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

[Red.Apricot]

I (weirdly) get asked a lot if Elsie's a service dog, and she doesn't wear a vest at all. Sometimes people just assume stuff.

[Bahamutt99]

Here are some things that just slide on your leash/collar, or clip on.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Collar-Sleev...item2ec023654c
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STOP-DO-NOT-...ht_2848wt_1049
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leash-Sleeve...#ht_1666wt_922

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

Originally Posted by Teal

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.

Originally Posted by AdrianneIsabel

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

I'm definitely not going to take him anywhere that dogs aren't allowed normally. We do a lot of training at my work (a local pet food store) as well as Petcos/Petsmart...which is where people generally want to pet him.

I don't think service dogs should be the only ones allowed to wear vests either...but I also don't want him to be confused with a service dog, because it does change people's perceptions of service dogs in general when they see one behaving badly.

[Romy]

Originally Posted by JustaLilBitaLuck

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.

Just so you're aware, a lot of people stare curiously at my borzois but don't overtly try and pet them. The second I put a work vest on one and take them out EVERYBODY assumes the dog is now public property and that I'm trying to socialize them or something, and they'll just reach out and grab. Thankfully, the only with with problem is Kaia and she just gets distracted and wants to stare at them and lick them.

So... a vest may not have the desired effect. It might do exactly the opposite.

[Teal]

There are simply "Don't Pet Me" patches.. or "Ask to Pet Me"

"Ask to Pet me" - http://www.servicedoggear.com/Please_ask_to_pet_me.aspx

This place also does custom patches - Maybe you can get one that says "I am blind - Please do not pet!" Or "I startle - Do not Pet!" ? http://www.things4yourdog.com/customnamepatch

[Saeleofu]

A dog that appears to be a service dog reacting poorly to strangers reflects badly on service dogs even when they are in dog-friendly places. SDs are allowed and common in pet-friendly areas, too. I'm only suggesting that you make it obvious the dog ISN'T a service dog. That's why I'm suggesting patches that say why you can't pet the dog, and a device that will actually help your dog if it's anxious about people.

And a bandana wouldn't really work, cause then people have to be right there to see the bandana

People have to be right there to pet the dog, so I don't see the issue. The patch is the same size regardless of what you put it on.

Gavroche is not good with strangers, either. I tell people not to pet him. I step in front of people if I need to or send him to stand behind me. It's our job, as our dogs' handlers, to make sure their needs are met. If that means your dog doesn't like being pet by random people, and you see a random person approaching, you make an effort to block that person from petting your dog. A patch might help discourage people from trying, but it's ultimately the handler's job to stop it.

Now, the vest Bahamutt posted is largely advertised as a convenience vest, not a service dog vest. I have one for each of my dogs because they're nice for walks (they're called Poo Boss vests, because they're designed to hold empty poop bags on one side and full poop bags on the other). They're also reflective and I do a lot of night walking. Speaking of which, how about a safety vest with a "shy dog" patch? They have some vests like that available at Petco. Bright orange or yellow with reflective stripes.

I also don't have a problem with a pet in a pet-friendly area with a do-not-pet vest if the dog isn't acting aggressive, scared, or reactive.

I also find "working dog" to be a misleading patch for a pet. "In traning" is fine by me, but "working dog" generally means the dog has a job, whether it's an SD or a SAR dog or what have you, and is actively working.

[CharlieDog]

The vest I have just says "Working Dog, Do Not Pet"

[JessLough]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

People have to be right there to pet the dog, so I don't see the issue. The patch is the same size regardless of what you put it on.

The issue is that not all dogs are cool with people approaching them with the intent to pet them/focused on them close enough to pet them. Or, you know, you just don't want people getting that close. At least when the dog has something visibly larger, (at least here) people stop and look/ask.

[Saeleofu]

A note on "ask to pet me" patches - most people will assume it just means "PET ME! PET ME NOW!" so that's mostly the opposite of what you're looking for.

Here's a blind dog patch, top row, bright yellow: http://www.pupparel.com/contents/en-us/d110.html

Or this: at http://www.lonewolfdogwear.com/#specialtyvests

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

Originally Posted by Saeleofu

Gavroche is not good with strangers, either. I tell people not to pet him. I step in front of people if I need to or send him to stand behind me. It's our job, as our dogs' handlers, to make sure their needs are met. If that means your dog doesn't like being pet by random people, and you see a random person approaching, you make an effort to block that person from petting your dog. A patch might help discourage people from trying, but it's ultimately the handler's job to stop it.

I also find "working dog" to be a misleading patch for a pet. "In traning" is fine by me, but "working dog" generally means the dog has a job, whether it's an SD or a SAR dog or what have you, and is actively working.

I don't think that a patch/vest will completely discourage people - it's just one more added thing, combined with me telling people not to pet him. I just don't understand why people think that dogs are public property, and that they're there for your amusement. It is completely baffling to people when I explain that not all dogs are friendly, not all dogs want to meet your dog, and not all dogs want to meet you.

I don't want a patch that says "I'm working", either, after thinking about it, since it's not correct - it was just what popped into my head when I started thinking about it and made the thread. I'm looking for ones that simply say "Do Not Pet Me" or "I'm Blind...Do Not Pet Me" or something similar.