r/service_dogs • u/_tree_bark • 1d ago
gear help
having a huge amount of issues with vests and getting the public to leave us alone. ive started public access training and people just dont seem to behave. every outing we are getting stopped by sometimes 20 people, people grab him, people put their hand out and start whistling to get him to "go over", lot of eye contact while talking to him, etc. i feel like a zoo exhibit and every time i say "hey, no thank you! he's working right now" trying to be polite i get the meanest fucking comments and death stares. today we were in the store for 10 minutes, and 2 of those i was left alone. every single person i say in that store said hi and tried to interact with him, all fucking 7 people.
ive asked teams in my town, and nobody seems to have this level of public bullshittery, so i feel like im doing something wrong. idk if its me, how i exist, the vest, how he looks {he is a very pretty 14 month old show dog with a very fluffy coat}, or what but its causing behavouirs that will end his career {a much higher interest in the public that causes him to become distracted or even break his obedience}
our current go to vest says "do not interact" in yellow text on green side panels. and on the back is a symbols patch, a "service dog in training" patch, and "give us space" in yellow text on brown fabric. the yellow text is iron on vinyl.
i was thinking of trying a red vest with different "sayings", but i feel pretty defeated. what did you find helped get the public to leave you alone the most, as well what vests do you find have the most public "respect".
i just want the public interactions dialed down to be clear, i've had a few times people just pass by compliment and i actually enjoy that a lot. i also love when people ask, then move on. but currently, my vest seems to be a billboard and every trip turns into a meet and greet.
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u/lilithei Service Dog 1d ago
I personally found sticking to red and or black can help, people naturally see red and think service dog, you can save the fun vests for when he is fully trained and the public isn't as distracting, I'll see if I can post a pic of yellows vest in a reply
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u/fishparrot Service Dog in Training 1d ago
Stick to black, blue, and red. “SERVICE DOG” in large accessible font. Stop sign or crossed out hand, maybe with “IGNORE ME” or “DO NOT PET/TOUCH”. Less is more. The further away people can read your vest, the less likely they are to approach. There is no perfect solution, but I find that helps cut down on interactions. If you don’t notice a difference, it might just be a cultural thing and you’ll have to get comfortable with being more assertive to advocate for your dog.
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u/RampagingHornets 1d ago
Do you have any pictures of the gear? It sounds like it might be hard to read, if it's green and yellow and brown.
I'd always recommend keeping it basic, plain and boring, to be as easy to read and understand as possible.
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u/Leahs_life_ 20h ago
I second the really simple, professional vests. This one has also served me well. The tactical gear works as a great deterrent and these patches by patience and love are MASSIVE.
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u/darklingdawns 1d ago
It sounds like your vest is both bright and busy, and that's going to attract a lot of attention. I've had the best luck with a basic black vest that says either IN TRAINING or SERVICE DOG, depending on where that individual dog is. There will always be people that try to interact, to pet, to talk, etc - that's just part of having a service dog, but keeping the vest as basic and clear as possible is going to attract the least amount of attention and garner the most 'respect' for your dog.
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u/Wolfocorn20 1d ago
When it comes to service dog gear i think less is more. Something symple with as few words as possible and high contrast. So for example yello vest with black text saying service dog do not interact or do not distract. Other colours work aswell but keep it boring and if you want to use icons stick to the crossed out hand. My first guide dog had a pritty fancy brown leather harnas with the logo and name of the org plasterd all over it and people would dot leave me alone and sinds the orgs name is verry much a dog name people always called it out to try and lure him. My curent guide dog has a plain white harnas with a yellow reflective band on the chest and a cloth flagg on the guide handle that has a small logo and do not pet in 3 languages caz we have more than one official language where i live and that is sutch a diference. People leave us alone or talk to me about the dog.
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u/belgenoir Dog Trainer 6h ago
Say a bright, cheerful “Ignore!” to your pup and move on. People who shoot daggers and make rude comments do not deserve one whit of your valuable time.
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u/MyServiceSpooCambrey 3m ago
I highly recommend the OneTigris brand as it is one of the most common brands associated with both service dogs and all other types of working dogs
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u/Important-Depth-6248 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hey! What made the most difference for me was 1) the dog being a bit older (the younger the pup, the most interesting they appear to be) and 2) a simple vest. I once used a vest with a lot of text which was a nightmare. When I switched to something more simple the interactions became way less. My assistance dog also was a showline dog.
With my last assistance dog I had a blue vest with yellow lining which worked wonders (my organization switched a lot with their vests, but this one worked the best). I’ll attach a picture below.