What’s Your Dog’s Name?

I learned the hard way not to tell people my service dog’s name when she’s working. I never mean to be rude but my go-to response is “I’m sorry, I don’t give her name out when she’s working so she doesn’t get distracted.” This is because countless times I’ve said her name thinking it was no big deal and immediately after the person goes “COME HERE (INSERT DOG NAME HERE)”.

Service Dogs must always stay focused on their handler to keep them safe and healthy. They are trained to respond to their name so it can easily backfire when telling a stranger.

Many people have a hard time with impulse control. It is very normal to ask “What’s your dog’s name” “How old are they?” “What breed?”. I can understand why it’s hard to remember that a working dog is medical equipment and if the handler doesn’t want to answer a question, it just means that they don’t want to answer the question. Not that they are trying to be rude.