging out on their Bases

     Someone asked me what I do at my home when I have multiple dogs.  I always have multiple dogs: I own two dogs, and when I board dogs they come to me for a variety of reasons.  A few dogs stay with me on a regular basis to keep their training fresh and occasionally add more skills.  Others are dogs with very low thresholds that the owners know would be extremely stressed in any other environment.  There are dogs who come for basic skills, such as crate conditioning, simple commands, or leash work.  But as a Behavioral Consultant I also have dogs that are from questionable backgrounds that need to be temperament tested around other dogs and people in a home environment (versus the high activity level of a shelter or other holding facility) or that are here to work on larger issues such as fear, aggression, separation anxiety.

     There are several key factors that make my business successful for all of these instances.  First and foremost, I work from my home by appointment only.  There is not a public storefront or attraction.  No pretty display areas.  Just a regular house that I live in with my husband and our two fur kids.  This means when I schedule time to work with another dog/dogs they are the only ones I am focused on.  There is minimal chance for distractions.  I do a lot of classical conditioning, which is less popular mainly because of the necessary repetition.  In addition, when I am shaping a behavior with a dog, it can cut training time in half or better when I work directly with the dog- as I only have one student to show and reward for new skills, instead of having to explain each new adaptation to the owner. 

     I am very careful to balance my appointments so I will always be mentally and physically ready and able to devote all of my attention to the goals of the canine directly in front of me.  Each lesson is a personal bonding experience of the dog to whichever humans are guiding it.  Creating my business from my house was a deliberate choice designed to limit clientele numbers to yield higher quality results in the cases I choose to take on.  Paws Then Play LLC will never have multiple employees, have a huge facility or turn into a franchise.  I do what I love to help where I can.  I have a small enough roster that I can be available to any of my students who call me at any time of day and I know who they are, who their dog is and how I can help troubleshoot without having to shuffle through papers or pull up a database.

Riley, Brutus and Grace practicing down/stay.

     The most crucial element I have here is structure.  I don't mean the frame of the house, I mean the consistency in the day to day workings with my dogs, whether there are others present or not.  Every day my dogs know and expect to have to work for their meals.  There is no "Free Lunch" served and thus it cements the state of mind in my dogs of my role as the provider (this is part of my preferred non-confrontational methods which I will write more on in another entry).  Every day has multiple training opportunities since dogs are continually learning and I am strict with my "house rules."  The dogs are never allowed to run amok in the fenced-in enclosure (about 1/2 an acre) like a doggy daycare.  They are here to learn to control themselves, and see the inherent reward in self control as opposed to the constant barrage of forced interaction that is the root cause of many of my clients' issues.

     Both of my dogs went through months (in Brutus' case years) of on-leash training and observation before earning the freedom of being leash- and collar-free by becoming reliable to voice commands at a distance and with distraction.  Any new dog will always be wearing a lead when it is out of the crate in my home until it has proven its reliability off-leash.  Not only does this allow for the greatest amount of guidance (and thus, learning potential) but dramatically reduces the chances for any undesirable behaviors to be learned or any misunderstandings that can result in a bite.

     I presently have two four-legged house guests.  Holly and Stormie are keeping their training skills current while they await their fur-ever homes.  *(For more information about these wonderful girls, click on their names above for pictures and information, or click HERE for a link to the Greater Charlotte SPCA site.)  This morning they waited patiently in their crates for their turn to go outside for potty.  Holly was outside on leash while Brutus finished his time outside.  Grace had wiggle time solo off lead.  Stormie also had one on one potty time but on a long line.   Breakfast is served one at a time, so each dog has time to really shine working on their specific training goals.  Water bowls are freshened next as everyone settles in for quiet time (I feel rest is very important after meals or training).  Potty breaks are spaced sporadically throughout the day, whenever I am switching from one dog to another (or others) and water is always freshened after a dog has been out.

Theo and Tia after a nice long walk in the woods.

     Throughout the day I rotate through the dogs finding ways to relax or challenge them in turn.  Sometimes I have only one dog out training, other times I will have all four.  Everything is gauged by how much the individual dog can handle (what can it perform with minimal stress and retain) and its particular goals.  Grace and Brutus are "control dogs" or examples mostly.  For groups of dogs out together I assign particular areas for each dog, called "bases" to prevent the possibility of aggression. My two dogs are very used to this structure and so will almost immediately relax and take a nap. Monkey see= monkeys do for the most part! Other dogs are much more inclined to relax when they see my two doing so.  When I am working on the group stays on "base" my two simply relax and snooze, showing the newbies what is expected and possible.  Once a new dog has mastered "base" sometimes I will practice basic heeling exercises with one of my dogs where they can see which makes it easier for the dog learning the new skills.

     In a nutshell, what I do with multiple dogs is handle multiple work loads.  Each dog deserves not only to be exposed positively to other humans and dogs (socialization), but also one on one training time, and time to themselves for rest.  It is a matter of being able to accurately determine each dog's threshold, and balance the possible stress of learning new skills against the progress and coveted results, while managing the environment constantly to ensure each dog's success in any given exercise.  I live for the difference I see in the dogs I work with.  Knowing that the self relaxation skills I taught a dog helped to de-escalate a potentially aggressive situation, or seeing that a handler understands their dog more fully and has taken steps to make that dog's life better gives me fulfillment and justifies any physical or mental strain I may have exerted to get them there.


For more information go to www.pawsthenplay.com or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pawsthenplay

A Dog Day on the Farm

     I am always looking for something new and fun to reward my pups for their hard work.  We love to learn about all types of training.  Grace has been adjusting to her new workload seamlessly so I decided a reward was in order!  For this trip, I chose to take her to a farm that specialized in herding.

Grace says "Go THIS way sheepies!"

     My Service Dog Grace has a wide background of work experience and exposure.  She has a firm foundation in basic obedience on and off lead, we took a test to be therapy certified, we have competed in competition obedience, dabbled in field and tracking work.  I felt herding would definitely be a new and fun experience, even if she did not end up having much of a natural ability for it; and knew we had a strong enough understanding as a working team that I would be able to re-direct her if the safety of the animals was ever questionable.  I had no idea what to expect.

The owner/operator of Finley Vue Farm Kelly Martin

      Findley Vue Farm in Burlington has Katahdin Sheep, Call Ducks, and Indian Runner Ducks.  There are three arenas and a round pen fenced off on the beautiful property.  The weather was perfect- mid 80s and breezy with enough sun to wear my sporty sunglasses, but not enough to feel like we were baking.  It kind of felt like I was glimpsing a secret garden as I pulled slowly into the drive.  The owner/operator Kelly Martin came to greet me as my car slowed to a stop.


    Grace and I were led to the smallest of the sections and allowed to go in with three sheep.  Instead of a traditional shepherds crook (I had Little Bo Peep in my head the entire time and it made me giggly!) I was handed a long (it was at least 5 feet) slender and lightweight pole.   Kelly already had a "feel" for how Grace and I were bonded, so suggested that it would be less stressful for me to go in with her, instead of asking her to work for someone else.


     Boy oh boy, am I awkward!  The first and most important thing was for me to BE QUIET! All that obedience residue was stuck like glue to me- I wanted to know "Should I give her the send out signal?"  "Do I encourage her verbally?" "Should I shout if she is getting too close too fast- what if she runs over a sheepie?"  Kelly has the patience of a saint.  He successfully quieted me, explained that I had to keep moving, outlined a projected movement pattern for the sheep, me, and my dog, all while calling out directional cues to me while I was in constant motion. WHEW!

I am leader of the sheep!

     Kelly was a smooth operator while I was tripping over his wonderfully tolerant sheep.  Apparently the sheep have been exposed to people like myself who are not really sure what to do around them!  Grace had a few bright ideas however!  She discovered that if she trotted along by them they would move away, and she could even make just one move around the pen!  We were both exhilarated and exhausted in a matter of minutes.  Kelly saw when our energy level dropped and suggested a break so Grace and I had time to rest, gather our thoughts and observe some of the other dogs who had come out for the event.

     There were a variety of herding breeds present, and varying skill levels as well.  We enjoyed watching a young Border Collie pup experiencing sheep herding for the first time, and also saw dog and handler teams working with sheep and ducks in other areas.  Water was distributed to dogs and bipedal folks in need as we relaxed and exchanged pleasantries.

     Grace and I were invited into the round pen with 3 sheep multiple times, with breaks in between sessions.  Each time felt a bit smoother and more purposeful as Kelly guided me kindly to shape my movements (mostly I was getting in the sheep or Grace's way).  After the sessions, he even took the time to walk around the farm to show us other areas where they hold competitive trials, and extra pastures where there is more livestock.  

     We cannot wait for our next visit to Findley Vue Farm!

*Photo by Diane Lewis:  The first Non-Border Collie AKC Herding Champion in NC, a Sheltie named "Chase" (who was Kelly's FIRST Herding Champion Dog! Hooray Kelly!!!)

* A few helpful links: 

If you would like to learn more about herding and schedule your own fun day, please click the link below and contact Kelly via his Facebook page!

Findley Vue Farm

Findley Vue's YouTube Channel  

Paws Then Play.com

Paws Then Play's Facebook Page

Fourth of July Dog Safety

Independence Day is right around the corner!

Ari is ready to grill!  Don't worry, he would never
hold a firecracker, only Mommy approved items!

Do you have exciting plans for the Holiday?  Do they involve either you going somewhere to celebrate or people coming to your home to celebrate?  Sounds fun!  What is your dog going to be doing?  I am sure you already have a safe place set aside for your four-legged buddy to relax while all the scary noises and smells occur, but just in case you may have a friend or two that hasn't planned ahead for the canine(s) in their life, here are a few points to remember.

If you are going to be spending several hours away from your dog, or have friends over to celebrate, make sure to prepare properly (and I don't mean just being sure everyone has a hat to wear): 

Bully Tested's patriotic bullies
Check out their antlers at www.bullytested.com

     -Spend extra time exercising them so they will drowse contently while you party hardy.  The longer they sleep, the less time they have to be awake wondering why there are loud booms while you are not home.   

     -Leave something for them to chew on that will not become a choking hazard, so they have an option to help them relax.  When dogs are stressed, chewing can help them calm down.  When you are not present however, being frightened can make a usually reliable dog mistake your favorite shoes, couch, or living room wall for an acceptable chew item.  Be proactive and make sure to leave them something else.  (Brutus and Grace love antlers or bones to gnaw on)

     -Make sure they are in a safe place so if the loud noises startle them, they cannot get outside and run away.  A crate or dog proofed area that the dog is already accustomed to is ideal.  Any outdoor area, even if it is fenced in is NOT recommended.  Did you know most animals shelters' populations balloon a whopping 30% in after July 4th festivities?  Make sure your dog is not one of these numbers!

     -Be sure you have a safe place for your dog to go.  Yes, I just wrote that a few sentences ago.  It is important, especially if there are other folks going in and out of your home, opening and closing the door.  Even the most stable dog can get overwhelmed after a couple hours of happy people walking all around, followed by loud noises, or strange smells.  

Sophie loves to party, but her Mom also has a safe place ready for her to rest.

   
If you know that your dog is frightened of loud noises, you may want to consider taking more steps to help them get through all the mayhem that they can hear from (literally) miles away.  Here are a few more options you may want to consider for the short term.  (If you want to teach your dog to relax without relying on aids, feel free to contact me at pawsthenplay@gmail.com.)


     -Thundershirts:  ThunderShirts are a snugly fitted garment which applies a gentle pressure to the dog's body.  It has a soothing effect for the animal, but must be used in a temperature controlled area, since it is essentially like wearing a blanket!

     -Homeopathic Treatment: There are many supplements available to help relieve stress in canines.  Having some on hand for next weekend may not be a bad idea if you are not sure how your pup will react!  One place I love to go to for information and options locally is a Holistic pet shop called Pawtique in south Charlotte.  They have several options (flower essences, supplements, etc.) and will help you select the best option for your dog.

     -Pheromone products: These products are designed to mimic the pheromones a mother dog would emit to soothe a pup.  They can be packaged as plug-ins, collars or sprays.

Air Force Military Working Dogs

      SSgt Justin Aycock is now separated from active duty with the Air Force as a Military Working Dog trainer and handler, but in the North Carolina Air National Guard.  He was selected to be a Military Working Dog handler for part of his military career.  Eleven years of active duty in the military can teach some pretty incredible things.  Over 6 years of service spent overseas in multiple countries can lend a depth to perspective as well.  Training and handling K9s is challenging on several levels.  Justin not only excelled at working with his canines, but loved it.

Christmas day '09 after a mission with US Special Forces Team

      I did not know any of this about Justin when I approached him with my blood tracking dog.  All I knew was that he seemed completely at ease around a working dog.  In the conversations that followed, I have learned so much more about this dedicated Airman, who has been gracious enough to send multiple photos, and answer several rounds of questions.

     To become a dog handler in the Air Force, you must apply to the school.  If there is a need for more handlers at that time, you may be selected.  Once selected, the new handlers will be instructed for 12 weeks at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas.  Justin sent me a copy of the USAF K9 Training Regulations, and the document is over 200 pages long.

SSgt Aycock with Dani/D054

     Not only are handlers expected to understand all of the K9 requirements and how to train to achieve them, but they must having a working understanding of canine ethology, classical conditioning, all four quadrants of operant conditioning and the terms the Air Force uses to define all of the methods used.  Basic healthcare is expected - to physically check the dog over for general health, trim the toenails, express the anal glands if necessary, cleaning the ears, administering oral medications, and dealing with vomiting or diarrhea.

     And there is more.  Handlers must know about caring for the physical well being of their animal in serious situations.  I don't mean just checking the pulse, and for dehydration.  They must know about diseases and parasitic infections, how to treat burns, or what to do in the case of poisoning.  Handlers need to be able to administer multiple chemicals subcutaneously or intravenously, knowing how much of which and when.  They need to be able to treat bloat,  lacerations or other massive physical trauma.  They need to know how to treat their K9 until it can be brought to a veterinarian, who will NOT be in the field with them.

     There are also high standards for the dogs.  The Department of Defense selects dogs from Europe several times per year to be shipped to the Lackland AFB in Texas for training.  The dogs have 90-120 days to complete their certifications before they are shipped to their operational units.  All dogs must be trained for protection work (attack, agility and handler protection) to be suitable for patrol.  The highest demand is for dual certified K9s who also certify for explosives detection.  A dog can be disqualified for behavioral or medical issues, but those dogs are either adopted or donated to local police forces.  Dogs and handlers who succeed the challenges of training are then paired, and sent to protect our soldiers abroad.

     In other countries, dogs are viewed quite differently.  Many would give a wide berth to the K9s and their handlers, particularly in the Arab countries where dogs are kept mainly for protection, and not as family members.  In Muslim culture, dogs are seen as unclean.  When I inquired about dogs overseas, Justin said "I have never seen so many dogs before, they roam around in packs, eating trash, dead animals, whatever.  It looks like the ASPCA commercial, really sad."  The strays are usually not healthy, and are not necessarily friendly either.  Even with multiple stray dogs looking on at any given moment, a dog and handler team are still expected to operate effectively.  Lives are literally at stake.  A patrol leader as well as the handler will do everything in their power to keep their working dog safe from the diseases or any violence from the strays.

Katya/M228

     Even with all the rigorous training required, Ssgt Justin considers it well worth it.  He had 5 dogs he was paired with on various deployments not including the ones he trained with.  Justin bonded very closely with his working K9s.  I know Justin was smiling when I asked him if he also taught his working dogs tricks and games to help pass the time and have some fun.  He replied "Absolutely, usually the same things you would teach your personal dog.  I taught my third dog Katya/M228 how to speak on command [using a hand signal] while in Iraq."   He plans on continuing training working dogs after he finishes his B.A. in Criminal Justice.

     When I asked Justin how it feels to have the hands on the leash of a Military Working Dog; after a night he answered me.  "It's a feeling I can't describe, especially when you get to use your skill set on a 'hot' call at home station or a bomb sweep when deployed.  I had been a handler about 3.5 years before I deployed to Iraq, and the suspense of going out on your first mission and gearing up yourself and your dog and knowing that you may be the only thing that means the difference between getting life or death for yourself or others weighs on you."

January 2010: Weapons search at a market near Diwaniyah, Iraq

     The five dogs Ssgt Justin Aycock worked closest with are listed below.  For more details on Justin's training history click here.

          MWD Dani/D054 - Explosive Detection/Patrol

          MWD Ciba/H181- Patrol

          MWD Katya/M228 - Explosive Detection/Patrol

          MWD Bartje/L243 - Narcotic Detection/ Patrol

          MWD Charis/K106 - Narcotics Detection

     As we were wrapping up the interviews, I asked Justin if there was anything else he felt was important to share about him and his career in the Air Force.  He asked that I share two organizations' websites.  These two organizations support Military Working Dog teams all over the world.  Please take a moment to check them out!


   The US War Dogs Organization  www.uswardogs.org 

     The John Burnam Memorial Foundation  www.jbmf.us/index.aspx

     To close, I will leave you all with some of his own words that resonated with me, and really made me feel his passion for his continuing career with working dogs:

 "...seeing the product of your training, it's very satisfying to see your dog perform on a task that you have trained for.  Very few jobs that I have had offered that.  You may be having a rough day but once you leash up and start training you have to be on top of your game..."  

I just met you, and this is crazy.....

     I had a person ask me this morning "Do you have a blog on dog etiquette? Specifically when people go to a house with dogs and when people have children and the dog goes to it's [place]."

Roxy the Malamute

     There are so many elements that can be addressed with this issue!  I will try to focus on what a careful owner can do to keep their dog secure.

     I used to think not touching strange dogs was a "No-brainer" until I reached adulthood and began taking my dogs with me to places.  People I have never met have walked or run directly up and tried to pet or hug my dog.  I have learned to create safe areas in my home where my dogs can go to relax and guests are not allowed to invade.  In public I have learned to be willing to stand up for myself, and teach people how to respect dog's space.  Unfortunately, some lessons I have learned have been through trial and error.  By sharing, hopefully you all can benefit from my experiences in the past.

       To start: It is my responsibility as a caring pet owner to preserve my animals' trust in me.  To allow an animal to be put in a situation that could cause a growl, snap or bite can have devastating consequences emotionally and legally.  As a sentient being I expect to not be fondled by complete strangers.  I insist on the same respect for my dogs.

     At my home, I control the environment.  If my dogs are asleep, do not bother them.  Just because me and my husband can, does not mean I expect them to tolerate it from strangers.  If I see signs of stress in my dogs I allow them to go to their designated safe areas.   Not all dogs want to be overly affectionate with strangers.  Both of my dogs have been Therapy tested (and passed).  This does not mean I expect them to make out with total strangers all the time.  Even Therapy Dogs need time to relax!  It is my job to oversee any interactions to be sure my pups are behaving, not crowding, barking or jumping on my guests.  It is also my duty to be sure my guests are being polite and not teasing or hurting my dogs (I have found small children have quite a "pinch" when they grasp things).

     One of the safe areas for my pups is in a spare bedroom where I will close the door to make my intentions clear.  There is no reason for a guest to be wandering into our bedrooms unaccompanied, thus it ensures my dogs do not become stressed when people come over, since they have seen it demonstrated repeatedly that they have a safe haven.  It can also avoid awkward conversations with folks who are not very dog savvy.  I have had guests over who do not even realize that there are multiple dogs in the household.

Luca the American Eskimo Dog

     When in public, a person should ALWAYS ask to pet.  No exceptions.  My dogs have a strong foundation in basic obedience before they are allowed in public, so when I stop moving, they stop with me.  For the people who run up to my dogs, I will literally move in front and block the person (if needed, I put my hand up extended in the classic "STOP" open palm).  If they do not recall their manners, I will prompt them with a friendly "Did you want to ask to pet my dogs?"  If they appear young, I insist they retrieve their parents first.  If they are inattentive or rude I will not allow them to touch my dogs.

     So often as dog handlers we forget we have the freedom to walk away.  I worked with a gal years ago who allowed a polite young child to pet her dog.  The child began playing with her male dog's er..... nether part.  The parent was nowhere to be seen.  Thank goodness her dog is so tolerant (the gal is an excellent handler), but situations like this can mostly be prevented, and if not, managed.  Don't feel obligated to allow someone to do something to your dog that makes you feel uncomfortable (I am referring to an acquaintance or stranger here, not your Veterinarian).  If you are uncomfortable saying "No" or "Stop" blatantly, you can always just leave hurriedly explaining that you forgot you had an appointment (I have used that one myself).

     Lastly, try to be patient with people.  Each interaction is an opportunity to educate.  My own family did not understand at first why I sometimes seemed to "hide my dogs from them".  Before I met my former mentor, I did not really have a concept of a "Working Dog" other than a dog who serves in the Military or guides the blind.  Pass some knowledge on if you can, and you could make the world a safer place for dogs.