"Don't Pet Me"/"I'm Working" Vests?

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

I'm looking for a vest for Jack that says "Don't Pet Me" or "I'm Working" or something along those lines...something to discourage people from trying to pet him.

I'm looking for something fairly lightweight, as he gets hot easily, and also fairly inexpensive - under $50 shipped would be nice.

Does anyone have a company/brand that they really like?

[Fran101]

Julius k-9 has some nice ones.. Clean Run sells them for around $40 and the "labels" that attach to the side are like $4 each on ebay. You can get them to say anything.. even custom ones.

http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fu...&ParentCat=202

[Teal]

You can buy vests with patches already on them, but they're a lot more.

Normally, you just buy the patches separately and put them onto a vest/cape. The woman who made my vests isn't making them anymore, which is disappointing because I really liked her stuff

Here is a patch that is what you're looking for though - http://www.servicedoggear.com/WorkingDogDoNotPet.aspx

And they also have a vest/cape page -
http://www.servicedoggear.com/vests.aspx

[stardogs]

I have liked the Raspberry Field vests I've gotten. They have a nice "Working - Do Not Pet" patch as well as some "In Training" ones.

[Saeleofu]

I'm not a fan of using the vests for pet dogs. People will assume it's a service dog, and then when the dog acts NOT like a service dog, it reflects badly on service dogs.

I suppose to find the best solution, why is it that you want the vest? Is it people doing random petting annoy you, or is there a behavioral reason you want it? If it's the former, I recommend telling people to back off and not touch him. If it's the latter, then perhaps something like an anxiety wrap with a "Do not pet me, I'm _____" (shy, aggressive, reactive, whatever the problem may be) patch. Something that is definitely NOT service dog-like.

ETA: Something like this

With this on it

A bandanna with that patch could work well too. It's just that most people see "vest" and think "service dog." Many, many people with service dogs don't have actual "service dog" patches on the vest. Mine has "do not pet" patches, but not a "service dog" patch.

I also found this link but it seems to not be working at the moment http://www.thankfulpaws.com/deaf-blind-shy.htm

[AdrianneIsabel]

I don't think it's fair to presume service dogs have the market cornered on vests.

I have a leerburg vest with "Work Dog" on it. I like the julius K9 vests though, we sell them at my work and they feel nice.

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

I don't think it's fair to presume service dogs have the market cornered on vests.

Yep.

Having a whole coat like you linked on the dog is WAY different than a vest. And a bandana wouldn't really work, cause then people have to be right there to see the bandana

[Teal]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

I'm not a fan of using the vests for pet dogs. People will assume it's a service dog, and then when the dog acts NOT like a service dog, it reflects badly on service dogs.

If the OP intends on taking the dog into places where only service animals are allowed, then yes... that's a problem.

But just using a vest with a "Do Not Pet" patch on it while out in dog-friendly places shouldn't be reserved simply for service dogs.

[Bahamutt99]

I got a vest like this one and put my own patches on it. I didn't want a service dog vest per se, just a brag vest, so people would be less likely to ask questions if they saw me working her off-leash.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reflective-D...item23186454e2

it came out like this.

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

I'm not a fan of using the vests for pet dogs. People will assume it's a service dog, and then when the dog acts NOT like a service dog, it reflects badly on service dogs.

I suppose to find the best solution, why is it that you want the vest? Is it people doing random petting annoy you, or is there a behavioral reason you want it? If it's the former, I recommend telling people to back off and not touch him. If it's the latter, then perhaps something like an anxiety wrap with a "Do not pet me, I'm _____" (shy, aggressive, reactive, whatever the problem may be) patch. Something that is definitely NOT service dog-like.

It is for a behavioral reason. Jack is people reactive, and while it's getting SO MUCH BETTER with training, he is not okay with random people trying to pet him without asking. We have a "routine" for meeting people, and he does very well with it, but it doesn't work when someone rushes up and tries to pet him.

I definitely don't want him to be confused with a service dog! The idea of using a wrap with a patch sounds like it would work - I have both a Thundershirt for him, as well as a few solid color "t-shirt" type things that I could put a patch on. He is visually impaired (which no doubt contributes to the issues) as well, so if I could find a "I'm Blind...Don't Pet Me" or even just a "Don't Pet Me" one, I think it would work.