Todd took Riley to clay class this week and there was trouble. She’d missed last week because Seth was home sick and I couldn’t bring him along with a sore throat. So, alas, she was behind. She melted. Todd tried to soothe her all the while calling for Jingle, who had been previously given the down command on her mat. Jingle didn’t come. Todd couldn’t believe it. Jingle is very obedient. It’s a small room, but visibility is blocked due to a big table in the middle of it. Especially if you are on the floor. Finally Todd got up from the screaming Riley, looked over and noticed a little boy had hold of Jingle’s leash, and he wasn’t letting go.
Little kids WANT that leash. It happens all the time. If I have her in a down, out in public, Jingle is great. She listens. I don’t need to hold onto the leash, but kids constantly come up and try to take hold of it. They’ll take it and pull her off the down command! At best, it’s annoying. On a day when you need Jingle to work, it is maddening.
This little boy is a sweet kid, who really likes Jingle.
I’ve let him hold her leash in class before.
New rules.
Live & learn.
Kids are sweet to want to love Jingle. But their parents should know better. They know the dog is working.
Oh, I wonder if it was causing Jingle to have anxiety, because of being ‘held back’, kind of? Poor Riley and Jingle!
I hope she had a better night after that.
love.
We too have done the “live and learn” Having a Service Dog can definitely be a work in progress but, definitely worthwhile.
I definitely agree with Karen and like Amber, I wonder how Jingle felt.
Sometimes people, and often adults are the worst, just do not understand the concept of a working dog.
With her harness it is fairly obvious Jingle is a working dog – a very gorgeous one true, but a working one just the same. We were always taught from infant school to never bother a working dog like guide dogs etc., do you not have that in schools? Hard to get the balance right tho’.
While Jingle is a working dog, one of the things her presence accomplishes is allowing Riley more social interaction. Each family decides for themselves, but allowing people to pet Jingle and engage with her is mostly beneficial for Riley.
We’re all learning. I just need to be clear in my own mind,so I can be clear with everyone else.
Wow, that Jingle is soo sweet, She is a good girl, and couldn’t get to her girl. Good Jingle.
Miss you guys.