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[...] Ty’s Too Sexy – A creative solution to help our fearful [...]

And most importantly, it works!

Thanks! Again, credit goes to @DogLoversDigest for the idea. And Ty will growl and snarl at strangers if they bend over him - men more so than women.

And most importantly, it works!

Thanks! Again, credit goes to @DogLoversDigest for the idea. And Ty will growl and snarl at strangers if they bend over him - men more so than women.

[...] do you greet a strange dog? One of our posts last week dealt with our unorthodox solution to stop people from getting in Ty’s face. This guest post from Deborah Flick of BoulderDog [...]

What a great idea! I know exactly what you mean about people intruding on Ty's space. Happens to Sadie too. I'm not worried she'll bite. She doesn't even snarl. But she will bark if people stare at her while walking directly at her or bending over and reaching out to her (OY!).

Rod is right about it being too warm for a sweater in summer and that holds for clothing, even a t-shirt, in general. I think the difference is that people don't try to pet Frankie because he tends to hide behind me but they do think their dogs will "instinctively" put Frankie at his ease. Ha! And dogs can't read.

[...] this sexy post to find out what that advice was. Apparently it’s working like a [...]

Edie - I think there are website that allow you to make customized doggie t-shirts. Perhaps you could make one with a "Don't pet / sniff me" message?

What a fantastic idea! Love the GPF patch on the vest too!

Mary, my mailman is an aesome guy, generally with a healthy respect for animals. He asks permission to approach, always brings dog treats, and asks after our boys when we see him. I was truly surprised by the action but then realized he had never connected with my dogs from the same side of the fence. This probably holds true most places he goes.

People mimick what they've been taught and I doubt anybody ever brought this to his attention. When I asked him to be gentler because Shamus had bad hips, he nearly shrank away feeling bad. I think he's the kind of guy it will resonate with. Sadly, there aren't more like him. (My father, for instance, does this all the time and scoffs at my correction. In fact, I learned it from him until I got a clue.)

Rod, Hahahah. Ooooh yeah. Now where's my light saber?

Wow - and the US Postal Service doesn't get why their employees get bit so often?? I may have had a hard time in your circumstances stopping myself from slapping him- OMD I really can't stand it when people do this - it's passive aggressive and there's no good will it in at all!

So you're considering the idea, too? Welcome to the dark side!

Thanks for your comment, Mary. I like that - no harm, no foul.

I am tempted to make a joke because I am not sure what to suggest. But then this: what about a (light/thin) sweater made for a small dog ... then you could sew patch onto sweater?? But is any sweater too heavy for Tuscon summers?

Agreed, Mary. Let me clarify my thoughts here. The idea is undeniably brilliant. I was just working out "on paper" how to make this work without trouble. Since dogs have no laws protecting them from the idiocy of others, really, I know no other way than using this vest to protect one's family pet. Truth be told, I'm considering the idea myself.

Another topic that angers me to no end? People who rap on the sides and hind quarters of dogs as a sign of affection. My mailman did that to my Newf the other day - with no regard to Shamus' bad hips. How is this an acceptable way to "pet" a dog?! I actually had to ask him not to do it ever again.

I get what @thisonewildlife is saying; I have a big soft spot for service dogs and there has been trouble. Yet I also know what pests people can be; the don't seem to understand how they affect fearful dogs. You have no "Service Dog" medallion so it would seem no harm, no foul ...I'm leaning toward your side of the fence on this one...(hey, Buster, no pushing I know ya wanna help your bro:))

Love the catwalk - Ty seems to know how to strike a pose!

Hope that works. I constantly encounter people who let their dogs lunge at Frankie -- oh, but my dog is friendly, they say, he just wants to play. He's too small for a vest. Maybe I should try an Elizabethan collar to make people think he's injured (ok, he'd be very unhappy, I know)

Rod and Amy, What a great solution. As you know, I sometimes write about service dogs, and I've been told that people will ask if they can pet them--even when they are wearing the vest. When the owner says no, people usually listen. And yes, Ty is a cutie.

Awesome (and thoughtful) comment! I think it was as long as the post!!

Actually, I've read about the backlash in Oregon you refer to. For whatever reason, or perhaps for many reasons, Portland is coming under attack for being "too" dog friendly ... and people with legitimate service animals are the unintended victims.

And, as you point out, it is not our intention to "game" the system. We never take Ty to any place that is not pet friendly under the guise that he is a working service animal.

You nailed it. If people came up and tried to "pet" small children - I think more would get it. For now, the vest works great!

There definitely is an art to approaching a dog. We'll be writing about it!

Fortunately, we've found more people can read than can listen to us warn them about trying to pet Ty! The vest is a real eye catcher and really draws people's attention to the Don't Pet Me patches.

This is an awesome idea! Especially for people who don't want to seem rude or impolite when they have to say "No, (I'm sorry) please don't pet my dog." A big problem if you're in the city - everyone seems to assume that is ok to walk up to a dog and pet him or her.

This is a problem we face as well. Emmett, our hound rescue, has an issue with trust and he occasionally snarls as a form of communication. I would love to hang a big sign on him when taking him out, but we've just maintained his life in an enclosed dog yard to be on the safe side.

Sadly, this isn't Emmett's problem necessarily. He'd be fine if left alone. In fact, safe exposure is the only way to combat distrust. But folks who believe they have super-human animal communication powers cause issue. The other mis-perception is that, because one’s dog is terrific with other dogs, stellar behavior could only be reciprocated by an unknown entity, right? Wrong.

It's always best to ask owners "Is this okay?" before approaching an animal. If you can't get the words out before two dogs connect, as often happens with our very strong and eager Newf, it's still good to immediately ask in case you need to ease your pet off.

The only thing I take pause with in the case of the "working" vest" is the slippery slope of impersonating a service animal. I fully understand that the intention is to protect the safety of all involved. Truly, I get it. It's just that, after reading several recent articles about people with service animals suffering from public backlash, particularly in Oregon, I worry for service animals and the owners who truly need them.

The problem I’m speaking of revolves around those people obviously abusing the system. That folks are fed up with the abundance of untrained animals in grocery stores has resulted in verbal abuse toward people with real service animals, as if they don't have enough to contend with. While taking Ty to places where he is not allowed is not your intent, I know you just want to walk your dog in peace, it can be misconstrued and quite possibly a legal offense. I'm just asking that you consider the surrounding issues in claiming to have a working animal - for your protection as well as that of those with service animals.

Of course, if you say Ty's "in training," perhaps this circumvents the issues I mention above. One never knows where life will take one, does it! He could be in training the rest of his life - or he could really get over his distrust and have a life of service ahead of him. It happens with rescues all the time. That window of "training" opportunity could then work for you on all levels :)

Great idea! I was growled at the other day when I tried to stroke a dog and it took quite some time for the owner to control him. He was a gorgeous dog, but scared the life out of me! Great vest, it looks pretty good too!

I love the vest, but you know how many people just can't seem to be able to read. I don't know how many times I've seen service dogs in training get mauled by well meaning, random people. I hope that this vest works for you and Ty.